Daily motorbike news, views & reviews
Motorbike Writer does not provide legal advice, but does update you on the laws and what is happening with policy and government authorities. Find out how the laws apply to you.
A Victorian rider is challenging a fine for not having an external compliance sticker on his Australian-approved motorcycle helmet as he claims the internal certificate label makes it compliant. Alasdair “Ted” Cameron says he was pulled over in April 2018 on his 2016 Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider S about 200m from his home in Geelong by one …
Public opinion polls on speed cameras consistently find they are revenue-raisers, prompting motorists to attack them or take unusual, sometimes illegal, measures to avoid them. There are many reports from around the world of speed cameras being attacked and many websites that sell “proven methods” for avoiding them. Attack methods In a recent attack spree …
NSW will join Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia with a new road rule requiring all motorists to slow down when passing stationary or slow-moving emergency vehicles. In NSW, WA and Victoria, motorists have to slow to 40km/h, but they have to slow to 25km/h in SA. Queensland has rejected Police Union calls for a …
Riders should head out into the country this weekend and spend their money in rural areas to help drought-stricken communities, but they should also be aware that motorcycle exhausts can startle horses. If you see a farmer or a recreational rider on a horse by the side of the road, pull your clutch in and …
Arbitrary handlebar height restrictions have created an excuse for police to conduct a witch-hunt to harass riders, says Zane Walton of Burleigh Bars Australia. The Gold Coast handlebar manufacturer has started an online Change.org petition to scrap the arbitrary limit of 380mm above the seat. Click here to read about the petition. Witch-hunt examples Zane …
Three defendants charged with speeding detected by police on LIDAR guns have had their fines overturned, prompting a call for riders to challenge any speeding fines they believe are incorrect. South Australian Ride to Review spokesman Tim Kelly says the SA Supreme Court judgements indicate that the handheld guns can be misused by police. He …
There may be many ways that you can avoid an accident but if it happens, it is important to know what to do. You have no guarantee of a safe drive or ride on busy roads and that is why it is necessary to have information on what to do once your car or motorbike …
Lane filtering rules still vary substantially from state to state and have not yet been passed in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT, almost four years after they were introduced in NSW. The practice is allowed and even encouraged in many countries. In the USA, California allows lane splitting at no more than 10mph …
The arcane rules and regulations on handlebar measurements are made more confusing for riders by the different interpretations and amendments of each state. Longtime motorcycle campaigner Wayne Carruthers says some states have not appreciated the 2005 and 2016 changes in regulations. “Many states still have clauses with the old height and width measurement systems which …
In the wake of recent fines for motorcycle exhaust noise and the controversy of roadside testing procedures, another issue that unfairly affects riders in some states is the lack of testing stations. Longtime motorcycle advocate Wayne Carruthers asks how riders can access test stations, particularly in country areas of NSW, Queensland and Victoria. “The issue …