Stick with 250cc or go up?

[haydes55]

just wondering from some of your perspectives what to do. Getting a licence takes time and you need a 250. for the price of a decent 250 I can buy an even better larger cc bike. I have ridden larger cc bikes both off road and on road. I have owned a 250 for 6 months and used it most days and have clocked up thousands of km's. I have raced speedway (a 500cc bike) since I was 12. I'm not being arrogant (just saying I can handle a bike) I'm not an idiot on the road, I've had my full cage licence for 3 years and never crashed and don't speed (don't speed on my bike either). I know how dangerous the road is on a motorbike (had many many cars pull out in front of me and cut me off etc).

Options I have right now:
1. buy a 250, sit my licences (can go for restricted now)
2. buy a CBR400 or 600 (or similar like a Gixxer or Ducati monster 600) and hire/borrow a 250 to get my licences and try not get caught
3. fly to Rarotonga, have a holiday and get a licence there and convert it to NZ

I want a bigger bike because it is cheaper, can get a tidier bike that is more reliable. Also I take long rides, the 250's don't like these too much.

[Oakie]

"I fought the law and the ... law won"

[unstuck]

Took me 31 yrs to get caught with no bike license. $400 if caught though.

[Blackshear]

The raro loophole hasn't closed yet?
My TL will be patched in a couple months!

[haydes55]

unstuck Location Gore

Might have something to do with avoiding the cops for so long haha

I was never pulled up on my 250 even though it sounded like a 400 (no baffle in the muffler)

most cops wouldn't bother doing a random traffic check on a motorbike and if I don't break the law I shouldn't have an issue, I have known of loads of people who have harleys and other large motorbikes and never had a licence, never heard of anyone getting caught (probably because they outrun the cops :/ ...) I would rather take the $400 fine than endanger anyone else (and my shiny awesome bike).

[Milts]

The Raro loophole is closed now - you need to get a full license in one of a set range of countries, and the Islands are excluded...

Personally I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with a good 250. I wouldn't say it's enough of a difference to risk the hundreds of dollars and the demerits for 12 months though.

With more people not paying their rego, and motorcyclists being a target of the 'safer roads' policy, the odds of being pulled over now for a license check are significantly higher than 2 years ago.

[haydes55]

The 250's have no guts (I had a 4cyl FZR250 which has more power than any modern 250)
And I think the risk is very small. Seriously, all you guys on bigger bikes, how many times have you had to produce your licence?

[unstuck]

Location Gore
First 11 years were in Auckland.

[2Seat_Terror]

Never had a license check, but I have been breath-tested on the bike.. that was amusing.

IMHO Get a 250 to thrash (if you must) while you go through your licenses, then go big. Don't become another statistic in the 'nasty evil bikers' world-view. You don't have to spend large on a 250, get a cheaper one, sounds like you might be capable of doing any work required?

If you have to ask...

[sil3nt]

You don't speed and all 250's do 100kph.


Problem solved.

[Boomtrain]

Get a beefier 250. I'll be happy with my 2-stroke for awhile to come. Has oodles of power and still perfectly legal for a learner (for now).

[Blackshear]

The 250's have no guts (I had a 4cyl FZR250 which has more power than any modern 250)
And I think the risk is very small. Seriously, all you guys on bigger bikes, how many times have you had to produce your licence?

Rode my TL on an invisible learners for almost 4 months and got waves through a couple stoppies and even escorted home.
That being said, I've been brutally raped for an askew L plate and doing 75 in a 100 - 50 zone, for being a learner.

[sleemanj]

Get something like a Spada, will keep you amused while you're on your R.

[DR650gary]

I would get a road legal 250 adventure bike, TTR250 or similar, ride it till full license then use it for off road adventures when you get your beast. A decent 250 adventure bike will ride with the big boys and will give a decent ride until you have your full license.

I am sure you can handle a bigger big but every time you get caught you will get an extra six months added and once they have you in their sights, you will get caught more than you want.

Just my opinion.

[unstuck]

Im not riding my 750 until I get my license. Gonna get me a road legal trails bike.Had to strip the VF though to resist the temptation, cos Im a stupid bugga.