News & Links

 

 

L Plate Tabards          

Compulsory for ALL Provisional Licence / Learner’s Permit holders since 1st December, 2007.  The rules state that this must be on a yellow fluorescent tabard worn over the person’s outside clothing, the letter ‘L’, not less than 15 centimetres high in red on a white ground in clearly visible vertical positions to the front and rear of the person’s torso.  Note the specification is for a “tabard” NOT a vest, i.e. jackets with a front, centre opening are not permitted.  MSA loan tabards to students during training. Those doing the Foundation Course are given one to keep at the end of their training. MSA do not sell them but they are available from Motomax (www.motomax.ie)

Motorcycle Tours        

Motor Bike Tours are planning two week escorted Bike Tours for 2008 to the wine growing areas of France, Italy and Germany. Tours are escorted by a Senior MSA Motorcycle Instructor, holder of a RoSPA Gold Award and Diploma in Advanced Motorcycle Instruction. All tours travel through scenic areas, generally away from main roads. Travel during the day at an easy going pace with regular stops and enjoying the local food and wine in the evening. Places on each tour are limited so early booking is advised.www.motorcycletouring.ie

 

Motorcycle Accidents  

Motorcycle Forensics Ltd provide an unique service for motorcyclists, insurance companies, loss adjusters and legal representatives in relation to any accident or claim in which a motorcycle is involved. They have a team of very experienced motorcycling experts with accident investigation, mechanical and legal experience who are able at short notice, to investigate any motorcycle related accident anywhere in the island of Ireland.  They can provide a comprehensive, fully illustrated report, normally within  5 working days of first instruction. Motorcycle Forensics (MF) also provide technical examination of the motorcycle and not just an overview. Every avenue of inquiry is examined in order to identify even the smallest element of negligence or contributory negligence in cases where the injuries are likely to incur heavy expense for the insurer or claimant.  They will act for or against a motorcyclist. Their aim is to reveal the true facts surrounding an accident and present these objectively. www.motorcycleforensics.ie

 

Scooters & Mopeds     

In the world of motorcycling some, who would call themselves ‘bikers’ often regard automatic scooters and mopeds as ‘girlie’ machines. This attitude owes more to ignorance than experience.  Automatic machines are often the better solution than the conventional motorcycle. In Rome one-third of all the vehicles are ‘scooters’. Given that with either a moped or a scooter you do not have to keep changing gear, and consequently, size-for-size an automatic machine can accelerate faster this approach begins to make a whole lot more sense.
            There are really 3 kinds of automatic machines. At the smallest, cheapest end of the scale are “mopeds”. Technically a machine of less than 50cc with a ‘designed’ speed not exceeding 45km/h. These are OK for short, urban journeys where speed is not of the essence. Having said that, even in the 50km/h zones, where traffic can well be doing 60+km/h one can start to feel like a minnow in shark infested waters. We would NOT recommend a moped for anyone with travel requirements outside the 50km/h limit. But, within those limits they are highly efficient.  They are not permitted on motorways and most are designed as single-seat machines.
            Next step up the ladder are scooters. They look much the same as most mopeds only they are a bit bigger.  The most common size is 125cc. They have the virtue of low capital cost and economy coupled with ‘sufficient’ performance; that is provided you are not doing much travel on roads with an 80km/h limit.  The range of machines on offer is prodigious, with everything from the ultimate in utilitarian to suave ‘executive’ type machines.
            Beyond that come the ‘big’ scooters. In our book any automatic machine of 250cc or above is ‘big’. Currently the biggest ones are the 600cc Honda Silverwing and the Suzuki 650cc Bergman.  You would find that a 250cc scooter can easily keep up with the pace of motorway traffic. For an outlay of under € 5,000, less than many a second-hand car, you can have a top of the range 250cc machine.  If your horizons extend to overseas trips with a passenger and luggage then one in the 500cc plus range would be more satisfying. At this top end of the scale you can pay anything from € 7,000 to € 10,000.
            Event the humblest machines have some under-the-seat luggage space. All can have a ‘top box’ added if you need more space.
            MSA provides special training for people wanting to learn to ride mopeds and scooters in safety.  We start you off on our computerized simulator which can be a moped, small, medium or large sized scooter as required. Then, in the safety of our training area you learn control techniques on a 50cc moped. Then, if you intend buying something larger than a moped, you graduate to a larger machine, such as a 250cc machine. Once you are comfortable on that we can take you out onto the road and show you the art of surviving in the jungle that is today’s traffic.
            At the end of your training we can carry out a Skills Assessment which, depending on the grade you achieve can result in an appreciable insurance discount.

 

Instructor Training

Barely a week passes without our being approached by motorcyclists who fancy the idea of becoming an instructor. Few realize how arduous and demanding a path lies ahead. The recently formed RSA (Road Safety Authority) are in the process of devising a procedure for “approving” driving (and riding) instructors. This is only in relation to the proposed Compulsory Basic Training concept. Note the accent on basic.  As far as MSA are concerned ONLY those instructors with the highest qualifications and proven track record are acceptable to us because we are involved in much more than just basic training.
            The first step a potential instructor has to take is to take and pass the RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) Advanced Motorcycle test at the very highest – Gold – level. This is a standard which very few riders achieve and for those who do it represents a huge amount of practice time and commitment. It is only a test of one’s own level of riding skills, it is not an instructor qualification, it merely qualifies one to take the next step.  MSA provide Advanced Training instruction.                    
Candidates then have to take and pass the 5-day RoSPA National Diploma in Advanced Instruction which takes place in Dublin. Belfast or Birmingham a few times a year. Early on in the course candidates are re-tested for their riding skills and have to show they have maintained the Gold standard. The course covers instruction techniques both on and off road for individuals and groups, theory and presentation skills.
            After gaining the diploma candidates intending to become MSA Associate instructors then have to spend 50 or more hours working alongside Senior MSA instructors before they can start to do individual instruction as MSA Associates. Once they have 200 hours of 1:1 instruction in their logbooks (within less than the last 12 months) they are then externally examined as to their suitability to conduct bike skills assessments for AXA and Quinn Direct insurers.
            In terms of equipment an instructor must obviously have his own machine, bike-to-bike radios as well as have or have access to a range of fully insured “school bikes” ranging in size up to “Group 8” machines and carry substantial Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance.