A2 restrictions
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Some countries have restrictions for beginners, if you're not from Europe or Australia you don't need to worry. In North America they have the wonderful practice of letting the new kids on the liter bikes right off the bat.
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At first blush, these restrictions sound terrible to someone in the US. However the more I think about it, I kind of like the concept. You can literally ride a 200 horsepower modified Hayabusa or BMW S1000RR the day you turn 16 and get your license here which is pretty absurd. I used to work at a motorcycle dealership and would see people come in all the time who had never ridden and want a GSXR-1000!
In my loft building I was chatting with a guy the other day who currently has a GSXR-600 and has only ridden it 4x in the 2 years he's had it. The battery is dead again, so he asking me to use a charger. This 600 is his first bike, and he told me that he "needs to move up to a 1,000 because the 600 is just too small for his tall frame". He's about 6' tall and maybe 170 pounds, and there's so much absurdity in his statement I can't imagine the look I gave him. The first thing I said was that there is barely a difference in physical size so it won't be any more comfortable. Then I went on about his experience level and how much more intense a liter bike would be and how he should take the 600 to a race track (I think even the 600 is WAY above his or any beginner's skill level). I even offered to take him with me next weekend when I take my Monster 796 to the track, and he was downright mortified when I told him that my 796 makes substantially less power than his 600! He assumed because it says Ducati and it's bigger than his that it must make at least 130hp. I started to explain it was a 2 valve motor, air cooled, etc. but it didn't matter lol.
Long story short, although I typically hate government intervention like these restrictions, it makes sense in this case, and I'd even support it here in the US. I'm sort of a hypocrite though since I did buy a GSXR-600 myself when I was 16 after a buddy wrecked my Ninja 500 while I was showering and getting ready for a date LOL. I already had 5 years of near daily motorcycle experience though at that point so even though I was young I wasn't exactly a beginner.
In my loft building I was chatting with a guy the other day who currently has a GSXR-600 and has only ridden it 4x in the 2 years he's had it. The battery is dead again, so he asking me to use a charger. This 600 is his first bike, and he told me that he "needs to move up to a 1,000 because the 600 is just too small for his tall frame". He's about 6' tall and maybe 170 pounds, and there's so much absurdity in his statement I can't imagine the look I gave him. The first thing I said was that there is barely a difference in physical size so it won't be any more comfortable. Then I went on about his experience level and how much more intense a liter bike would be and how he should take the 600 to a race track (I think even the 600 is WAY above his or any beginner's skill level). I even offered to take him with me next weekend when I take my Monster 796 to the track, and he was downright mortified when I told him that my 796 makes substantially less power than his 600! He assumed because it says Ducati and it's bigger than his that it must make at least 130hp. I started to explain it was a 2 valve motor, air cooled, etc. but it didn't matter lol.
Long story short, although I typically hate government intervention like these restrictions, it makes sense in this case, and I'd even support it here in the US. I'm sort of a hypocrite though since I did buy a GSXR-600 myself when I was 16 after a buddy wrecked my Ninja 500 while I was showering and getting ready for a date LOL. I already had 5 years of near daily motorcycle experience though at that point so even though I was young I wasn't exactly a beginner.
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311 Posts
There are all kinds of ways to restrict a bike but I think with a lot of new bikes in the UK anyway, the restriction is done via changing the ECU. My Suzuki Gladius was restricted in this way, and there was no charge - these bikes are supplied with the restrictor unit from new if needed. The dealer did it for me and it was a 5 minute job - I also got a certificate. My friend changed it back once I was on 'full power' so it can't be too difficult! I'd say the Scrambler should come with one if needed - it would be unfortunate if Ducati charged extra though .. :|
I have to say, there was no discernible difference to the power or acceleration of the bike at low speeds, it was only at the top end it was limited - but it still got up to 105mph! Once derestricted, I discovered another little world
I have to say, there was no discernible difference to the power or acceleration of the bike at low speeds, it was only at the top end it was limited - but it still got up to 105mph! Once derestricted, I discovered another little world
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