Power to weight restriction

[Ixion]

But i still think they are going about this the wrong way.
Drop the learner limit to say 150, restricted up to max 400.
I under stand the power to weight ratio thing - but what im not happy about is the fact that on a lowly XR600 i can still out pull with enough torque to wheelie up to 100kph......just perfect for a learner.
We are all hoons when learning bikes.......10 foot tall and bulletproof.
Giving learners bigger bikes is like giving them a bigger gun.
Without the basic principals, its all a waste.
But mabey i missed the point and after sitting a small scratchy test and riding round a car park young people have enough experience to handle 50+hp on a 160kg frame? I certainly wasn't ready for even 30hp (on a 130kg bike) and this showed 2 weeks later with me going through a fence.

Very good point. Let us remember that the PURPOSE of this to REDUCE motorcycle crash and injury rates. That's why the Government is doing it , not cos they think it's unfair that Bikiboi isn't allowed a 300kph weapon

I've started a separate thread here to canvas opinion on whether it will work or not.

[mister.koz]

I have just read through their proposals and stuff and i wonder how effective it will be?

I think the day riding lights and 3 year limit on the licence is a good idea, kinda tricks people into not stagnating but apart from that it looks to me more like they are making it more complicated for some kind of "statistical" logic.

Lots of power is a bad thing for someone who can't control it but i know of quite a few bikes that fit into the LAM thing and are just as dangerous as some of the ones that don't.

"In my experiece, any attempt to make any system idiot proof will only challenge God to make a better idiot"

The idea is good but how can they honestly say that higher training wouldn't be effective, learning off people who know whats going on is the best thing i think, i'm going for training anyways.

[rwh]

Dear Harry's media release specifically said ...

Cheers, must have missed that one - came in on one of the later merged threads.

Richard

[Mikkel]

I'm not quite sure where you're coming from here.

Do not learner and restricted car drivers also have restrictions? I'm assuming that these restrictions also apply if they ride a moped. Also I understand passengers are not permitted on a moped at any time.

I'm aware that there's always going to be an exception, but exceeding 70kph on a moped is well into wet dream territory...

I was kinda considering the situation where someone who already holds a 1F goes to get a 6L.

He'll have less restrictions riding a scooter allowed under his 1F, compared to riding it under a 6L or 6R. Am I the only one who can see the madness in that?

[CookMySock]

I am puzzled why they want to TEACH people to ride properly. Do they WANT more superbly experienced and qualified riders on superbikes ? why ? We don't see many litre+ bikes travelling at lightspeed, but we will if they keep this up. One of them will be me LOL.

It seems to me that most riders don't have the nuts or the skills to move on to litre-class bikes, coz if they did, they would. Picture a world where everyone is superbly qualified and experienced on superbikes.. Well into the "holy shit" category. (or is it the holy grail category)

DB

[quickbuck]

It seems to me that most riders don't have the nuts or the skills to move on to litre-class bikes, coz if they did, they would.

DB

This is BS.
Those with the skills either ride one, or they realise there is actually no point in owning one....
Just because I have a 600 doesn't mean I can't ride a 1000.

[quickbuck]

I am puzzled why they want to TEACH people to ride properly. Do they WANT more superbly experienced and qualified riders on superbikes ? why ? We don't see many litre+ bikes travelling at lightspeed, but we will if they keep this up. One of them will be me LOL.


DB

Hell, you are having a bad morning.

Just noticed this bit!

Going by this logic, all the students studying Nuclear Science at Uni are going to go out and split the atom for their theseus.

And, since when was too much education an issue?

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

It seems to me that most riders don't have the nuts or the skills to move on to litre-class bikes, coz if they did, they would.

thats the biggest load of crud I have heard in a while...

[CookMySock]

I suppose you did notice that I said "it seems to me" on the beginning of that didn't you ?

DB

[Gubb]

I suppose you did notice that I said "it seems to me" on the beginning of that didn't you ?

DB

Whatsamatter? You gonna ask for his badge number next?

I have had many of my opinions dismantled piece by piece, I also learned that when people reply with a countering view to my opinion, that counts as theirs. Seems like your only pro free speech when it suits your agenda.

[PrincessBandit]

I was kinda considering the situation where someone who already holds a 1F goes to get a 6L.

Mmmmm. I've had my 1F since '79 then to suddenly go to a 70kph restriction and not being able to be out after 10pm (hello??? at my age.....) just seemed stupid. (Obviously as long as I was tucked up in my cage it was still ok though). Having said that, it wasn't all that long to endure and I guess that the assumption that the skills you have from driving a car don't automatically make you a hotshot rider has some merit. Most people ignore the restrictions anyway and take the risk of being caught so it kinda ends up not really being an issue, unless you get caught eh?
p.s. no wise cracks about me being out "late" instead of tucked up in bed with a hot milo by 10pm! Anyway I have me full 1 and 6 so

[idleidolidyll]

It seems to me that most riders don't have the nuts or the skills to move on to litre-class bikes, coz if they did, they would.

DB

rubbish!

many don't because it's stupidly expensive. those might look like production bikes out there but they sure as hell aint: they have many thousands of dollars spent all over them.
On top of that running costs are higher: Tyres cost way more (1 race 2 tyres for the better guys), brakes wear faster and the whole shebang is just more expensive.

plus some people just don't wanna ride in line 4's

there's more to it than your personal motivations

When it comes to road bikes the reasons NOT to ride 1000cc sportbikes are even greater: Without constantly breaking the law by a large degree or riding dangerously for yourself or others, those bikes are wasted on the street. How many times have you heard an R1 rider or Gasaxe rider say they only have fun when they are breaking the speed limits by massive amounts? I've heard it so many times I can't count em! In fact many of us have learned that less is more. My next bike will have about 60% of the HP my current one has and it will be more fun and actually faster on the most interesting roads.

[Usarka]

it's definitely a monday morning

[Edbear]

Well, all I can say is I'm glad I got my full first time on a Honda 50 stepthough back in '74 as my old B31 was too hard to start...

I sympathise with those going for their licence these days but understand the regs and the need for them.

"Hooning" back then usually involved lower speeds and much less traffic. Think about it, most 250's these days, especially the sports bikes, put out about the same or more hp than my old T500 did and that was considered a fast bike in its day! Any bike that could "top the ton" was fast! Most bikes were tapped out at about 140km/h.

Not even race bikes put out 150+hp and now you've got street bikes putting out 190+ and weighing far less with acceleration that makes your eyes water!

Same with cars, my first "car" was a flat-twin, 8hp, (no that's not a misprint!!), and would "easily" top 40mph but had rod-actuated brakes that would eventually slow you down if you stood on the pedal with both feet and buried it in the wooden floor...

[McDuck]

Well, all I can say is I'm glad I got my full first time on a Honda 50 stepthough back in '74 as my old B31 was too hard to start...

I sympathise with those going for their licence these days but understand the regs and the need for them.

"Hooning" back then usually involved lower speeds and much less traffic. Think about it, most 250's these days, especially the sports bikes, put out about the same or more hp than my old T500 did and that was considered a fast bike in its day! Any bike that could "top the ton" was fast! Most bikes were tapped out at about 140km/h.

Not even race bikes put out 150+hp and now you've got street bikes putting out 190+ and weighing far less with acceleration that makes your eyes water!

Same with cars, my first "car" was a flat-twin, 8hp, (no that's not a misprint!!), and would "easily" top 40mph but had rod-actuated brakes that would eventually slow you down if you stood on the pedal with both feet and buried it in the wooden floor...

the regs are only hard if you let them.