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Post by scania on Dec 2, 2014 5:16:46 GMT
Hi Guys, Last summer I passed my A2 license which limits me to riding bikes with a maxim power of 35kw (47bhp) or any larger bike restricted down to 35kw provided that the original power of that bike was no more than 70kw (94bhp) before the restrictor was fitted.
Now I would like to work on getting my A licence over the next few years, just to have it, although I don't actually need it !
The EU has set the required spec of the bike which I would need to turn up with (on a trailer) at the test centre as having an engine capacity of minimum 595cc, a dry weight of minimum 175kg and a power output of at least 50KW (50KW for Ireland) to attempt to do the A test with.
My plan is to try and find a bike to practice on which meets the A2 spec with a restrictor fitted , but will then also meet the A spec with the restrictor removed. This way I will not have to change over to an unfamiliar bike on the day of the A test, I will only have to remove the restrictors at the test centre. They have carefully set the limits such that there are very few bikes older than 2 years old which meet this dual criteria. I imagine they have carefully done this so as to force people to have to buy new bikes, and from what I can see the manufacturers have braught out new bikes which can meet this dual criteria.
What further restricts me is that after much thinking recently, I think I want to stay away from 4 cylinder engines and just stay with a twin cylinder. Also I don't want a cruiser because I would find a cruiser clumsy to do a test on.
I am trying to make a list of bikes which meet all these limits, so far I have come up with the Bonnie (which I like but are very scares and expensive in Ireland) and a heap of older BMWs (R850, R90, R100, K750, K100) which are also a bit more common over here. The thing is I don't like BMW as a German brand as BMW is associated in Ireland with its Nazi past and has a shadow hanging over it. It is considered un-polite in some circles here to turn up in a BMW over here. A bit similar to the way Lada was associated with Russia, there are books of jokes on both brands !
Can anyone here think of any old classics twins similar to the Bonnie which meet the above specs criteria, V twin is fine if it is a roadster. I have put a lot of time and thought into this over the past few months with very little success in finding anything yet.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2014 5:45:23 GMT
What about the Yamaha XS650, they are a nice parallel two cylinder and have become very collectable.
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Post by Cheggy on Dec 2, 2014 6:07:05 GMT
Seems they changed things a lot since I did a direct access.
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Post by scania on Dec 2, 2014 7:55:27 GMT
What about the Yamaha XS650, they are a nice parallel two cylinder and have become very collectable. Lovely looking bike all right, according to Wiki they are 34.6Kw so I could ride it on my A2 license, but I could not use it for to do an A test on because it is not the required 50KW.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_XS_650
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Post by scania on Dec 2, 2014 8:02:19 GMT
Seems they changed things a lot since I did a direct access. Yep, and they are still changing it, I have spent the last 10 years chasing an A license, every time I think I am getting close then they change the law and the bike I am practised on is no longer eligible to do the A test on. They keep changing the goal posts, in July 2013 they upped it from 40kw to 50kw. I had been practicing at a training school with a Duveille, then overnight the Duveille was no longer eligible to do the A test on. I think if I don't get the A license in the next few years then I can give up on it, at least I still have my A2 which covers my SD400na.
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Post by jonnyboy on Dec 2, 2014 8:41:18 GMT
When i passed my test in the 70's i drove around a block twice did and emergency stop, answered a few questions on the highway code and passed! and could then ride the biggest fastest thing on two wheels.........if i wanted. I realise they have altered the test because of fatalities but i just hope that they make other road users aware of the motorcyclist?
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Post by davefirestorm on Dec 2, 2014 9:14:15 GMT
Same when I took mine on 23rd December 1970 freezing cold so examiner didn't want to be outside and gave me a pass after going up road and doing an emergency stop.All for the training needed to get a bike licence these days but sounds like it's getting very complicated,should extend this sort of restricting to new car drivers ie smaller powered cars,bring back the Reliant 3 wheelers :Dand make the buggers drive them.
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Post by jonnyboy on Dec 2, 2014 9:48:51 GMT
What a good idea! learner drivers have to drive a three wheeler vehicle for two years before progressing to larger vehicle! Maybe we should put this idea forward may save a lot of new drivers lives as well as motorcyclists!
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Post by davefirestorm on Dec 2, 2014 11:37:01 GMT
So many f**kwits on the road these days especialy this time of year when roads wet/greasy they have no idea bloody annoys me if they get as close as they can especialy on roundabouts.
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Post by jonnyboy on Dec 2, 2014 12:34:19 GMT
Yes but they would all have to be more careful in case they tipped over and they should be limited on speed
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2014 15:25:24 GMT
Glad I'm not in Ireland- seem very limited on what bike you can have without getting it torched! Can't have a British bike as they don't like the Brits or at least the British flag, can't have a German bike because they don't like the Germans. What about the Italians- they never harmed anybody- Ducati, Moto Guzzi?
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Post by jonnyboy on Dec 2, 2014 16:35:03 GMT
Italian food too spicy for irish pallet, the only good motorcycle is made by massey fergusson! lol! they probably like harleys though?
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Post by scania on Dec 2, 2014 18:52:17 GMT
Glad I'm not in Ireland- seem very limited on what bike you can have without getting it torched! Can't have a British bike as they don't like the Brits or at least the British flag, can't have a German bike because they don't like the Germans. What about the Italians- they never harmed anybody- Ducati, Moto Guzzi? Funny that, actually Brits are very much liked in over here as are yanks to, partly because we only see the middle class ones who are polite and an important part of the tourist industry. There are very few Germans here but they would be welcome too. Therd are huge numbers of Polish working here and even though they have brought down wages , they are well liked. The only peopld who are not to popular are Nigerians as the make no effort to integrate and often are loud in public areas shouting. Yes flags and symbols are very unpopular over here as they are saw as tools of division rather than inclusion. Even the irish flag is becoming unpopular here because it is associated with political troubles. The only place it is now saw in popular use is a soccer games where it takes on a different meaning. |
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Post by na44superdream on Dec 2, 2014 20:18:34 GMT
VF500F2 ?
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_VF500
Type: 498cc, liquid-cooled, V4, 4 stroke
Bore: 60.4mm
Stroke: 44mm
Valves: 4 per cylinder
Power: 70 hp (52.2 kW) at 12,000 rpm
Torque: 31.7 ft lb (43 Nm) at 10,500 rpm"
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Post by na44superdream on Dec 2, 2014 20:38:40 GMT
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