Restricting

cantdecide

Can someone tell me how much a powerful bike can be restricted by?? (it's very possibly a stupid question but is there any hope of restricting a 75bhp bike?)

Is there something about a power to weight ratio alternative (KW/KG?)??

Is it possible to restrict used bikes or is there something about them not being recognised (by insurers or the law)??

Thanks for your thoughts folks, I've seen many bikes I'd be interested in buying that would suit my 6'4", 16st frame. 'Naked' bikes (if that's their official term) are rocking my boat but the ZR750 has caught my eye and seems to be physically larger than a bandit or similar.

Any other advice appreciated.

electricheadx

There are power/weight ratio restrictions.
Follow the links below to find what you need to know

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=133449
http://www.biker.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=29794
http://www.magireland.org/33bhp.htm

Larger bikes would need to be factory restricted for insurance companies to cover you. They wont insure you on a bike that has been restricted afterwards. To east to remove the restricter apparently.....

Idleater

Any bike can be restricted down to the required power output.

It will come down to costs, because there are restrictor kits available for specific models (eg bandit) whereas others would require more trial/error/manufacturing.

The kwak 750 is nice, but the bandit6 is more than cabable for your height. Also to consider might be the SV650, and the Honda 600's
These three (and I think the z750) _can_ be gotten in Factory Restricted mode.

Del2005

They do a restricted Hayabusa, so they can restrict anything. I think insurance companies will insure you on non factory restricted bikes, but you pay the same insurance as for the full power version. It may be hard to get insurance for a shop restricted superbike, but unless you have an unrestricted licence for several years you'd have the same problems.

cantdecide

electricheadx wrote: »

There are power/weight ratio restrictions.
Follow the links....They wont insure you on a bike that has been restricted afterwards....

I understand now. Literally, take the KWs and divide by the Kgs and should be equal to or less that 0.16 (or 0.165??).

nereid wrote: »

Any bike can be restricted down...but the bandit6 is more than cabable for your height. Also to consider might be the SV650, and the Honda 600's....These three can be gotten in Factory Restricted mode.

Lots of googling happening. SV650 looks a little 'busy' for my liking but the hornet ain't half bad. Keep the suggestions coming please.

Del2005 wrote: »

I think insurance companies will insure you on non factory restricted bikes, but you pay the same insurance as for the full power version

That's the way I heard it from someone in the trade today.



Guys, I'm pretty savvy when it comes to cars and i know that there are lots of cars out there that are usually in high demand for beginners and consequently unsuitable, half-assed little cars become overpriced. I'm very concerned about ending up with the biking equivalent of a fiesta- the one that reeks of learner, the one that MUST be replaced sooner or later if you know what I mean...

I'm definitely leaning towards retro/ naked(?) type bikes or a cruiser but preferrably the more upright ones. The car would be the primary transport still and I'm no speed freak so I wouldn't mind a yoke that I could keep for a good few years so if you know anything that might fit the bill, I'll consider all.

Diggles

Look at the Suzuki DL650. I came back to bikes 2 yrs ago and after much research here and on the web in general decided on it. Its a tall bike so will suit your height, as its available in factory restricted form no probs there. Good power, so suited to the larger gent. Also when I looked for insurance it was only €50 more than the Honda Cb250. Dont forget when you do decide get some lessons from a reputable source, especially if you have never ridden or if you are coming back after some time in a cage. Good luck with the search.

If your looking at cruisers then I can reccomend the Yamaha XVS650 Dragstar. You don't have to restrict it and insurance is cheap. I'm 6'2 and find it a very comfortable bike.

cantdecide

I like those dragstars actually.

What about driver training guys?? The training is coming in one form or fashion, obviously, but can i get insurance in anticipation of training (from the view of having a bike to train on)?? How long does it last is it over weeks or months or a weekend??

I've had the car, er... I mean cage with Quinn for donkeys years but I suppose they won't care enough to cut me some slack, will they??

Any opinions on this- it looks meaty enough, i think?

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=753494

colm_c

cantdecide wrote: »

I like those dragstars actually.

What about driver training guys?? The training is coming in one form or fashion, obviously, but can i get insurance in anticipation of training (from the view of having a bike to train on)?? How long does it last is it over weeks or months or a weekend??

I've had the car, er... I mean cage with Quinn for donkeys years but I suppose they won't care enough to cut me some slack, will they??

Any opinions on this- it looks meaty enough, i think?

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=753494

Once you have a provisional license (A) you can get insured in 5 minutes on the phone. I don't know if they'll all do short term insurance.

There isn't any discount if you've been insured on a cage previously (NCB), but I think AON give you a discount if you've got an AXA cage policy.

You can always learn more with training at any skill level, but the actual mechanics of riding a bike you should pick up in day, safe roadcraft takes longer, but you could be up and running in 1-2 days (6 hours of lessons per day).

Most trainers will have school bikes that you can learn on if you don't have a machine, although they charge slightly more for it.

cantdecide

Great advice lads:)

Any opinions on the hornet/ bandit/ fazers?? Good place to be for a first bike?

Idleater

cantdecide wrote: »

Any opinions on the hornet/ bandit/ fazers?? Good place to be for a first bike?

Bandit cheapest, and most common. Resulting in most widely available spares.
Hornet probably the most powerful (tis a detuned CBR), you could look also at the CB600F (or is it a CBF600) which is a detuned Hornet.
The new Fazer6 is a beauty, the older ones look a bit dated.

The problem with them all is that they are in line fours (IL4's) which if restricted will suffer more from the restriction than a V twin like the SV/DL 650's.

Another one to consider is the Ducati monster, which is available FR too.

cantdecide

Got insurance quote from Quinn- no help whatsoever- computer says no is what I got.

Carole Nash quoted €1200 for the CB400, €1400 for a Bandit and €1600 for a hornet 600. I was going to ask about more bikes but I think Denise was going to tell me FO:D I think this qualifies as about what I was expecting to pay but much easier than dealing with Quinn for sure. I doubt AON will beat the quote and I've heard they will tie me up in knots compared to CN.

Idleater

cantdecide wrote: »

I doubt AON will beat the quote and I've heard they will tie me up in knots compared to CN.

I think you are wrong there.
Aon are the only company that take Factory Restricted bikes into account. Try them for a quote. They give discount for cage + bike insurance (I get a 40% discount for having an axa policy - it's 30% for other insurers).

There is also Adelaide insurance, there number is about somewhere.

cantdecide

You're on the money, nereid. Aon quoted €730 for a bandit 600 if I passed the training/ assessment to a high degree (which they say is not uncommon- I know that if i'm not able to, €1600 is what I have to give CN).

Anyone know which insurance companies will allow you to pay by direct debit??



EDIT: Spoke to David O'Shea here in Cork- €450 for the day course, option to practise on Sunday mornings and also that I can take the assessment a seperate day (ie, do the course, do some practise and then do the assessment on seperate occassions). Seems okay.

Idleater

cantdecide wrote: »

EDIT: Spoke to David O'Shea here in Cork- €450 for the day course, option to practise on Sunday mornings and also that I can take the assessment a seperate day (ie, do the course, do some practise and then do the assessment on seperate occassions). Seems okay.

The Assessment is a common requirement for insurance companies for provisional riders, even Quinn were reportedly asking people to do the "Quinn Assessment" which is the _exact_ same as the AON one, but they don't accept the AON one :rolleyes:


You cannot underestimate the benefit of initial training, and it will be well worth your while. Insert usual cliché about probably saving your life here.

Hope it works out for you, and there will always be bikers willing to lend their support and advice to you when you are learning.

L.

cantdecide

Very much appreciated. Really. I'm off to see a Bandit over the weekend and I'm off to the theory test on Monday:) I will be doing the training regardless (but thanks for the tip about Quinn/ AON- I'll check that today). Exciting times....