I can't help but notice a deviation in the thread?
It started with a possible reduction of speed limits and a question about adapting time limits of IBA rides?
Suddenly it's about training and ABS and stopping powers etc....?
FWIW I would like to offer my humble opinion about.... well, the items...may take a while though - sorry about that.
My country, Belgium, is devided into three regions: Flanders, the Walloon Region and Brussels.
In Flanders where I live, the overall speed limit outside the villages/towns is 70 km/Hr (43.5 mi).
On the average, town limits are 50 km/Hr (31 mi) but in the center it is a trend to lower that to 30 km/Hr (18 mi).
In the Brussels Region it is simple: 30 Km/Hr (18 mi) everywhere (so Belgian Beer Riders beware).
The Walloon Region is for us motorcyclists the most interesting: 90 (56 mi) / 70 / 50 / 30 with the trend to lower the 90 to 70 and implement the 30 instead of the 50.
On the federal motorways the limit is 120 km/Hr (75 mi) but according to the congestion, it can change to various limits, even ad hoc.
Those circumstances make it almost impossible to archieve an IBA run in the given time limits, should one adapt ones speed to the legal limits.
Radardetectors are prohibited and can lead to impounding the vehicle.
Excessive disregard for the speed limits can/will lead to a day in court, losing driving licenses and penalty's high enough to be able to obtain numerous sets of tyres. I say no more but hey, those are my riding circumstances!
In order to archieve an IBA ride, I have the opportunity to go and ride on the autobahn in Germany.
All systems to detect speed traps etc. are forbidden over there and the overall german Autobahnpolizei are not always amused when dealing with a motorcycle-speeder.
My point is: an IBA run is not always a walk in the park and IMHO it should not be one.
If it would be easy to archieve an IBA run, everyone could do it and than I 'd ask myself the question: "Is the certificate still worth its value?"
Perhaps it is worth reflecting about the given ride formulas, but let's not panic for now and let's try and adapt and prepare ourselves in another way? Choose time and place carefully and if it is not doable in the given circumstances, change the planning or don't do it?
The European proposal of lowering speed limits specifically for motorcyclists is dumb, dangerous and clearly comes from an idiot mind that has never felt a motorcycle saddle between his/hers legs!
When I was attempting a BB2500Gold on sunday 22.10.2023 I was rear ended at the Danish/German border by the driver of a van.
It was sunday morning 04:45 hr, dark, straight road (E45) no traffic at all and 70Km/Hr speed limit. I had additional lighting and reflecting gear.
The driver of the van (who fled the scene btw) didn't seem to need to lower his speed to the given limit and hit me from behind, resulting in a crashed motorcycle and injuries all over.
This is merely an example to demonstrate that, should the European proposal comes into reality, our chances of survival become slim!
I don't agree that a motorcycle can stop in a shorter distance than a car. Of course it also depends on the circumstances of space and time.
Is the rider duly trained, how about the tyre pressure, is there any oil on the road, reaction time, etc....? It is not always a question about reacting to the event, but mostly about *how* that reaction is performed. Schooling, training and repeating that knowledge on a frequent base is vital to be able to react in a proper way, to at least have a hope of survival.
I admit that some motorcycles have additional systems that may offer some advantages (like my RT) but, talking about an emergency breaking maneuver, I 'd rather be in a car at that moment.
I'm not a physicist. I'm a humble police trained motorcyclist with 37 yrs of experience and - with a little luck - still able to tell the tale.
In these modern times there are numerous systems to assist us. Skills that are or are not present in the average driver/rider and are or are not learned before hitting the road. In my experience, a motorcyclist, in most situations, will always lose the battle (=>ATGATT) !
I'd like to end with the iconic words of Phil Esterhaus: "Let's be careful out there!"
Apologies for the length of the argument.
Ed.