New Rules for Novice Riders in BC

 

It's going to be harder to get licensed to ride a bike in British
Columbia, if their Superintendent of Motor Vehicles has his way.

On the agenda are revisions to their helmet laws, new testing
protocols, probationary periods for new riders, mandatory training, hp
to weight restrictions for probationary riders, a requirement for new
riders to wear hi visibility clothing and hi visibility license plates
for new riders.

Catch the theme here. All the new regs seem to be targeted to beginner
riders.

None of this has become law but the proposals seem to be gaining some
traction. Of course the usual suspects (motorcycle lobby
organizations) are objecting to the new rules.

The power to weight restriction is kinda interesting. Along with
limiting new riders to <660cc they will also be restricted to machines
that produce <1 hp for every 11 lbs of weight. I am not sure what kind
of motorcycles that leaves open for the novice rider, but it does
eliminate even the mid weight cruisers and almost all sport bikes.  I
wonder if such a restriction would meet our Charter requirements. Is
there a precedent in Canadian law where an identifiable adult group
have been excluded from buying a legal product, due to their limited
experience with that product? The civil rights guys might have some
fun with that one.

I wonder what motorcycle dealers, such as The Motor Company, think
about being excluded from what could be a very lucrative market?
Considering the probationary period is proposed to last a full year,
it will be impossible for guys suffering from a mid life crisis to buy
that Harley they have lusted after for most of their lives. I may have
a vision problem but I just can't see a 250 lbs biker dude being
satisfied riding a 250cc machine, while dressed in clothing that glows
in the dark.  Somehow that doesn't fit the "Wild Hogs" image.

I think one could make solid arguments supporting all of the
proposals, but isn't this just another attempt to bubble wrap the
world. I know it doesn't make sense to be able to pass a multiple
choice questionnaire and then go but a 1000cc sport bike, but damn are
we not at some point responsible for our own idiotic actions? Do we
want a nanny state that is there to make every friggin decision for
us.

These proposals seem to go a bit too far for my liking.

 


That is an absurd rule.  My Honda Shadow 600 is about 460 lbs. and around 40
BHP.
That is pretty close to the line for a low performance bike.


I don't think that is the unique element.

The unique element is the probationary period.

I have a private pilot's license (lapsed).  If I renew it and want (for
example) to operate a high-performance aircraft, a special endorsement is
required.  But once I get the endorsement, my full priveleges take effect
the same day.

You either have a motorcycle rating or you don't.

Odd odd odd.


Bubble-wrapping the world is when you don't let someone stub their toe.  A
motorcycle will cause death or serious injury.  I see both sides of the
argument here.


Datesfat

 



If you think it's a sensible idea to let somebody completely
inexperienced on a 150mph missile, then fine. Pilots aren't alowed to
fly aircraft types they aren't checked out for. I can't see a
difference.

Mind you,I'd support the idea of similar legislation for car drivers,
too.

Here, we have a stepped licence system for motorcycles, but not for
cars, so you can (in theory) pass your car test and then jump into a
Veyron......



I'm sure they do. But with rights come responsibilities, as I've
observed elsewhere.

That said, this proposal does not seem particularly joined-up. The power
to weight idea is actually quite a good one in theory, but very hard to
implement in practice. I can't think of many 660lb bikes that produce
less than 60bhp, apart from a clutch of old Harleys.

I certainly can't think of any 440lb bkes that produce less than 40bhp.
Apart from a Russian flat twin or two.



--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Honda CB400F  Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250  Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

 



Er, except that a biker would need to be checked out for every single
model, of course, so forget that :-)

But there is very little similarity between ridinbg (say) a 50cc scooter
and a modern sports 750, and no comparison at all in performance. You
can't buy a car that accelerates as fast as a GSXR750 over the quarter
mile at any price...


--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Honda CB400F  Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250  Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

 




But with enough money, you can build one. One of the cars in our shop right
now (Nissan Sunny GTI-R) produces 1012 bhp and weighs 1100Kg. 0-62mph in
2.7secs timed. Cost around 60 grand mind.

--
Beav