SMALLER NOT SAFER?

What an interesting article on the Honda CB175 in RC216. I had forgotten that the law was changed in 1971 restricting 16 yearolds to mopeds. What I do remember is the change in 1983 which restricted learners to 125s. A workmate of mine was then riding a CZ175 and had to change to a Honda 125 that year... because the smaller bike was safer. The CZ could only do 55mph but the Honda was capable of 75. It was faster than he was used to!

Meuryn Howell, member 1674

Back when I was a Magtivist in my firebrand youth, I understood that most of the learner restrictions imposed from 1980 onwards were more to do with discouraging people from trying to ride motorcycles than delivering direct safety benefits. It’s ‘safety legislation’ in the sense that the barriers to getting a bike licence would become almost insurmountable, thereby automatically reducing motorcycle accidents simply because fewer people would be riding two wheels.

There’s a school of thought that even more regulation would’ve been imposed on us UK riders, had it not been for the Triumph’s significant contribution to UK manufacturing. So we may owe more to Mr Bloor than is immediately obvious…

Rowena