LAMS Approval

[NordieBoy]

Maybe that is the reason the Apriia RS250 is not on the LAMS approved list. Personally I believe it is marginal that the ZZR should be permitted either, but even with the 90 kg rider weight allowance it is close to the limit. My wife will shortly be riding as a learner and I'm leaning towards a DR650.

But an 18 y/o with a full licence on the Aprilia would be covered but on an old TT500, wouldn't.

[avgas]

Yeah, but they won't be fucking our nice two smokers up anymore! Sadly they'll be destroying the GB400s and other sexy machines

What new 2-strokes?
We have already lost that war.

[EJK]

Question:

Will LAMS affect 250cc market? I.E. Can I expect any price drops for 250cc bikes?

[avgas]

Question:

Will LAMS affect 250cc market? I.E. Can I expect any price drops for 250cc bikes?

Yes.
They will now sell for what they are worth.

[JimmyC]

I personally think the whole thing is a joke.
It doesn't fix any problem, it just creates more.

I would like to see learners (who have the shittiest test anyway) on sub 150cc motorcycles for 6 months. Lets let them crawl before they run.
Putting someone with fuck all torque steering experience on a 600cc machine regardless of how much hp it has is a recipe for disaster.
If morons can roll quad-bikes, you sure has hell can bet they can throw a 600 off a bank at 120kph.
Or wheelstand it into a car.
Or simple power slide it under a truck.

Actually the more I talk about I reckon we should give them LAMS approved bikes. Like dumping chlorine in the gene pool.

Howdy all, long time stalker, first time poster… Thought this might be an appropriate thread to join in the fray since I’ve been hoping the LAMS would be introduced here for quite some time. I used to ride a lot when I was younger, and recently got in a 3 day ride at the start of the year which sparked my enthusiasm back up again. Up until now however it had all been unlicensed riding, farms, trails etc, but with the LAMS coming online I decided to finally get my license. If I’d had to get a 250 for 12 months then trade up, I wouldn’t have bothered. None of them interested me, and none were a great fit.

You’re absolutely right, the BHS test by its very definition is basic, too basic, and really needs to change. It’s not even on par with getting a car license. Nothing about it prepares you for riding on the road with other traffic since none of it takes place on a real road. On the BHS course I did back in March we had a guy who was continually stalling and nearly dropped his bike several times (all of a GN125 I should add). He was pretty useless to be frank, but then he’s not the type to be trying wheelies, power slides or the like on any sized bike. That’s likely to be the kid who aces the test first time and thinks every license should come with a free Ninja 250 just for the inconvenience the process has caused him, but there’s no test for a riders mind set.

I’ve been waiting some 20 years to get my license. Perhaps it’s a mid-life crisis, but I know my limitations and respect other motorists. That’s also something that’s impossible to teach. So yeah, there’ll be guys and gals wiping themselves out on bigger bikes come Oct 1st, but I don’t think it’ll be happening in larger numbers. It’ll just happen more spectacularly.

[avgas]

Welcome to the fold Mr C.
Yep, I agree with you about everything except.......

He was pretty useless to be frank, but then he’s not the type to be trying wheelies, power slides or the like on any sized bike. That’s likely to be the kid who aces the test first time and thinks every license should come with a free Ninja 250 just for the inconvenience the process has caused him, but there’s no test for a riders mind set.

You will be surprised how quickly a bike will put you on your arse. I have had a TS185 throw me off the back as I hit a tiny rock (and then bumped the throttle in first). Likewise I have had the "rear disappear" at 20kph on a GB400.
Not to mention the 1000's of Triumphs I have seen on Trademe with the story of some nice old chap accidentally "lowsiding it".
This does not take a mindset - more a lack of one.

The young have the advantage that they can place blame on inexperience, after all they are the young and stupid. Where as the old..........should probably know better.
Good luck on your motorcycle journeys and most of all welcome to KB.
But remember the laws of physics escape no one.
Time you falls wisely.

[ducatilover]

Yes.
They will now sell for what they are worth.

Mint, I'm buying me some 4 cyl 250s when it happens, they're cute.

[JimmyC]

Welcome to the fold Mr C.
Yep, I agree with you about everything except.......

You will be surprised how quickly a bike will put you on your arse.

I think we're on the same page here actually, 'cos I'm not surprised at all. Things happen very quickly on motorbikes, not just speeding tickets, but this gets compounded when weight, power and inexperience are combined.

This does not take a mindset - more a lack of one.

Semantics aside that's precisely what I'm saying. Perhaps I didn't phrase myself properly, but yeah, totally agree.

Good luck on your motorcycle journeys and most of all welcome to KB.

Thanks very much. Looking forward to spending some time here.

[Lula]

Just a heads up Motorcycle Trader magazine will be featuring LAMS in the October issue (on sale 1st October). It'll be a complete guide to all the learner approved motorcycles under the new LAMS scheme plus in depth test and reviews on some of them.

Also featured will be Financing your Ride - what to look for when considering finance.

[clint640]

Good to see that the KTM LC4 625/640/690's are among the few single cylinder adv bikes that are not sufficiently porky &/or underpowered to be classified as learner friendly The happy feeling of badassedness is not outweighing the pain of the extra rego fee but.

If I was a learner today I think the Husaberg FE/FS 570 may just edge out the KTM 300 as offering the max possible madness on an L plate though.

Cheers
Clint

[Rosie]

Good to see that the KTM LC4 625/640/690's are among the few single cylinder adv bikes that are not sufficiently porky &/or underpowered to be classified as learner friendly The happy feeling of badassedness is not outweighing the pain of the extra rego fee but.

If I was a learner today I think the Husaberg FE/FS 570 may just edge out the KTM 300 as offering the max possible madness on an L plate though.

Cheers
Clint

That sounds like a commercial for some dodgy Chinese commuter bike "The Happy Feeling of Badassedness"

[FJRider]

That sounds like a commercial for some dodgy Chinese commuter bike "The Happy Feeling of Badassedness"

Would be funnier if you could think of a possible poor ... chinese to english translation. (eg: joyful touching of naughty bottoms)

[NordieBoy]

Good to see that the KTM LC4 625/640/690's are among the few single cylinder adv bikes that are not sufficiently porky &/or underpowered to be classified as learner friendly The happy feeling of badassedness is not outweighing the pain of the extra rego fee but.

If I was a learner today I think the Husaberg FE/FS 570 may just edge out the KTM 300 as offering the max possible madness on an L plate though.

Cheers
Clint

Even the Nordie 558cc is LAMS safe (not approved though). It gets in by the virtue of being fat.
45hp at the rear wheel though...

[ducatilover]

Would be funnier if you could think of a possible poor ... chinese to english translation. (eg: joyful touching of naughty bottoms)

The white turtle of the sauna waves to his KTM donning compadre?

[clint640]

Even the Nordie 558cc is LAMS safe (not approved though). It gets in by the virtue of being fat.
45hp at the rear wheel though...

So can you apply to have it put on the list so you get cheaper rego?

Clint