Restricted engine

[Frenchfrog]

FF.  Are there similar restrictions on auto's in France?, just curios

No...it started for motorcycles in the 80's and I'm pretty sure that it was to do with road safety...at the time there was a great main road network that was very well maintained but the motorways were not that extensive and boring to ride to boot. I spent many thousand miles riding them at much higher than legal speeds because radars and speed traps were pretty rare too.I think the death toll for motorcycle riders was pretty high. Cars were not perceived as a problem.What I find odd  is that there is still no road worthiness testing which has pissed off the EU bureaucrats.
Of course having special french models also played very much in favor of the official importers too as grey imports were impossible to register for road use. Several Friends got caught out like that and ended up with bikes that were only good for track days.

[Frenchfrog]

I've known Europe uses a tiered system about as long as I've been riding, but I didn't realize that they actually restricted bikes. I thought you just bought a moto in that tier, and when you're able and want to move on the next tier, you buy a bike in that category. If you wanted a V7, I figured you just had to 'level up'. Appreciate the lesson.

I'm also very happy that we proved French Frog correct. It was fun watching this thread go off on tangents-- like playing the phone game at a senior center:

The green horse stepped on a duck, what?
I remember hunting ducks when I was young. Ol' Miller used to let us go hunting on his property. And pheasant.
Pheasants used to be everywhere. Don't see them anymore.
Yeeeah, that Ol' Miller had a mean dog...

 Well as my handle shows I'm living in France and am half French...So when it comes to matters pertaining the country I live in then it would be logical to assume I know what I'm talking about. I also try not to just write any old comment that could be wrong or misleading and like to check my facts, especially when there could be a legal angle.That's why I posted the link to the official licensing web site.I might come across as being Mr Know all or Mr Tight ass but I'm really not that kind of person...when someone is in the shit I like to be able to assist if I can and not stand by the wayside and make cheap jokes.

[John A]

I remember that dog. He ran out and bit my cousin when we rode by on our bicycles. He was a mean one alright…

[Dirk_S]

Well as my handle shows I'm living in France and am half French...So when it comes to matters pertaining the country I live in then it would be logical to assume I know what I'm talking about. I also try not to just write any old comment that could be wrong or misleading and like to check my facts, especially when there could be a legal angle.That's why I posted the link to the official licensing web site.I might come across as being Mr Know all or Mr Tight ass but I'm really not that kind of person...when someone is in the shit I like to be able to assist if I can and not stand by the wayside and make cheap jokes.

No need to defend yourself, ami--you were the right person to answer the OP's query, and I'm sure one of us would've eventually directed them to another forum or site.

[Frenchfrog]

 

[jacksonracingcomau]

This did come up on here before, not sure how to find it
But
That bloke had somehow got an A2 nobbled v7 in US, I think
He Guzzidiaged his map number and someone else identified the number as A2
Pretty sure he then installed another map (world spec or Beetle) and got it running properly
Having access to free software to unnobble it beats dealing with the system imho

[Frenchfrog]

If you want to follow the letter of the law ,the registration documents for the bike would also have to be changed once the bike is de restricted Martin.You probably have come across French policemen : they will often go the full 9 yards and check every single bit of paper once you are pulled.If there are discrepancies then the big hammer comes out. It's one big PITA but if your unlucky then it becomes very expensive. Years ago someone I knew got caught like this...the bike was suspected to have been illegally tweed, got impounded and then put on a dyno to proving  that it had.Massive fine and the bike was crushed over a few HP over the legal limit.Not a common occurrence but it does happen...and the insurance is de facto void anyway so have a crash that involves someone else and you get screwed there too.

[lazlokovacs]

Hey FrenchFrog

I'm a long time French resident, (since lycée)  do you know if the 100bhp law is still in effect?

at least my Griso 'only' puts out 91bhp

last time I was pulled over by the cops on my bike in France, the copper went on for so long about how much he loved bikes and Iron Maiden(!) I started actually wishing the bloke would just give me the fine instead!

[Frenchfrog]

 
No it's been repealed since 2016 I think .Not sure where one would stand if one de restricted a French bike from prior to that date but likely to be OK.  I avoid as much attention from the Gendarmes as possible and spent good money on some Mistral mufflers because they just pass under the noise barrier.That's one of the latest fads here ...noise pollution but as you surely know most of it is done by the scooters and tiddlers .
Whereabouts are you living ?