What do those of you in coutries that regulate motorcycle licenses by experience and or displacement think of the effectiveness of such a system?

Here in the US a 16 year old can walk in and buy a Hyabusa if they want to. Subsequently due to low demand we do not get to see many of the cool smaller displacement bikes like VFR400's, CBR400RR's, or NSR250's.

Justin

I know this is a few months old, but I believe the Tier system should be in the US as well for Many reasons.  But if we open the door on that, than what is the end?  So a 19 year old kid developed software and makes a million and buys a Fararri 485, should they be able to?  It will never happen in the US, but I do believe that the Industry should be at least cognizant of this problem.   I know kids 10 years old who have more control on a motorcycle then some guys I know whom ridden 20 years.

Good point, reminds me of Nicky Hayden. He had already one some national titles before he was old enough to get a bike license. His parents faught but lost, the state would not allow him an early license. Im a firm believer that "one size fits all" laws suck. The dificulty is in making it fair for everyone. Just like speed limits, here in Nevada we dont have "big rig" specific traffic laws like what lane of travel they can be in or different speed limits. I personally think a speed limit for a big rig and a sport bike should be vastly different! In a perfect world (never going to happen) I would like to see speed limits that pertained to the type of vehicle AND modified by the drivers "ability". Sort of how a CDL works. You have to be able to demostrate increased "ability" to carry things like Hazmat, Biological, Flamable, multi trailer etc.

I would not mind seeing especially for motorcycles at least a 1 year test process and CC limit unless one can show prove of or demonstrate skill.  Case in point was your example of Hayden.  

It is a hard thing to really establish though as to what is fair and what is not.  Obvious the kid who saved all the paper route money and walks in on his 16th birthday and buys a Hybusa is not a thing that should happen.

OneR1der said:

Agreed!

i have been riding my street bike since i was 16 . i started with a 350 two stroke , then a 750 and im now on a 1000 .

i think its stupid , hasn't changed a damned thing with me .

i would of done everything the same no matter what , i would just have more money in my pocket for not taking so many tests . its 4 tests in canada to get your liscence for a motorcycle . they also have no restriction on cc . i chose the bikes i chose because they were the ones i wanted .

I'd like to see it instituted in the USA. Too many dumbasses killing themselves and others making me look bad. Which raises my insurance rates.

Good point. I got pulled over a couple years back for 5mph over the limit by the BLM. My license plate was in my trunk because the bracket holding it failed. He says "you a runner?" I said "why", he says "cuz your plate is in your trunk". So I say, "if I was a runner, because my plate is in the trunk, would we be talking right now?". He tells me, "you guys are all the same", "wheelie past us flipping us the bird all the time".

So just because I almost lost my plate, so I put it in the trunk, I was now a bird flipping stunter that runs from the BLM and is "just like everyone else on a sport bike".

Perfect example of a few bad apples ruining it for the rest of us...

Keep the opinions coming guys!

T.RexRacing said:

I would like to see it implemented much like a district race system promotes a racer to the next level.  Based on points by driving record, accidents, miles ridden and what class or trackdays/racing one has.

I have no idea how this would fare but the idea of letting anyone walk in and buy a 170 plus hp machine with zero to little experience is like handing a loaded gun to a baby IMO

I wish they did vehicle licenses like this. I dont think any 16 year old should be allowed to drive a lifted quad cab dually, Excursion, Corvette, Porsche, etc. They should be restricted to lower occupancy and size/performance vehicles for a certain amount of time and then prove their ability later before recieving the ok.

Justin Pearson said:

i'm not sure how the law works now but when i was growing up in OK, you could get your motorcycle license at 14 but couldn't ride over 175cc, i think that was the cutoff. once you hit 16 you could ride any size if you tested for it, there were 3 different categories for displacement, up to 250, 500, and unlimited i believe. funny thing is you couldn't own a motorcycle legally, in your name, until you were 18. my mother had to put my first sportbike purchased in cash, by me, at 17, in her name for 6 months until i could legally own it. so i guess they did do some of what you are talking about. this was 20 years ago, and i haven't lived there for nearly that long, so i can't say if the laws are still that way.

in WA we had a real spike in motorcycle related fatalities as bikes have become more and more popular for commuting and stunting and just generally more accepted by the masses. well, after looking at who was dying, the majority of the increase were new riders, less than 2 years experience, with no endorsement. the states way of dealing with this was to make it legal for the cops to impound and seize a motorcycle if the operator is found to not be endorsed. i've only heard of this happening once soo far and he was riding like an ass and probably needed it to happen to keep him alive. anyway, just thought i'd share my experience with regulations. carry on.

If I were a cop, I would impound any bike whos driver did not have the endorsement and any car whose driver did not have a license, wether or not it was mandated by law.

schrode said:

I am from Australia and our laws over here say that u can be 15 and 9 months to go for your learner license. My problem with all this is that the course that you have to do to obtain that license is so easy it is made for ppl who have never ridden a bike before. So leagally speaking a person who may have on learnt to ride a bike only a week ago can pass their knowledge test then ride on the roads with no experience at all. No wonder there are so many fatalities.

It gets a bit complicated in the UK, but here goes.....

Before you can even think about riding you must have the correct licence. If you already have a full car licence, you are automatically entitled to ride a learner bike (up to 125cc and 14.6bhp) with 'L' plates and no pillion passengers. If you don't drive already you need to apply for a provisional motorcycle or moped licence. There are a number of different licence categories you can go for, depending on your age and what licence you have already.

Moped licence
A moped is defined as a vehicle that must not exceed 30mph, weigh more than 250kg or have an engine over 50cc. The definition for machines registered before 1 September 1977, also includes its propulsion by pedals. You can ride a moped at 16 years old on a provisional motorcycle licence with moped entitlement. You must complete CBT (compulsory basic training), the theory test and the practical moped test to get a full moped licence.

Once qualified, you may ride a moped without 'L' plates and carry a pillion passenger. You must not, however, ride on motorways. If you have a full car licence gained after 1 February 2001 you must complete CBT before riding a moped. If your licence was gained before 1 February 2001 you are entitled to ride a moped without taking CBT. Again, once qualified you can ride a moped without 'L' plates and with a pillion, but not on motorways.

The A and A1 licence
At 17 you can apply for either an 'A' or 'A1' licence. To gain a full A1 light motorcycle licence you must complete CBT, the theory test and a practical test on a vehicle between 75cc and 125cc. A full 'A1' licence permits you to ride any motorcycle up to 125cc and a power output of up to 11kW (14.6 bhp) without 'L' plates, you may carry a pillion passenger and travel on motorways. For the category 'A' licence you must complete CBT and pass the theory test followed by the practical test on a motorcycle of over 120cc but not larger than 125cc and capable of at least 100kph. A full standard category 'A' licence permits you to ride motorcycles with a power output of up to 25kW (33bhp), and a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 0.16kW/kg, without 'L' plates, carry a pillion passenger and use motorways. The 33bhp ceiling applies for two years (not counting any periods of disqualification). After that you may ride a motorcycle of any capacity and power.

Direct access
At 21 or over you have the option to take a test on a larger machine. On passing the test you will be qualified to ride any size of motorcycle without restrictions. This option is called direct access. You must complete CBT, the theory test and a practical test on a motorcycle of at least 35kw (46.6bhp) to qualify for this licence. You are exempt from taking the theory test if you already hold a motorcycle or moped licence. When you are training for direct access you are not permitted to ride on the road unless accompanied by a qualified instructor

Accelerated access
If you already hold a full standard category A licence and you reach the age of 21 before the two-year qualifying period is complete you may go for accelerated access. As with direct access you will take a test on a machine with a power output of at least 35kW (46.6bhp) and once qualified you can ride any size of machine. Again, you can practice for this test on motorcycles above 25kW only if a motorcycle instructor accompanies you and you are displaying 'L' plates. You do not need to complete CBT again or pass another theory test.


Easy.

here in australia anyone can buy anything if you have the money, doesnt mean you are legally allowed to ride/drive it? isnt it like that in usa? so if a dad gave his kid 9g and said go to the motorcycle shop and buy whatever you want (my dream) he should be allowed to buy whatever he wants aslong as the dealers are making money they are happy?

Nosboy said:

16 and 9 months not 15 and 9 months

In Canada it is different in each province.
Here in B.C. at this time anyone can buy a motorcycle regardless of age, BUT, you must have a license to operate it on the roads. From age 16 and up you can operate any displacement bike, but if you test on a 250cc or smaller then you are restricted to that size of bike.
Now that is not it. All new drivers must display a “L” to indicate a learner for the first year. They must ride with a unrestricted operator in sight at all times, not after dark and not over 50 km/h, no passengers on a bike and only family members in the car.
Then after the year is up they can get a “N” to indicate a new driver for two years. They can operate a bike over 50 km/h, after dark, but no passengers. If they get any traffic citations they start over. In a car with the “N” they are allowed one passenger that is not a family member.
The real “killer” in BC fro new drivers is the cost of insurance. For my son to insure a 800cc touring bike for a year it would cost $4402. The cost go up for a sport bike and even more for larger displacement.

hell, i'm fifteen and i have a 550... ride it on permit with my dad, haven't even wanted to get it past 65, even though he egged me on.. i think it'd be a good system to a point, but there would be to many determining factors to deal with.. i've been riding since 4 and am mildly confident in most aspects, but by myself i can only have my moped right now. it's slow and boring (untill i got it home ) and i throw around my 250 in my home turf.. i think at fifteen and able to demonstrate ability on the road on my 550 i should legally be allowed to ride it, but one screw up (one ticket one accident) that liscense should be revoked for a predetermined amount of time (based on seriousness of incident [assuming i'm not dead]) in these tests a certain amount of maturity must be shown with riding.. idk. touchy weird subject.

Justin Pearson said:

I've been meaning to get my endorsement since Kansas decided we needed to in 1976. Still haven't got around to it and I've been stopped a couple of times. Both times I mentioned something about being grandfathered but they said that isn't the case and sent me on my way.

Riding Harleys do have their plus side.

Its not the guys like you (experienced) that are the problem, its the noobs who think that a bike is just like a car and a car license is good enough... LOL

Yeah a guy cruising on a Harley gets WAAAYYY less attention then a young kid on a bright red crotch rocket! =)