Scene: Interview with IVM President Hermann Bohrer

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Scene: Interview with IVM President Hermann Bohrer
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Scene: Interview with IVM President Hermann Bohrer

Scene: German motorcycle industry association
Interview with IVM President Hermann Bohrer

Hermann Bohrer, Head of the BMW motorcycle factory in Berlin and President of the German Motorcycle Industry Association (IVM), about the new EU driving license, which will be valid in Germany from January 2013, and the planned EU type approval for new motorcycles.

Berit Horenburg

06/23/2010

Born in 1956 in Vohburg, Bavaria, Hermann Bohrer joined BMW in Dingolfing as a skilled worker in 1975. In 1998 the master craftsman was promoted to head of engine assembly at the BMW engine plant in Steyr, Austria. Three years later he was in charge of the production of chassis and drive components in various BMW plants before he was appointed Head of Rolls Royce Cars Manufacturing in England in 2003. Since 2006 he has been head of the BMW motorcycle factory in Berlin and a member of the BMW Motorrad management team.

What do you think are the sticking points of the new EU driving license regulation??

Motorcycle training in Germany is already very comprehensive and of high quality, so that we do not want the EU driving license regulation to be tightened any further, but rather to liberalize certain points. Small motorcycle driving license 50 cubic meters with 15 instead of 16 years, extended inclusion of the 125 A1 class in the car driving license and no unnecessary difficulty when climbing between the two-wheeled classes are the most important points, including the inclusion of three-wheeled vehicles in the car driving license Preserves and creates potential for the motorcycle industry for the future development of new vehicle concepts.

How do you intend to get more young two-wheeler pilots excited about 50 cubic scooters as their first motorization??

The 50 cubic class is the entry point for young people who, after positive experiences, remain loyal to the motorcycle and scooter. At the same time, the 50 cubic vehicles guarantee mobility for young people who are dependent on this type of motorization, especially in less well-connected regions. The IVM has been working intensively for years to spread the idea of ​​two-wheelers among young people. Thanks to the cooperation with musicians, actors and stars from the game scene, the IVM is able to record more than 16,000 visitors a day on the first motorcycle video blog portal www.vivalamopped.com.

What arguments do you use to convince politicians to include the 125 driving license in the car driving license??

125cc light motorcycles are affordable mobility both in cities and on country roads. Low purchase price, low consumption and significantly less space required in stationary and flowing traffic are convincing arguments. We now want the 125cc light motorcycles to be able to be used in Austria not only with a car driver’s license from before April 1, 1980, but also after five years of having a car license and, for example, six hours of driving according to the model.

Keyword: EU type approval. How real is the danger of a 100 hp limit?

In the context of EU type approval, the question of a possible 100 HP limit was thrown into the discussion in Europe. The European manufacturers association ACEM, like the IVM, has spoken out against such a limitation, since the handling of the vehicle determines the level of safety and not the service provided.

What fears do you have, what the planned EU directive for the homologation of new Motorcycles concerns?

When implementing the directive on the homologation of motorcycles, it will be of crucial importance to work with a sense of proportion. For example, when it comes to exhaust emission limits, we expect politicians to ensure that developments that have dragged on in cars for years will not be caught up on motorcycles at high speed. The durability of catalysts will also play a role in this context. On the subject of the mandatory introduction of ABS systems, I would like to point out that the industry had already made a voluntary commitment at European level by 2015 to provide 75 percent of all vehicles with Advanced Braking Systems. The supply and demand for vehicles with ABS are currently functioning well, so that, just as with passenger cars, we can trust the laws of the market that enable a steadily increasing rate.

How does type approval affect motorcycle sales??

The type approval of motorcycles influences the buying behavior of prospective customers if, for example, the vehicles no longer convey the feedback for the driver that he wants from the motorcycle due to extremely low noise limits. A suitable compromise has to be found here, since the series vehicles have already become so quiet that in not uncommon cases motorcyclists unfortunately resort to retrofit systems in an illegal manner.   

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