Motorcycle licensing changes announced

[Ender EnZed]

my Bandit doesnt feature on any of the lists..

That's because it's under 250cc and not explicitly banned. The only named 250cc or under bikes are the ones you aren't allowed to ride.

[steve_t]

So will a LAMS approved 650cc still cop the highest rego cost?

[Movistar]

The 70kph restriction may be gone, but it won't be long until the maximum speed for everyone will be 90kph...

[tigertim20]

So will a LAMS approved 650cc still cop the highest rego cost?

of course it will apply!!! they arent going to do fuckall to help us out!! frankly the fact that theyre bringing this in at all is surprising and several years overdue in my opinion.

[bogan]

frankly the fact that theyre bringing this in at all is surprising and several years overdue in my opinion.

only several years? the bulk of the high performance 250s were made almost 20 years ago! and they have only gone downhill since. With the exemption of the Aprillia RS250 which I think was the last great 250 in production.

[Max Preload]

I see lots of scooters on my other commute down Dom Road....they ride like they are visible and drivers care....... I did not realise you could ride one on a car licence

You can't. Only a moped.

[Shadows]

good value for a 70cc bike I reckon, $400 bucks

What, to buy?

[Spearfish]

What, to buy?

Rego is probably half its value lol

[Bullitt]

frankly the fact that theyre bringing this in at all is surprising and several years overdue in my opinion.

When I came back to biking about 5 years ago they were talking as though it was imminent then so its surprised me it didnt come in a few years ago.

I'm currently in the market for an over 250cc bike which would meet the new criteria so maybe I should hurry up and get one, though I doubt enough learners will buy a bike over a year before the new rules comes in to affect me at this stage.

[explode64]

Does any one know what partof the new law will be introduced in Oct 2011? If the law dosn't change before 2012 I should have my full so wont be affected, but if it changes in OCt this year there is no way im selling my RGV and buying another bike for a few months.
Is there any stats to back up that more people are hurt on two strokes? There are most likely far more people injured on CBR, ZXR250 etc than NSR, TZR and RGV’s as they are so rear.

[Desert Eagle]

Its nice to see a change to the system that makes a bit of sense.

I just wonder about bikes that have had some performance upgrades that put them over the power/weight limit?

for example if I put gold tape on my rims (less weight) and give it a red powerband and top up my indicators with high performance indicator fluid..

[rastuscat]

only several years? the bulk of the high performance 250s were made almost 20 years ago! and they have only gone downhill since. With the exemption of the Aprillia RS250 which I think was the last great 250 in production.

The graduated restriction of 250cc has always been a joke. I got in a world of trouble on an RD250LC back in the day. RZ250s were beasts. Anything with a 2 stroke motor and a throttle made the law an ass. The power to weight ratio would always have been a better measure.

That way you could have learned to ride a CB400N, which couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Cool bike, predictable but not too torquey, too heavy, just a good bike to learn some good skills on.

Thing is, it's not until you spend a couple of decades on bigger bikes that you realise how much fun is to be had on 250, and how the skills you learn on little bikes translate to safer riding on the bigger bikes.

Just my musings.

Donuts.

[GrayWolf]

[QUOTE=bogan;1130143658]only several years? the bulk of the high performance 250s were made almost 20 years ago! and they have only gone downhill since. With the exemption of the Aprillia RS250 which I think was the last great 250 in production.[/QUOTE

Therin lies the problem. (high performance) At least unlike the UK Govt, who over about a 2year period made warning noises over 250cc performance, then with the advent of the Yam RD250LC introduced a 125 law for learners, the NZ Govt has been predictably slow. In fact at the time (early 80's) Yam let it be known there was the RD125LC in the wings capable of about 90mph... UK Govt immediate reaction? 12hp power to weight restriction, as well as a 125 limit.
There are many interesting differences between here and the UK for licence laws, some to me (as an old grumpy bastard) just dont make sense...
UK.... no one was allowed to drive a car till 17yrs old. Learner licence meant you HAD to be accompanied by a full licence holder, period. You could not drive without one. At 16yrs old? The law allowed you to ride a 'moped'... most from the 70's will remember the FS1E (SS50) yam and the Honda SS50, Suzuki AP50 etc..... So nearly every driver cut there teeth for a year on 2 wheels.
I want to see scooters/mopeds removed from car licences,,, I have on occassions followed them being ridden by obvious 'cage drivers' who just do not have the spatial or peripheral awareness required. And YES from riding a moped in the 70's which were capable of 80kph (50mph) 70kph is just downright lethal on open roads.

From hindsight, as much as I enjoyed my high performance (then) 250's and would have HATED restrictions... we were to put it bluntly FUCKING LUCKY to survive. Go to a shop at 17, buy the 'dogs bollox' 250, slap L plates on, and ride it out the door.... A graduated licence system makes sense... in fact I would prefer to see the licence system go further.... (a la Europe) set CC/power stages that you have to pass licence or training to progress to the next level. It really would keep immature and inexperienced riders off the higher powered machines. If that statement upsets a few sensitive Ego's? Tough titties!!. Reality is over the last 40 years the performance of both cars and bikes has risen exponentialy... but the performance of the rider/driver has NOT. Can I ride my ZZR to its limit? Doubt it, but then neither could 98% of riders out there either. Ego and Bullshit will say they can..... in which case the nation has several 10's of thousand Aaron Slight clones on the road.
What I found interesting is when people I know have visited London and driven even in that rat race city for traffic... have commented how polite, courteous, and on the whole well behaved drivers are.... and realised how downright aggressive, arrogant and bad local drivers are.......
So yes I am all for graduated licence systems and for compulsory insurance... in fact the compulsory insurance factor alone would prohibit many driver/rider's of high power machines at young ages. Regardless of individuals who are in that age group and are sensible and have some skills... the majority do not! Even older riders who are new or returning after some period are not 'up to speed' for rider skills... Stepped licences would at least allow time to improve and aquire the knowledge needed to ride a high power machine competently.