Motorbike dealers last night welcomed new environmentally-friendly laws to outlaw the importation of noisy two stroke engines.

But classic bike owners said some of Bermuda's heritage will be lost because the legislation will force them to sell many vintage bikes because they will not be able to fix them up in time.

New legislation tabled in the House of Assembly on Friday bans the importation of two stroke engines on bikes from December 31, 2004.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said on Sunday the changes to phase in four stroke engines will result in cleaner and quieter bikes on Bermuda's roads.

Once the laws pass Senate this year, dealers will be able to bring in bigger sized engines, including four stroke engines up to 150cc - 50 cc more than the present limit of 100cc.

The legislation is in response to calls from importers who say manufactures in Europe and the United States are scarcely making any 50cc bikes now because of tough new emission standards.

This meant that hardly any bikes could be found to fit Bermuda's 100cc limit that would pass emission tests phased in on the Island earlier this year.

Judy Canale, the owner of Cycles International in Southampton, said: "It's what we've been asking for because of the unavailability of bikes that comply with Bermuda's 100cc restrictions.

"Because of emissions restrictions in Europe and North America, manufacturers have gone away from making anything above a 50cc two stroke because they won't meet the emissions standards.

"Because the 100cc four stroke is not really what people in North America and Europe want because they have bigger roads, they are starting at 125cc four strokes and that's why we are finding it very difficult to find bikes."

But Zach Sagurs of Bermuda Classic Bike Club, said the new rules will force many owners to sell many of their vintage stroke bikes.

He said he had been told by Transport Control Department (TCD) that any two stroke bikes which were not on the road by December 31 2004 would not be allowed.

A number of local collectors had large numbers of partially restored bikes, but they could not afford to bring all of them to a road-worthy condition by then.

Mr. Sagurs said of the 25 bikes he has now, he could only afford to restore about five by 2004 and would have the sell off the rest overseas.

"I'll just have to sell a bit of Bermuda's history. If I can't bring it back on the road, it doesn't make any sense me keeping it, and that goes for others," he said.

"We were told by TCD in May that we had until Cup Match to hand in recommendations, then I saw in the paper that the amendments have already been drawn.

"We would all hate to see Bermuda lose part of its history because of this law because I don't think it has been well thought out at all."

Mr. Sagurs said his group still intends to lobby TCD and politicians to see if amendments can be made before the bill passes the House of Assembly which would allow vintage two stroke bikes on the road after December 31 2004 if they are restored after that date.