Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I-K wrote:Trying to get an exemption for an 80rwhp 600cc inline four did have a ring of doomed optimism about it... unless that's how they *did* do it in Tasmania, and now, with the approach of LAMS, it's changed.

Could you elaborate on this? What had you thinking it would be worth going for an exemption? Was it always an option in Tas, or did they announce the exemption options recently and you just caught out not having read the fine print?

Probably the fine print - not that it is actually printed. Our transport website can be quite ambiguous when you want a specific answer. If I'd got my licence a few months earlier we wouldn't be having this conversation. Last year they changed some of the rules, which meant that you could no longer get your Ls one day and Ps the next, you had to have your Ls for 6 months - but most of us were still of the belief that after that we could get an exemption, which is true - we just weren't aware that they were already using the lams list. It was only on Tuesday, when I spoke to the woman who does the exemptions, I learned that it isn't an exemption in the old sense. We just get a couple of months headstart on those who will come under the new scheme mid year. I am certainly not alone. There are some Harley riders who rode for years without bothering to get a licence and now their clubs have told them they better get one, so they can't ride their own bikes. If they had changed all the rules at the same time instead of testing the water first, there would have been a lot less confusion. When all of us 'older' ones have been through the system and everybody coming in starts on the same rules it will probably work fine. At least until they change it again.

kellz wrote:im 22.

and sorry but the law is the law.

Yes, your second statement confirms the first. Just because something is The Law, doesn't necessarily mean it's good, right and we shouldn't disagree with it. That way leads to a big brother state and an RFID chip in your head. I was 22 before you were born, and it's probably my own fault that I wasn't financially able to have a registered bike to get my licence on well before that. When I was young rego was a luxury item that ate into your petrol money and getting a licence was something you could always do 'tomorrow'.
Of course, the other thing that is upsetting is the fact that the head mechanic is legally able to ride that bike, despite having less experience than me. Just because he's had an unused bike licence in his pocket for the last 30 years. He's lucky he doesn't have to go through the L course, because he wouldn't pass. But thats no matter. He's legal, and the law is the law, although if we happen to ride past Wooloongong maybe he'd better not ride near you either?

Daisy wrote:Last year they changed some of the rules, which meant that you could no longer get your Ls one day and Ps the next, you had to have your Ls for 6 months - but most of us were still of the belief that after that we could get an exemption, which is true - we just weren't aware that they were already using the lams list. It was only on Tuesday, when I spoke to the woman who does the exemptions, I learned that it isn't an exemption in the old sense. We just get a couple of months headstart on those who will come under the new scheme mid year.

Right. So, does that mean that, until this change came in last year, a Taswegian n00b could walk up to the road registy people and say, "I'm too tall/fat/hardcore (delete as applicable) to ride a 250. Let me ride something bigger," and the road registry would let them ride... what? Anything? Meaning that, before the change, they *would* have given you an exemption for a ZZ-R600.

Am I understanding that correctly?

(speaking to little 22-year-old Kellz) I was 22 before you were born,

Looking at those photos of you spraying bits of your GPX pink, there's no way I, for one, would've picked you for being in your mid-40's...

Before the change, they would have considered an exemption. Not to say they'd have given it to me, but they would at least look at it. What would have gone against me is losing my licence several times for speeding. In my defence I would point out that the last time was before kellz was born.

Mid forties. Something else I'm not happy about. So I tell everyone I'm 36. My four sisters are rightly pissed about that. They're all younger than me and none of them could pass for 36.

Daisy wrote:Just because something is The Law, doesn't necessarily mean it's good, right and we shouldn't disagree with it.

Very true. There's some crazy shit happening these days. People are too worried about staying alive and not worried enough about the quality of life. And so fucking dumb laws get passed and even agreed with, all in the name of perceived safety.

Daisy wrote:Before the change, they would have considered an exemption. Not to say they'd have given it to me, but they would at least look at it. What would have gone against me is losing my licence several times for speeding. In my defence I would point out that the last time was before kellz was born.

Mid forties. Something else I'm not happy about. So I tell everyone I'm 36. My four sisters are rightly pissed about that. They're all younger than me and none of them could pass for 36.

hey NSW ppl..is the law still for over 30's u can get ur L's, then after 3 months get ur P's, but if ur over 30 u can ride ANYTHING on ur P's??

that was in when i was still there...

You can get better bike than the ZZR600 on LAMS; isn't the VFR400 on the list? Or the RVF? Those things cane like all buggery. The ZZR is hardly a dream bike, you'll find plenty better.

the RVF400 is lams approved, they say its one of teh fastest lams bikes. i dunno. but u pay through your teeth for them if u can get hold of one.

Neka79 wrote:

Daisy wrote:Before the change, they would have considered an exemption. Not to say they'd have given it to me, but they would at least look at it. What would have gone against me is losing my licence several times for speeding. In my defence I would point out that the last time was before kellz was born.

Mid forties. Something else I'm not happy about. So I tell everyone I'm 36. My four sisters are rightly pissed about that. They're all younger than me and none of them could pass for 36.

hey NSW ppl..is the law still for over 30's u can get ur L's, then after 3 months get ur P's, but if ur over 30 u can ride ANYTHING on ur P's??

that was in when i was still there...

yep
if your over 30 get your l's 3 months wait then get p's and automatically go onto unrestricted but you cant pillion.

Reality check Daisy, if you were in Vic you'd not even have a choice of a LAMS bike, the list is there, it's fairly comprehensive with a good selection of bikes available, if none of them are what you want then suck it up and deal with it, or as I said earlier, get the bike you want and ride it anwyays.

No good bitching and moaning, not gonna help

Loz wrote:You can get better bike than the ZZR600 on LAMS; isn't the VFR400 on the list? Or the RVF? Those things cane like all buggery. The ZZR is hardly a dream bike, you'll find plenty better.

But it's already in the shed. It's a matter of personal preference - I like the zzr.

mick_dundee wrote:No good bitching and moaning, not gonna help

But it is helping. I'll be over it in a couple of weeks, but right now I just wanna have the shits. I think I'll take the gpx down to the milk bar, slam it on its side on the footpath with the kids' bmxes, drip icecream and coke all over it, ride it over a couple of logs and through the mud on the way home and then chuck it in the backyard and forget about it.

not sure about the fine over the ditch

but a got a call from my mate this morning
on the monash fwy
asking to be picked up to ride his bike back home

got nabbed riding his new pride and joy 1000cc
random check

still on restrictions vic police wanted $535.00
for his troubles

took the chance and lost

Not worth the risk of no insurance, Daisy. If you're not licensed to ride the bike, you're 100% liable for everything. Your insurance company will be only too happy to walk away - could leave you paying out a fortune if you rear-end a luxury car or something!

sunshine wrote: still on restrictions vic police wanted $535.00

Sounds like he got done for more than just being restricted.

Tenoq wrote:Not worth the risk of no insurance, Daisy. If you're not licensed to ride the bike, you're 100% liable for everything. Your insurance company will be only too happy to walk away - could leave you paying out a fortune if you rear-end a luxury car or something!

Well, she best not rear-end any luxury cars between now and until she gets her full license, then...

Daisy just follow my lead. I am on a 250 restricted licence, but i still ride the ZX6R, i have been pulled over once and got a $150 fine and 0 pnts and thats it!

really i only have a few months left on my restriction, but i have had this since i basically got my licence and i have been pulled over once!

Seriously u won't get caught, just buy it and be sensible!