250cc law change?

[Fryin Finn]

Years ago in the UK there was a 30hp limit for 2nd tier learners. So Bike magazine took a Hayabusa and put restrictors on it to limit hp 20 30. Still had a mountain of torque though.

[Coyote]

& rims worth more than the car itself doing 'the laps' in town.

I was told that insurance companies refuse to insure cars with their rims worth more than the car. Thing is, I see them all the time. Saw an old toyota starlet, rusted up, no bumper, had those stupid chrome 20' spinner mags, they must've cost him like 2500, and the car would hardly be worth 500.

[Beemer]

A bhp limit is reasonable - it means the BMW F650CS could be a learners' bike (if they were rich!) and the Goose probably would be as well. But my old RG150 wouldn't - I think it was 33bhp!

And yes, every person who doesn't ride a bike says you will get killed on it - because they can't ride and know they would be killed if they tried! Jealousy, pure and simple!

[Coyote]

A bhp limit is reasonable - it means the BMW F650CS could be a learners' bike (if they were rich!) and the Goose probably would be as well. But my old RG150 wouldn't - I think it was 33bhp!

Oooo, a Dakar would be a nice learners bike

[unhingedlizard]

the UK law works like this:

16 years olds can have a 50cc not capable of more than 30MPH. Must wear L plates.

17 year olds can get there car licence and/or a motorcycle limited to a maximum of 33 bhp for a period of three years upon which thier licence automatically becomes full.

21 (could be 25, have to check) can apply to do an advanced test straight after thier restricted and ride anything they want.

So you can ride a 1300cc hayabusa as long as it has a 33hp restricter. The problem with this comes when someone buys an R1 per sec, rides with it restricter, takes it out after 3 yar and flips it cause its making 100+ hp more.

[Jeremy]

ARGH no, not an age limit. CBTA is the way to go, competency not some bizarre notion that aging a year enables you to handle more power. That way the system is fair.

And whatever you do don't suggest hp restrictions to government officials. They will always screw it up. Imagine what would happen if they decided that 10hp was going to be the restriction for 6L. Would you have even started if the first bike you got had to be a scooter?

[Keystone19]

someone mentioned to me the other day that my VTR250 would not be permitted if they do change the limits.

[parsley]

I doubt very much that it would be lowered, but rather rasie the cc rating...... I think this is a stupid idea if it involves a lerners licence..... Learners should be restricted to 250cc, and possibly raise the cc bar too 400cc..... Because in theory you can do your learner and restricted and then jump onto a 1000cc rocket as soon as you get your full (fucking stupid if you ask me) it should be more gradual, 250cc and under for Learners, and 400cc and under for restricted riders.... therefore the rider gets used to playing with a bit of power before jumping onto a 600+cc bike.....

Isn't this the way it works in the UK now? You get your learners licence which covers you up to 125cc, then the standard licence is restricted to 400cc for a year or two. You can bypass this by doing a special course, possible only for over 25s?

[Bonez]

I understand that Queensland, AU allows any bike under about 30bhp, so a learner is allowed to ride a gutless 29hp 800cc Harley. I think provided the bike isnt just plain too heavy, a horsepower rating is sensible, cause too much acceleration is generally what gets lil baby bikers into trouble.

Certainly make GB look good at 27hp-light, nimble and a barrel of monkies fun to ride. The HP thing makes sence all the all the LTSA has to do is ask to provide spec manufactures. Btw my C50 HAS to be registered as an M/C because it can do 80kph, took it in to a bike shop for a warrent-testing stations prior where quite happy for it to be a moped, go figure...................

[Coyote]

Hp restrictions on bikes, no

Hp restrictions on cars,

Why do us learner/restricted bikies have to suffer through all these barriers bascially designed so we don't get into biking whilst those dicks in their cars with their baseball cap over their eyes get to drive these monsters with big bore exhausts, blow off valves and massive extracters? (oh wait, they decrease performance don't they )

[Bonez]

Why do us learner/restricted bikies

Bikers son-Bikers. Bikies go around fucking the neighbours dogs................

[Ixion]

Hp restrictions on bikes, no

Hp restrictions on cars,

Why do us learner/restricted bikies have to suffer through all these barriers bascially designed so we don't get into biking whilst those dicks in their cars with their baseball cap over their eyes get to drive these monsters with big bore exhausts, blow off valves and massive extracters? (oh wait, they decrease performance don't they )

For exactly that reason. One of the prime motivators behind the bike license restrictions is to attempt to dissuade people (young men in particular) from taking up biking in the first place.

There is a smallish, but powerful, group of grey men in Wellington who, quite simply, want bikes off the road. Full stop.End of story. No bikes. They aren't powerful enough (yet!) to get them banned outright. But they do have enough power/influence to manipulate legislation so as to make biking unattractive for young men.

If getting a bike license is really hard and expensive, and getting a car licence is cheap and easy, they reason, young guys won't bother with bikes.

Their hope is that if no new bikers enter the scene, eventually biker numbers will drop, by old age and attrition, to the point where they can ban bikes on the road.

[SPORK]

Words

What are their reasons though? Did they get raped by a BSA when they were younger? Are they jealous? Are they just plain stupid?

Know thy enemy.

Howevevever, they're doing their job well in stopping me from getting a bike :rant:

[Ixion]

What are their reasons though? Did they get raped by a BSA when they were younger? Are they jealous? Are they just plain stupid?

Know thy enemy.

Howevevever, they're doing their job well in stopping me from getting a bike :rant:

Dunno. I suspect they're very well intentioned people who just see motorbikes as silly and dangerous. From their point of view, what reason is there to ride a motorbike when you can drive a car ?

It's not like running a bike is cheaper now than running a car, probably costs more in fact.

And they just see over representation in accident figures, hospital costs, etc. After all (in their eyes) if they were banned it's not like we'd suffer. We can always drive a car, and get there just as easily , dry and warm. The only reason anyone would want to ride one of those noisy dangerous things, is just to be antisocial, right.

Just tell people you meet that you ride a motorbike, and ask what they think of them. You'll get at least some responses along those lines.

[ZorsT]

Just tell people you meet that you ride a motorbike, and ask what they think of them. You'll get at least some responses along those lines.

damn right you will
It seems that anyone who hasn't had a motorbike or isn't interested in them thinks they are death traps invented by DR Darwin to weed out the "undesireable" genes.
I had to put up with lots from people at work today telling me how i will die or lose all movement in all 3 arms because their uncles boss did. They always point out how it doesn't matter how good at riding you are, there will alwaysbe some dickhead who will pull out infront and kill you.:rant: