News
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Spring Service

Dropped my scooter in this week for a service at Retrospective Scooters prior to commuting to work by Vespa from April; a good idea to get it given a good once over before getting back in the saddle.

BMF News

We are affiliated to the BMF and their website always has a lot of motorcycle/scooter related news. At present there is an opportunity for you to have your views heard on PTWs (powered two wheelers) being automatically allowed in Bus Lanes. See https://www.britishmotorcyclists.co.uk/government-consults-on-default-access-to-bus-lanes-by-motorcycles/

Exemption from ULEZ charges

A great number of scooters and motorcycles aren’t exempt from low emission charges in existing or proposed schemes in London, Oxford and Cambridge.

Machines that are over 40 years old are exempt but if you have a younger machine that doesn’t comply with Euro 3 standards (usually built after 2008) then you wil have to pay a charge to ride into the area.

A number of older models will comply with the standards but will need to be tested by an approved centre. This costs around £175, but if it passes you will soon recoup this fee if you often ride or live in, a ULEZ area. The pass rate for 50-125cc bikes is approx 70%, with higher capacity machines having around a 60% pass rate. Some can be persuaded to pass by curing air leaks and replacing aftermarket exhausts and/or air filters.

The image below shows a list of approved testing centres available for booking at present

Info courtesy of P Henshaw’s article in BMF News

Hydrogen Alternative to Petrol

Big Four join forces on hydrogen

31 May 2023

Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki are getting together to research the use of hydrogen as a direct alternative fuel for petrol engines. The Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology group (HySE) will look into all practical aspects, to see whether hydrogen can work as a realistic alternative fuel for motorcycles while cars decarbonise through electrification.

The four companies have divided up the jobs between them. Honda will concentrate on model development while Kawasaki will look at auxiliary systems such as fuel supply and tanks. Yamaha will research making refuelling with highly volatile hydrogen a safer process as well as testing hydrogen engines, alongside Kawasaki.

“We are committed to this endeavour,” said Kenji Komatsu, Chairman nominee of HySE, “with a sense of mission to preserve the use of internal combustion engines.”

However, switching from petrol to hydrogen faces big technical challenges. As well as the need for safe refuelling and stronger tanks (to protect the fuel in a crash) hydrogen burns at a different speed to petrol, so engines would need major reworking to use it.

The ultimate obstacle is low efficiency and high cost. Hydrogen as a direct alternative fuel has far higher ‘well to wheel’ costs than battery-electric systems, or a hydrogen fuel cell. A study by management consultants Horvath & Partners found that battery-electric drive trains give 70-80% overall efficiency, hydrogen fuel cells 25-35% and alternative fuels 10-20%. Add in the lack of economies of scale for the motorcycle market, and filling up with hydrogen looks like a very pricey alternative.

Jim Freeman, Chair of the BMF, thinks hydrogen has its uses: “Still early days, when the big 4 cooperate on this level, it seems like they’re serious to me. No mention of Suzuki, I assume they’re included as part of Kawasaki. Hydrogen has always been on a par with nuclear fusion, sounds great on paper, but always seems to be just out of reach in practical terms. I wish them luck. Petrol was expensive in the early ICE era, without massive taxes, so if hydrogen works, let’s worry about the cost then.”

Written by Peter Henshaw

Top image courtesy of Kawasaki

Membership Liaison Role Created

Sadly, over the past few years, some of our members have suffered serious illness or bereavement, often with the news not getting back to their friends in the club until several weeks after the event.

As a club of  friends, we would like to offer our support in some small way at such times, even if only to send a card, to show that you are not alone and are in our thoughts.

To help at these sensitive times Carole Rose has agreed to act in the discreet role of Membership Liaison to pass on any news that you wish to share and to facilitate any other support that club members may be able to provide.

Hopefully members won’t find themselves in a position to use this service, but if  you wish to share any such details please use the ‘contact’ section of the website where you will be put in personal contact with Carole who will help to communicate your wishes.

Join the Veteran Vespa Club UK