It actually gets a whole lot worse though, no servicing the engines ourselves, in fact no changes are allowed from the airbox across the entire drivetrain, compulsary ABS on all new bikes and new tech built in to allow for roadside mini MOT's no doubt for the Police to get checking - as if they have not got enough real crime to be getting on with already with all those speeding motorists! Actually though when you read the proposals it opens up a whole host of problems for a great number of people and businesses who make their livelihood building and modifying motorcycles, doing the repairs so many of us cannot face and even right down to the tyre retailers who would no doubt take a hit too regardless of demand still being there. Take a moment to think how many different types of business would be affected by this legislation and it just goes on and on, can our country take thousands of businesses being forced to close?

Alongside the mechanical regulations Brussels are looking to make wearing high visibility clothing a legal requirement also, while I personally favour a bit of high vis I choose my clothing carefully so I do not look like a Sam Browne catalogue but remain visible, there are days where I like to don my all black Held Slade suit and have a razz around the countryside though and this would then mean I would have to add high visibility patches, belts or other such awful items. The main issue here is that somewhere in the bowels of the E.U. legislation chamber someone has seen fit to take all of these choices away from us, because they can, and if this comes to pass what happens with insurance companies and their criteria? You were not wearing exactly the right amount of high visibility clothing when that car ran you off the road and drove off, oh well that would be your fault - craziness!

Do you ride a bike over 7 years old? Well if you do how would you like the idea that you are banned from entering major cities? Another loony idea to take away our fundamental freedom of choice. How would you also like technology to be built into your motorcycle that can take control of your throttle in place of you, sounds like a scary prospect but yet again the EU wants to see it happen

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) recently organised a demonstration ride to show our politicians that we have a voice, the net result of this was 40,000 motorcyclists took to the streets across the UK, riding at the legal bare minimum speeds on major roads en-masse, this action angered a number of car drivers and passengers as their daily lives were disrupted but I guess they either didn't know what was happening or hadn't thought about the knock on effect the legislation would no doubt have on their lives eventually. How many of us truly believe that when the EU passed this legislation they would stop at motorcycles, of course not! Cars would be next on the list and with it all of your repair centres such as Kwik Fit would be under threat, potentially leaving you to only have your servicing done at dealerships at full price.

40,000 motorcyclists have a huge voice and hopefully one that will be heard by the lawmakers, if not there needs to be more demonstrations but this time more directed at putting huge numbers of bikes in the capital and other major cities and with more of us getting behind it, our collective failure now to stand up for something we believe in will come back to bite us eventually otherwise and while UK residents are not usually the type to get up and make ourselves heard. It is all to easy to say you do not agree with a particular organisation's views in a number of areas so you were not bothered about getting involved, a lot of us could not make the actual ride due to various genuine commitments which is perfectly fair but what about the rest of you who could not be bothered? Thought it was pointless, that they would get their own way eventually? Well perhaps they will but unless we stand up and be counted how can we say we even tried to stop them...

For now the news coming back from MAG has not indicated if there will be further protest rides and other riders rights groups have failed to step in and offer their solutions as far as I can see so keep your eyes peeled, if you see news being posted around for further demonstrations get involved if you can and bolster the weight of those 40,000 who have already taken the first step for us. For information on MAG campaigns visit: http://www.mag-uk.org