Are you a BIG bastard?

[greenhorn]

So this law restricts 'learners' from using the road at night? So what happens if you are out, meet a traffic snarl-up and can't get home in time? Do you have to leave the bike at the side of the road so it can be stolen?

Maybe if learners weren't allowed to ride 250cc race-reps, they might not all crash so often when exposed to empty, night-time roads?

Just a thought...

And Greenhorn... it IS a loophole. A loophole put in place to try to assist those of you most definitely NOT "Vertically-Challenged", but a loophole nevertheless. Any exception to a law is a loophole - and if it gets widely known and abused, WILL be closed by the authorities.

As someone (it might even have been me!) said, I'd love to see the moment when someone produces a letter showing they have an exemption as they are too tall, when they're shorter than the officer pulling them over...

I'm surprised it already exists though - as I've said earlier, we have far more restrictive regulations... so if you don't like being limited in terms of bike, you have to shell out your hard earned and qualify to ride something bigger.

Thats probably the dumbest thing about it... there is nothing in the letter that refers to the reason why you got the exemption.
Probably also worth pointing out that my age (34) and the fact i had over 18 years of driving with a clean record was mentioned in my application which may have been a factor in the decision. Maybe a 16 year old with demerits might not have even got close, i dont know, i hope not.

[Stinger]

They've had this exemption business for quite a while. About 8 years ago I got the same thing for my car licence. As a student I was working at night at a Supermarket (Till 10'oclock). So I got an exemption to drive home after that.

One thing that I give the current restrictions is that at least they give added incentive to want to get the next licence. I think if they removed the CC restriction then lots of people just wouldn't bother getting their full.

Anyway, I gather the motorcycle licence is going to change dramatically over the next little while as we move into competency based training and assesment. Where the guy giving you your licence will also be teaching you.

[2_SL0]

Ok Im in a similar boat, I am presently happy with my 250, however it is a little on the small size, and likely to be uncomfortable on the longer jounrneys. Im 30 with a clean driving record. I may well go down this track once I acquire my restricted.

[Bob]

One thing that I give the current restrictions is that at least they give added incentive to want to get the next licence. I think if they removed the CC restriction then lots of people just wouldn't bother getting their full.

Or of course you could adopt the UK model... get your provisional licence. Then pass CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) before you are allowed out on the road (one day course) on the smallest bike imaginable (lets say you can stick to 250cc).

Once you've done that, you have two years (or maybe three, but I'm pretty sure it is two) to get your full licence... or you are off the road for 12 months before you can re-apply for your provisional licence, take CBT etc...

If that doesn't force you to get on with it, nothing will!

If you don't want to go to a higher capacity than the minimum, it is possible to take a test that means your provisional changes to full, but "Full Restricted", ie. no more than 125cc (or about 14.5bhp).