Triumphrat

saphena · 07-21-2008, 03:09 PM

I ride a Bonneville restricted to 33bhp (to comply with the licence regs) and the common reason given for use of such a restriction is that new riders might not be able to cope (or be relied on to cope) with too much power.

Yesterday on an observed ride my observer pointed out that on a restricted bike it was that much more important to plan ahead properly as the quick fix of "a fistfull of throttle" wasn't available.

I hadn't considered that aspect of it before but that does seem to be a very good argument in favour of starting new riders on restricted bikes. It's a very simple way of forcing them to acquire good skills.

In the UK the rule was introduced after many years of hoping, in vain, that the alternative, more than enough power in the right hand, wouldn't lead to the accident and death rates that used to be common amongst new riders.

Tbirdnz · 07-21-2008, 06:53 PM

Interesting, here they have just changed the rules of restricted licence and cc rated bikes as they have realised bikes like the Daytona 675 have 126bhp ! Now they take cc and weight into consideration.

I find smaller rated bikes such as my ASJ 650 which is really pushed to do 85mph these days and with the drum brakes needs more pre-planned riding than other bikes. I actually feel safer on more powerful bikes, then again that's probably just modern v vintage.

You're going to find you've got a decent bike when the restrictors come off yours Saphena, it'll be a whole new world of motorcycling.

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Ride on !