Info on a motorcycle license?

[Messugga]

Considering the current price in petrol and the fact that it's only going one way, and that's up, I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle. Thing is, I have no idea about the requirements to ride certain bikes. If memory serves, you used to need to be over a certain age before you could ride a bike with an engine capacity larger than around 250cc and only then if you did your license using a bike with a larger engine capacity as well. Can anyone tell me what these parameters are?

Cheers

 

[redarrow]

Under 18 not larger than 125cc

Drivers tests taken on a 125cc or smaller motorcycle are limited to no larger than 125cc..

AFAIK drivers test taken on an automatic (centrifugal clutch) motorcycle (i.e., your average scooter) are also limited to automatics only..


Best idea is to only take your drivers test after turning 18 and do it on something like a 200cc if you're not ready or confident on a bigger bike..

 

[Skeptik]

They say that if the m/cycle is over 400cc, then you don't save much petrol compared to a small car.

 

[Glordit]

Just get a lerners and get what ever here in P.E I bought 2 bikes and a scooter and not once was I aksed for a licence!!

Otherwise 125cc's are the best!! Got me a Gomoto GT125
http://gomoto.co.za/products_freedom.php
Saving for a new Tank and a Perforamnce exhuast and trust me with a Free-Flow this thing P U L L S !!

Check out the cool Tanks!! http://gomoto.co.za/accessories.php

Me is liking the Darth Vader one!! http://gomoto.co.za/access/popup.php?img=tank_vader.jpg

 

[Messugga]

Well...was thinking more along the lines of a Triumph Street Triple but that'd probably kill me. Think I'll look for a 250cc sportsbike or something similar.

 

[redarrow]

They say that if the m/cycle is over 400cc, then you don't save much petrol compared to a small car.

"They" must be misinformed..
My 750cc Yamaha can do 20+ km per liter .. granted this is only if I drive "nicely"..

Otherwise 125cc's are the best!!

Yea, I used to think along those lines too..
Was quite happy with just my 180cc Vespa... Till the day my brother let me have a go around Scribante with his 400 Kawasaki (he races in the regionals) ... anyway I was converted instantly.

Yea, nothing beats the exhilarating feeling of a motorcycles acceleration..

 

[Friggs]

Well...was thinking more along the lines of a Triumph Street Triple but that'd probably kill me. Think I'll look for a 250cc sportsbike or something similar.

My advice for a good starting bike would be a BMW 650GS if you can afford it. Really good bikes and not fast enough that you'll be doing 300kph+ but still plenty fast that you won't feel it's underpowered... not for a while anyway. Also, have a chat with the guys at BMW, they do a really good intro to riding course and some more advanced courses. You can also do your license training with them.
If you aren't keen on the dual-purpose type bike and depending on the distance you'll be travelling maybe look at a Suzuki 600 Bandit or a Suzuki SV 650. But Go for training, you can NEVER know too much when it comes to riding!

 

[Messugga]

Ah, training's definitely something I'd be interested in. Better safe than sorry, and all that. I'll give the guys a call when I have some free time and see what they have to offer.

 

[andres101]

They say that if the m/cycle is over 400cc, then you don't save much petrol compared to a small car.

I have a ZZR600 and I get 16km/L... and I don't drive slowly!

If I stay below 120km/h, I get 21km/L.

Yea, nothing beats the exhilarating feeling of a motorcycles acceleration..

Most fun you can have with your clothes on

 

[kwmf]

2007 Honda CBR600 here and she certainly has better fuel efficiency than my 1.4 car - and I don't baby the throttle on my bike.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Mate of mine just bought a CBR600 (blue and white)... damnit it looks sweet, Think I'm gonna have to start working on getting me one now.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Just get a lerners and get what ever here in P.E I bought 2 bikes and a scooter and not once was I aksed for a licence!!

You need a valid drivers licence tho - if you're in an accident with the wrong type of licence, then you're in deep, brown stuff...

 

[Pitbull]

You need a valid drivers licence tho - if you're in an accident with the wrong type of licence, then you're in deep, brown stuff...

a Learners for a Bike is a License that expires every 18 months. You can even buy a bike on finance with a learners. Depnding on your age that is the size of bike you may ride. Only thing is you are not allowed to lift anyone. Appart from that it's a license

 

[The_Unbeliever]

When I did my bike licences, it was in the days of class A (50cc and smaller), Class B (larger than 50cc) and Class C.

I got an oldstyle Class B licence - so I can drive any size bike I want

Automatic, manual, you name it, I'm legal

But, yes, when you go for your drivers test, take a small bike (125cc to 250cc) as it's easy to handle during some of the tests.

Can remember when I did mine, some guy showed up with his 900cc bike - and failed the test as he was not able to handle it during some of the tests.

 

[kwmf]

@Toxic - Do yourself a favour and take the Triumph Dayton 675 out for a spin. It's an unbelievable machine and if I was taller and/or wanted it for track riding only I would take that.

The Honda is the best of the 2007 series Japanese big 4 and they actually intentionally made it more friendly for road riding as opposed to track riding. Hondas are super reliable and versitile so you won't go wrong there.

<Disclaimer> Just be careful if it's a first bike - this things put out PLENTY power </Disclaimer>

 

[ToxicBunny]

If/When i get my ass into gear and go and buy a bike I'll be testing lots and lots of them.. the Honda just looks flippin awesome, and sounds it to.

 

[Pitbull]

Try the V-Twin engines also

I love V-Twins and will never ride a 4 cyclinder ever again. Try the Suzuki SV range or the Honda VTR range. Once you've been on a V-Twin everything else feels powerless and weak

 

[ToxicBunny]

Boys... I'm a geek...

I never just buy something on looks, I check ALL the technical specs, test drive everything until I find what I like... took me damn nearly 3 months to buy a car, drove nearly 120 before i settled on one.

 

[kwmf]

V-Twin my a$$ ... check the triple

 

[russeleoin]

Hi Guys, you lot sound like quite a knowledgeable bunch so I am hopeing someone can help me. I got my car license in Zim nearly 20 years ago, I moved to the UK to avoid my mate Bob, I traded in my Zim license for a UK one. I now want to get my bike license and am going to be in SA for a month, Aug-Sept, and want to see if it is possible to do my bike license there. My boet lives in Joburg so I can use his address. Can anyone tell me if this is a possible thing to do? I do have my Zim tin disk, and my UK disk and paper, and I am a competent rider, use a little yamaha to go to and from work each day in the joyous UK traffic. Is there a site I can look at, I have Googled SA and only came up with this site that seemed of use. Thanks and Regards, Russ