Right To Ride’s campaign “No To Throttle Control” has reached across the Irish Sea and has been acknowledged by the UK motorcycle magazine “The Riders Digest”.

The Riders Digest in-house reporter, Amelie Summers’ column “Inside Line” has featured the issues on Throttle Control in an article entitled, “Automatic speed limiters – coming to your bike soon?”

The article also mentions that inspite of preliminary advice given to the SAFERIDER project by training experts, they were ignored. Partners in the project include the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) of which the BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation) and MAG (Motorcycle Action Group UK) are both members.

Riders Organisations

Right To Ride’s Trevor Baird says, “We have been writing to these organisations over the last three months regarding this fundamental issue of rider control and have not received any positive feedback on what they intend to do to stop the development of this system”.

FEMA’s answer to threats of throttle, braking or steering interference is to use its best weapon of “plain common sense”.  We ask - when will its best weapon of plain common sense be deployed?

Urgency is required, because the SAFERIDER project ends in November when the final review will be presented to the EU Commission and the deliverables (results) of the project, including the force feedback throttle will be seeking the EU Commission’s approval and support.

Saferider

Meanwhile at Right To Ride we have written directly and presented a paper to the EU Commission Project Officer and Directors of the SAFERIDER project, setting out the reasons why we consider the Force Feedback Throttle dangerous.

Our argument in this paper is that any interference with the throttle will de-stabilize the motorcycle and place the rider in a precarious situation. We set out our reasons in detail why the development of this device – the force feedback throttle – must be stopped immediately and withdrawn from the SAFERIDER project.

We say – “No To Throttle Control”

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bmf Tailend Motorcycle Show, 18 / 19 September, Lincolnshire Showground

With advanced ticket sales well up on last year, it’s a thumbs up for the bmf’s re-located Tail End show to be held for the first time at the stunning Lincolnshire Events Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground.

The decision to move the show after twelve years at Peterborough’s East of England Showground was a brave one, but advance ticket sales for this popular end of season event are up a staggering 60% on this time last year, while even the trade stands are looking to top last year’s figures.

Harley Davidson are bringing their brand new road show rig to the event including nine demonstrator bikes (driving licences will be required to be shown) while Rieju will be showing their stunning new range of bikes aimed at both the new and novice rider and will hopefully be bringing a long rising star Katie Bullock, European Intermediate Trials Champion and X Factor contestant.

Other exhibitors already booked include George White, Kawasaki, Norton Motorcycles, Frank Thomas, Hein Gericke, Bikers Gearbox, Carole Nash, Powerbronze, Busters, Enigma Clothing, SMC Bikes, Skidmarx and the ever-popular Wall of Death plus a large fun fair – and for those camping, James Toseland and his band CRASH will be headlining the live entertainment on Saturday night.

Making a guest appearance over the weekend will be Enduro Challenge star Graham Hoskins (and if he can make it, his riding partner Danny John Jules [The Cat from TV’s Red Dwarf]) to talk about their epic Enduro challenge for Sport relief – 7,000 miles, 15 countries, 3 continents in just 16 days!! Graham will have the bike he used and will also be giving a talk about the trip in the showground’s appropriately named Epic centre during the day.

Vertical Trix will be there with their wheelie machine for those who want to try their hand in relative safety, while in the main arena, top class stunts from the Bolddog Lings Stunt Team and amazing tricks from ace trials rider Steve Colley will keep the crowds happy. But that’s not all, as the fast and furious racing from the British Lawnmower racing association will give a whole new meaning to the phrase cut and thrust competition!

Thanks to the bmf’s insurance partners MCE, visitors will also have the chance to win a VIP experience at the BSB at Oulton Park including pit lane walks and a ‘meet the teams’ session. Visitors also have the chance to win a £500 custom helmet paint job courtesy of the BLD group.

For those camping, ticket prices include live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings from bands such as Trash Monkey (back from a successful bmf May show appearance), the League of Mentalmen, The Band from County Hell and Bad Penny with James Toseland and Crash headlining Saturday.