Power to weight restriction

[Grub]

I wonder how this compares with the UK system (CBT is their Basic Handling Test)

16+ CBT (50cc moped) You may ride a moped (50 cc capable of less than 50Km/h) as a learner, with L plates provided that you continue to hold a valid CBT certificate. You may not carry passengers or use motorways etc.

17+ CBT
(moped or 125cc motorcycle or scooter) You may ride a 125 cc or less learner legal motorcycle (less than 11kW/16.6bhp) as a learner, with L plates provided that you continue to hold a valid CBT certificate. You may not carry passengers or use motorways etc.

17+ CBT (125cc manual recommended) plus Pass a Motorcycle Theory Test Practical Test on a 125 cc Learner legal motorcycle (e.g. Yamaha SR125)
Full restricted licence: You may ride a motorcycle restricted to 25kW / 33 bhp for 2 years. You may carry passengers and use motorways etc. Most bikes can be restricted to 33 BHP. After 2 years you can ride any bike.

21+ CBT (125cc manual recommended) plus Pass a Motorcycle Theory Test Practical Test on a 47 bhp motorcycle (e.g. Honda CB500)
Full licence: You may ride any sized motorcycle without power restriction, carry passengers and ride on motorways etc.

[HornetBoy]

At least most of these incredibly over priced 250's will be lowered a bit ,making them alot more affordable to people wanting a little 250 for commuting etc

I would say dealers will be doing some kinda sale similar to the recent thing wit the change in importation of Japanese cars,so possibly some good deals coming up i should suspect i certainly will be keeping my eyes peeled for a 250 for my commute or just as a spare fun bike .

[Mikkel]

Nope, it'll be simple.
...
They'll pull learners over and check. It'll be about 20 seconds extra effort over looking at the bike to see what the engine displacement is.

Seeing what the displacement is isn't that easy. All you need is a chasis with the right VIN and that'll be a headache for mr. Constable.

If people want to go nuts and spend megabucks tuning their 'learner legal' bikes to get extra power, I suspect nobody will really give a damn.

Mate, that is what people are doing right now! Spending upwards $9,000 on a 250 is a lot of money. Bigger heavier bikes that aren't tuned as hard from factory has a much larger tuning potential...

It takes them a while to catch up and they struggle to comprehend motorcycles as transport and motorcyclists as people. We have to be gentle with them.

Mate, if I wanted gentle I would have bought something else than the mean greenie!

Yes, it will drive the price of 250's down but so what. For one thing they are too dear now and for another it'll encourage even more people into riding. Some learners are still gonna go for smaller bikes for their size, economy and not so scary performance. It's also going to create a good market for mid-sized bikes too - maybe you'll get a good price for your 650 when you're trading up for your thou.

I'm not entirely sure about the whole market thing yet. If the 4-stroke 250 ccms are still legal (I didn't see them excluded on the list) they will still fetch a good price...

[Number One]

Sorry whose bottom are we feeling?

[Grub]

SO who's gonna be the first to come up with a restricter kit for CBR/GSXR/r6/636/tt600 etc to pull them down to the right HP level?

I doubt that'll fly Frosty. They not stoopid. They know that the restrictor kit would be off the bike within hours of getting home.

If you read the NSW link, they say "... if it's not on the official list, you can't ride it ...". Pretty much means that in practice it's the list not the power/weight ratio that is the legal determinant.

[Mully]

BLOODY GOOD IDEA.
Now heres a chance to make some money IF the govmint just says the bike must have maximum hp/weight ratio of -x to y
SO who's gonna be the first to come up with a restricter kit for CBR/GSXR/r6/636/tt600 etc to pull them down to the right HP level?

There was a thing in the last 2 wheels magazine about LAMS and bikes that qualify. Apparently the Hyosung GT650 ships with 2 different carbs, and once you have your full, you send away and they send you the full power one.

If I can be bothered later on, I'll try scanning and saving the article here.

[Ixion]

Correct. The power/weight ratio is what the sheeple will consider if an application is made to put a bike on the list. But just saying "Oh, my bike is less than 150/tonne" won't cut it. has to be on The List

Incidentally, looking at that list , how old , in Woofle's name, was the dude who drew it up. There's bikes on there even I don't remember on the roads. Did he really think anyone was going to learn on a Rudge-Whitworth?

[DingoZ]

Would hazard a guess to the fact that if you are in the system now, as in going through the steps of getting your 6f. Then there would be no changes to that. Would be only the persons applying for 6l's after the implementation date.....

Hopefully this is the case, same as it was in Aus. When they brought out the changes for L's and P's for car licenses.....

In answer to a post earlier on the license question

[James Deuce]

*mildly insane giggle*



Yessssss. 'Restricted'.

Seriously dude you wouldn't want one as a road bike in race trim. That's a total engine rebuild. Crank, rods, pistons, valves, heads. It's fooking expensive and it WILL lunch itself if you don't follow the service schedule.

[jrandom]

Incidentally, looking at that list , how old , in Woofle's name, was the dude who drew it up. There's bikes on there even I don't remember on the roads. Did he really think anyone was going to learn on a Rudge-Whitworth?

While I'd love to imagine a crusty old motorcycle enthusiast sitting in a dingy office at the Ministry of Transport, grinning as he adds implausibly-classic bikes to the list, I suspect that the far more prosaic truth will be along the lines of a straightforward yes/no based on manufacturer-specified power and weight figures of every VINable motorcycle model that's been registered in NZ in the last 30 years.

[Morcs]

A couple of interesting points in the article.

- Reduce the level of risk for novice motorcyclists over the age of 25 by increasing the minimum time period these motorcyclists spend on a restricted licence from six to twelve months.

says far too many novice motorcyclists, particularly in the over-30 age group, are involved in crashes.

Im very glad these points were brought up. All these over 25's who, just because they are over 25, can go from basic handling to a full license (and of course straight onto a big bike) in 6 months or less or whatever it is with a defensive course)

Of course us younguns have to do the whole 9 yards (2 years minimum) (ive personally done 5 years) before they get their full - which is how it should be - because we actually learn how to ride in that time.

Anyone can learn to ride a bike in under an hour. But it takes a shite sight more than 6 months to learn how to ride, and there is obviously correlation with them not staying alive.

I see it all the time, a dude who decides he wants to ride bikes, has money, gets his basic handling, does the defensive course, does his full on a GN, then goes and buys something big, flash and new like a Busa, with all the bling, then say all expensive flash gear (ie. alpinestars) and give the impression that they can ride. Well I saw a guy fitting that description on the ATNR a few times, couldnt ride for shit.

Rant over. Im glad me and the Government agree on something.

[kiwifruit]

sweet
not so good for current 250 owners.. heh

[jimmy 2006]

yes! bring it on i say....

SXV 550 hmmmmmm.............

i wonder what the chances are of this happening before the end of this year?

all the dealers are going to be screwed just think of the sales that will happen, 250 prices should almost halve at the shops, and i doubt you will be able to give them away on tard me.

[dipshit]

Take the badges of your bike, that'll fuck with the coppas heads.

it's a DR650 officer. honest.

They will run the number plate before they even start talking to you. What it is registered as will be what counts.

[Horse]

All these over 25's who, just because they are over 25, can go from basic handling to a full license (and of course straight onto a big bike) in 6 months or less or whatever it is with a defensive course)

Current rules for over 25s are:

- 6 months on Learners
- 6 months on Restricted (or 3 months with a course)

So 12 months (or 9 months with a course) from BHS to Full License.