Police crackdown on de-restricted bikes!

[Ghost]

Found on a 125 forum, police in Hampshire have recently started a bike safe initiative whereby 50cc scooters can be stopped at the roadside and dyno'd to find their maximum power and speed.

Hampshire Police

I can't be the only one a little bit worried this will extend to 33 bhp licenses too.

[leatherpatche...]

I'm sorry but I can't help but agree with this move. The law for 50cc mopeds is a sensible one.

Don't have any experience of 33bhp rules, but I imagine that clamping down on younger people removing the restriction is likely to save lives. Certainly doesn't apply to everyone and I'm sure you're very safe, Ghost. But I just think the restrictions are sensible. It's also encouraging to see something other than excessive speed being policed.

[Moonie]

No it really isn't.

In many ways it pulls up more risk than giving people that extra 15mph.

I'd rather be safely derestricted and risk having my bike crushed than be at danger all the time on a legal bike.
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
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[G]

[ms51ves3]

[ncrn]

[Daytonarider]

Couple of years ago, I was looking for a 50 for my daughter's then boyfriend. Saw one on Ebay, for sale locally, so I went to have a look. The lad's father said "It's deristricted, and we've fitted a big bore kit". I tried it out on their farm, it hit nearly 50. Don't think plod would have noticed that, do you?

I asked about the legal side of things, he hadn't told the insurance company or the DVLA. Hope the buyer never gets into a scrape.
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Yes they DID make a 500 cc Daytona, you young whippersnapper

[Ghost]

I think a lot of people carry out these modifications with the mindset that 'it's only a 50cc scooter, what does it matter if it's de restricted' likening them more to motorised toys when in reality they should be licensed and insured vehicles just like anything else on the road.

[Moonie]

MS yeah I have ridden restricted 50s alot, I'm a named driver on a friends Piaggio Zip which is restricted.

To quote myself:

[Jaloopa]

I had a derestricted 50 that could get to about 45 on the flat, and I thought that was dangerously slow. (no lawbreaking, I was 21 at the time) This was on NSL A roads, but I had to go on them to get anywhere from my house. Needless to say I bought a 125 as soon as I could afford it.

If you only ride around town, 30 is theoretically OK, since nobody should be going faster than that, but a lot of the time they will, and the real problem with restricted speed is that you don't tend to go any slower than that speed. Hands up anyone on a 50 who pays any attention to 20 limits?
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mattsprattuk wrote: but at least the lifan could do like 104mph in 3rd gear

[ms51ves3]

[G]

[Ghost]

[Moonie]

[Keir]

i had my restricted 50 for a year between me being 16 and 17, i never had any problems with 'dangerous situations'. I held my lane and if i was going too slow people overtook, it wasnt a big deal.
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Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[Paivi]

I agree with that move, and would welcome it for the 33bhp bikes, too.

If you're riding/driving unlicenced and uninsured, your vehicle should be scrapped and you should receive a hefty fine.
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My other bike's a Monster...

[ncrn]

[iooi]

[Mac_Black]

What people don't seem to grasp here is that there is a big difference between abiding by the law and being safe... The 50cc restriction is stupid and pointless, not to mention dangerous.

[iooi]

[Mac_Black]

Yeh thats a fair point iooi, but riders should ride within their own abilities of their own accord.
Honestly I think the Learner Legal 14bhp restriction is a good idea, as is the 33bhp A2 restriction, not that my NSR was restricted and nor will my next bike be but meh.

Having rode mopeds for Dominoes that were barely able to do an indicated speed of 45mph, I know that anything slower is dangerous from experiance... I commonly felt exposed, unsafe and was put right at the mercy of impatient and dangerous drivers.
It was not so often dangerous in town, but NSL were a completely different matter.

It is in my opinion that all roadworthy vehicles should be able to travel at atleast 50mph. I don't think that anybody here is even really qualified to comment on this matter unless they have been stuck at these speeds on a vehicle of this type.

[Moonie]

Personally iooi I think it's a bit harsh saying you can't trust 16 year olds with power.

More fair to say you can't trust some young people.

For example, I've had my bike a while, and had 450 race prepped crossers before then, had one serious crash which was in no way my fault.
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[iooi]

[Egret]

I have no experience of ped restrictions as I started riding at 22, but at 16 I was riding a push bike. You aren't allowed to drive at that age and most people don't even pass their driving tests for another year and a half so are using public transport, getting lifts off mates etc.

The point I'm trying to make is that a ped is more like an introductory vehicle, at home in the city but not really intended for outside this. To start comparing them to full powered motorbikes or cars I feel is missing the point. If you weren’t riding a ped the you would have to be getting lifts or very fit on a push bike. Part of me thinks that you should be glad of any form of independent motorised transport at that age.

I can see the point that cars will treat you differently from a push bike and may overtake dangerously. I have ridden on some roads on my bike where I have been far from comfortable, but I was the one who put myself in that position. I knew it wasn’t the best idea and I was grateful that I wasn’t walking or paying for a bus faire.

At the end of the day it’s up to you if you want to put yourself in a position where cars are likely to be stupid and risk your like. Know what your limits are with the bike and keep to them. Personally I’d keep the bike standard (legal) and be happy I wasn’t on a bus.

[Louise]

Last week I went past a few peds that had been pulled, the cops were going over them.