Forget the bikes vs cars debate, another age-old problem for riders seems to be with the law. The often hateful relationship between cops and riders seems to be based on the feeling that motorcyclists are unfairly targeted, which is sometimes the case. Although we all know of some idiot who wheelies at high speeds and deserves to be booked - some motorcylists, like many drivers, unfortunately do sometimes ride like they’re above the law.

Punitive or not, here are a couple of measures in the world to help out in rider safety and enforce the law. The Brits are using what MCN calls a “stealth video bike”: a 140-hp, black Yamaha FJR1300 motorcycle with an in-built video system. The system records to DVD and allows police officers to add a running commentary on any observed offences.

The bike is being used to target motorcyclists, but could also be employed in detecting traffic offences by other motorists. The interesting thing is that the video recordings are reportedly going to be used more as an education device for riders. The police say:

Continue reading: Motorcycles vs police: camouflage radars and "stealth video bikes"

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The 2010 international Stelvio motorcycle meet has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to organisational difficulties. The announcement will be a big disappointment for the hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world who wanted to participate in the legendary event. The 2010 Stelvio meet was scheduled for July 2-4 in Bormio but the cancellation calls into question the future of the event. A press conference tomorrow will shed more light on the decision, but anyone who loves the idea of doing the Stelvio Pass with a group of other passionate riders will be hoping this doesn’t become a pattern for the years ahead.

Source | Motoblog.it

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This amusing video uses a nature documentary format to satirise the ’secret life of bikers’. The only thing missing is commentary by David Attenborough, although the guy speaking comes close. This particular episode is about the hibernation of the biker species during winter months. Enjoy!

Source | TopSpeed

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The age-old war of four wheels vs two was taken up again with a guest post from Paul Crowe at the Kneeslider, over on car blog Jalopnik (which is also the day job of Wes Siler from Hell from Leather, as an aside). If you’re a petrol head, you’ll pretty much appreciate anything that’s mechanic and that goes fast, but eventually you’ll have to pick: the motorcycle or the car.

Crowe points out everything from maximising space and fuel efficiency, to performance, tuning, price, safer riders and as a cute ending, the fact that no motorcycle has so far ever been recalled for accidental acceleration. The comments clearly fill in the other side of the coin, citing weather problems, trips to the hardware store, road rash, and all sorts of more intimate reasons to do with the nether regions of the body (backseats and vibrations being pros and cons). See ‘Ten reasons motorcycles are better than cars’ at Jalopnik.com.

Photo | Flickr

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Saluting fellow bikers with the arm wave seems to becoming a lost custom here in Italy, be it because people are getting lazier or they’re becoming stuck-up snobs, but Frank the Real Biker has come up with this highly innovative and cheap solution, at least for the lazy motorcyclist.

Watch the video and have laugh, it’ll brighten up your Monday morning.

Source | fortyyearsontwowheels

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The New York Police Department has been instructed to target motorcyclists breaking traffic laws more than any other motorist on the road, apparently due to disturbingly high mortality rates among riders. According to Hell for Leather and a little speeding incident on an Aprilia RSV4 Factory in New York, the mortality rates could be mostly caused by dangerous riding on extremely bad roads. It’s expected that the NYPD has statistics to back up the claims of high mortality rates amongst riders, although they haven’t been released.

On doing 80 mph in a 50 mph zone (nearly 130 km in an 80 km zone), but going with the flow of traffic, Wes Siler reports that the officer who pulled him over stated:

“The NYPD is under strict orders to aggressively prosecute traffic violations by motorcycles more than any other vehicles.”

If we give the NYPD the benefit of the doubt, what’s shocking is that there is clearly a problem to such an extent for riders in New York, that the police department feels it needs to take these measures. The message? Go slow - for your own safety, not the fine you’ll get.

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London motorcyclists are continuing their 18 month protest against the Westminster City Council in London against parking taxes that was imposed on them.

After being ignored and their protests completely unlistened to, the protesters have now upped their demonstrations from once a month to once a week with what they call the Wednesday-Morning-Breakfast-Club’ (WMBC) protest ride.

A few hours before the start of the WMBC, bikers, who are registered with the No To Bike Parking Tax campaign, receive an SMS to advise them where to meet and at 7:30 gather at a roundabout or junction to cause massive traffic jams during the morning rush hour in the British capital by riding their bikes as cars and taking the space of a car.

The Wednesday morning protest will continue until the City Council sees the light and abolishes the parking tax.

Check out more videos after the jump.

Continue reading: London Bikers Continue Parking Fee Protest (w/video)

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These pics were sent to us by Steve and show his 1997 Honda VFR750F with handicapped plates, in what he describes as the best custom plate ever. In Steve’s words:

In the way of back-story, I had a surgery that went bad, real bad, 18-months-in-a-coma bad… And the doctors said I’d never walk again - let alone ride - and that if I worked really hard, I’d be able to sit up in a wheelchair at the nursing home…

That was 13 months ago and I’m walking - albeit with the aid of the cane you’ll notice in my nifty holder there on the back and better yet, riding to boot ;) So NOT A WHEELCHAIR is my little victory and finger in the eye of the “experts” ;)

From the team at TwoWheels and all the readers, a big congratulations to Steve on his recovery and our very best wishes for a long and prosperous riding future!

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

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Over 550 New Zealand bikers got together to protest against the Govenment’s proposed hike on ACC levies.

Under the proposed levies, owners of bikes over 610cc will have their annual ACC levy increase from $252.69 to $745.77, for medium-sized bikes the increase would be from $252 to $511 and moped owners would face a $257 levy.

What surprised us wasn’t the the numbers of bikers in the protest, but the fact that ACC minister Nick Smith met with the protesters and there wasn’t any police or secret service guys hanging around, something that would have never happened here in Italy.

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This video shows us one of four protests that took place in Israel against the Finance Ministry’s decision to raise insurance fees for motorcycle owners.

It seems that these protests hasn’t moved the Government in rethinking their decision, so other Israeli bikers in Tel Aviv, intensifying their protest this time by carrying signs that read “They are leaving us without coverage” showed what they really meant, check out the pic after the jump.

Continue reading: Israeli Bikers Protest - Video

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