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The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) has rubbished reports that it has approved of a bike that automatically forces its rider to keep to speed limits.

It was recently reported by the Motor Cycle News magazine that the BMF had given its full blessing to the Suzuki Bandit 650, which is the first ever bike to use intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) technology and can lower its own speed if the biker insists on going too fast.

However, the BMF has issued a strong statement denying that it has given its full approval as, while it did test out the vehicle without any accidents arising, it did so with no traffic present and therefore the results cannot be said to correspond with real life circumstances.

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The statement clarified: "The BMF's position is that while a voluntary speed advisory system might well have its advantages from a rider perspective in helping to avoid inadvertent speeding, intervention, by whatever means, is unacceptable."

Upon entering an area where a new speed restriction applies, the ISA technology advises the rider to respect this limit, firstly through a visual and audible signal and should this be ignored then via the seat vibrating.

It is only if both these warnings are ignored that the interventionist aspect of the system kicks in, gradually closing the throttle itself and forcibly bringing the bike's speed down.

06/01/09 - Bike deaths fall in Northern Ireland. While the number of bike deaths fell in Northern Ireland last year, there are more things motorcyclists can do to remain safe on the roads, according to a superintendant.

06/01/09 - Bikers warned about cold conditions. Drivers and bikers on the road in Hampshire have been urged to take extra care in cold and frosty conditions by a councillor in the region.

05/01/09 - Riders warned following bike thefts. Police are to issue letters to riders in Jarrow and South Shields warning them lock up their bikes - or risk losing them to thieves.

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