Just before the Christmas holidays it was announced that the govt had rejected the 25% thru light visor suggestion, opting for the 18% ruling.
This, even though the panel of 19 experts recomended the higher level.
The BMF spokeman Jeff Stone said:
'This decision is bad news, and worse still goes against the unequivocal support of the specialist BSI committee.
When govt ignores the views of experts and favours the unfounded opinions of do-gooders, it makes you wonder what is going on.
We will not let this one go.
We've worked long and hard on this and will continue to do so.
Commenting on the timing of the announcement Jeff added:
'The Govt has gained a reputation of trying to avoid controvercy by delivering bad news at selected times, this looks like another one - just in time for the Christmas holidays !'
On a different matter:
The Euro 2 limits for emmisions on new models comes into effect in April of this year, with new examples of existing models having to comply a year later. This will require a 60% reduction in the existing Euro 1 limits and it is expected that manufacturers will achieve this by air injection ( to the exhaust ) on 4 strokes and direct fuel injection for two strokes, though older models of two stroked may require a simple oxidising catalytic converter.
The Euro 3 limits will start in January 2006 for new models and in January 2007 for existing models, with a further 50% reduction in emissions required. This will also include a more stringent MOT test similar to that currently impossed on cars. Whilst some bikes may be able to achieve the Euro 3 limit using innovative engineering or the measures mentioned above it is likely that some models will require a closed loop 'cat' with an estimated 2% - 5% increase in purchase price.
Closed loop cats increase fuel consumption, are expensive ( they use precious 'rare earth' metals), can only work with fuel injected engines and are physically large - which will provide the engineers with design problems.
Closed loop cats require high temperatures to work so the full pollution reduction benafits are not achieved during stop start urban journeys, especially in cold weather.
End of report:
My view........................
reducing hydro carbons is not a bad thing if it is done properly.
And that means WITHOUT using cats.
What is rarely mentioned is that a cat actually produces far higher levels of pollution until it reaches working temperature.. Further, the( very ) obnoxious gas it emits has been found to be carcogenic ( sp? ). The use of rare eath metals in the manufacture of cats seems to be in direct opposition to a green policy, as the metals cannot easily be reclaimed after use.
And one lighter note to finish.
If you are considering buying a brand new bike in may be worth waiting until march next year ( 2004 )... Dealers with any old stock will be VERY desperate to shift it on as they will not be able to sell the thing after April 2004..
It has already been muted within the trade that all the above might have some knock on effects too..
If the dealers reduce the new bought in stock to try to reduce the chances of getting stuck with an unsellable bike, there is every chance prices will start to rise due to scarcity value !
That will also affect 2nd hand prices, pushing those up in parallel..
Sooooooooo.... logical conclusion is that if you wanna hang on till next year, trade in your old bike ( which will be worth more ) for a bike that is gonna be un0sellable ( therefore worth less ) you could be looking at getting a deal of your life !!
This, even though the panel of 19 experts recomended the higher level.
The BMF spokeman Jeff Stone said:
'This decision is bad news, and worse still goes against the unequivocal support of the specialist BSI committee.
When govt ignores the views of experts and favours the unfounded opinions of do-gooders, it makes you wonder what is going on.
We will not let this one go.
We've worked long and hard on this and will continue to do so.
Commenting on the timing of the announcement Jeff added:
'The Govt has gained a reputation of trying to avoid controvercy by delivering bad news at selected times, this looks like another one - just in time for the Christmas holidays !'
On a different matter:
The Euro 2 limits for emmisions on new models comes into effect in April of this year, with new examples of existing models having to comply a year later. This will require a 60% reduction in the existing Euro 1 limits and it is expected that manufacturers will achieve this by air injection ( to the exhaust ) on 4 strokes and direct fuel injection for two strokes, though older models of two stroked may require a simple oxidising catalytic converter.
The Euro 3 limits will start in January 2006 for new models and in January 2007 for existing models, with a further 50% reduction in emissions required. This will also include a more stringent MOT test similar to that currently impossed on cars. Whilst some bikes may be able to achieve the Euro 3 limit using innovative engineering or the measures mentioned above it is likely that some models will require a closed loop 'cat' with an estimated 2% - 5% increase in purchase price.
Closed loop cats increase fuel consumption, are expensive ( they use precious 'rare earth' metals), can only work with fuel injected engines and are physically large - which will provide the engineers with design problems.
Closed loop cats require high temperatures to work so the full pollution reduction benafits are not achieved during stop start urban journeys, especially in cold weather.
End of report:
My view........................
reducing hydro carbons is not a bad thing if it is done properly.
And that means WITHOUT using cats.
What is rarely mentioned is that a cat actually produces far higher levels of pollution until it reaches working temperature.. Further, the( very ) obnoxious gas it emits has been found to be carcogenic ( sp? ). The use of rare eath metals in the manufacture of cats seems to be in direct opposition to a green policy, as the metals cannot easily be reclaimed after use.
And one lighter note to finish.
If you are considering buying a brand new bike in may be worth waiting until march next year ( 2004 )... Dealers with any old stock will be VERY desperate to shift it on as they will not be able to sell the thing after April 2004..
It has already been muted within the trade that all the above might have some knock on effects too..
If the dealers reduce the new bought in stock to try to reduce the chances of getting stuck with an unsellable bike, there is every chance prices will start to rise due to scarcity value !
That will also affect 2nd hand prices, pushing those up in parallel..
Sooooooooo.... logical conclusion is that if you wanna hang on till next year, trade in your old bike ( which will be worth more ) for a bike that is gonna be un0sellable ( therefore worth less ) you could be looking at getting a deal of your life !!
