Are you a BIG bastard?

[greenhorn]

I am, and if you are too and your on your learners or restricted it could mean you dont have to be on the 250cc max restriction.
Some months back i heard some story about a guy who was pretty tall who got an exemption from this rule and went out an bought a big arse bike to ride around on. I was sceptical and asked around here if anyone had heard of it and it seems everyone else was sceptical too.
Well i did it. I got my learners license in the mail last week along with an official letter which means i'm exempt from the 250cc rule. Its cool as and was easy to do.
All you do is grab an exemption form from the AA or the LTSA, i cant remember the number of the form but is there with all the other forms for getting a license and doing rego's and all that sort of crap. Its called an Exemption from Blahdy Blah or sommit like that. You fill it in explaining the exemption you want and why you feel you should get it.
I wrote a breif paragraph saying i was a tall bastard with long legs that made riding 250cc bikes uncomfortable and difficult to handle. Mentioned my clean driving record and how responsible i was. Paid the grand total of $22 and 1 week later i had my exemption. Its just a letter that must be carried with you at all times.
Although there are no guarantees and it's done on a case by case basis the amazing thing is that i did not have to provide any evidence of my height, nor does the exemption letter make any reference to the reason why i got the exemption.
So now i'm free to go and buy any big arse bike i like. Not that i will cos sadly i dont have the money, but its kinda cool to know that i can when i want to.

Just putting this out there for any other big bastards. :spudwave:

[SPORK]

Hey, wicked!

Usefull post, ka pai! Good to know that it isn't strictly enforced, and they do have a heart... almost :msn-wink:

[erik]

F%$k!

I never thought of that. How tall are you? I'm 1.94m 90-something kgs, I wonder if I could get an exemption... But then maybe the fact that I've been riding a 250 for the last 9 or so months might stuff it up and be hard to explain.

Interesting to know though!

[Storm]

Bet you will get a ton of Christmas cards if you get that word spread far and wide. Excellant work :2thumbsup

[Indiana_Jones]

How tall do u have to be, I'm kinda tall, But light, does weight play a factor?
Also, what cc can u ride upto? cheers

-Indy

[Midnight 82]

:cool2: must be worth a try if you dont have a licence....But could be dangerous to if you have never riden before?????? :Police:

[Skyryder]

I am, and if you are too and your on your learners or restricted it could mean you dont have to be on the 250cc max restriction.
Some months back i heard some story about a guy who was pretty tall who got an exemption from this rule and went out an bought a big arse bike to ride around on. I was sceptical and asked around here if anyone had heard of it and it seems everyone else was sceptical too.
Well i did it. I got my learners license in the mail last week along with an official letter which means i'm exempt from the 250cc rule. Its cool as and was easy to do.
All you do is grab an exemption form from the AA or the LTSA, i cant remember the number of the form but is there with all the other forms for getting a license and doing rego's and all that sort of crap. Its called an Exemption from Blahdy Blah or sommit like that. You fill it in explaining the exemption you want and why you feel you should get it.
I wrote a breif paragraph saying i was a tall bastard with long legs that made riding 250cc bikes uncomfortable and difficult to handle. Mentioned my clean driving record and how responsible i was. Paid the grand total of $22 and 1 week later i had my exemption. Its just a letter that must be carried with you at all times.
Although there are no guarantees and it's done on a case by case basis the amazing thing is that i did not have to provide any evidence of my height, nor does the exemption letter make any reference to the reason why i got the exemption.
So now i'm free to go and buy any big arse bike i like. Not that i will cos sadly i dont have the money, but its kinda cool to know that i can when i want to.

Just putting this out there for any other big bastards. :spudwave:

Now that you have broadcast far and wide this little bit of 'dangerouse' information and can bath in your glory remember this: While there are many restrictions that at first glance may appear to be silly, the 250 learners restriction is not one of them. You do appear to have exploited a loophole, and as you state in your post you do not have the money to capitilise on this. Sooner or later someone will do what you have done and have the money to go bigger than the current 250 restriction. From this two things can happen. Someone will get themselves killed because of inexperiance or this loophole will be so widely exploited that it will be closed to those that realy need an exemption becasue of their weight or height.

Nice post Greenhorn.

[FlyingDutchMan]

Dang! I wish I had known about that earlier... Its no use to me now, I can sit my full in a couple of weeks.

[Stevo]

Now that you have broadcast far and wide this little bit of 'dangerouse' information and can bath in your glory remember this: While there are many restrictions that at first glance may appear to be silly, the 250 learners restriction is not one of them. You do appear to have exploited a loophole, and as you state in your post you do not have the money to capitilise on this. Sooner or later someone will do what you have done and have the money to go bigger than the current 250 restriction. From this two things can happen. Someone will get themselves killed because of inexperiance or this loophole will be so widely exploited that it will be closed to those that realy need an exemption becasue of their weight or height.

Nice post Greenhorn.

Kind of agree. I was going to try for a change to the hours of riding to change 10-5 to 10-4 as I was dairy farming and this would enable me to (legally) ride to work to start at 5 am. Instead I chanced my arm, and people can do this as well, with the cc rating thing. A few 250cc stickers on a 400 work pretty well apparently.
Cannot see this loophole being exploited. Just may bring about a change in having to prove your height etc.......... Maybe

[Mr Skid]

Now that you have broadcast far and wide this little bit of 'dangerouse' information and can bath in your glory remember this: While there are many restrictions that at first glance may appear to be silly, the 250 learners restriction is not one of them. You do appear to have exploited a loophole, and as you state in your post you do not have the money to capitilise on this. Sooner or later someone will do what you have done and have the money to go bigger than the current 250 restriction. From this two things can happen. Someone will get themselves killed because of inexperiance or this loophole will be so widely exploited that it will be closed to those that realy need an exemption becasue of their weight or height.

Nice post Greenhorn.

I don't think that's a fair comment to make.

It's legal to ride a Aprila RS250 on a learners licence, which if I'm not mistaken is a 70hp bike. That's more than enough to get someone in trouble if they aren't sure what they are doing. On the other hand a more managable bike like a 400-600cc single or twin is ruled out by the licencing scheme.

The 250cc limit is ill conceived, where there are such differences between bikes.

In Australia (Victoria I think) they have approved bikes, whereby you can choose to learn on a v twin such as Hyosung 650, which is a more placid bike than most sport 250s IMHO.

If the LTSA is going to be having a exemption system such as that, then it's up to them to police it if they are concerned, such as a requiring a letter from a GP to confirm the application.

I don't think we can condem someone just for making this information available.

[JohnBoy]

[QUOTE=paparazzi.
I don't think we can condem someone just for making this information available.[/QUOTE]
i agree. use this information wisely people, once the gov finds out were playing them they will change the rules!

[Bob]

Over here in the UK/England (to stop any ranting), we have restricted licences. There is a big difference in how the restriction is applied.

Our restricted licences work by horsepower, not cc.

As a learner, you are limited to something like 14.5bhp (not sure offhand, it has been a long time since I've ridden anything that small) - in reality, this equates to no more than a 125cc bike.

Once you've passed your test (unless you take an 'Accellerated Access' course), you are restricted for two years to a bike with a maximum of 33bhp. So something like a 250cc Virago is fine, but the Aprila RS250 you mention cannot be ridden until you pass your full test.

And to the best of my knowledge, there are no exceptions.

Personally I am amazed that you can apply for an exemption "Because it is a bit uncomfortable" - if things are that bad, pass your test!

Again, over here, you only have a limited amount of time to pass anyway (2 or 3 years), or you lose your licence for 12 months.

Of course, if everyone tries this, then the loophole WILL be closed. And I can't wait to hear how someone about 2 foot six inches tries to explain how they don't have to ride a 250 or smaller as they are exempt on height grounds...

[badlieutenant]

I don't think that's a fair comment to make.

It's legal to ride a Aprila RS250 on a learners licence, which if I'm not mistaken is a 70hp bike. That's more than enough to get someone in trouble if they aren't sure what they are doing. On the other hand a more managable bike like a 400-600cc single or twin is ruled out by the licencing scheme.

The 250cc limit is ill conceived, where there are such differences between bikes.

In Australia (Victoria I think) they have approved bikes, whereby you can choose to learn on a v twin such as Hyosung 650, which is a more placid bike than most sport 250s IMHO.

If the LTSA is going to be having a exemption system such as that, then it's up to them to police it if they are concerned, such as a requiring a letter from a GP to confirm the application.

I don't think we can condem someone just for making this information available.

I think the rules need to be upgraded a bit in this regard. It should be a power to wieght restriction.

[Blakamin]

I think the rules need to be upgraded a bit in this regard. It should be a power to wieght restriction.
Not sure about bikes in victoria...(WA licence) but cars over there are power to weight... which stops dicks driving V8 toranas as well as killer WRX's.... :shit:

[riffer]

I think the rules need to be upgraded a bit in this regard. It should be a power to wieght restriction.
Exactly. There's gotta be a good point to being a FAT bastard like me. :rolleyes:

[Blakamin]

Exactly. There's gotta be a good point to being a FAT bastard like me. :rolleyes:
awwww... i'll have to let you on my Duc then!!!! :scooter:
btw...hows the new job?

[Bob]

Power to weight ratios are, as I mentioned earlier, how things work on this side of the globe. And under new proposals that the European Union have put forward, these will get even stricter:

Licence Category: Age Restriction: Power to Weight
Ratio (of BIKE!)

A1 (learner licence) - 16 or above - 0.1kW/kg
A2 (2 year restricted) - 18 or above - 0.2kW/kg
A (full unrestricted) - 21 or above - No power/weight ratio applies

If anyone knows how to convert these power/weight ratios into bhp, I’d be interested to hear!

The ability to take ‘Direct Access’ course to bypass the whole restriction thing will remain, but the age will be increased to 24, if the EU proposals are made law.

[Blakamin]

Power to weight ratios are, as I mentioned earlier, how things work on this side of the globe. And under new proposals that the European Union have put forward, these will get even stricter:

Licence Category: Age Restriction: Power to Weight
Ratio (of BIKE!)

A1 (learner licence) - 16 or above - 0.1kW/kg
A2 (2 year restricted) - 18 or above - 0.2kW/kg
A (full unrestricted) - 21 or above - No power/weight ratio applies

If anyone knows how to convert these power/weight ratios into bhp, I’d be interested to hear!

The ability to take ‘Direct Access’ course to bypass the whole restriction thing will remain, but the age will be increased to 24, if the EU proposals are made law.

With those numbers you may as well walk!!!

[riffer]

awwww... i'll have to let you on my Duc then!!!! :scooter:
btw...hows the new job?
Mmmm. love to have a go...

The job's cool. No time to surf the net though.

I'm gonna be pretty busy...

Lovely people and interesting work.

And they gave me a free park in the basement of the building.

Its great also to be working with people again. And also to be able to look out the window. In the last place I was working in a 10 foot by 30 foot room painted 20% grey, with no windows, constant temperature airconditioning and climate control.

For those who don't know, I'm now working at Learning Media, as a production co-ordinator. But as far as my kids are concerned, I make children's books for a living now. They love the idea of lots of books to read.

Hope you make up with the wife mate. Life's too short for marital disharmony.

[Blakamin]

Mmmm. love to have a go...

The job's cool. No time to surf the net though.

I'm gonna be pretty busy...

Lovely people and interesting work.

And they gave me a free park in the basement of the building.

Its great also to be working with people again. And also to be able to look out the window. In the last place I was working in a 10 foot by 30 foot room painted 20% grey, with no windows, constant temperature airconditioning and climate control.

For those who don't know, I'm now working at Learning Media, as a production co-ordinator. But as far as my kids are concerned, I make children's books for a living now. They love the idea of lots of books to read.

Hope you make up with the wife mate. Life's too short for marital disharmony.


cheers...i'll bring the duc around soon so you can have a ride!

[Bob]

I was going to try for a change to the hours of riding to change 10-5 to 10-4 as I was dairy farming and this would enable me to (legally) ride to work to start at 5 am.

You have restricted HOURS?

So let me get this right... you have an arbitrary cc limitation (which we've proved means you can ride a race rep with more bhp than something like a 600 Bandit), but you can only ride during the middle of the day?

Who thought this lot up? And has someone locked them away and thrown away the key yet?

I thought some of our legislation was wierd, but compared to this... :wacko:

[Teflon]

These days, you can get prety potent bike for under $3000 ( gsxr1100, fzr1000), a lot less than some 250's.

If i had that option when i first started, i probaly be dead.

[bluninja]

You have restricted HOURS?

So let me get this right... you have an arbitrary cc limitation (which we've proved means you can ride a race rep with more bhp than something like a 600 Bandit), but you can only ride during the middle of the day?

Who thought this lot up? And has someone locked them away and thrown away the key yet?

I thought some of our legislation was wierd, but compared to this... :wacko:

And since you can start at 15...you could have your full license by the time you turn 17 anyway.

Think that's wierd.....it's possible to get a driving ban in NZ, but be allowed to ride/drive on permitted days and times in order to go to and from work (assuming the courts agree).

Still it's all better than the old days...a couple of laps around the block with an examiner more or less obseving you from one place.

As for the subject of the thread.....I can't agree that letting somene loose on a high powered machine after a test is a recipe for disaster. Those prats that think the throttle only works in the wide open position just remove themselves from the roads without having to wait 2 years. However the loophole seems a bit of a joke......

Dear Sir, I am covered in tatts, have long greasy hair, a beard, and weigh 150 kgs from drinking huge amounts of beer daily. Were I not to ride around on a large capacity Harley (are there any other kind) I would suffer severe physical damage from my aaociates, and irepperable pyschological damage. Since you know that Harleys are pretty slow and are only for posing on I would consider there would be no danger to the public at large; and you should appreciate that I am bothering to get a license....so please provide me with an exemption. :scooter:

I know that's only has a semblance to a bit of a joke :Punk:

[rodgerd]

Not sure about bikes in victoria...(WA licence) but cars over there are power to weight... which stops dicks driving V8 toranas as well as killer WRX's.... :shit:

But doesn't stop idiot learners in 4WDs. And the V8 Torana should be banned for everyone 8).

[rodgerd]

Power to weight ratios are, as I mentioned earlier, how things work on this side of the globe.


Which shows how silly they can get, too. Under those, a Suzuki Volty would be barred until you hit stage 2, a Suzuki Bandit 250 would be marginal for stage 2, and you can't ride any sport 250 until you have a full license, since (apparently) a GSXR250 is as hard to manage as a Hyabusa.

OTOH, a Harley Sportster 1200 would fit on a stage 2, apparently being as hard/difficult to ride as a Volty, and less dangerous to a beginner than a Bandit 250 (never mind the extra 60 kilos of weight...). A Sportster 883 would be a class 2, only just missing out on being class 1, and considered more appropriate for the beginner than the aforementioned Volty.

I haven't bothered with the calculations for other big bikes, like the bottom-end big-bore Harleys or the Jap cruisers, but it seems likely that any very heavy, not particularly powerful motorcycle would fall into that.

Essentially you encourage people onto heavy motorcycles, which doesn't seem good for a learner, or gutless small ones. Guess which a lot of people will choose?



If anyone knows how to convert these power/weight ratios into bhp, I’d be interested to hear!


Multiply kW by 4/3 will get you (roughly) HP.

[rodgerd]

For those who don't know, I'm now working at Learning Media, as a production co-ordinator. But as far as my kids are concerned, I make children's books for a living now. They love the idea of lots of books to read.


Neat. I know quite a few people who have or currently do work there.

[rodgerd]

You have restricted HOURS?

So let me get this right... you have an arbitrary cc limitation (which we've proved means you can ride a race rep with more bhp than something like a 600 Bandit), but you can only ride during the middle of the day?

Who thought this lot up? And has someone locked them away and thrown away the key yet?

I thought some of our legislation was wierd, but compared to this... :wacko:

The person who "thought this up" noted that a very, very large proportion of the crashes and fatalities cause by young, inexperienced drivers happened late at night/early in the morning, usually young blokes out hooning with their mates.

Heaven forbid we write laws based on actual information...

[greenhorn]

Now that you have broadcast far and wide this little bit of 'dangerouse' information and can bath in your glory remember this: While there are many restrictions that at first glance may appear to be silly, the 250 learners restriction is not one of them. You do appear to have exploited a loophole, and as you state in your post you do not have the money to capitilise on this. Sooner or later someone will do what you have done and have the money to go bigger than the current 250 restriction. From this two things can happen. Someone will get themselves killed because of inexperiance or this loophole will be so widely exploited that it will be closed to those that realy need an exemption becasue of their weight or height.

Nice post Greenhorn.

"can bath in your glory"??? What glory? (What bath?) Cos i post a thread under an alias so no one even knows who i am? Methinks you jump to "way out" conclusions.
As for a loophole it is not a loophole at all. Submit your application as your invited to do by the LTSA and if they think its genuine enough you get your exemption.
I am 6ft 6inches tall and weigh 128kg I believe i am a genuine case. The bike i ride at the moment is uncomfortable to such an extent that i think twice now about riding it.
Some might be in similar position to me and could benefit from knowing about this process. To those who want to be dorks and exploit it why should i be responsible for their actions? I know... lets just pass a rule that you cant be a dork and kill yourself. Then i can post information on a forum with a clear conscience.
Perhaps you call yourself skyryder as your sit so danm high up on your self righteouss high horse. :whistle:

[Pwalo]

Come on chaps you'll just have to lose some weight. I've got the opposite problem.

I'm 168cm (5'6) and 70 kg,and was about 65kg when I was first riding about 30 years ago. I find a lot of bikes that I'm perfectly entitled to ride just too big!!

[Bob]

The person who "thought this up" noted that a very, very large proportion of the crashes and fatalities cause by young, inexperienced drivers happened late at night/early in the morning, usually young blokes out hooning with their mates.

Heaven forbid we write laws based on actual information...

So this law restricts 'learners' from using the road at night? So what happens if you are out, meet a traffic snarl-up and can't get home in time? Do you have to leave the bike at the side of the road so it can be stolen?

Maybe if learners weren't allowed to ride 250cc race-reps, they might not all crash so often when exposed to empty, night-time roads?

Just a thought... :Playnice:

And Greenhorn... it IS a loophole. A loophole put in place to try to assist those of you most definitely NOT "Vertically-Challenged", but a loophole nevertheless. Any exception to a law is a loophole - and if it gets widely known and abused, WILL be closed by the authorities.

As someone (it might even have been me!) said, I'd love to see the moment when someone produces a letter showing they have an exemption as they are too tall, when they're shorter than the officer pulling them over...

I'm surprised it already exists though - as I've said earlier, we have far more restrictive regulations... so if you don't like being limited in terms of bike, you have to shell out your hard earned and qualify to ride something bigger.

[greenhorn]

So this law restricts 'learners' from using the road at night? So what happens if you are out, meet a traffic snarl-up and can't get home in time? Do you have to leave the bike at the side of the road so it can be stolen?

Maybe if learners weren't allowed to ride 250cc race-reps, they might not all crash so often when exposed to empty, night-time roads?

Just a thought... :Playnice:

And Greenhorn... it IS a loophole. A loophole put in place to try to assist those of you most definitely NOT "Vertically-Challenged", but a loophole nevertheless. Any exception to a law is a loophole - and if it gets widely known and abused, WILL be closed by the authorities.

As someone (it might even have been me!) said, I'd love to see the moment when someone produces a letter showing they have an exemption as they are too tall, when they're shorter than the officer pulling them over...

I'm surprised it already exists though - as I've said earlier, we have far more restrictive regulations... so if you don't like being limited in terms of bike, you have to shell out your hard earned and qualify to ride something bigger.
Thats probably the dumbest thing about it... there is nothing in the letter that refers to the reason why you got the exemption.
Probably also worth pointing out that my age (34) and the fact i had over 18 years of driving with a clean record was mentioned in my application which may have been a factor in the decision. Maybe a 16 year old with demerits might not have even got close, i dont know, i hope not.

[Stinger]

They've had this exemption business for quite a while. About 8 years ago I got the same thing for my car licence. As a student I was working at night at a Supermarket (Till 10'oclock). So I got an exemption to drive home after that.

One thing that I give the current restrictions is that at least they give added incentive to want to get the next licence. I think if they removed the CC restriction then lots of people just wouldn't bother getting their full.

Anyway, I gather the motorcycle licence is going to change dramatically over the next little while as we move into competency based training and assesment. Where the guy giving you your licence will also be teaching you.

[2_SL0]

Ok Im in a similar boat, I am presently happy with my 250, however it is a little on the small size, and likely to be uncomfortable on the longer jounrneys. Im 30 with a clean driving record. I may well go down this track once I acquire my restricted. :niceone:

[Bob]

One thing that I give the current restrictions is that at least they give added incentive to want to get the next licence. I think if they removed the CC restriction then lots of people just wouldn't bother getting their full.



Or of course you could adopt the UK model... get your provisional licence. Then pass CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) before you are allowed out on the road (one day course) on the smallest bike imaginable (lets say you can stick to 250cc).

Once you've done that, you have two years (or maybe three, but I'm pretty sure it is two) to get your full licence... or you are off the road for 12 months before you can re-apply for your provisional licence, take CBT etc...

If that doesn't force you to get on with it, nothing will! :scooter:

If you don't want to go to a higher capacity than the minimum, it is possible to take a test that means your provisional changes to full, but "Full Restricted", ie. no more than 125cc (or about 14.5bhp).