Or do other people think the method to get it is stupid. 1. Go to a car park and ride around a few cones and fill out a multi choice road code and away you go on a bike upto 250cc. 6 months later. Go for a ride around town and then you have your restricted. (no L plate and you can now do 100kph) Then after another 6 months(or 3 months if you do a course) you go for a longer ride and they give you a full licence.
smac,
Nov 16, 2:58am
How about you just enlighten us with your better method and we go from there!
BTW, the 100kph limit doesn't apply anymore, and the tests are changing next year.
richard198,
Nov 16, 3:01am
In the UK, we had a two part test but you had to pass both before going on the road. The first part was machine handling around cones in car park. The second part was street skills on the road. Makes perfect sense,
andydlm,
Nov 16, 3:01am
I think it is stupid that you can ride on theroad after a quick spin around the car park but yet a year later you need to do a detailed driving test to see weather you are fit to be on the road. Also why should someone in their fortys be restricted to a 250cc. Would it really be that bad to let people learn on a 650cc!
crzyhrse,
Nov 16, 3:20am
It's changing to the Australian system where it goes on power:weight.
smac,
Nov 16, 3:24am
Which funnily enough includes bikes up to about 650cc.
berg,
Nov 16, 3:24am
All changing next year anyway. Some larger bikes will be learner legal while some pocket rocket 250s will no longer be learner legal. Anybody who just gets a learner licence on a bike without obtaining further training from experienced riders or trainers is going to be a victim of their own misfortune
andydlm,
Nov 16, 3:31am
I asked the woman at the AA about that and she could find no indication that that would be the case.
smac,
Nov 16, 3:31am
Right. You can go with her answer, or ours. Your call.
It isn't ideal, especially the cc limit, which any biker will tell you means nothing. There are many fine, stable forgiving bikes over 250cc and several lethal little rocketships available that are supposedly 'safe'.
But the graduated system is a pretty good idea really.
And the proposed Aussie power-weight system has flaws too, as the likes of a BSA Gold Star is deemed perfectly suitable as a learner machine. Can you imagine a learner on a close ratio GP carbed goldie.!
richard198,
Nov 16, 4:11am
The power weight ratio thing is a good idea up to a point. An Aprilia 250 is not suitable for learners. But then a gutless 1000cc bike would still be a handful for a learner.
andydlm,
Nov 16, 4:50am
So can you please give me the NZ link to what motorbikes will be able to be ridden.
crzyhrse,
Nov 16, 4:56am
They'll just adopt the Australian list.
smac,
Nov 16, 5:09am
Remains to be seen really. Most (all!) aussie sites use a 150kW per tonne benchmark. They 'ban' certain 250cc bikes, and approve certain >250cc. The thing is they don't ban ALL <250cc bikes that are more than 150kW per tonne.so who knows really.Seems to be a generally good idea that got butchered by the politics of it.
bitsy_boffin,
Nov 16, 5:34am
The NZ LAM (Learner Approved Motorcycles) list has not been written yet (or at least not published), the rule change introducing it comes into effect 1st of October 2012.
General thoughts are that it will be broadly similar to the Victorian LAM, as this is what the whole idea was based on originally.
Andydim Let us compare cars n bikes. Bikes -step ONE is you must prove basic competence at riding It isn't simply weaving through a "few cones" Those basic skills tests have been refined over the years. you must prove you can stop from a good pace. You must show the ability to ride steadilly.You must show you can turn a corner whilst indicating.MANY riding skills are being demonstrated. Cars --step ono Go do a scratchy test -pass and go drive a car -in theiry with a driving instructor/qualified driver. That happens -hmm yea right
socram,
Nov 16, 5:51am
When I took my UK bike test, way back in 1964, there was only the street test, with two observers, an emergency stop, then with a tough face to face on the Highway (Road) Code. None of this multiple choice, with tests available beforehand rubbish.
Managed to pass mine OK then hopped off the bike and took the car test- ended up with the same examiner too!
Even with car flashing indicators rather than semaphore trafficators, it was in the days when you still had to use hand signals.
I don't think that in those days, there were any training structures available for bikes.
urbanrefugee54,
Nov 16, 7:36am
whatever happens. there will still be powerful little men using their pen & crossing boxes to let you know how powerful that pen is. I failed going from restricted to full bike license by a little man that failed me because: 'I put both feet down when I stopped at an intersection' & because 'I didn't do 3 figure of 8's exactly the same size in a cul-de-sac'. '& I cut a corner by inches at an uncontrolled intersection'. found out later on that he'd caused untold trouble, with teenagers by being nasty about their driving - I heard about 3x
deezee1,
Nov 16, 8:24am
Go see Jen at Roadsafe Nelson - she specialises in Motorbike Training and has some good courses www.roadsafenelson.co.nz . I do the same in North Canterbury www.2drivesafe.com.
Its not the power of the bike that is the problem, its a combination of skill, protection, hazard awareness , health and most importantly ATTITUDE that keep a rider safe.
The Basic Handling skills test is not easy as previously mentioned and the rider has to demonstrate BASIC skills to a minimum standard of safety. They then get a LEARNERS Licence ( after doing theory and paying fees) so that is what they are LEARNERS - therefore they need to learn how to ride safely - it is up to each individual whether or not to just go out on the road and blast up the road untrained - or as recommended by NZTA and in the Road Code to get some training.
Once you have your licence ACC subsidise a lot of training with professional instructors so the help is there if you so choose, but if you choose not then its your funeral!
Also as previously mentioned car drivers have the same choice - and many don't use L plates and drive on their own without training or supervision, and they put not only themselves but everyone else at risk!
fab,
Nov 16, 9:15am
smac, thank you for mentioning the 70km limit for learners has been lifted. Thought that was October 2012 also, but I just read the media release dated September 28 which confirms this. My son is about to sit his m/c restricted so I will let him know.he doesn't read newspapers lol.mind you I didn't see this media release published anywhere either. Thanks again.
smac,
Nov 16, 7:14pm
Well even if he doesn't read the paper (neither do I!) I'd hope he reads the road code.all his conditions are laid out there.
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