New Learner Here

Hi all, I have just obtained my NSW Learners Rider licence, and now I am
about to start searching for a bike.

In terms of licencing, I will be moving to the ACT in December or January,
so can someone tell me the rules as to power restrictions there? are they
still on 250cc or are they like NSW allowing us to have more powerful 660ml
bikes?

I am pretty much a newbie when it comes to 'motorcycles' and am seriously
considering replacing my car (Holden Calais) with a motorcycle.

I have read good things about the ZZR250 by Kawasaki, and while I'm a
learner I think I might like to purchase one of these bikes.
Are they a good bike for learners? I'm 6 foot tall and weigh 70kg. Will it
be too small for me?

Should I go second hand or new? I would like some peace of mind through
warranty as i am a n00b in the area i dont want to be ripped off by a second
hand private sale selling me something that is going to break a few days
later.

I have read the FAQ of the group. Are there any other websites or forums
aimed at Learners/Provisional riders? I really don't know the first thing
about riding and am wondering how I should learn (like car driving how you
can get driving lessons in someone elses car with an instructor, can you get
motorcycle lessons with an instructor watching you in a car park or
something like that?? if so who provides these and how much do they cost?)

I did not have to complete Pre-:Learner training in NSW because I am in an
undeclared area and the nearest training station was over 2hours drive away
(a bit much to do two days.)

Thanks for your help everyone

 

The ACT has the same power to weight ratio limit but no size limit. You can
start on a 1000cc Harley if you are that way inclined. I will try to find
the link to the approved list for you.

 

The list of approved motorcycles for the ACT

http://www.canberramotorcyclecentre.com.au/Images/approvedmcycles.pdf

Also a good site re ACT learners for additional info

http://www.canberramotorcyclecentre.com.au/Pages/starting_out_frame.htm

 

So If i were to purchase a bike while in NSW with the idea in the back of my
head that I want to use it as long as possible while learning and once I am
off my P's, should I pick one of the more powerful ones?

Thanks for the links too. =)

 

Buy what you are comfortable with. I did not have a bike on my L's, just
played around on a CBr600 (1995) for a few months then got a 2002 Blackbird.
Just because I bike has a larger motor does not mean that it is more
powerful. Eg Harleys and other cruisers.

Just try a few, see what you feel comfortable with.

 

If your Learners Licence in NSW permits you to ride any bike on the list of
LAMS approved bikes under 660cc then it doesn't matter what the ACT laws are,
they don't impose the restriction. You must abide by the conditions which
were issued with your licence. If you get caught riding a bike > 660cc in the
ACT on your NSW licence you will probably get a fine. You'll probably need to
get an ACT learner permit.

Nev..
'02 CBR1100XX #2 lives on !! no ZX12R yet...

 

I have been through the same deliema.
I had a nice fzr250 Yamaha that was a great bike when I was on my Ls. Then I
moved to NSW and bought a bigger bike - a z650 Kawa (a strange progression,
I know).

What I found was that while there are a lot of older, bigger bikes available
to learners through the LAMS system, the newer or refubished 250s are often
a nicer bike to ride - great breaks, reliablel all the latest bits and
peices.

The biggest problem with any of the 250s of course is the size - they are
all too bloody small the average size guy.

If you are after a quick 250, have a look at the fzr250RR - they really move
for a 250. It's all top end power (you'll get nothing after 100klms) but
that's all you need for fun.

And yes, mine was a grey import, which never gave me an ounce of trouble.

Tony

 

Isn't it 'dilemna'?

 

Welcome to the fold.

By my VTR250, and sell your car. Then let all know at aus.cars!!

Where abouts are you now?

Cheers

Hammo

North Eastern Vic

 

Too small for the average size guy? Next you'll be telling me that 10 hours
on a freeway kills them, and makes your dick fall off.

Its funny, I went back to two fiddys after having an open licence for nearly
ten years. Each to their own....

Hammo

 

But... here's the catch - if you on a bike over 250 ccs and not on the NSW
LAMS list, you are only legal while you are in the ACT. If you cross the
border into NSW you could be booked for riding a vehicle beyond your licence
restrictions. The same applies for NSW riders who go into Qld or Victoria on
LAMS bikes greater than 250cc.

Manning

 

....snip

You sure ? Can you point out the docs or a link on austlii ? I know 20 years ago
when I was on my Ls it explicitly stated on the back of my licence they weren't
legal in SA. But since then we've gone to Federal system - and if they're
licence in their home state they are supposed to be legal in other states - ie
there's still some diffs outstanding on what are legal car mods (ie SA is quite
lenient) - if you're registered in your home state then you can drive it
elsewhere - you just can't transfer the rego.

JL

 

Manning

That's incorrect Manning, you have to abide by the rules that apply to
your particular licence, not those of the state you happen to be
riding through.

For example, in 1995 I was booked for speeding in NSW while on L's
riding my VT500E, and didn't get an additional ticket for "riding an
excessive capacity bike".


BTH

 

Yeah, I'm quite sure of it - I checked it with the RTA and the Qld transport
body. I've never found it documented anywhere, I got the info by calling.
(My wife was riding an F650GS on a P licence and we wanted to go to Qld)

The licence is national, so Qld recognises a NSW P licence as equivalent to
a Qld P licence. However, the *restrictions* are not standardised
nationally, hence what is legal in NSW is not legal in Qld.

Conversely, someone on a Vic, Qld (etc) P licence can ride a LAMS bike in
NSW without a problem.

Manning

 

Manning is of the opinion:

You know those 10kg bags of rock salt you can get at the supermarket? I'd
get a couple of those before listening to anything said by an RTA phone
drone (or Qld equivalent). I've been fed so much bullshit, and seen so many
incompetencies at those places, that *anything* they say is suspect (even
"good morning").

Pfft. If I have a NSW R-P1 licence, then the conditions I am bound to are
those for a NSW R-P1 licence, no matter where I am in Australia.

What about in states where you need an extra licence for riding big-bore
bikes? (Qld, I think, and/or maybe WA) Does that mean that if I go for a
cruise in one of those states on my NSW unrestricted licence, I'm going to
get done for riding my GT750? I have my doubts.

- Matt

 

Funnily enough, I've asked the same thing of VicRoads down here, twice,
and gotten two different answers. I was too scared to phone back
a third time.

I'm not sure either way.

-----sharks

 

i doubt you'd get a fine if you were a NSW person riding through the ACT.
However if you are an ACT resident, i believe the regulations say that you
must change your licence over after 3 months, thereby accepting all
conditions that go with it.

 

Just got off the phone to a lawyer friend who believes that in your case you
were lucky not to get booked. In his opinion, it is WHERE you are, not what
licence you have that counts. But he felt that it certainly wasn't a clear
area of the law.

However, like so many things, I'd expect it all comes down to the cop at the
time, and half the time *they* don't even know the rules. I had a cop try to
book me for riding in a bus lane (NSW) once until I invited him to call the
RTA and ascertain that it was perfectly legal.

I think the only thing we can agree on is that this is a very murky area of
the traffic laws which has not benefitted from all of the so-called
standardisation that allegedly went on.

Manning

 

I would rather have an ACT 'P' licence than NSW because they dont have any
speed restrictions,,right?

 

But what would the charge be? The applicable charge would surely be Failing
to Obey Licence Conditions. This is pretty much all encompassing so they
don't need have a separate offence for riding a bike which is over 660cc etc.
So you are either riding a bike which is allowed within the conditions
specified on your licence, or you are not. Seems pretty clear cut. If your
licence says that you're allowed to ride any bike on the LAMS list then I
would think it would matter not which state you were in, you are either
abiding by the restrictions imposed upon your licence, or you're not.

For years the states bordering Victoria allowed drivers aged 16 or 17 years
old to obtain a probationary licence and drive a car. The age limit in
Victoria for obtaining a licence was 18 years old. Visiting under-18 teenage
drivers with probationary licences from NSW and SA were allowed to legally
drive on Victorian roads because they had a licence.

Nev..
'02 CBR1100XX #2 lives on !! no ZX12R yet...