metrorollah
OWHLY?
Well... in Europe at least, which will make export bikes ABS mandatory by reason of economics, if not by law. This is an article from the AMA journal, American Motorcyclist, February 2013. :thumbup
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EUROPE MANDATING ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON MOTORCYCLES
Could The United States Be Next?
The European Parliament has approved a proposal to require anti-lock braking
systems on all new motorcycles and trikes with engines larger than 125cc in Europe beginning in 2016.
Although the measure-adopted by a 643-to-16 vote, with 18 abstentions, on Nov. 20 in Brussels, Belgium-still needs to be adopted by each member nation of the European Union, approval is expected.
That means that-in the not-too-distant future-ASS could be on virtually all motorcycles models sold in the United States that are also available in Europe.
The AMA doesn't oppose ABS-the AMA recognizes the safety benefits of the
technology in most situations. However, the association has always maintained that ABS should be a rider's choice, must be affordable, and riders must be able to switch ABS on and off on dual-sport machines that are equipped with the technology.
The European Parliament's vote is a serious concern because of something called "global harmonization," which is a term for the process by which vehicles of all types-including motorcycles-are likely to be built to uniform standards worldwide.
Harmonization has advantages for manufacturers, who would be able to make just one version of a bike and sell it in every market. But it also has the potential to make vehicle standards passed in other parts of the world-like the European Union-the de facto law of the land here in the United States.
In 1998, representatives to the United Nations agreed to standardize vehicle technical regulations worldwide, including those covering motorcycle brakes.
On Aug. 24, 2012, the U.S. Transportation Department issued its final rule on motorcycle brake systems safety standards, in part, "to harmonize with a global technical regulation (GTR) for motorcycle brakes.
"The GTR was developed under the United Nations 1998 Global Agreement with the U.S. as an active participant, and it was derived from various motorcycle braking regulations from around the world, including the U.S. motorcycle brake systems standard," the final rule said.
While that final rule is very technical and really doesn't impact motorcyclists, it shows how the global harmonization process works, and it shows how decisions made in Europe could impact riders in the United States.
But U.S. officials don't need to wait for a global technical standard requiring ABS systems on new bikes to mandate it. They could simply make a rule, and that's what the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety wants them to do.
The IIHS has said it is "seeking a federal requirement that manufacturers equip all new motorcycles with this "technology" and "NHTSA [the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] has what it needs [in terms of research] to move forward with a regulation." While NHTSA so far hasn't indicated it is moving in that direction, the European Parliament vote may cause the U.S. agency to reconsider.
-AMA
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EUROPE MANDATING ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON MOTORCYCLES
Could The United States Be Next?
The European Parliament has approved a proposal to require anti-lock braking
systems on all new motorcycles and trikes with engines larger than 125cc in Europe beginning in 2016.
Although the measure-adopted by a 643-to-16 vote, with 18 abstentions, on Nov. 20 in Brussels, Belgium-still needs to be adopted by each member nation of the European Union, approval is expected.
That means that-in the not-too-distant future-ASS could be on virtually all motorcycles models sold in the United States that are also available in Europe.
The AMA doesn't oppose ABS-the AMA recognizes the safety benefits of the
technology in most situations. However, the association has always maintained that ABS should be a rider's choice, must be affordable, and riders must be able to switch ABS on and off on dual-sport machines that are equipped with the technology.
The European Parliament's vote is a serious concern because of something called "global harmonization," which is a term for the process by which vehicles of all types-including motorcycles-are likely to be built to uniform standards worldwide.
Harmonization has advantages for manufacturers, who would be able to make just one version of a bike and sell it in every market. But it also has the potential to make vehicle standards passed in other parts of the world-like the European Union-the de facto law of the land here in the United States.
In 1998, representatives to the United Nations agreed to standardize vehicle technical regulations worldwide, including those covering motorcycle brakes.
On Aug. 24, 2012, the U.S. Transportation Department issued its final rule on motorcycle brake systems safety standards, in part, "to harmonize with a global technical regulation (GTR) for motorcycle brakes.
"The GTR was developed under the United Nations 1998 Global Agreement with the U.S. as an active participant, and it was derived from various motorcycle braking regulations from around the world, including the U.S. motorcycle brake systems standard," the final rule said.
While that final rule is very technical and really doesn't impact motorcyclists, it shows how the global harmonization process works, and it shows how decisions made in Europe could impact riders in the United States.
But U.S. officials don't need to wait for a global technical standard requiring ABS systems on new bikes to mandate it. They could simply make a rule, and that's what the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety wants them to do.
The IIHS has said it is "seeking a federal requirement that manufacturers equip all new motorcycles with this "technology" and "NHTSA [the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] has what it needs [in terms of research] to move forward with a regulation." While NHTSA so far hasn't indicated it is moving in that direction, the European Parliament vote may cause the U.S. agency to reconsider.
-AMA
