The large sections of the motorbiking mecca between Walcha and Port Macquarie is set to be reduced by up to 30km/h.

Royal Cafe owner Toni Heaney was "very concerned" Walcha would see a "massive reduction" in the tourism industry it had worked so hard to build up.

“Most country towns are dying, but ours is thriving and it’s in part due to the car and motorcycle tourists,” Ms Heaney told The Leader.

“About 90 per cent of our accommodation is taken up by riders, with most dining at the cafe, so it's like a double hit to our direct trade.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson “disagreed” the change would impact tourism.

“The amount of time that they will lose by slowing down and is minimal, in some instances one to two minutes,” Mr Anderson said.

But Ms Heaney has watched the niche tourism market grow during the last 10 years, and with it “the town has prospered”.

For 12 years Garry Hartas has relied on the motorbike tourist stopping off at his Gingers Creek Bush Resort.

“We basically survive on them, they come from all over the country to do this road,” Mr Hartas said.

“There are easily a couple of hundred on weekends. It's nothing for us to have a hundred people here for breakfast on a Sunday morning.”

While the majority come over the weekend, there are “bikes cruising by all the time” during the week.

“We get people staying here over night from Newcastle, Sydney and Brisbane who travel just to do the mountain,” Mr Hartas said.

“I have about 20 or so every Saturday night book accommodation. If the speed limit is reduced, their not going to go out of there way to come here.”

Long Flat Hotel publican Terry Bridge can bank on 50 to 80 riders every Saturday and Sunday.

“On the way back they sit out the front talking for a couple of hours, comparing their bikes – some have drink,” Mr Bridge said.

“To lose that trade would be devastating.”

His accommodation revenue could also take a hit.

“We get riders from all over that will stay here for two or three days,” Mr Bridge said.

“They go up the mountain in the morning and explore the other roads around here as well.”

NEW England’s motorbiking mecca may be reduced to just another route with the introduction of reduced speed limits along the Oxley Highway from Walcha to Port Macquarie.

Its beautiful scenery and challenging corners attracts riders from all over the state, but that could all change with sweeping speed limit reforms by the NSW Roads and Maritime Serives (RMS).

Almost 80km between Walcha and Long Flat will drop from 100km/h to 80km/h, while 27km of the mountain section will go from 100km/h to 70km/h.

A number of reductions on the coastal side of the mountain have already been implemented.

The region’s motorcycle enthusiast have started a petition to reverse the changes, which has already gained thousands of signatures in just two days.

Tamworth Ulysses branch president Mark Paynter said reducing the speed limit took away the route’s appeal for motorcycle riders.

“Every weekend there are riders who go from the coast and back or vice versa,” Mr Paynter said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson understood why riders loved to travel the route, but said “safety and speed go hand in hand”.

“Reducing the speed limit might take the gloss of the ride, but so will a crash and someone losing their life,” Mr Anderson said.

Mr Paynter was sceptical the changes would improve safety, as there would always be a small minority of riders who “get their ambition and ability mixed up”.

Since 2008 there have been 44 crashes along the road, with 27 involving motorcycles – 75 per cent of crashes were caused by speeding.