Absolutely stupid motorcycle laws.

Was just wondering as im fairly new to motorcycles (50cc peice'o**** for a year and sv650 33bhp for a couple months now) wether anyone else apart from myself thinks the motorcycle licensing laws in this country are just ridiculous, for instance coming from a 50cc that could just about do 50mph was bad enough on the roads when everything wants to kill you, let alone doing 28mph on a dual carriageway! luckily I managed to do the test 10 days before they changed the laws but after that id have been on a 125 for two years the only other alternative being a...car which you now have to take out a mortgage to insure.

Anyway rant over, just wanted to see if anyone else on the forum thinks these laws were a bit ridiculous?

Yup. I agree. Anybody would think the government dont like motorcycles...


Tbh. I just get confused how we are all supposed to be doing all we can to save the planet, yet theyre doing more and more to put people off buying a motorcycle. I thought bikes were better than cars for the planet? I think they need to understand that we arent all power rangers...

I agree, I just can't understand how in anyone's mind doing 28mph on a dual carriageway is remotely safe. I have to say there was quite a few scary moments on that little bike, thank god I don't have to drive that thing anymore

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by otaylor38

Yup. I agree. Anybody would think the government dont like motorcycles... ..

They don't and never have done. They monitor the statistics and it looks good if the Minister can reduce the casualties by making it more difficult.

Thankfully people like MAG exist to fight our corner.

Pete

Seeing as someone mentioned us, it is worth noting that it is our 40th anniversary this year, and the BMF is over 50. That should give you an idea of what motorcycling has been up against in the corridors of power...

The new licensing is coming from europe amongst other codswalllop like trying to get us to wear hi vis 24/7 etc. Lets get out of the eu i say!

[NTECUK]

Originally Posted by stuR

The new licensing is coming from europe amongst other codswalllop like trying to get us to wear hi vis 24/7 etc. Lets get out of the eu i say!

Don't forget the new Mot laws Europe are pushing through as well.
Euro union my donkey...
Corrupt bunch of idiots .

Originally Posted by otaylor38

I think they need to understand that we arent all power rangers...

if there were more power rangers on the road bikers would be safer! proper leather suits with good armor and a good back plate will reduce injuries!

What you meant to say is less idiots on bikes. Its hard to say what is best to avoid accidents. I had gone from riding a 125 for 3-4 months to 33bph sv650. Admittedly the addiction to this more power became dangerous as always wanting to go faster (or accelerate harder rather then top speed). Lessons were learnt in the wet where the resistor helped me respect the power of the bike alot more by preventing more wheel speed and possible out of control moments.

after covering about 10-15k miles I was ready for the full 65bph but couldn't as i had another year to go.

But not all people pass a motorcycle test to ride a bike every day. Alot of people do it for sunny weekends on sports bikes, where they would maybe cover 1k-2k a year and would be total novice until they rack at least 10k miles.


The problem is you cant record how many miles/ experience someone has from riding a bike to impose the correct restrictions. Someone who rides every day for 30+ miles in town motorways is more experienced then ones out for the weekend. So have to restrict for people who use it least.

otherwise yes it is very annoying. I want my fireblade/R1 NOW. But I have learnt tarmac hurts and so do many other hard objects.

[aesmith]

Originally Posted by stuR

The new licensing is coming from europe amongst other codswalllop like trying to get us to wear hi vis 24/7 etc. Lets get out of the eu i say!

UK licensing is based on the EU directive, but we have set higher age limits that the EU require for all the motorcycle categories. It seems to be the normal thing with harmonisation, no country wants to relax their existing requirements so the EU-wide scheme ends up more restrictive than any country's previous scheme.

Having followed StuR on bank holiday Monday it is quite clear that the driving test will never test the ability of a 33hp bike never-mind a 46hp bike. Making someone do the exact same test twice is silly.

I think the upgrade path should have consisted of something mildly relevant to driving a more powerful machine, could quite easily have been similar to an advanced training day, and might actually save a life or two.