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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:17 pm
by Sev
VermilionX wrote:hmmm... good thing we don't have such restrictions.
do bike manufacturers over there complain about those restrictions? they could be making a lot more money if they could sell their better more powerful bikes to anyone.
so what's the most popular beginner bike over there? is it the CBR125?
I float around hondahornet.co.uk a lot for obvious reasons. And I've never heard a real complaint about their stepped licensing, in fact most people seem to like it a lot. It reduces fatalities, and promotes rider skill. There was one guy who was talking about riding his restricted (33bhp) Hornet with a bunch of unrestricted ones (95hp) who had done direct access. He was keeping up with and passing them no problem through twisty stuff, he was doing way better then the guys he was riding with ever could.
Now here's the interesting question, the bikes have exactly the same dimensions, the same engines, the same tires, the only difference is a couple of washers and a bolt that fit on the carbs to prevent air intake effectively limiting the bike to producing 33HP. But he was outriding them. In starting on a smaller less powerful bike he learned to wring every little drop of speed out of it by cornering faster, accelerating better, and generally proved himself to be a more skilled rider.
It's something I would LOVE to see in North America, or failing that Canada. Unfortunately there are a lot of people who aren't willing to govern themselves, so they need someone to do it for them.
I'm glad to say that in this case it worked.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:41 pm
by Kal
Calmer now I've had a cigarette...
Once you are over 21 the big difference at licencing level is what bike you take the test on.
Take it on a 125cc bike and you'll be restricted to 33bhp for two years. We used to have loads of 33bhp bikes on the road but manufacturers seem to have stopped shipping them here which is a shame.
Pretty much every bike out there has a 33bhp restrictor kit available, including the GSX-R1000. You buy the bike and have a certified mechanic fit it and sign off the paperwork.
If you take the test on a 500cc bike it's called a Direct Access and after passing it you can ride anything with no legal restriction.
The final part of learning to ride is the probation period. For two full years after your test the ammount of penulty points you can accumulate is halved from 12 to 6. Or in other words twon speeding tickets and your licence is revoked.
If your licence is revoked then you are banned from driving, usually for a year and have to take the whole thing from Theory onwards all over again once the period of your ban is up.
Just to keep life interesting they (Big Government) are making serious noises about making the driving test more difficult again in 2007.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:51 pm
by VermilionX
*starts rally chant*
USA! USA! USA!
im so glad im here when i decided to buy a bike.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:57 pm
by Ninja Geoff
Kal wrote:125cc Sports Bike-wise the best seller wouold probably have to be the Aprillia 125 or Milo.
Aprilia RS125 = sexy. I'm thinking I want to get one. I wonder how hard it'd be to get one here... Though I think I'd prefer a Tuono.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:04 pm
by DivideOverflow
As much as I agree with skill tests for bikers (and all drivers for that matter), part of me doesn't like the government butting themselves into my life. Being a responsible person, I am able to limit myself and recognize my limits... if all was fair the people with no self control would just kill themselves, but unfortunately, they usually end up hurting other people. That would be the only justification I can live with for there to be stepped licensing like that. After all, many people are able to control themselves and ride around larger bikes safely and responsibly. It is always a shame when a few idiots have to ruin everyone else's fun.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:16 pm
by IrishJim
Well, my instructor told me an interesting fact. The cbt was started in and around 1990. The gov wanted to cut the number of road deaths for new bikers. After ten years they looked at the figures and expected it to cut deaths be about 12 % or so. It actually cut the number of deaths by over 50%. I think every country should have it. It just means you can drive safe enough to go on as a learner.
The hazard perception was ok, but it was a bit of a pain on a few clips. I think they should make it harder for car drivers as well and not just bikers.
I will be starting my full training in march, hopefullt by the middle or end. Cant wait. So much fun
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:19 pm
by VermilionX
IrishJim wrote:Well, my instructor told me an interesting fact. The cbt was started in and around 1990. The gov wanted to cut the number of road deaths for new bikers. After ten years they looked at the figures and expected it to cut deaths be about 12 % or so. It actually cut the number of deaths by over 50%. I think every country should have it. It just means you can drive safe enough to go on as a learner.
The hazard perception was ok, but it was a bit of a pain on a few clips. I think they should make it harder for car drivers as well and not just bikers.
I will be starting my full training in march, hopefullt by the middle or end. Cant wait. So much fun
best of luck to you! and glad to hear you're having fun
but i still don't agree that every country should have those restrictions.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:31 pm
by Sev
Why not?
It's designed to prevent uninformed newbs from buying something they shouldn't.
Oh wait... you wouldn't be on that bike would you?
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:35 pm
by VermilionX
Sevulturus wrote:Why not?
It's designed to prevent uninformed newbs from buying something they shouldn't.
Oh wait... you wouldn't be on that bike would you?
yeah, like divide said, it'd suck to have your right to have fun on a great bike ruined just because of other people's irresponsibility and disregard of safety.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:45 pm
by Kal
It's about how you ride Vermillion, not how you ride. Every bike has her own charm and if it has two wheels it is fun. I had 30,000 miles or so of fun on my CeeGee before she was stolen, and about 30 lousy ones.
Vermillion could still ride his GSXR1000 in the UK - he'd just need to pass the Direct Access first. (And afford the insurance)
Or if he is under 21 (soon to be 25 I hear) he could take the part one test and have it restricted.
If you are willing to get licenced then the law dosnt actually make a difference to what model you can ride, just the power output it can produce and I suspect that Vermillion isnt using much more than 33bhp.
Jim try and get a training bike that fits - the ER-5 I am on has a sportsbike style riding position that concertinas me and makes a mess of my riding style. I am fairly tall and would be a lot better off on a CB500
Oh and I hear that they are going to be putting the screws on car drivers as well, but we will see how that is bourne out.
Which reminds me. You know the bike theory test is the same as for cars with a couple of extra questions, so your bike theory test will cover you if you decide to learn to drive a car in the next two years?