Licence question

[unstuck]

Was talking to my old mum this morning on the telephone, and she seems to think I already have my bike license. Reckons I got it when I was 17. Time to think about rest homes perhaps.

[Dragon]

Stop it

So go get a 600 then
Only thing i can see holding ya back now is the curfew, so bloody what ! Not like ya not used to breakin the law !

JFDI

I try and avoid breaking the law these days bending it alittle is a different story

I will be jumping on some rider training days/track days etc just got to sort them out, you are correct that the licencing tests are useless.

However I don't see why they don't impose a skill based test, some people will take 6months to pass and others may take 2years depending on how well they pick it up.

They could still do a restricted and full test

But it should involve defensive driving skill testing and see the ablity of the person to get out of the shit etc

The last practical test I did was my full licence test when I was 18 (back on the old system) and I did that at 8am on a wednsday morning in torrental rain with rush hour traffic. I had also had no sleep as I had worked a 12hr shift before hand. I passed with 100% makes me think the test was alittle easy but also showed I had the skill to pass in those conditions

Now most people will go when there is light traffic and good weather how does that show you can drive in all conditions.

[ducatilover]

I think the restricted licence should be removed as there are no differences at all to the L licence.

It's a blatant money grabbing exercise by teh gubberments
And we all know cars and bikes are different, but being in a car first will give you a better working knowledge of the road rules and vice versa

Burn the gubbermints!!!!!!

[FJRider]

I think the restricted licence should be removed as there are no differences at all to the L licence.

It's a blatant money grabbing exercise by teh gubberments
And we all know cars and bikes are different, but being in a car first will give you a better working knowledge of the road rules and vice versa

Burn the gubbermints!!!!!!

Very TRUE ... keep them on the L plate for the full period. Learners ... or FULL ... no exceptions or shortcuts allowed

And double the cost of the tests to make up the shortfall ...

And the same full ACC levy on ALL motorcycles ... because they're ALL dangerous ... and fairer that way too ...

[p.dath]

It seems you've had plenty of responses, but I might as well add in my own 5 cents.

Can anyone tell me the difference between the learner and restricted Motorbike licence because all I can think of is the fact that the learner Licence has to have an L plate.

I think you are correct in this one. Basically everyone gets a warning via your 'L' plate when you are first starting out to take extra care around you. This is to help prevent you getting hurt.

Once you move to restricted it's hoped your competent enough to move in traffic safely.

Whats the point in having a restricted licence just means you have to spend an extra 6months before you can get your full

Also isnt the main reason to have people go through licences so that they can get road time and expirence in different conditions

I've got almost 8years of driving expirence in a car and while riding is slightly different it doesnt change the fact I have alot of road time and know how to handle alot of situations

Sure, there is knowledge that will be transferrable from using a car. However that won't help you with other important aspects, such as machine control - which in my opinion takes around 2 years to develop to a reasonable level. So once you get your full licence you still wont be properly proficient in machine control - IMHO.

Also situation awareness is quite different on a motorcycle compared to a closed cockpit car.

Also I know how to drive/ride at night why would me being on a learner bike licence suddenly strip that skill from me ?

I'll bring up machine control and situational awareness. Riding on a motorcycle in the pitch black requires you to look even further ahead than normal, and take greater note of the few things you can see. In a car you tend to have a lot more light coming out the front and it is so much easier.

[ducatilover]

Very TRUE ... keep them on the L plate for the full period. Learners ... or FULL ... no exceptions or shortcuts allowed

And double the cost of the tests to make up the shortfall ...

And the same full ACC levy on ALL motorcycles ... because they're ALL dangerous ... and fairer that way too ...

Agreeing with you here (uh oh!)
The LAMS 660cc rule and the 600+cc rego rule is just another example of pure money grab fuckey of the gubbercuntmint

As I previously stated, burn them!!! WITH FIRE!

[MSTRS:Me]

Read this...
After years of no change to the licencing system (for motorcycles) the govt finally listened to what thousands of us were saying about the restricted speed for learners - and removed it as a condition. But without changing anything else per se. So now we have what amounts to the same conditions for learner/restricted. Just the L plate is dropped.
Since the above, LAMS has come in - although it essentially changes nothing...you either have a condition of 250cc or under - OR - an approved motorcycle (on the List).

Typical legislative bullshit (oooh, there's THAT word again, in relation to Govt) ... have a law with anomalies or stupid provisos, wait years to correct the situation, fix the problem and introduce new ones, refuse to revisit the legislation, blame the other party for all the problems.

[ducatilover]

Typical legislative bullshit (oooh, there's THAT word again, in relation to Govt) ... have a law with anomalies or stupid provisos, wait years to correct the situation, fix the problem and introduce new ones, refuse to revisit the legislation, blame the other party for all the problems.

Keeps the wankers employed eh?

[FJRider]

Read this...
After years of no change to the licencing system (for motorcycles) the govt finally listened to what thousands of us were saying about the restricted speed for learners - and removed it as a condition. But without changing anything else per se. So now we have what amounts to the same conditions for learner/restricted. Just the L plate is dropped.
Since the above, LAMS has come in - although it essentially changes nothing...you either have a condition of 250cc or under - OR - an approved motorcycle (on the List).

Typical legislative bullshit (oooh, there's THAT word again, in relation to Govt) ... have a law with anomalies or stupid provisos, wait years to correct the situation, fix the problem and introduce new ones, refuse to revisit the legislation, blame the other party for all the problems.

At least now ... "Learner" riders can ride Bikes up to 660 cc's ... with no issue with TPTB should the learners feel capable ...

And (as you said) no 70 km speed restriction.


All said and done ... MAJOR changes that will help learner riders. But nothing radical.

Nor were radical changes expected ... and we weren't disappointed ..

[bosslady]

I don't know about you guys but is it just me or as soon as you put an L plate on the back people treat you like you know nothing etc and just do stupid things around you

Nope, if anything I find they are more courteous. Nicer to me on my bike than when I am in my car. It's probably all in your head, or are you trying to find an excuse to rip the L plate off?

Why are you so impatient? I think 2 years is a fair amount of time to be given to learn before you can go and buy a 1000cc etc. for whatever reason. Someone who's been riding for 6 months shouldn't be allowed one, that's why they're not.. 650 is fast enough? what's the rush I don't know. Have some patience is all I can say and maybe some more respect for motorcycle roadcraft... must be a guy thing huh

[FJRider]

Nope, if anything I find they are more courteous. Nicer to me on my bike than when I am in my car. It's probably all in your head, or are you trying to find an excuse to rip the L plate off?

A lot depends on the way that L-plater rides. Or the attitude of other road users in your area. And as he has been riding less time than you ... and we've all heard about Auckland traffic. I'm guessing the former ...

Why are you so impatient? I think 2 years is a fair amount of time to be given to learn before you can go and buy a 1000cc etc. for whatever reason. Someone who's been riding for 6 months shouldn't be allowed one, that's why they're not.. 650 is fast enough? what's the rush I don't know. Have some patience is all I can say and maybe some more respect for motorcycle roadcraft... must be a guy thing huh

So ... he must still have one year, and three hundred and fifty five days until he gets to legally ride a big bike.

Not long ... really ...

[bosslady]

A lot depends on the way that L-plater rides. Or the attitude of other road users in your area. And as he has been riding less time than you ... and we've all heard about Auckland traffic. I'm guessing the former ...

on the way the l plater rides, as in I scare cagers so much they keep the f*ck away?

So ... he must still have one year, and three hundred and fifty five days until he gets to legally ride a big bike.

Not long ... really ...

riding less time than me? but I've only been riding not even 6 weeks?

[FJRider]

on the way the l plater rides, as in I scare cagers so much they keep the f*ck away?

Motorists that get intimidated by the riding habits of L plated motorcyclists ... tend to use the same tactics in return. Car Vs bike can be a little one sided ...

Respect for other road users goes both ways.

riding less time than me? but I've only been riding not even 6 weeks?

Yep.

[bosslady]

Motorists that get intimidated by the riding habits of L plated motorcyclists ... tend to use the same tactics in return. Car Vs bike can be a little one sided ...

Respect for other road users goes both ways.



Yep.

I just read his profile, he be a youngin, it all be making sense now.

[sootie]

The L plate is to warn ALL other road users .. that YOU are a total NOOB on a motorcycle.

And no matter what you think ... nobody really gives a fuck what a NOOB thinks on the matter ... because they are a NOOB. And what do NOOBS know anyway.
end of rant

There is a wonderful quote from an instuctor to student chopper pilots he was preparing for troop injection & extraction into and out of very tricky Vietnam war zones:
"Until you have a 1000 hours of experience you are a bigger menace around here than the Vietcong. God help us all while you learn!"
[I think this might fit the bill for motorcyclists too.]