Chance of getting a larger bike before full?

[Seraph]

I know this thread has been done to death...But im just wondering what the chances of getting granted an exemption for a larger bike would be?? I'm not a big person but after my accident i have a limited bend in my knee...and before someone suggests getting a cruiser style 250 when my leg isnt bent much i have very little movement in my ankle....I'm Thinking a larger framed sport bike may be the answer...It's my daily transport to go to corse + on long trips....advice please?

[mark247]

All you need to do is prove to them that you have a problem and that you would be SAFER and everyone else on the road would be SAFER if you ride a bigger bike.

[kickingzebra]

bigger sport bikes aren't really that much more spacious... Try sitting on a few in the shop, cocking damaged leg onto peg.

[cynna]

how much longer before you get your full? have u done defensive driving course to cut the time down?

i used to have a 400 when i had my restricted but they were a whole lot more leniant back then then what they are now

i think it would be pretty hard to get around all the red tape in getting an exemption but u never know until u try

[iwilde]

Sit the licience's like everyone else, no easy way out unless they bring the CBTA system back

[Toaster]

Dude, Your chances of getting an exemption for a bigger CC rating are about as high as me becoming Queen.

[mark247]

Dude, Your chances of getting an exemption for a bigger CC rating are about as high as me becoming Queen.

Well i got an exemption to ride my 400cc bike on my learners when i had only had it for a few months, i just wrote in how i was too tall for a 250cc etc. Its not impossible, you are just going to have to prove to them that you have a safety issue on 250cc bikes.

[Ixion]

Can you get a medical certificate to confirm the knee thing? If so, and you are on a restricted , and have a clean history - the cleaner and longer the better, car or bike, then you would have a good chance.

Basic rule is you need to have a good reason ('good' to a non biker bureaucrat - so '250s are toooo slooooww' won't cut it) ; and show that you would be "no less safe". The medical cert will provide a good reason - and a good history will provide the argument for the no less safe.

It helps if you can give a bike that you intend to use, and it's NOT a GSXR1000! If you can say "If granted I would ride an XXX, which is not signifcantly faster than a 250cc" it shows you're not just trying to evade the purpose of the GDLS.

If you're over 25 that helps too.

Easy to do, just pick up a form at AA cost you $22.

But why do you think that a bigger cc bike will be physically bigger than, say , a Hyosang Comet?

[mark247]

Yeah those hyosungs are big as for a 250cc.

[Colapop]

f you look at it, a few months aint a long time. If you're looking at a bike that has 'more room' then look at something like a Tuono (Aprilia), Tiger (Triumph) or a V Strom (Suzuki). Or something similar. They're bikes that are quite tall in the saddle but that allows more room to adjust pegs and the like for more comfort. Buck Buck#1 has a back problem and recently got a V Strom - he has no problems riding now. I know that yours is a different issue but you never know the extra room may provide the answer (they're really comfortable too - surprised me!)

[Seraph]

I would get a hyosung, but the other issue is money.....I just can't afford a larger framed 250....:bye:

[Seraph]

Can you get a medical certificate to confirm the knee thing? If so, and you are on a restricted , and have a clean history - the cleaner and longer the better, car or bike, then you would have a good chance.


I don't think it would be a problem getting a letter from either my physio or GP confirming it.

and it'll be atleast 12 months untill I get my full....I just never got around to taking my restricted before the accident :( I've had my licence for around 8 months now

[mark247]

I would get a hyosung, but the other issue is money.....I just can't afford a larger framed 250....:bye:

Dont mention you cant afford a larger framed 250, they wouldnt care.

[JimO]

Dude, Your chances of getting an exemption for a bigger CC rating are about as high as me becoming Queen.

your majesty

[Seraph]

Right, just been out sitting on my balius, can only just get my foot up onto the peg...no chance at all of shifting down gears though...and with my knee jammed hard again the side of the tank..there's alot of pain. In my opinion This would distract me from concentrating on the road ahead & not being able to shift down gears,well that's rather self explanatory.
The balius is more a commuter/sport type...so I don't think any sport bike will cut it. time to look at cruisers...:bye:
I know there's a few 250 cruisers But they really are out of my budget!! I'm only 17 and I'm at polytech....A bike is my only way of transport :(
Can anyone suggest a larger CC bike that doesnt weigh a ton & isnt that much faster than an il4 250? that I could pick up for under 4k??

[Ixion]

I don't think it would be a problem getting a letter from either my physio or GP confirming it.

and it'll be atleast 12 months untill I get my full....I just never got around to taking my restricted before the accident :( I've had my licence for around 8 months now

Second the bit about not mentioning money, they won't be interested. It would be a good idea if you could your restricted on the 250 before you apply, they are very hesitant about giving exemptions on a learners. It's not an absolute barrier but it pushes the barrier up.

One possibility, you just might be able to pull in ACC as an ally. Suggest to them that, as a result of your accident, given that your bike is your only transport, they are oblige to pay the cost of modifying the bike to suit your disability. Though , of course, if they were to support you in an application for an exemption .......

One obvious suggestion, have you thought of a chook chaser ? Shouldn't be any problem fitting on one of them.

[Seraph]

Second the bit about not mentioning money, they won't be interested. It would be a good idea if you could your restricted on the 250 before you apply, they are very hesitant about giving exemptions on a learners. It's not an absolute barrier but it pushes the barrier up.

Wouldn't this just prove that I could ride the bike I have currently safely?
would kinda make getting a different bike pointless....



One possibility, you just might be able to pull in ACC as an ally. Suggest to them that, as a result of your accident, given that your bike is your only transport, they are oblige to pay the cost of modifying the bike to suit your disability. Though , of course, if they were to support you in an application for an exemption .......

Wow? is that really possable?? I'll look into that



One obvious suggestion, have you thought of a chook chaser ? Shouldn't be any problem fitting on one of them.

Sorry, that's not in my vocab...chook chaser?

[Toaster]

Reading thru the issues/explanations - it sounds like you wont be able to really ride that safely on any bike if you can't operate the levers properly etc. Any smart Dr would pick that up from what you have said so far. May pay to rethink fella.... such issues may affect your entitlement to insurance if you crash too.

[Ixion]

Wouldn't this just prove that I could ride the bike I have currently safely?
would kinda make getting a different bike pointless....

Sorry, that's not in my vocab...chook chaser?

Not if you handled it right. I'm assuming that (a) you can manage on the 250 well enough to pass the restricted ; and (b) that a bigger bike really would solve the bendy knee problem (not quite clear on that one still m'self). So you front up , pass test , get licence, then chat to tester. Explain problem, say how glad you are to have passed, point out that you don't feel quite safe because of the small size of bike, and that you are going to get a bigger framed bike to solve the problem. Hopefully, tester says "Uh huh , yeah yeah" or some such. Then when you write in to the LTSA , you say that you discussed the problem with the test dude and he agreed that a bigger bike would be a good idea. Which , if you phrase things right , he did, didn't he .

Chook chaser - dual purpose bike, like ffwabbitt. Physically very tall, y' ride them standing up if you want, very little knee bend.

[mark247]

I kinda get the feeling that you just want to go faster, like i kinda did when i got my exemption, but in saying that, i didnt go buy the fastest bike on the market. If you do genuinely feel you have a problem on smaller bikes, just make sure you explain your problem properly, and mention you are getting a bike that is suitable still for a learner, not some gsxr750 or something. They will most likely want you to say what bike you are going to ride, then if they accept your exemption, they will make it so you are only allowed to ride that single bike that is over 250cc. You are going to have to mention something about how you have less control because of your problem, because if you just write that you are uncomfortable when riding smaller bikes they wont care at all.

[Seraph]

After an accident on a bike, going faster is the last thing I want to do.
I'm simply looking for a way to get about without being a danger to others.
Updating, My physio tells me that it'll be a some time untill I'll be able 2 move my ankle a significant ammount more than i am now, flat on the floor is no issuse, although pulling it toward me more is next to impossable. My knee....is only lacking around 5 degrees from straight, however in forcing it to do this iv'e had to tear scar tissue from the surgery and It's refusing to bend all that well past 120 degrees.
Does anyone know of any bikes that will be comfortable at higway speed yet not overly powerfull? I Need something that lets me strech out, and where the gear lever is positioned so i can shift up and down without having to shift my ankle above the degree range above?
I'm thinking something like a suzuki savage 650 or or a honda shadow 600, I've been told the savage may be a little small...I'm around 5'9 and 63kg.....
My budget would be around $3500-$4500
any ideas?

[sunhuntin]

i ride a virago, and my knee is also stuffed after an accident. theres no way id be comfy on a sportsbike, because even kneeling for 5 seconds makes it hard to straighten up.

the virago is a decent length that im comfy with my feet on the pegs, but i can also hook my ankles over them for more room. you want a bike where the pegs are forward and not directly beneath you [gn] or behind you.

[Seraph]

i ride a virago, and my knee is also stuffed after an accident. theres no way id be comfy on a sportsbike, because even kneeling for 5 seconds makes it hard to straighten up.

the virago is a decent length that im comfy with my feet on the pegs, but i can also hook my ankles over them for more room. you want a bike where the pegs are forward and not directly beneath you [gn] or behind you.

I have looked at one of these as an option, However I feel I'd outgrow it rather soon, as i'm already 5'9" and just about to hit 18, I'm still growing... I do alot of long trips and as for the reviews I've read they're rather uncomfy.
I know I may sound like I'm just trying to twist the system to get a bigger bike, But I do honestly believe a larger bike would be the way to go to solve my problems.

[sunhuntin]

I have looked at one of these as an option, However I feel I'd outgrow it rather soon, as i'm already 5'9" and just about to hit 18, I'm still growing... I do alot of long trips and as for the reviews I've read they're rather uncomfy.
I know I may sound like I'm just trying to twist the system to get a bigger bike, But I do honestly believe a larger bike would be the way to go to solve my problems.

admitedly, they can be a bit uncomfy on the backside/tail bone for long trips, but thats easily remidied. ask crashe... i think she gets perks for promoting the bike! :innocent: