Business – What do the main players in the motorcycle world think? –

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What do the main players in the motorcycle world think? ?

Business - What do the main players in the motorcycle world think? -

For the main players in the motorcycle world, there is no urgent need to establish motorcycle technical control, even if Honda seems a little more motivated than the others within the CSIAM. For or against the motorcycle technical control ? Interviews.

Site readers – who as everyone knows are a little more fortunate than others – know that motorcycle technical control has been seriously on the agenda in France for several months, following in particular the recommendations of the Economic and Social Council (read ).

They also know that "Honda is campaigning for two-wheel technical control to be quickly applied in France", because "a well-maintained park will guarantee better respect for the environment", as Florent Lionnet explained during a live chat with Site readers (read).

They have also known since today that the introduction of technical control will be proposed – and probably adopted – at the next Interministerial Road Safety Committee by the delegate Cecile Petit (read).

But while the UMP deputy of Vaucluse Thierry Mariani (also known for his amendment in favor of DNA tests in the context of family reunification) submitted to the National Assembly, on December 5, 2007, the bill n ° 475 aiming at "make a technical inspection compulsory for mopeds, motorcycles and derivatives"What do the main players in the motorcycle world think? ?

Will manufacturers and importers manage to come up with a common position within the International Automobile and Motorcycle Trade Union Chamber (CSIAM)? Will their advice be taken into account by the government ?

Site takes stock – and thanks in passing all the interlocutors who had the courage to take a position on a delicate subject, without falling into the trap of demagogy or tongue in cheek !

Honda: the spearhead

"Positions have changed a lot within the CSIAM", explains Pascal Delavenne, after-sales service manager at Honda Motor Europe South, to Site."Today everyone agrees, which was not the case a year ago. But there are still points to be clarified: the points on which the technical control should relate, the amount of the service and the place of the control. The automotive school wants it to be independent control centers like in the automobile".

"It is difficult to admit today that the automobile is subjected to a technical control but not the motorcycle", continues Mr. Delavenne:"it would be necessary to check whether the safety elements are in conformity, in particular what affects visibility and lighting: indicators, dipped beam and main beam must correspond to the homologation. I am thinking in particular of the mini-indicators which are hardly visible. There is also the lighting of the plates, even if it is true that it concerns more the police force than the security. !"

"It would also be necessary to check the braking system (condition of the discs, wear of the pads, fixing of the calipers), but without going so far as to go to the brake bench, which is heavy to set up.".

"Technical control also raises profitability problems, as this would represent significant investments. The technical control should if possible be done in the dealerships, because the motorcycle is a difficult job"…

"I am thinking in particular of the filling rate of the workshops: they are full in summer but empty in winter, which explains why the concessions are always understaffed. Technical control would make it possible to (re) enhance the profession of motorcycle technician, so that mechanics stay longer in the networks. The turnover is indeed much higher in motorcycles than in cars: 10% of motorcycle technicians leave us each year, even though they have been trained in the brand.".

"Technical control could be a solution to this problem. We must integrate the motorcycle as being a real economic field that makes a lot of people work".

"It is true that there is still debate on the places of control and its modalities. Technical control could be carried out by motorcycle professionals, but not in the case of used vehicles belonging to them following a trade-in, for example. Because in this case, they would tend to declare it fit without carrying out the repairs. !"

"It is necessary to reassure the consumers of current two-wheelers who are less experienced, in particular the users of scooters and the "commuters" who also ride on motorcycles.".

"A meeting took place within the CSIAM via the CC2R on the occasion of the Paris Motor Show. Another is planned, possibly in February. There is not yet a work schedule within the CSIAM, because it is in its infancy. I think the four Japanese are on the same wavelength, which was not the case a year ago".

"In Italy, technical control is carried out in concessions and in specific centers, but it mainly concerns 50 cc. In Germany, it takes place in certain accredited concessions, with a good level of equipment, and pollution is also measured. In Belgium, mobile units control the speed of the 50 cc".

"In France, the easiest thing to do for the 50 cc would be to check their maximum speed, limited to 45 km / h when we know that they are all unbridled.".

"The MOT will not be for 2008 because there are still many players to agree: manufacturers and importers, the FFMC, the Ministry of Transport … In my opinion it will rather be around 2010, if we have succeeded to find a common voice on the implementation of technical control".

"Among the points to settle, there remain the modalities – after how long, then the frequency, the prices, the points on which the technical control must relate and finally the place of the control".

"The average motorcycle fleet in France is more recent than the vehicle fleet (around 5 and a half years based on annual registrations, but many old motorcycles are in garages and only come out in the summer)", continues Mr. Delavenne."The vehicle inspection would also make it possible to identify stolen and made-up motorcycles that are in circulation"…

"Currently, all the dealers do not agree and do not see the point of technical control. The advantage of MOT is not that they would earn more money, it is that they would keep their customers! Indeed, the "real" die-hard bikers maintain their motorcycles well, they have tires in good condition, and so on. It is more the users of scooters who pose a problem, by ignorance on the one hand, but also because the mechanics are hidden, less accessible than on a motorcycle.".

"It is also an opportunity to show that the world of motorcycles is as citizen as that of the automobile, at a time when people often say bad things about motorcycles. Technical control must be practical and easy for the rider, without immobilizing his vehicle throughout the day.".

"But it gets complicated if we start talking about noise … The manufacturers will agree not to modify the exhausts. These modifications can call into question the technical durability of the motorcycle. But in Germany, bikers put back their original pot just to go for the MOT"…

"The Ministry of Transport has got in touch with the manufacturers, so it should not pass a law in a hurry before we have reached an agreement of all the actors", estimates Pascal Delavenne."They know that for many people, two-wheelers are their only means of transportation and they cannot risk seeing millions of users on the street. !"

"It is true that it is a small loss of freedom, which is always complicated in the motorcycle … But if we want the motorcycle to be accepted in traffic, it is also necessary to show the good sides"…

Yamaha: there is no rush

"It’s a little delicate subject", explains Alexandre Kowalski, communications manager at Yamaha Motor France, to Site."The motorcycle technical control seems essential in the more or less long term but there is no urgency, Yamaha Motor France is in phase with the manufacturers and the CSIAM".

"Without wanting to attack motorists, the user of two-wheelers is more careful than a motorist"Says Mr. Kowalski."And in terms of accidentology, there are no particular problems with the maintenance of two-wheelers. So there is no rush but if it were to be done, it would have to be done directly at the dealerships.".

"Most scooters and motorcycles are in good condition. You are necessarily more concerned about the condition of your machine when you get on a two-wheeler, you can’t play with that! Fewer and fewer people are doing the reviews themselves, but more and more electronic cookies can catch their attention when they go for a review".

"There is currently an agreement from players in the motorcycle world to say that there is no rush, that there are no convincing figures in accidentology and that if it is done, it must be in the networks because there are no independent centers. If the motorcycle technical control is adopted, the noise problem will be unavoidable and it will be necessary to be uncompromising".

Suzuki: the legislator must keep in mind
the specificity of the motorcycle

"The problem is thorny", confirms Pierre Laurent Feriti, communication manager at Suzuki France."If we refer to what is happening in Europe, the establishment of a motorcycle technical control seems inevitable. It is therefore not a question of being favorable or not, but of ensuring that this MOT is useful.".

"Indeed, even if many other measures seem to us to be more effective, if the technical control is implemented for the sole purpose of improving safety, Suzuki France can only be in its favor. The legislator must keep in mind the specificity of the motorcycle: many motorcycles are personalized, which requires us to be vigilant as to the very nature of the technical control. What should we check? Compliance or security ?"

"The motorcycle fleet is much smaller than the vehicle fleet and this imposes a different distribution method from the one we currently know. Technical inspection centers are not equipped to carry out motorcycle technical inspections today.".

"In addition, today we do not know the frequency of checks, the checkpoints and who will be in charge of carrying out the checks. If there is a technical control, it is imperative that the manufacturers participate in the definition of this".

Finally, for the other manufacturers questioned by Site, silence is golden…

CSIAM: there are more important subjects !

Thierry Archambault, new general delegate of the International Automobile and Motorcycle Union (CSIAM), tells us that the CSIAM does not yet have an official position, because "the CSIAM takes a position when it submits a draft regulation, which is not currently the case".

"The technical control could be opportune for the unclamping of the cyclos, provided that it is carried out in the network", continues Mr. Archambault,"but the motorcycle technical control does not seem to us to be necessary because of the specificity of the product: the bikers are much more sensitive to the state of their motorcycle than the motorists are it for their car. On a motorcycle, it is easy to notice a problem and the riders will immediately have it repaired, as they have no bodywork to protect them in the event of an accident. In addition, accidentology studies do not seem to highlight causes related to the condition of the vehicle.".

"If there has to be a technical check, why not. But it must be carried out in the network to be economically bearable for the users. One could even imagine that the control would be provided free of charge, if the network can make up for it by carrying out the necessary repairs. But it’s not urgent, there are more important topics! When we see the gas plant that required the automotive technical control and the costs generated, it is not easy to apply it to the motorcycle"…

FFMC: a big deal…

The French Federation of Angry Bikers (FFMC) already sees the obligation to pay "the bill for an imaginary illness". The association"calls on bikers to prepare for a strong mobilization on this issue which would establish an additional and unjustified tithe on their mode of transport". It is also preparing to coordinate, through its network of departmental branches,"the meeting of deputies concerned with meeting the expectations of the citizens they represent"and clearly reaffirms its opposition to motorcycle technical control,"ultimate manifestation of a state that infantilizes road users while presenting them with the bill for unnecessary treatment of an imaginary disease".

The debate is open … Stay connected !

  • Read also : (Site of January 10, 2008)

Interview by Eric MICHEL

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