Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict

European motorcycle manufacturers cries for their loss in sales. So why don’t they start paying attention to the riders - their customers - instead of licking EU boots to regain sales?

Illustration from Dragon Magazine, Feb 1986
"The Bootlicker's Guide"

As the European Union is closing in on finalizing a new framework directive for motorcycles, the motorcycle manufacturers headed by their Euroepan association ACEM makes a kneefall for the bureaucracy so heavy it makes you wonder if they have any knee caps left. Among the suggestions in the framework directive are a max 100 hp limit on bikes and stricter rules with regard to the rider’s ability to perform alterations on his bike.

Double licking

The ACEM, crying their lungs out because of a 25 percent decrease in sales the last years, takes this even further. They want anti-tampering regulations (meaning that they want to forbid a rider to improve his bike beyond the standard set-up done by the manufacturer), and even suggests that bikes are equipped with on board diagnostics to measure emissions, which implies a yearly road worthiness inspection on bikes. In return, they want financial and market benefits “if recovery in the PTW sector is to be achieved”, to quote ACEM’s head honcho Stefan Pierer, who also happens to be the KTM boss.

Why this licking?

Why would ACEM stop riders from improving their bikes beyond the standard set-up from the factory? It can't be on safety reasons because technical issues is only the cause in less than 1 percent of all motorcycle accidents, according to the MAIDS study - the largest motorcycle safety study to this date.

Why would ACEM suggest on-board diagnostics, hence mandatory road worthiness inspections even if they know this is not done in many European countries because - again - technical issues is not a problem on bikes? It's even shown in their own MAIDS study?

We know the answer. It's boot licking while letting the customer - the rider - carry the cost, killing off competition from the aftermarket industry at the same time.

Here's what happens

If ACEM's faulty medicine gets prescribed, these are only some of the consequenses

1) The sheer fun for the individualist rider is taken away when improvements are banned, resulting in decline in motorcycle sales and less innovation

2) Owning a motorcycle becomes more expensive, taking away any economic incentives for riding one, resulting in decline in sales

3) A declining aftermarket industry means less people employed in the industry in total, making it easier to ignore when future regulations are implemented

4) Motorcycles as a solution to the European cities' traffic problem faces a set-back.

5) The manufacturers distance themselves even further from their customers.

Are there alternatives?

Sure. Just listen to the riders.