33hp Restrictor Kits for Bikes

So I have been doing all kinds of research on bikes and found the below link. Why in the world don't we have this sort of thing as laws on the books for new riders. 33hp restriction for 2 years or test out of it on a bigger bike at the DMV. It makes perfect sense. You can buy a CBR600RR or a Ducati 999 restrict it and open up the HP as your skills increase.

http://www.fiinternational.com/

I am not a sport bike guy but I would love a 748 detuned to like 40hp which I can dial up as I get my skills back.

I've ridden a couple of restricted bikes in the UK and while it's all technically feasible, they don't tend to ride very nicely due to the changed engine characteristics.

That said, I do think the restricted license is a pretty good idea (and yes, I've had one for a while).

Hence why I started with an MB5. I don't want to go killing myself on a Duc HyperMotard the first day out.

well, also because I can't afford a Duc HyperMotard.

I think new riders should be limited to 250 cc machines for the first 2 years.

In some parts of Europe, it's 125 cc, but they also have decent 125 cc options. I don't think it's right that a 16 year old kid can get his beginners, and start riding a Hayabusa the next day.

Zomby woof wrote: I think new riders should be limited to 250 cc machines for the first 2 years. In some parts of Europe, it's 125 cc, but they also have decent 125 cc options. I don't think it's right that a 16 year old kid can get his beginners, and start riding a Hayabusa the next day.

Darwinism?

I saw a kid in front of me in traffic awhile ago. 3 lane highway, heavy traffic. He was on a brand new Ninja 650 in jeans and a t-shirt. From the way he was weaving at slow speeds combined with the temp tag on the bike I knew he had just started riding.

We were in a lane with stopped traffic and he was looking over his shoulder for an opening in the next lane over (traffic moving at 60mph). After a couple minutes he gunned it and swerved over, just as a semi was barreling down on him. He came within a foot of being a splat on the truck's grille.

I know a restriction wouldn't have helped him much but some people are just too stupid for any regulations to help.

My first road-bike, was a Honda XL-125, I think that or a 250 is the perfect first bike. I'm for a restricted license.

And I think X# of hours off road to learn motorcycle dynamics should be a part of it.

It's too easy to get a drivers license in this country, car or bike.

I don't think it's smart for a novice 16 year old to start off with a Hayabusa, but I darn sure don't want my government mandating it to be illegal.

I got my MC license in TN when I was 14 and from what I remember there were several restrictions. The bike CC restriction was 125, so my first road bike was a Honda NX 125.

Double Post

Ok then I will throw this out to the group as a whole.

I have been a standard cruiser rider for a while. Heavy, old, not a lot of power. I want to get onto a real sport bike. In the long run a 748. What if I just buy one.

I am not going to drop it, I can afford it and the maintenance not a issue. Would putting say a 40hp restriction kit on it to learn the ins and outs of sport bikes be a good idea. (Thinking the equivalent power of a ninja 500).

Then derestricting it slowly as I gain more skill and get a bit of track time in.

If you don't want a crotch/pasta rocket don't buy one. That simple. If you want 33hp buy a bike with 33hp. I love when people say "Oh the blast is just a beginners bike" Well if you can't properly handle a small bike at the limit how is increasing power going to help you? You want to learn how to handle a bike, start riding in the rain. If you get spooked or don't like it do everyone a favor and don't ride. Riding in the rain will both make you very aware of slip hazard but also the limits of control you can put into your bike. You'll get very good at throttle, brake, and steering input or you go down.

benzbaron wrote: If you don't want a crotch/pasta rocket don't buy one.

I really want one, I guess I am worried about throttle sensitivity. I had a incident a few years back where I hit a pothole and my wrist twisted pretty quick, on a 800lb Harley not a real issue, it lags enough I had a chance to get on the clutch and settle back down. On a bike with two times the power and less then half the weight not so sure. Plus for track work being limited by power and not traction then slow ramping up as my skills get better.

I have the say off, might go test ride a few bikes.

I find that a sensible mind controlling your right hand is very effective at limiting hp.

In reply to wearymicrobe:

I think you'll be fine, you've been riding other bikes already and you know what to do in case things go pear shaped.

Think of it as jumping from a truck into a Miata, rather than from a tricycle into a supercar.

The issue is handicapping the bike isn't helping you grow as a rider. It is a crutch. Sounds like you have some confidence issues, having a bike get away is no fun, but controlling the situation is the key to riding. Those big sport bikes do some serious speed and if you aren't prepared to deal with the consequences of the power I'd look for something different. Part of the consequences is if you pop the clutch with the throttle twisted you are going, whether or not you are ready.

I learned awhile ago not to play with the idea of scenarios while riding, but be prepared to avoid hazardous situations. If you keep running the scenario of "well i'm just a twist of the throttle away from being on the ground" you are going to do just that. If you take a turn to fast and fixate on an obstacle you are going to crash into it. I don't know how it works but having confidence and keeping your mind straight are the hardest part of riding.

wearymicrobe wrote:

benzbaron wrote: If you don't want a crotch/pasta rocket don't buy one.

I really want one, I guess I am worried about throttle sensitivity. I had a incident a few years back where I hit a pothole and my wrist twisted pretty quick, on a 800lb Harley not a real issue, it lags enough I had a chance to get on the clutch and settle back down. On a bike with two times the power and less then half the weight not so sure. Plus for track work being limited by power and not traction then slow ramping up as my skills get better. I have the say off, might go test ride a few bikes.

An easy way to prevent this is to look at your throttle wrist position when riding. If it is parallel to the ground, you have the potential to jerk the throttle when hitting a bump. If you slope it downwards front to back, you reduce the amount of movement that your wrist can physically make.

I automatically slip the clutch a bit when hitting a bad surface or turning at low speeds. Power delivery is a lot smoother and small modulations in throttle are not jerky.

I absolutely have apprehension about getting on one. Though it stems from a lack of choice in the US market. I can get a Ninja 250R and rev the tar out of it 27hp, or the next step up is a ZX6-R with near 130. Its not like there are a lot of middle of the road options in a sport bike with a full fairing.

Ducati at one point made a 50 HP monster, the 620i. Easy roll on throttle that sort of stuff. Now the lowest end is a 796 at almost 90.

So get a Ninja 250. I've heard a lot of people love them. Light, nimble, enough power to have fun, but not so much that you'll turn into a street-pizza.

In reply to wearymicrobe:

My opinion is that it is not the power that is your enemy. It is the enability to brake, turn, avoid and read traffic that is the enemy.

Higher horsepower bikes are larger and heavier, so control is more difficult. If you want to learn to control a bike get a lighter smaller bike.

Actually power can help you out of trouble on the road, but if you can control the bike then you have problems. Take the MSF course and don't restrict the bike

wearymicrobe wrote: I absolutely have apprehension about getting on one. Though it stems from a lack of choice in the US market. I can get a Ninja 250R and rev the tar out of it 27hp, or the next step up is a ZX6-R with near 130. Its not like there are a lot of middle of the road options in a sport bike with a full fairing. Ducati at one point made a 50 HP monster, the 620i. Easy roll on throttle that sort of stuff. Now the lowest end is a 796 at almost 90.

Fully faired, middleweight sport bikes:

Kawasaki Ninja 650R. Yamaha FZ6R. Suzuki SV650S. Suzuki GSX-650F. Suzuki GS-500F.

All of those bikes have between 60-85hp, available brand new.

To those of you looking for restrictor kits, would you do something similar to drive a car thats much more powerful than you've owned in the past in winter or the rain or hell just a nice sunny day? Or would you realize to lay off the loud pedal a little to compensate for the weather and conditions and you're own abilities?

The only splat difference between a 250 and a 'busa is the length of the red streak on the highway. Even liter bikes have parts of their powerbands where they make docile and reasonable hp numbers.

In reply to wearymicrobe:

That is an interesting thing for sure, and makes a lot of sense. Except for the part you feel compelled to REQUIRE me by law to use it if I'm a noob. How about, you worry about yourself?

Chris H.

PS: I don't own a single motorcycle now (out of the dozen I have) with more than say 10hp. However, my first time on a motorcycle years ago was on a GSXR600. I then proceeded to buy an FZR600 and run track days.

This might be ignorant, but woudn't a throttle stop on the bike of choice give someone the ability to learn the heft--or lack thereof--of the bike, braking characteristics, shifting, etc...without accidently dipping into the power band where he'd be in over his head?

I'm not saying start by riding on a 900cc bike, but, how about a throttle stop on a smaller bike, say around 500cc, to get to know the bike before accessing all the power?

It's been a while since I've ridden, but I do recall the larger bikes were much heavier, today, that's not so much the case. So, learn the characteristics of the bike before opening it up all the way.

So is an older FZR600 a bad idea for a starting rider?