You?ve probably heard by now of the Department for Transport?s plans to ban tampering, of any kind, to road vehicles. That includes bikes, cars, vans, trucks, everything. Quite a lot of people have been getting pretty upset about it, and for good reason. Now though, in response to a petition signed by over 100,000 people to stop them implementing the new anti-tampering regs, they?ve started back-peddling.

As part of the D of T?s ?Future of Transport? review, the proposals were to ban any kind of ?tampering? with ?a system, part or component, of a vehicle intended or adapted to be used on a road?. In short, the government said they wanted us to stop us modifying our bikes with aftermarket parts.

So let?s briefly examine why people are so upset about it. In the original proposal it seemed fairly clear cut; you WILL NOT modify your vehicle in any way. That?s nonsense. What happens when you need new brake pads" Can you only use original parts (that are double the price, if not more)"
And what about the thousands of people that are employed in the aftermarket parts industry" They?d all lose their jobs.

And the notion that any type of modification to a vehicle automatically makes it more dangerous is, frankly, ludicrous. You might decide to fit some better headlights, making it easier for you to see, and be seen. Better brakes, more appropriate tyres, the list goes on.

Obviously there was going to be uproar. Well, I say uproar; there was a lot o...