Motorbikes wouldn't be legal if they were invented today
Discussion
ds ideas.Pothole said:
Yawn
Sorry - has this been done before? It was just a rhetorical question. I was thinking about how the government is being so restrictive with electric scooters, and figured motorbikes would be treated the same if we'd never seen them before. I'm not a biker, but I'm glad we used to have these freedoms at least.I was chatting to a BMW salesman, while waiting for a downpour to cease, about the C1. Apparently while they were desperately underpowered, and expensive to work on because the mechanicals were so buried in the bodywork, their owners were so devoted to the convenience of being able to ride to the station, or work, in ordinary clothes they would pay almost anything to keep them running.
threadlock said:
Pothole said:
Yawn
Sorry - has this been done before? It was just a rhetorical question. I was thinking about how the government is being so restrictive with electric scooters, and figured motorbikes would be treated the same if we'd never seen them before. I'm not a biker, but I'm glad we used to have these freedoms at least.66mpg said:
I was chatting to a BMW salesman, while waiting for a downpour to cease, about the C1. Apparently while they were desperately underpowered, and expensive to work on because the mechanicals were so buried in the bodywork, their owners were so devoted to the convenience of being able to ride to the station, or work, in ordinary clothes they would pay almost anything to keep them running.
One of those concepts that was almost but not quite there... Hopefully they'll reappear as battery versions in future - keep the weight low to aid stability, less to work on.MrGman said:
popegregory said:
What was the deal with the BMW one of these? Weren’t they hoping their legal team could argue you did t need a helmet?
The BMW C1 125, you don’t need to wear a helmet but you’d be mad not to, they were in production for a while, they were just never very popular. 
And, in the UK you DO need to wear a helmet when riding one!
Edited by black-k1 on Sunday 10th October 12:25
I think in certain countries yes, but you would not believe how popular bikes are in the Far East, places like Vietnam, Indonesia, India, the health and safety lobby would ban them in a second in the UK, probably pushed by insurance companies and their underwriters, they already make it very expensive and difficult for all ages to ride the damn things.
Stupidly if they educated the driving population better, made it cheaper and easier to use public transport, there would be less reliance on cars, bikes would be more popular and there would be less accidents overall.
Stupidly if they educated the driving population better, made it cheaper and easier to use public transport, there would be less reliance on cars, bikes would be more popular and there would be less accidents overall.
LukeBrown66 said:
I think in certain countries yes, but you would not believe how popular bikes are in the Far East, places like Vietnam, Indonesia, India, the health and safety lobby would ban them in a second in the UK, probably pushed by insurance companies and their underwriters, they already make it very expensive and difficult for all ages to ride the damn things.
Stupidly if they educated the driving population better, made it cheaper and easier to use public transport, there would be less reliance on cars, bikes would be more popular and there would be less accidents overall.
Nahh, because all weekend bikers ride like idiots. Still, as long as you cut the exhaust off to make it sound like a devil machine, you're OK - at least that way normal people (you know the ones with something between their ears), will know you're completely vacuous and imbecilic. Stupidly if they educated the driving population better, made it cheaper and easier to use public transport, there would be less reliance on cars, bikes would be more popular and there would be less accidents overall.
(Lights the touch paper).
bearman68 said:
Nahh, because all weekend bikers ride like idiots. Still, as long as you cut the exhaust off to make it sound like a devil machine, you're OK - at least that way normal people (you know the ones with something between their ears), will know you're completely vacuous and imbecilic.
(Lights the touch paper).
Poor effort, 1/10.(Lights the touch paper).
To answer the OP of course they would, just like e-bikes are legal; they even allow Segways and electric unicycles. What is the basis for the OP, apart from trying to cause an argument? What makes you think they would be illegal?
A more interesting hypothetical would be the existance of cars: would we commit to laying so much tarmac just to accommodate overly large vehicles unsuited to carrying one person?
66mpg said:
I was chatting to a BMW salesman, while waiting for a downpour to cease, about the C1. Apparently while they were desperately underpowered, and expensive to work on because the mechanicals were so buried in the bodywork, their owners were so devoted to the convenience of being able to ride to the station, or work, in ordinary clothes they would pay almost anything to keep them running.
I commuted a C1 through the city for 20 years until I crashed into the back of an HGV last year.- A helmet is not recommended by BMW. You are strapped in with 2 seatbelts, so in a collision, you are held firmly in place, so the extra weight of a helmet could risk neck injuries.
- I wouldn't say under-powered for city use. CVT twist-and-go so quick step off from lights.
- Time consuming to work on, so expensive if you can't DIY.
- Fell between two stools, not a car, not a motorbike, expensive to buy, questionable looks, so sales flop.
- Utterly, utterly brilliant to commute on due to excellent weather and safety protection.
Edited by BOR on Sunday 10th October 21:07
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