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Major progress on Roadworthiness Testing in Europe, groundbreaking research in Sweden and the RSA making big efforts on distracted driving. All good for Irish motorcycling.

We aim to bring you information of interest to Irish motorcyclists on a monthly basis. If you have friends, club members or colleagues who would like to receive RoadRunner every month for free they can subscribe at our website, you can forward this copy or you can just send us their name and email address.

Remember, if you’re planning a motorcycle related event in Ireland in 2014, let us know by sending details to events@magireland.org and we'll add it to the Irish Motorcycle Events Calendar and the MAG Ireland smartphone app for free.

Your feedback (email to roadrunner@magireland.org) is always welcome.

Editor

News from Europe where the MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) recently voted to adopt the compromise text on Roadworthiness Testing agreed last December.

This compromise proposal states that testing for motorcycles is postponed until at least 2022.

If - during the five years prior to that date - Member states take adequate measures to improve the safety of motorcycles then testing can be waived. 

In the event that Member States do introduce a test for whatever reason, they can now decide how and how often the test will take place. 

MAG Ireland is broadly happy with the outcome but we remain concerned that the proposal continues to link testing to casualties despite the overwhelming lack of evidence to support such a claim.

It's good news for dealers and workshops too as the original proposal preventing them having any connection to testing was also overturned by the combined efforts of MAG Ireland & FEMA. Should a test be introduced in 2022, the way is now open for the motorcycle sector to benefit.

More info

MAG Ireland was recently made aware of the outcome of an expert group review of the Third Driving License Directive (3DLD) which introduced the A2 category.

The review clarified the intended implementation of the A2 category, and specifically, the power requirements and limits.

Cruically, the expert group interpretation differs from that taken by the Irish authorities, and we have therefore put this clarification to the relevant bodies from whom we await a response.

We'll be reporting further on this in due course.

For those of you who are into the rally scene, or the racing scene for that matter, the first edition of the Irish bikers Bible for 2014 has hit the shops.

Packed with rally and racing news and features plus the most comprehensive rally and events calendar in print, the new edition is available from the following stockists:

• Car L Parts, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
• White Knuckles Motorcycles, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
• GTS Tyres, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh
• Evolution Motorcycles Ireland, Kildare, Co. Kildare
• Hamill and Sons Motorcycles, Kildare, Co. Kildare
• Harrys Bike Gear and Shoe Repair, Ballina, Co. Mayo
• Paddy Costello, Central Motorcycles, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
• Waterford Harley Davidson, Waterford, Co. Waterford
• Egan Tyres, Ballymahon, Longford
• Longford Motors, Longford
• Scott Motorcycles, 281, Harold’s Cross Road, Dublin 6

Editor Brenda Brennan has also recently overhauled the Irish Bikers Bible web site and copies can now be purchased online.

For more information see: http://irishbikersbible.ie

"It is already an offence to hold a mobile phone while driving and I will shortly strengthen the law by prohibiting completely the practice of texting while driving. This will be done by regulation."

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar at the Road Safety Authority International Conference on Driver Distraction in Dublin Castle on Thursday 20th March

Dr. Varadkar also plans to increase the penalty points for using a mobile phone while driving from two to three points later this year.

The conference was hosted by the RSA and attended by MAG Ireland.

The RSA and the Gardaí have announced the launch of a national ‘Switch Off Before You Drive Off’ campaign on Thursday 27th March, an initiative which we in MAG Ireland are happy to support.

For more, see our web site

Dolf Willigers (MAG NL) has written a piece for FEMA which looks at the background to various proposals for mandatory motorcycle clothing.

Dolf looks at several EU directives, primarily concerning health and safety for employees, and explores how pressure on the EU Commission to extend these standards beyond the workplace may yet affect us all.

MAG Ireland is a founder member of FEMA, The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations, through which we co-ordinate and work with other national organisations such as MAG NL for the benefit of all riders.

Read Dolf's take on Europe and the potential implications of mandatory riding gear. Click here.

In the March issue of Bike Buyers Guide MAG Ireland looked at the RSA’s proposals to extend mandatory high visibility clothing to all riders and pillions. Thanks to all of you for your feedback.

The April issue is in shops now, and in it we delve into the hard numbers behind motorcycle and scooter sales in Ireland.

What do the stats tell us about the state of the industry, and is there a way forward, or is motorcycling going the way of the Dodo?

Read our take exclusively in the April edition of Bike Buyers Guide.

Of course if that's not your thing, there's also Roland Brown with his first impressions on the new BMW R1200RT. Elsewhere, there's the new Panigale 899 and a very special CBR 1000 RR from NDM while on the used bike front, there's an in depth look at the K1300S. Stephen English interviews MotoGP star Dani Pedrosa and back home there's the first race of the season, the Honda 50 8 hour in Mondello.

All for only €4.99 including a free Bridgestone sticker sheet. Available from all good newsagents nationwide.

The story here is the styling.

Some numbers: NC750X 244kg 54bhp 80mpg

More info

Photo:Honda

We asked you last issue, and thanks to your response we've just recently hit first big Twitter milestone of 500 followers!

Of course if you're not already following us on Twitter, all we're asking is that you pop over to the MAG Ireland twitter page and click on follow :)

Apart from helping us reach our target, Twitter is a handy way of keeping up with MAG Ireland activities and you'll occasionally find exclusive special offers or competitions too. Thanks for helping us spread the word!

MAG Ireland on Twitter! https://twitter.com/mag_ireland/

MAG Ireland is supporting organ Donor Awareness Week which runs from 29th March to 5th April 2014.

Last year was a record year for organ transplants in Ireland with 294 organs transplanted including 11 double transplant operations.

That has made a huge difference in the lives of those patients and their families.

The focus of Organ Donor Awareness Week, which is organised by the Irish Kidney Association and supported by the Irish Donor Network, is to raise awareness about the ongoing and ever increasing demand for transplantation, which relies entirely on the public for organ donation.

More info on our web site.

Thirty four percent of motorcyclists killed in 2011-2012 did not have a valid license. A majority of this group were drunk or influenced by drugs and didn’t own the motorcycle they were riding.

That's the outcome of research carried out by SMC Sweden, the Swedish equivalent of MAG Ireland.

The findings call into question the way in which motorcycle accident stats are used as a basis for further regulation or restrictions.

Indeed, the authors point out that the changes of A-license regulation have not led to a reduction in accident rates.

MAG Ireland congratulates our colleagues in SMC Sweden on the remarkable work which went into this study, and we're looking at what the implications may be in the Irish context.

For the full details see the FEMA web site - click here.

Following a strong January on low volumes, data released by German motorcycle industry association IVM shows that the positive trend of motorcycle and total PTW registrations in Germany continued in February.

Total PTW sales in Germany were up +52.5 percent in February (+24.3 percent in January), leaving the market up +46.5 percent cumulatively for the first two months of 2014.

In addition:

Italian PTW registrations up for first time in 18 months

For the first time in 18 months, and only the third time since January 2012, total PTW registrations in Italy were up by +10.3 percent in February 2014 at 9,670 units, according to figures released by the Italian motorcycle trade association ANCMA.

Source: IDN

MAG Ireland represents Irish riders and is funded by Irish riders. We aim to keep the membership cost and process as low and uncomplicated as possible:

Has your membership expired? We’ve recently completed the process of transferring over to a new membership management system and as a result some members may not have received a renewal notice in a timely manner. If your membership has expired, we’d really appreciate your continued support with a renewal online at www.magireland.org/membership

Not a member? MAG Ireland works tirelessly on behalf of all Irish riders but we can only do that with the financial support of our members subscriptions. It costs just €25.00 for a years membership, that’s less than 7 cent per day. Not only that but we aim to save you the cost of your membership many times over via our exclusive vouchers and our group discount scheme. If you can’t stretch to a membership subscription but you’d still like to help, just click the donate link on the menu at www.magireland.org and give whatever you can.

Get your member-only discounts - Following feedback from members we’ve made it even easier to claim your member discounts with a link on the top right hand side of the web site. All you need is your membership number to potentially save the cost of your membership many times over with great discounts like 10% off at all Halfords stores. http://www.magireland.groupscheme.com

MAG Ireland members have exclusive access to our online group scheme which has recently been updated with a range of new offers including 10% discount on all orders from flowersdirect.ie, a 6% discount on gift vouchers for use at Boots stores and 2% Cashback on purchases at Curry's/PC World.

Of course that's all on top the the huge range of existing discounts on everything from consumer electronics to weekend breaks to car accessories.

If you haven't looked lately, dig out your membership number click here and see what you could be saving today!

The brand new Ducati Diavel made its first public appearance at a special preview presentation in Geneva, during the prestigious Volkswagen Group Night on the eve of the 84th Geneva International Motor Show.

Source: IDN

Highlights: 

• Saturday 12th April,  Clan Na Gael Rally, Shanks Mare, Summerhill, Co.Meath
• Sunday 13th April, Drag Race - West Cork Motorcycle Club, venue TBC.
• Sunday 13th April, Midland Toy Run presents Easter Egg Hunt in aid of Beathany House & Mullingar Hospital Childrens Ward.

For full details and more events check out our calendar.

Organisers: To add your event, send an e-mail to events@magireland.org with a brief description of the event, facebook or web site link and the contact details of the organiser. 

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Previous issues can be seen here: (May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December).

You can also follow us on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, RSS and download our smartphone app.

MAG Ireland is specifically interested in hearing from riders with relevant expertise to assist the effort.

Areas include

• Civil/Roads engineers for barrier and parking issues
• Accountancy
• Journalism/copywriter
• Research (accidents / legal / roads / international / political)

We are also interested in hearing from riders with a specific issue or campaign which they are pursuing at an individual level or local level.

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We aim to bring you information of interest to Irish motorcyclists on a monthly basis. Please feel free to forward this on to other Irish riders. If you are in a club we'd particularly appreciate if you could forward it on to the other club members.

If you have friends or club members who would like to receive RoadRunner every month they can sign up at our website or you can just send us their name and email address.