And what a mish-mash it is, with stuff that's legal in one country outlawed fifty miles down the road when you enter another jurisdiction. Stickers here, headlights there, filtering in this jam but not in that one, hi-viz in your pocket or not. I thought the EU was supposed to harmonise all of this stuff (no, don't answer, I realise how ridiculous that reads). And that's without getting a tiz about which emission zone you can enter and which ones you can't, and where you have to pay and where you don't. A couple of the old clunkers that I buzz about on are old enough to qualify for emission zone exemptions in some places but not in others, but trying to find where I can legally smoke and where I can't is incredibly hard. As far as I can see Fema doesn't mention rules for classic stuff (I didn't look that hard though)

I have come across a website that covers the whole of the EU (I think) - it is here. It is not very user friendly but the information about emission zones and other restrictions is in there - though somewhat buried. The data on the website is copyrighted but is available for PRIVATE use free of charge and to use the site you have to confirm that it is for private use only - I could not find out how to register.

As a rough guide to the site there is a planning section where you can enter the cities you are going through on your journey and from there you can find out the restrictions in terms of emissions and other access restrictions. It is a bit clunky and no doubt it will improve with time.

I have put the two links for FEMA and Urban Access into a new thread on the trip planning / trip paperwork section of the website so that it is easier for people to find rather than in an obscure, though related thread.

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/trip-paperwork/european-emissions-zones-restrictions-requirements-104409#post636729

The EU has never dictated domestic law to any of its members, that's a fallacy (among others) that was put about by the brexiters to sell their fantasy. EU law is first and foremost about harmonising standards that affect trading between countries. Which is why you'll see things like vehicle construction and emission standards mandated across the whole bloc, but not speed limits, alcohol limits, criminal law, etc.

And that's why I wrote "no, don't answer, I realise how ridiculous that reads" Attempts at humour are usually the first thing lost in translation :rofl: In the real world I'm well aware of the way the EU works, what its remits are and the limits to its impact on national decisions.

In the past twelve months I've done over 4K km in France riding provincial roads without any hassle from the French police. Even at traffic stops at the Spanish border they had no interest in a chat and rumble through my belongings.

Spain is interesting, I've come across a fair few traffic stops where they might ask you if you have documentation but as soon as they realise conversing is going to be problematic they'll let you on your way so just make sure to forget any local phrases you've picked up on the way.

Peculiarly, in Spain hearing protection is outlawed yet at every stop I had to make a point of removing mine to hear the amicable man in uniform and wasn't troubled for it.

oh and "no equipment with a screen must be present within the driver’s field of vision while driving." I guess they chose to ignore my GoPro, Phone and the bike's TFT display. Spain: https://travelinformation.eu/spain-traffic-rules/

I've heard of music headphones being banned in some countries, don't think that includes hearing protection. And the below link from FEMA makes no mention of any rather nonsensical rule about screens ;)

https://www.femamotorcycling.eu/cons...riding-abroad/

From the link:

There are more surprising laws across Europe, e.g. ones forbidding GoPro mounts on helmets.

In Chile it is being discussed to put the motorcycles registration number also on the back of the helmet …

That sounds like a hassle when you're riding multiple bikes, how many plates can the back of a helmet fit :(

It is supposed to lower the number of assaults committed by the so called “motochorros”. But on the bottomline a very bad idea. Hope they won’t do it.