LAMS Approval

[JATZ]

Sortof related....
I tried to get insurance for the boy so he'd be covered riding to tech on the 650. Insurance company refused on the grounds that at his age (18) he's restricted to 400cc or less, regardless of the fact he holds a full licence.
I queried them on the new laws and what would happen when they came in, the lovely lady knew nothing about them.

[FJRider]

Sortof related....
I tried to get insurance for the boy so he'd be covered riding to tech on the 650. Insurance company refused on the grounds that at his age (18) he's restricted to 400cc or less, regardless of the fact he holds a full licence.
I queried them on the new laws and what would happen when they came in, the lovely lady knew nothing about them.

Just because the law says you can ride a 650 ... that doesn't mean an insurance company HAS to insure him. If their policy's say No ... No it is. I fail to see how or why the LAM's laws should make them change any of their policys.

He'll just have to wait untill he's 18 to be insured.

[Waipukbiker]

Have to agree with that, I would be reluctent to insure a rider on a learners licence who has just purchased a DRZ400 for example.
Be interesting to see how the insurance companies run with the new laws.

[NordieBoy]

Just because the law says you can ride a 650 ... that doesn't mean an insurance company HAS to insure him. If their policy's say No ... No it is. I fail to see how or why the LAM's laws should make them change any of their policys.

He'll just have to wait untill he's 18 to be insured.

He is 18.

[FJRider]

He is 18.

My apologies .... I misread it.

He'll have to wait untill they decide he is old enough. Or at least untill their policy's allow him to be insured.

The joys of youth ...

[JATZ]

My apologies .... I misread it.

He'll have to wait untill they decide he is old enough. Or at least untill their policy's allow him to be insured.

The joys of youth ...

It's o.k. I was merely making an observation.
How many learners/restricted riders will be rushing out to get +250cc bikes only to find out they won't be able to get insurance, however this is only one company. I know others have different policys

[FJRider]

It's o.k. I was merely making an observation.
How many learners/restricted riders will be rushing out to get +250cc bikes only to find out they won't be able to get insurance, however this is only one company. I know others have different policys

Many insurance companys wont insure motorbike at all. As you say ... it it only ONE company that you asked. I inquired with a few, untill I found one that suited ...

I was not trying to be the smarty-pants ... but the insurance companys are not bound by law to change the contents of their policys ... automatically on the change of drivers licence legislation ...

At best ... some may change (if they dont already) by adding the clause ... having the correct class of licence for that motorcycle.

And only change ... if it suits ... THEM.

[warewolf]

I know a lot of carbed dirtbikes just have something stopping the slide opening all the way. I think in some markets it's more of a noise/emissions thing than a learner legal issue.

Probably a bit of both. My 200 EXC had one of those poxy catalytic converters that with time becomes a major exhaust blockage. In Europe they have a power limit for new motorcyclists, like in the UK:

After passing the standard motorcycle practical test, you will be restricted for two years to riding a bike of up to 25 kw and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kw/kg. After this you may ride any size of bike.

http://www.direct.gov.uk 34ps or 160kW/t. Lots of bikes have a Europe-market 34ps learner version.

[cooneyr]

Have to agree with that, I would be reluctent to insure a rider on a learners licence who has just purchased a DRZ400 for example.
Be interesting to see how the insurance companies run with the new laws.

Here is a opportunity for an interesting debate - why do you think a learner on a DRZ400 or DR650 is a higher risk for an insurance company than a zzr250 or a prilla rs250?

I'd suggest the opposite in that cost risk of both third party and insured individual is less.

[Jantar]

Here is a opportunity for an interesting debate - why do you think a learner on a DRZ400 or DR650 is a higher risk for an insurance company than a zzr250 or a prilla rs250?

I'd suggest the opposite in that cost risk of both third party and insured individual is less.

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.

[SS90]

People are so nervous around this whole LAMS thing. So long as you don't wedge a motor twice the size of the original, or hang a super-charger off the side of your bike, who's going to know? You won't fail a WOF at a testing station based on the status of your drivers licence and Mr Plod isn't going to take your cylinder head off on the roadside. Avoid wanky stickers & fancy exhaust systems & you'll be sweet I reckon

True, if only people woud heed this advise.
Truth be told, a loud exhaust/carb mods, if they are lucky, will gain a few % in peak power, but more often , nothing measureable in regards to peak power for the small stuff.

[Waipukbiker]

I presume the insurance companies will now be watching the statistics with the new laws as to the ratio of claims between diff models and sizes/power of bikes where learner licence riders are concerned but then nothing may change and it may all be a storm in a teacup as they say.
I have no idea how they expect the new laws to be effectivly policed, not sure if it could be picked up on if a learner licenced rider tried to
rego a bike that is non complient, cant remember if licence details are required on the forms or even change of ownership forms.
Even then it would require the person behind the counter to have the knowledge to determin what is compliant and what isnt. (Yeah right)

As usual, time will determin what becomes of it all. Prob nothing.

[ducatilover]

True, if only people woud heed this advise.
Truth be told, a loud exhaust/carb mods, if they are lucky, will gain a few % in peak power, but more often , nothing measureable in regards to peak power for the small stuff.

I can attest to this. My VT250 did 32whp in standard form, with lots of fucking around with tuning, I found my OEM filter to perform best and with a tuned length 'zorts, it finally got to 36whp.
Just making it louder however, it was still 32whp, with less torque Nitro/meth in the tank soon sorted that.

[avgas]

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.

[ducatilover]

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.

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