Exemption - Learner to ride 650

**CookMySock** · 23rd April 2008, 13:39

Ok I got my exemption for my 650 yesterday, so I can ride it on my learners' license.

I told them I was an old barsted (42) with plenty of offroad and commercial driving experience etc, a clean driving and criminal record, and gave them pics of me in my copious safety gear (looks very impressive) and the bike, and me ON the bike (must be with no helmet on), and they just issued the exemption. Took all of ten days.

Get the forms from any driver licensing agency and just do it. Easy.

DB

**C_A** · 23rd April 2008, 13:46

that's choice.
do you still have to adhere to the gayer than gay 70kph rule?

**Number One** · 23rd April 2008, 13:53

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Ok I got my exemption for my 650 yesterday, so I can ride it on my learners' license.

I told them I was an old barsted (42) with plenty of offroad and commercial driving experience etc, a clean driving and criminal record, and gave them pics of me in my copious safety gear (looks very impressive) and the bike, and me ON the bike (must be with no helmet on), and they just issued the exemption. Took all of ten days.

Get the forms from any driver licensing agency and just do it. Easy.

DB

OMG!!!! I need to do this tooo then! Though I'm not an old bastard I do have heaps of safety gear, a clean record and years of event free driving experience......

hmmmmmmmmm - worth a crack Nige!

Thanks DB kind regards db

**Tank** · 23rd April 2008, 14:03

Its pretty easy to get.

You can also get around the 70km speed restriction by being being allowed to sit your full right away. I went from my basic handling to full in 2.5 months (had only ridden 2 days in the UK prior to that).

You DONT need to have a clean drivers licence (I dont), nor do you have to have had much riding experience. Many have posted that you shouldn't try when on your L but wait for the restricted - but this is false and makes no difference.

They asked me some follow up questions - I documented them all for everyone to hopefully make the process easier to those that follow - quoted them below.

- Tank

Originally Posted by Tank

I thought that I would drop a note to all outlining my experience applying for dispensation from the graduated licensing system.

I am currently on my learners (have been for 2.5 months), have a reasonably clean licence (although far from perfect), I am aged mid thirties and was looking for a cruiser.

I had a really good call with the people at LTNZ who were REALLY helpful. I got some additional info from them that will help others who are thinking of applying.

1. If you are a young -un don’t bother unless you are really big or tall, they have too many young people in accidents, and as such look at these a lot harder – you really have to have a good reason – otherwise you will be declined.
2. If you are looking for a bike with a “Z” in the model you will be declined regardless of age, reason, whatever – so don’t even try.

I wrote in saying a 250 on the open road was silly. They wrote back asking me how much time I spend in 100kph zones, why can’t I use a car (that I had previously), and what am I looking for, and what experience do I have (being that I have been riding 2.5 months).

I emailed them my answers (see below):

Make, Model and registration of current bike?
I ride a Suzuki GN250 registration #ABC!@#

Make, Model and registration of the bike I am looking to purchase?
I have not as yet identified the exact bike that I wish to purchase as I am unable to test ride them on my current licence. I have however spoken to numerous suppliers and biking mentors about this and they are unanimous in their recommendation of a mid-size cruiser bike. I have no intention of purchasing a sports bike or the like. Examples would be a Suzuki C50 or M50.

If I am successful in this application is it possible to get dispensation to test ride before having the licence ‘linked’ to the specific bike I am approved to purchase?

What travel options did I have prior to my class 6 licence and why cannot I use this now?
Prior to my class 6 licence I had a car of my own, but I have since sold this (Ferrari #ABC!@#). As such my bike is my only form of transport.

My wife has a car (another Ferrari #ABC!@#) but she uses this for her work and the children, and this is rarely available to me. There is also a Nissan registered to my name (a Porsche #ABC!@#) – however this is my sons and he no longer lives at home. As such I have no access to this car either.

Photo of me on my current bike:

Please find following.

[insert pic of Brad Pitt]

Photo of me on the bike that I wish to purchase?
I am unable to provide this immediately as this bike has not as yet been identified. I could either find the bike I wish to purchase and send you a picture for your approval, or I could take a picture of each of the bikes that could be on my ‘shopping list’ – please let me know which you would prefer.

Evidence of riding experience?
I had passed my learners whilst on the UK approximately 7 years ago (I cannot find a copy sorry). In New Zealand I ride every day as this is my primary form of transport. I also attend a mentor group where more experience riders provide training Wednesday evenings for approximately 2.5 hours (BIG UPS TO BIG DOG AND CO). For clarification this is not a group that just rides around town – we have a dedicated area (large carpark) where we have lessons / training on items such as emergency braking, counter steering, bike maintenance, riding in wet, general safety etc).

Other than that – I am a daily rider, with the majority of my riding done on the open road.

Estimated amount of time I ride on open road (100kph zones) and reasons why?
I ride in 100 KPH zones almost every day. To and from my office does not generally require riding in 100KPH zones, but all most other actions do.
Examples:
• I ride on the Northern Motorway (and over the harbour bridge) for meetings / training / shopping approximately twice a week. (as an aside such a small bike on the harbour bridge is dangerous when windy)
• I rode in Rodney district approximately 4 times a week for at least an hour to meet friends etc.
• I ride 5 hours return approximately every 3rd weekend to Cambridge and back to visit family (I cannot take the car as my immediate family generally do not come down for this.)
• We live at the very top of the East Coast Bays – as such a large percentage of ‘general life’ trips require riding on the motorway

They confirmed that I will be granted dispensation in the following:
• I will be given dispensation for date XX to test ride bikes upto 800cc as long as it does not have a “Z” in the model.
• Once I have selected a bike I will be given dispensation for that bike only
• I am then allowed to sit my full licence (ONE TIME ONLY) – if I pass I no longer have to have learners or restricted restrictions – I go directly to my full licence - Do no pass go, do not collect $200 – sweeeeet
o However if I fail I have to remain under the constraints of the learners / restricted with the exception of the larger bike dispensation.

All in all they were very helpful, professional and a pleasure to deal with. They are not fools, so I would not try to ‘get one past them’, but, if you have a serious and reasonable case to put forward they are extremely helpful.

- Tank

**C_A** · 23rd April 2008, 14:19

z in the model = a no no?wtF?

**firefighter** · 23rd April 2008, 14:28

Originally Posted by C_A

z in the model = a no no?wtF?

I was just thinking that.......so I could get any 600cc but the Kawaski Zx6r......!!!!sounds good to me! hmmm CBR, R6, GSX, Daytona, surely that can't be right?

hey does the dispensation cover being fat? lol

**Forest** · 23rd April 2008, 15:30

I will be given dispensation for date XX to test ride bikes upto 800cc as long as it does not have a “Z” in the model.

I can see what they're trying to do, but this seems a strange way to do it.

**2fst4u** · 23rd April 2008, 15:59

go back to the original topic and read it. having a 'z' in the model was just an example. basically he meant that if you want dispensation for a bike that is just basically made to go fast then forget about it

**NOMIS** · 23rd April 2008, 16:33

Originally Posted by firefighter

I was just thinking that.......so I could get any 600cc but the Kawaski Zx6r......!!!!sounds good to me! hmmm CBR, R6, GSX, Daytona, surely that can't be right?

hey does the dispensation cover being fat? lol

your forgetting for the r6 its actually Yamaha YZF - R6

**skidMark** · 23rd April 2008, 16:37

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Ok I got my exemption for my 650 yesterday, so I can ride it on my learners' license.

I told them I was an old barsted (42) with plenty of offroad and commercial driving experience etc, a clean driving and criminal record, and gave them pics of me in my copious safety gear (looks very impressive) and the bike, and me ON the bike (must be with no helmet on), and they just issued the exemption. Took all of ten days.

Get the forms from any driver licensing agency and just do it. Easy.

DB

What if i have none of the above... lol

**mark247** · 23rd April 2008, 16:44

Originally Posted by 2fst4u

go back to the original topic and read it. having a 'z' in the model was just an example. basically he meant that if you want dispensation for a bike that is just basically made to go fast then forget about it

I got my exemption for my VFR400 and my FZR400 and my GB400 when i was 17 and on my learners. I just said i was tall ( im 6foot 2inchs ) and that i had owned a few 250's and they were too small for me ( although my vfr is not much bigger lol ) and that on the open road esspecially when its windy they are down right dangerous. I had been fined previously for riding a 400cc bike on my learners when i applied for my FZR exemption and when i applied for my VFR exemption i had had a few speed tickets as well. I didn't even supply a photo. If you are polite then you should be fine. I think the fact that i initially got it for a GB400 then changed it to a FZR then VFR made it easier for me.