Big bike, little license [Archive]

LilSel

9th February 2007, 14:33

Not me... lol... Never been pulled over on bike fullstop *touches wood*...
not riding out of licence class... but guess I could do so n not get busted.. maybe?!... having never been pulled over etc... (waiting out time till full tho).

EDIT: Oh but did ride before getting licence... no bust

The Stranger

9th February 2007, 14:33

Something I've been wondering for a while... who does (or did) ride a bike beyond their licence class?

And did you get busted doing it?

No one I know would do that.
But if they did, you should probably keep a bit of a low profile, like watch where and when you speed and hoon maybe, then you may just get away with it - so far.

ArcherWC

9th February 2007, 14:34

Go the Cook Islands Licence

ManDownUnder

9th February 2007, 14:35

No one I know would do that.
But if they did, you should probably keep a bit of a low profile, like watch where and when you speed and hoon maybe, then you may just get away with it - so far.

Hence the anonymous poll ... I'm genuinely interested to know who/what is out there. I'm a goody two shoes when it comes to this shit so... (like that surprises anyone)

mstriumph

9th February 2007, 14:36

t'was in another country ....................

and, anyway, i'm sure there's a statute of limitations ...... :shifty:

skelstar

9th February 2007, 14:36

My friend rode his big bike for a year on a restricted, got busted once but got away with it. The guys an idiot and should have got his full ages ago (when he could but Im lazy....dammit!).

placidfemme

9th February 2007, 14:37

Well... I've never ridden a bike over 250cc's so I've been a good girl... only just got my full yesterday... so yeah I voted "other"

tide

9th February 2007, 14:40

Still on a learners and will wait for my full before I upgrade... I am way to friendly with Murphy and his law...

vifferman

9th February 2007, 14:40

When I were a lad, I used to ride bikes without a licence, anything I could get my mitts on (mostly my sister's boyfriend's CB350). When I had my looners (or was it called a 'provisional' licence back then? I fergit...) I did the same. Can't recall even seeing a cop whilst riding around in this non-legal state, but I'd imagine not much would've happened even if one'd pulled me over.

If I was starting off nowadays, I dunno what I'd do. I do know I wouldn't have an L-plate on my bike - that's just like wearing a target on your back as far as other motorists are concerned.

crashe

9th February 2007, 14:43

Nope never - all legit and legal here....... for all my full licenses.
Car, motorbike and HT.

Maha

9th February 2007, 14:50

Something I've been wondering for a while... who does (or did) ride a bike beyond their licence class?

And did you get busted doing it?

I did....never got busted cos' im a good boy.......rode my Yamaha 600 while on restricted, had to get back on Anne's GN to do my full and i must say it felt a tad light and the instructor asked me ''so what other bike do you ride''?...only did 1/2 hr of the 1 hour time frame....i passed..:yes:

Cajun

9th February 2007, 14:51

carryed pillion on learners/restricted
riden out of hours on learners
riden over speed on learners
riden larger cc bikes on learners/restricted[while carring passagers] 500cc, 600cc, 1500cc.
mmmmmm what else, not off top of head.

Never caught on any of the above.

i got caught with no license when i was 16 on a scooter, (also didn't have a wof or rego)

Maha

9th February 2007, 14:51

Still on a learners and will wait for my full before I upgrade... I am way to friendly with Murphy and his law...

Did you that Mrs Murphy thinks her husband is an optimist?

Maha

9th February 2007, 14:57

No one I know would do that.
But if they did, you should probably keep a bit of a low profile, like watch where and when you speed and hoon maybe, then you may just get away with it - so far.

Yeah well ya seen how hard i ride aye Noel?.....:scooter: did exactly what you are talking about, i had to ride it, i couldnt let it sit in the garage, bring on those corners......:Punk:

Go the Cook Islands Licence

Got me one of those, donation to the Cook Island Govt, around the block and you're away bro'.....:yes:

Squeak the Rat

9th February 2007, 15:14

Went straight to a full licence. Ha ha suckers.

Would probly be to paranoid re 3rd party liability.

Kinje

9th February 2007, 15:18

Only rode 250 on learners and restricted. Recently got full and thought about upgrading. Test rode some bigger bikes, but decided to keep 250. Can still learn more on it, and figure if I can really learn to ride small bike well, I'll be well placed when I do decide to step up to bigger bike :rockon:

Beemer

9th February 2007, 15:32

Being short, and also having never ridden a bike before, I was happy to stick with the RG150 and in fact I kept it for about four years before upgrading to a BMW F650CS. I think it very much depends on the rider - and it helps if they have had off-road riding experience too. I think it's a bit ridiculous for a large, tall guy to be riding a 250cc as most are pretty little.

Simon A

9th February 2007, 15:35

Beemer

9th February 2007, 15:48

Interesting. I'm on my learners and am considering an upgrade in a few weeks...to an ER6N. I'm still on my learners but I'll probably go ahead with it. Seems that not many people get caught, I am a little concerned about the insurance though.

I think that is the main reason people worry about doing it. It could be an expensive lesson if you have an accident and the insurance company refuses to pay out.

DUCATI*HARD

9th February 2007, 16:40

i have rode bikes for the last 15years without a license at all,now i have a full:)

Simon A

9th February 2007, 17:17

I think that is the main reason people worry about doing it. It could be an expensive lesson if you have an accident and the insurance company refuses to pay out.

It's not that they won't pay out, more that they won't give me the insurance in the first place!
It's silly really, I could easily have my full by now but I've been lazy. Nevertheless, 1 year without a bike and all this sunny weather has really got me itching to get back on one :scooter:
edit; Hmmm ,something else I just thought about, if someone hits you and you're riding outside your restrictions would it be tricky to get anything out of them?

Karma

9th February 2007, 17:55

I never had a learner or restricted license, straight to a full for me :D

Back Fire

9th February 2007, 18:07

rode a 600 on my restricted for a little while... BUT it was legal, ala exemption

JimO

9th February 2007, 18:53

didnt have a restriction when i went in 1975

Motu

9th February 2007, 20:08

When I had a learners licence you could ride any size bike you liked....but your rego label was marked learner.So if you rode a bike without a learner rego label you were a bad boy...and I was a bad boy.My brother was older than me,but had less riding experiance....and had a full motorcycle licence,while I was on a learner.I used to ride his bikes....got caught and had to go to court and everything.Serious bad thing to do man.

Grinner

9th February 2007, 21:34

Passed my licence first go. Got my first ticket about an hour later, had my first off another hour after that. But I was legal.

Deviant Esq

9th February 2007, 21:35

I've never broken the cc limitation of my learner or restricted, only ever ridden my NZ250. Been on a GSXR750 at rather silly velocities... only I was only the pillion seat. ;)

All of the other learner licence conditions except the "must not carry a pillion passenger" I totally disregarded. I never bothered with my L plate until I went for my restricted. I was out after 10pm frequently (and still ignore it on my restricted), and I never bothered with the silly 70km/h learners limit. Bring on the full licence, and I'll get a bigger bike. But not until then. No, down boy! :mellow:

And no, never been pulled over while on the bike yet.

Ixion

9th February 2007, 21:41

When I had a learners licence you could ride any size bike you liked....but your rego label was marked learner.So if you rode a bike without a learner rego label you were a bad boy..,,.

I don't ever remember getting one of them. I remember them being round just don't ever remember getting one for myself. But I'd have thought the traffic cop would have checked it. I know that later I had quite a few bikes that had the L sticker, I never bothered changing it, noone took any notice at all of them

Oddly, I can't remember how cars worked, I don't think they had to have an L sticker ?

KLOWN

9th February 2007, 21:58

carryed pillion on learners/restricted
ridden out of hours on learners
ridden over speed on learners
ridden larger cc bikes on learners/restricted[while carrying passengers]
mmmmmm what else, not off top of head.

all of the above + riding while disqualified

got caught riding wile disqualified because of an accident I was involved in, but was on my 150cc at the time

KLOWN

9th February 2007, 22:06

as a side note... an interesting conversation my gf had with her work collegue (who rides bikes)

lady:do you need a lift home?
gf: nah, my boyfriend is picking me up on his bike
ladywhat license is he on?
gf:learners
lady: he should be careful picking you up, if the cops c a small cc bike and an L plate with passangers you'll get pulled over
gf:it's ok he rides a 400cc and dosen't put on his L plate oh, and hes disqualified at themoment so it dosen't matter that he is on his learners
lady: :gob:

:rofl: :rofl:

KLOWN

9th February 2007, 22:10

It's not that they won't pay out, more that they won't give me the insurance in the first place!
It's silly really, I could easily have my full by now but I've been lazy. Nevertheless, 1 year without a bike and all this sunny weather has really got me itching to get back on one :scooter:
edit; Hmmm ,something else I just thought about, if someone hits you and you're riding outside your restrictions would it be tricky to get anything out of them?

there was a thread on this a little while ago when someone on thier learners was ridding above the cc allowed but got insurance cover AND told them he was breaking the rules, they won't pay out if your at fault but if it gets stolen or hit while parked etc they still have to pay out cause it has nothing to do with your license

Motu

9th February 2007, 23:08

I don't ever remember getting one of them. I remember them being round just don't ever remember getting one for myself. But I'd have thought the traffic cop would have checked it. I know that later I had quite a few bikes that had the L sticker, I never bothered changing it, noone took any notice at all of them

Oddly, I can't remember how cars worked, I don't think they had to have an L sticker ?

Got picked up for failure to stop in Orewa,used the fine tooth comb approach because he was right pissed off we just sailed past him waving wildly at us.It was funny for a few minutes.

Cars were a cardboard L label you propped up on the parcel shelf with library books - hard braking at the first intersection dumped the books on the backseat and the label fell over.Being naughty didn't take a lot of effort in those days eh?

Gremlin

10th February 2007, 02:47

Got learners, rode 250. Got restricted, sold 250 a month later, another month later, I was on a 7r... with an exemption :yes: So all legal...

As for breaking conditions, learner was speed, outside hours. On the restricted, I broke speed, pillion, hours. Didn't get caught for anything... you don't do stupid shit, and ask for trouble...

ManDownUnder

10th February 2007, 06:50

And an anoymous post in via the bush telegraph (hey I live in Kumeu - and don't knock smoke signals before you try them)

I have been riding on a restricted lisence had an accident (uninsured because of my licence restrictions). I didn't get 'busted' when the cop spoke to me about it but I had to fix the bike at my own cost. He could see I just can't fit on a 250 and to apply for an exemption and go running around jumping through hoops was more hassle than it's worth.

I've ridden for years (had my licence when I ws young) lost my licence and didn't get it reinstated. When the system changed over to cards I'd lost it completely coz they didn'y put it on either. I consider myself a safe rider - I don't ride fast or stupidly and I'm experienced enough (and old enough) to ride within my limits.

Riding a 250 on my restricted would not have helped me at all. In fact it would have made riding more unsafe for me.

maneac

10th February 2007, 09:30

nadroj

10th February 2007, 09:52

I know someone who went for their provisional car & bike licence at the same time & when full car licence was gained 6 weeks later clerk wrote it out for car & bike. No probs since

GSXRjohn

10th February 2007, 09:54

then thought I better get my restricted (did that)

and on the 26/01/2007 got my full

Not one ticket over the 19 years :scooter:

Street Gerbil

10th February 2007, 09:58

Out of hours, out of 70kph speed limit.
Staying within a 250 cc limit for now though.

avgas

10th February 2007, 09:59

Its not worth the whole getting busted thing. At the end of the day a GN125 can pull an 80kg person quite easily to 120.

avgas

10th February 2007, 10:05

ride a 600 on a learners accumalated a few dermerits over x mas :nono: :nono:

i dont see the dif between having a learner in cage driving a v8 or turbo and having a learner on a big bike it should depend on your age what size u are and how long u been riding four ie 120kg trying to ride a 250 it feels a bit little

disagree here, your looking at the wrong 250's if thats the case (i've seen lots of 100+kg people on pocketbikes and street magics). Size dont come into it - attitude and age come into it. You need to achieve this if you want the big bikes - i was reckless on my 185, 250, 150, and my tickets showed it. I got a bigger bike to slow down (GB400), as my attitude had changed.

Jonny Rotten

10th February 2007, 10:22

i only rode other peoples bigger bikes when i was on my learners and restricted......never owend a bike over 250cc till i got my full tho

Lucy

18th February 2007, 19:16

I never had a learner or restricted license, straight to a full for me :D

How? When?

Lucy

18th February 2007, 19:18

ride a 600 on a learners accumalated a few dermerits over x mas :nono: :nono:

i dont see the dif between having a learner in cage driving a v8 or turbo and having a learner on a big bike

You mean both are idiots? Why is the bike part of this equation ok? There is no difference, both are dangerous.

Karma

18th February 2007, 19:19

How? When?

I did what's called a direct access course... not sure if there's an equivilent short cut over here, might pay to ask the AA or something.

In the UK if you had a full car licence for more than two years and were over 21 you could do an intensive course on a bike and get your full licence straight off.

McJim

18th February 2007, 19:25

My knees are currently excruciating - I am 6 foot tall but with disproportionately long limbs..a bit like a barrel on stilts if you like.

I am riding a VTR250 - rode it to Napier and back. I've had a restricted licence for 3 and a half months - I'm 36 - work commitments have prevented me from doing an approved course - I'll be booking my full as soon as I can and buying a bike that fits.

If I broke the law I would get caught - as simple as that. I am not the luckiest bugger in the world you see.

Karma

18th February 2007, 19:32

I am not the luckiest bugger in the world you see.

Easy tiger...

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2">bugger</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">
noun</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">1. </td><td valign="top">someone who engages in anal copulation (especially a male who engages in anal copulation with another male)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Lucy

18th February 2007, 19:33

I did what's called a direct access course... not sure if there's an equivilent short cut over here, might pay to ask the AA or something.

In the UK if you had a full car licence for more than two years and were over 21 you could do an intensive course on a bike and get your full licence straight off.

Oh ok. Nah there is nothing like that here now. Closest is converting an overseas licence to a NZ one.

Lucy

18th February 2007, 19:38

there was a thread on this a little while ago when someone on thier learners was ridding above the cc allowed but got insurance cover AND told them he was breaking the rules, they won't pay out if your at fault but if it gets stolen or hit while parked etc they still have to pay out cause it has nothing to do with your license

Not great advice I don't think. I knew a guy who had his car stolen, and insurance didnt pay out because once long ago he lost his licence for three months due to an accumulation of demerits for speeding, and had not informed the insurance co. They refunded him his premiums but didnt pay the claim.

The Pastor

18th February 2007, 19:48

Not great advice I don't think. I knew a guy who had his car stolen, and insurance didnt pay out because once long ago he lost his licence for three months due to an accumulation of demerits for speeding, and had not informed the insurance co. They refunded him his premiums but didnt pay the claim.

thats bullshit, that has nothing to do with a car getting stolen, most insurance companys wouldnt do that would they?

j_redley

18th February 2007, 20:59

Its to do with not being totally honest about your history with them, a clause in the contract you agree to. Unfortunatly Im willing to bet most insurance company's in NZ would do the same thing.

Toaster

18th February 2007, 21:04

*touches wood*...

Riiiiiighto..........

McJim

18th February 2007, 21:10

thats bullshit, that has nothing to do with a car getting stolen, most insurance companys wouldnt do that would they?

Insurance companies make their profits by:
a/ Using every loophole possible not to pay out
b/ Investing the premiums overseas in totalitarian dictatorships/conflict diamond operations etc.

If I said to you "I bet you $6,000 you won't crash your bike" you'd go out and crash yer bike wouldn't you? Same thing - they need small print to protect themselves.

Ixion

18th February 2007, 21:25

How? When?

I did the same.All in the course of a week. But, alas, that was over 40 years ago. You have come too late.

Ixion

18th February 2007, 21:29

thats bullshit, that has nothing to do with a car getting stolen, most insurance companys wouldnt do that would they?

Yes. Yes they would. Insurance companies are lying, crooked, two faced, duplicitous, amoral , greedy, corrupt ,dishonest, unethical, ruthless c**ts who will use any possible strategem legal or otherwise to wiggle their way out of any obligation.

The Pastor

18th February 2007, 21:37

Insurance companies make their profits by:
a/ Using every loophole possible not to pay out
b/ Investing the premiums overseas in totalitarian dictatorships/conflict diamond operations etc.

If I said to you "I bet you $6,000 you won't crash your bike" you'd go out and crash yer bike wouldn't you? Same thing - they need small print to protect themselves.

Yes. Yes they would. Insurance companies are lying, crooked, two faced, duplicitous, amoral , greedy, corrupt ,dishonest, unethical, ruthless c**ts who will use any possible strategem legal or otherwise to wiggle their way out of any obligation.

I've always found insurance companys a pleasure to work with, both on the claims and on the time when I caused an incident......

avgas

18th February 2007, 21:41

McJim

18th February 2007, 22:25

What you need is an RMZ250 or the DR250. They go like a cut cat, have awesome leg room, and running slicks handle awesome.

Thanks for the advice - it's only for a couple more months though - will grin and bear it or fill in the exemption form I've got kicking about in the house.

It does seem very common for New Zealanders to be riding 250+ bikes on restricted or learner licences - maybe I should just go and sell the VTR and buy a big 'un after all.

j_redley

18th February 2007, 22:28

Murphy's law would probably then have you crash (unfortuntly) and your insurance refuse your claim.

McJim

18th February 2007, 22:35

Aye - law of the sod - I ride in Auckland - will prolly get winged by an uninsured driver....again.

Disco Dan

18th February 2007, 22:35

Lucy

19th February 2007, 14:52

thats bullshit, that has nothing to do with a car getting stolen, most insurance companys wouldnt do that would they?

What others have said already, I agree it sounds like BS cos it has nothing to do with the car being stolen, and we were all shocked at the time as well, but it's because he didnt tell them. So when someone else I knew lost theirs I was worried that they couldnt be insured, but the company was sweet as. It's about honesty. They are a business, they are in it for the money. Loads of Kiwis make bogus insurance claims, or pad out genuine ones. What goes around comes around.

Indiana_Jones

19th February 2007, 15:10

Out of hours, out of 70kph speed limit.
Staying within a 250 cc limit for now though.

Same here when I was on Learners. I break the time restrcitions on my restricted, but i think ur insurance might be abit nicer to u for that then going over ur cc limit.

-Indy

Kittyhawk

19th February 2007, 23:55

My best mate, rode for 20 odd years and only got pulled up by the cops once. They asked him to lock and leave the bike there, took the keys off him. He walked up the road, and when the cop was gone went back and got the bike.

Not sure on the finer points as to why that happend but he never had a bike licence....To this day he still has not upgraded his paper licence to the card one! (car license that is)

His debating issue is "you buy the licence for a lifetime" and that's what he is sticking to.

I do laugh as he's stubbon on this one and aint going to change!!

megageoff76

20th February 2007, 15:11

Hell, I used to ride to college on my nifty fifty when i was only 14 and I was still quite a few months away from able to sit my learners. :nono: ..funny that no one thought it was strange that a 4th former was motoring around.

I later rode for about about a year or so on an RZ350 and then an Impulse while on my restricted. Now I only did this because the 400 was such a good deal (and the RZ was dead by then) because i was sick and tired of wasting money on crappy 250's (X-7's) and rebuilding it all the bloody time.

Only ever got pulled up once on my restricted on my then CBR400 for speeding, but the cop never noticed the bike was outside of the licence class.

Wouldn't do it now, but hindsight is great, isn't it? :yes:

riffer

20th February 2007, 16:54

I always rode what was around.

I started riding at 12, on a Vespa 250, and my Dad's bikes, which ranged from 400s to 750s, from the age of about 14 onwards.

At 17 I had an old ratty IT400, bit of a wreck really.

Then my parents convinced me to go legal at 18 so I got a GP125, and a learners licence.

Got bored with the GP125 and got a CB350 before I got my restricted.

I got stopped a few times but never fined. The cops weren't so anal back then (mid 80s).

Templar

28th February 2007, 06:49

To the guys that have said they have Cook Islands licenses, can you use them in NZ? Can you convert those into full NZ licenses?
I have a Cook Island license and need to upgrade my NZ license (have been on learners since 90s), will it work?