Editorial
With the sunshine and blue skies accompanying spring blossoms in the hedgerows, the roar of exhausts or the staccato hammering of a Harley along the local by-pass, one could be forgiven for believing spring had arrived. It has certainly been the first good weekend of the year in this neck of the woods, provoking a multitude of bikers of all persuasions out onto the streets and roads of Berkshire. Let’s hope it is the first of many weekends to come. We might even get some nice weather at some of the rallies too, provided we’re nice to the Great God Ural in Irbit! Do you think we’ll have to sacrifice a holy Dnepr?
Martin.
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Left: **The All
New Ural T35 Diesel, with power compensator.**
Having a good time, like you do
with an MT9, 1984, NOT the Film |
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THE STEALTH BIKE (confession)
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There’s a Dniepr 11 at the back
of my shed.
Please contact Bynski through
the News
Bynski |
The Dniepr
11 at the back of my shed Is covered
in dust but emanates dread Bought on a
whim because it started first prod By a silly
old impetuous sod The wad of
crisp tenners stashed in my pocket Was eagerly
swapped for a Russian road rocket For 24
months the bike has lurked in the gloom Not polished
and preened at the front of the room The MT11
makes me fear for my life As I never
saw fit to inform the wife This Russian
road rocket more rust than cammo Will add
very nicely to her arsenal of ammo How I loiter
around with my spanners and oil Has never
been accepted as honest toil Instead of
fettling my sprockets and points in the gloom Why can’t I
fit a shiny new bathroom? Instead of
tightening spokes and adjusting my headrace It’s about
time I helped out around the place As the
months add up thoughts of confession get worse The Dniepr
just sits there like a festering curse This Russian
road rocket that filled me with wonder Looks like
it is now a bit of a blunder After 24
months do I confess my error? Or do I
continue to live with my terror Do I sell
without telling and squander my gain Or shall I
stand up and accept the pain |
A Bird’s-eye
view of the Dragon Rally
The 48th Dragon rally came at the end of a week’s exceptional snowfall
nationwide. Alan could hardly wait to test the Urals handling in icy conditions.
I concentrated more on piling in the layers of clothing. We knew the rally was
on Anglesey but the exact site would be revealed on reaching 'control'. We set
off at 9 from Abergele on the North Wales coast. The Dragon is our local rally –
just 60 miles down the road. No snow at home at all! But howling wind and hail
all Friday night. Through the Pernmaenmaur tunnels we were confronted by a calm
Menai Straits, sunshine
and
blue skies with the imposing snow covered Snowdon range beyond. A sudden sleety
downpour as we arrived at the control and saw the first bikes journey. Ty Groes
(the Anglesey racing circuit) was our destination. After welcoming soup and roll
we collected our badges, a red enamel dragon this year and the customary slate
coaters depicting a Mon lighthouse, also goodie bags of whiskey and chocolate.
My 8th Dragon and Alan's 20th one. Quickly pitched the tent before perusing the
bikes, ground good no snow. The Dragon always draws some interesting bikes,
sidecars, and characters from out of the woodwork. Sadly some people had phoned
to say they could not get their bikes out – snowbound! . We talked to a Guzzi
rider who had come over from Dublin on the ferry. It was his first Dragon rally
, he had travelled further in Ireland than in Wales to get here. I liked the
tepee with the wood burning stove, room for a little one? Alan thought there
probably would be. A bike track day was in progress against a backdrop of snow
covered mountains, the turquoise green sea and the Lleyn peninsular stretching
away into the mist. We chatted to FED members. The Griffin Club crew were
settled in. What had at first seemed a meager turnout became quite a respectable
one as more bikes and tents appeared, A brace of Bantams an old Lambretta the
cold weather brought the Urals out like a rash, less MZ's than usual, was it the
weather or have they become collectors items? Calm conditions for the excellent
fireworks (spasmodically between 6.00 to 8.30) The new band 'Naked' were eagerly
anticipated in the marque. They got everyone over excited with great renditions
of Hendrix, Stones, Lizzy, Beatles, ZZ Top, Bowie, T-Rex, Chilli Peppers to name
a few (lovely bluesy guitar). Unfortunately a speaker was knocked over in the
Mosh Pit, so I do hope they return next year if we promise to restrain
ourselves. Slept warm and snug in my sleeping bag but in the morning there was
ice in the kettle water so it must have been cold.
Overall a great
weekend didn't even get my wellies muddy!
Brief Report on MAG’s
efforts to allow fitment of right hand sidecars on motorcycles
first registered after August 1981
“MAG ~ The Motorcycle Action Group(MAG UK) is a lobbying organisation that
exists to protect motorcycling from unsympathetic legislation that threatens the
pleasure of riders.”
I have discussed our
concerns with MAG many times now, briefly:
1. Only being able to
register an imported old (pre 1981 Aug) sidecar outfit with the chair on the
right if there is proof it has been registered anywhere in the world
sometime in its history. No documentation
relating to previous registration and the chair goes on the left. The
DfT have already accepted that these new UK registrations of right-hand
sidecars are allowed!
2. Dispensation for those who imported a solo old motorcycle and had their foreign registration book taken off them in exchange for a UK registration by the DVLA (as is the current DVLA policy) and who now have no proof of previous registration to fit their sidecar on the right.
3. MoTs on twin wheel drive Dnepr MT16s that were 100% legally registered as motor tricycles under C&U regs between Aug 1981 and June 2003 and can no longer be Mot’d. since they do not meet current ‘Motor Tricycle’ wheel plan configuration! MAG so far have only tackled the application of C&U (Construction and Use) Regulation 93 that directly affects fitting of a sidecar to a motorcycle registered after Aug 1981. This affects the importation of new two wheel Ural outfits (sidecar on the right), but they are already bought & used illegally in the UK as we know from last Horizontal View publication! It also restricts the fitment of the many sports sidecars made in mainland Europe, but that is perhaps less applicable to us. I am disappointed that MAG have not yet discussed with the dft (Department for Transport) the aspects that more directly affect us, but they are working up to it, they have been for two decades so far.
These are a couple of recent emails MAG have had back from
the dft, edited to remove contact details.
**************
From: xxxx.xxxx@dft.gsi.gov.uk
To: yorkshireregionalrep@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:00:35 +0000
Subject: RE:
Dear Ms McFarlane
Thank you for your recent enquiry to my colleague Alexander Jones. It has been passed to me for reply as Alex has changed job within the DFT and no longer works on motorcycle regulations. We are aware of this issue but have concerns regarding the safety / conspicuity of RH sidecars. One option already discussed with stakeholders which might allay safety concerns regarding sidecars mounted on the offside, is a mandatory requirement for an additional ‘dip-beam’ headlight unit fitted to the sidecar.
There is a substantial amount of UK work involved in taking forward this option, which will also require agreement from the European Commission and other Member states before it could be taken forward.
I regret that I’m not able to give you an indication as to when this work might be undertaken but I hope you will take some comfort in the knowledge that we are still seeking progress with this issue.
Yours sincerely
DfT – Transport Technology and Standards
**************
11th March (I love their spelling, show good attention to detail!) From a dft
Civil Servant:-
.... has asked me to look after this. We have looked into
what might need to be done to allay safety concerns regarding sidecars mounted
on the offside in the past. The best solution seems to be to require an
additional light mounted on the side car, such as a dipped beam headlight, to
ensure the side car is visible to oncoming traffic at night.
The problem is that what seems like a simple legislative
change is actually quite a complex procedure involving agreement from the
European Commission and other member states and we have not had the resource to
take the matter any further. We can meet to discuss this further if you would
like. I am attending the Motorcycle Strategy Working Group on the 18th. If you
are going to be there perhaps we could discuss it over lunch.
**************
I am puzzled, as is MAG, as to why a change to UK C&U law requires “agreement from the European Commission and other member states”.
Any change will not affect any vehicle outside the UK, what are they on about, sounds like excuses and delaying tactics to us.
I wait with baited breath for MAG to start on our concerns.
Peter J. Ballard
**************
Federation of British
Historic Vehicle Clubs www.fbhvc.co.uk
“The Federation of
British Historic Vehicle Clubs exists to uphold the freedom to use old vehicles
on the road. It does this by representing the interests of owners of such
vehicles to politicians, government officials and legislators both in the UK and
(through membership of the Fédération International des Véhicules Anciens) in
Europe ~ there are 500 subscriber organisations representing a total membership
of 250,000”
I have been directly approached by the FBHVC to consider the COC joining their organisation. I am in discussions with them as to what they know about the problems that affect us and what they have done and achieved to date. I’ll keep you all informed.
Peter J. Ballard.
