33bhp, do you agree with it?

The only new bike i can think of that is <33 is the ninja 250. Cant think of anything else.....

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Beats me - but that wasn't the question was it?

Fact remains; you don't have to restrict - you could buy a bike that doesn't require restriction and thus not pay for restriction to be carried out.

But not without completely eliminating the utility of the bike. Consider value for money, reliability, likely condition of bike, viability of motorway use etc etc and you find no chance of buying owt that's workable.

If it was me I would set limit at 55 or maybe even 75 bhp. Would eliminate the choice of all the mental 600s as first bikes and give riders a real choice of buying something which would not need restriction.

Not like anybody has ever described a GS500 as scarily powerful and intimidating... ever!

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Robin suggested that restriction is too expensive, my answer reflected the fact that it isn't entirely necessary to spend your money getting a restriction done.

I now withdraw my expenses rant due to being able to fit the washers myself quite easily costing me a total of 20 pounds. If I was to choose a bike that didnt need restricting then it would most likely be a 250, and honestly when youre 18 - do you choose this?? (unless its a supermoto etc....)

Originally Posted by Dave20046

I still agree with your point though, jumping on a a massive bike from nothing is asking for trouble.

Cobblers. You only say that because you've never tried it.

In real terms about the same number of youngsters died or got killed before all these pathetic tests and restrictions were introduced. The former government wanted us to act like responsible adults but treated us like little children... I couldn't wait to see the back of the useless lying scum.

More governmental control and restriction of people's freedoms, that's all it was for, and it needs a damn serious review. All the new tests and new test centres fiasco is all about creating more jobs and securing government funding for those who are doing it at the moment. There was never a need for mega-test centres, the old system worked fine. All it has done is forced people to travel further to be tested... waste of time and money, and it's you and I who footed the bill.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

More governmental control and restriction of people's freedoms, that's all it was for, and it needs a damn serious review

I thought the 33bhp rule was to standardise the license with the rest of Europe? Probably fans the flames for you, but don't let some facts get in the way of a good rant...

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

More governmental control and restriction of people's freedoms,

Originally Posted by simesb

standardise the license with the rest of Europe?

Same thing same thing, ey.


Anyway I would be very surprised if the rest of Europe has all these BS. It is same as all rest of euro-crap... EU brings in rules, Europe ignores it while we slavishly run ourselves daft trying to comply with rules.
Look at smoking ban in Spain.

I think its a reasonable and sensible idea, and something similar should be done with cars. Not sure about how the age restriction should work though, maybe it should be about experience instead. After all if you're allowed to shoot machine guns and die for your country at 18, why shouldn't you be able ride a big bike?

EDIT - Maybe a different limit would be a fair idea, but how slow is 33 bhp really, can it still burn cars at the traffic light GP? The Police in Flameboys recent thread seem to think a 33bhp SV is actually pretty quick!

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Anyway I would be very surprised if the rest of Europe has all these BS.

Really? We have some of the more lax age restrictions too.

I agree with a restriction of some sort as I don't think many seventeen year olds are mature enough to handle a 100+ bhp machine responsibly and they would not only be a danger to themselves but to everyone else on the roads.

[kaivalagi]

I am about to book my DAS at 35 yrs old, I see no benefit to the 33bhp restriction for under 21s...if you are not observant or get yourself involved in an accident the power of the bike is irrelevant unless of course you need more to get out of trouble. Maybe an upper limit of 80bhp would be acceptable for 1 year max.

I will be getting an SV650 (hence just joining here) and feel that the bike will be well suited for "me" as a first rider (i.e. I know what's right for me). I know I will not go silly with the throttle either and the power delivery will (hopefully) not be overwhelming either. I can be my own restrictor I'm sure...

I also plan on doing long trips every other week for work eventually (230 miles on a Tuesday and 230 miles back on a Thursday), if I was restricted to 33bhp that would be a nightmare I think.

I guess once I've been through the motions with a SV650 I'll have an opinion based on experience rather than in theory, but right now as someone with half a brain I think the 2yr restriction is nonsense and probably will once I have my bike too. Time will tell though I guess