Motorcycle licence Alberta
May 21st 2010 | 3:43 am
#16
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,005
From: TBD
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
What concerns me is a 17 year old on say a GSXR 750 after just 20 hours (most of those in a car park going around cones) of learning, to me that is just plain irresponsible. I have one of those, it's not for a new inexperienced rider. I find it a handful (0-60mph in less than 3 seconds) after owning several sports bikes - my fave being a Ducati 900ss. I have always believed that every car driver should have to ride a bike before getting a car licence and bike licences should be graduated, I graduated myself, starting on a 50cc, then a 125cc, then a 350cc then upto to the bigger sports bikes.
It is of course different if you are on a cruiser, the power to weight ratio etc is very different giving different torque and the throttle reacts in different way, same goes for trails bikes etc.
It is of course different if you are on a cruiser, the power to weight ratio etc is very different giving different torque and the throttle reacts in different way, same goes for trails bikes etc.
I passed my test in the days before power limitations on new riders and made my own decision to graduate through the ranks of progressively bigger bikes, albeit less than a year between 125cc and 900cc. The rider controls the throttle, not the government and it irks me that personal responsibility is watered down in so many aspects of life.
May 21st 2010 | 4:29 am
#17
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
A 14 year old can hold a learners licence, so theoretically you can put a 14 year old in a Zonda, you'd just have to be bloody stupid to sit next to one. We are also talking public roads not race tracks.
May 21st 2010 | 4:31 am
#18
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
It seems to me as thought it's an easier test than in the UK. My OH took lessons last year (never having ridden a bike), he passed his test within the week and is now able to go buy the biggest bike he wants.
May 21st 2010 | 4:36 am
#19
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,005
From: TBD
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
Are you suggesting driving an F1 car competitively on a track doesn't require the same level of skill or ability as driving on public roads? My point is that individuals can learn to handle powerful machines at a young age, and the UK govt. shouldn't effectively legislate to prevent it.
May 21st 2010 | 4:43 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,402
From: South of Calgary
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
Are you suggesting driving an F1 car competitively on a track doesn't require the same level of skill or ability as driving on public roads? My point is that individuals can learn to handle powerful machines at a young age, and the UK govt. shouldn't effectively legislate to prevent it.
I understand your argument, but it is based on the presumption that individuals will act rationally. Unfortunately, a large number of them don`t. If they only injured/damaged themselves, I would agree with you, unfortunately, the potential for collateral damage is too high.
May 21st 2010 | 4:47 am
#21
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
Are you suggesting driving an F1 car competitively on a track doesn't require the same level of skill or ability as driving on public roads? My point is that individuals can learn to handle powerful machines at a young age, and the UK govt. shouldn't effectively legislate to prevent it.
The thing is young people (partucularly boys) are often stupid and often want to show off to their mates, look how fast I can go, look at me go through the workers cones, look at me wheely down the motorway, look at me crash and die.
We have all seen idiotic bike riders put their own and other peoples lives at risk. The same as we see hot hatch 'boy racer' types exerting dangerous driving.
May 21st 2010 | 4:55 am
#22
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,005
From: TBD
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
May 21st 2010 | 4:58 am
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,402
From: South of Calgary
May 21st 2010 | 5:04 am
#24
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
For those transferring from a foreign licence, I think there should be a test, but previous licence history taken into account.
May 21st 2010 | 5:05 am
#25
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,005
From: TBD
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
How many F1 drivers smashed their race cars before being able to "safely" drive an F1 car? Would you like them to learn how to do so on public streets. (Wasn`t it Stirling Moss that, famously, never held a drivers` licence while he was racing?)
I understand your argument, but it is based on the presumption that individuals will act rationally. Unfortunately, a large number of them don`t. If they only injured/damaged themselves, I would agree with you, unfortunately, the potential for collateral damage is too high.
I understand your argument, but it is based on the presumption that individuals will act rationally. Unfortunately, a large number of them don`t. If they only injured/damaged themselves, I would agree with you, unfortunately, the potential for collateral damage is too high.
There's a car involved in over 60% of KSI (killed/seriously injured) motorcycle accidents, and only 4% of bike accidents are attributed to excessive speed (DfT figures). Careless/reckless riding account for 10% of KSI's. Perhaps the need for improved car driver training, or restrictive licencing is just as important, so they act with better judgement?
May 21st 2010 | 5:06 am
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 182
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
Are you suggesting driving an F1 car competitively on a track doesn't require the same level of skill or ability as driving on public roads? My point is that individuals can learn to handle powerful machines at a young age, and the UK govt. shouldn't effectively legislate to prevent it.
By being limited, you'll end up the better rider for it.
May 21st 2010 | 5:08 am
#27
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,005
From: TBD
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
SK offer a bike licence swap for Brits, but I don't mean with regard to the reciprocation issue (though that's a odd anomaly), I mean the practice of restricting bhp to newbies in the UK.
May 21st 2010 | 5:11 am
#28
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
'Can' but all too often and with tragic consequences 'don't'. I am a motorcycling mother of three boys and I can tell you I would appreciate graduating HP here, as in the UK. Try arguing your point with the hundreds of parents who lost sons because they were riding bikes too big to handle. Why should the learners mind? People don't understand the awesome power of some of these bigger bikes; a small flick of the wrist and you've flipped the bike.
By being limited, you'll end up the better rider for it.
By being limited, you'll end up the better rider for it.
May 21st 2010 | 5:13 am
#29
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,005
From: TBD
Re: Motorcycle licence Alberta
Really? Can you prove that?
Would I be a better rider if I'd taken my test 15 years later?
Anyone that's taught that 'a small flick of the wrist' is a safe way to ride/accelerate a larger capacity bike needs better instruction, not a restrictor in the engine to counter lack of training.
People absolutely do understand the power of bikes, I'd suggest that's half their appeal. What government doesn't seem to want to do is offer appropriate training for new riders to handle it.
Would I be a better rider if I'd taken my test 15 years later?
Anyone that's taught that 'a small flick of the wrist' is a safe way to ride/accelerate a larger capacity bike needs better instruction, not a restrictor in the engine to counter lack of training.
People absolutely do understand the power of bikes, I'd suggest that's half their appeal. What government doesn't seem to want to do is offer appropriate training for new riders to handle it.
Last edited by R I C H; May 21st 2010 at 5:18 am.
