A2 Restriction Questions, New Biker

[LittleJ97]

I'm 17 and my neighbour is selling a Suzuki GSXR 600 which he claims is 92bhp. The new A2 licence states that the maximum bhp is 46.6. Bikes can be restricted if the bhp is no more than double the restricted limit. I'm just curious as to if I would be able to buy the bike and store it for my 19th birthday, get it restricted and ride it then; I am looking to do a direct access course for the A2 licence as soon as I can.

My question is, even though I can't find anything online about not being able too?

Thanks in advance!
Jon

[DRZ4Hunned]

I believe it exceeds the power to weight ratio, I'm fairly sure if that's incorrect they cannot be ridden anyway unfortunately.
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DRZ400-SM
FZS600

[Beehive Bedlam]

Not an A2 bike and never will be it can't be restricted to become an A2 bike either besides the temptation to ride it would be far too great.

Concentrate on the here and now a lot will change in two years.

[LittleJ97]

That makes sense, thanks for letting me know! can you give any recommendations, something that'll last me a year a half until I can get my a2?

[Beehive Bedlam]

[LittleJ97]

[Rogerborg]

[DRZ4Hunned]

Any 4 stroke 125 should be fairly safe… Tried eGay?
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DRZ400-SM
FZS600

[tomupcraft]

There's ebay you could look on, also there are those types of motorcycle selling pages on Facebook for your local area etc.

[LittleJ97]

[Rogerborg]

It's a no-go, sorry. Lots of folk are asking this because of that page and that sperg. I've given up on the edit wars - he's made it his personal business to ensure that this confusion continues.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[LittleJ97]

[G0FHM]

There is a lot of ambiguity regarding the A2 category, and suitable bikes.

A lot of people seem to think that providing it's restricted to a maximum of 35kW, then it's ok.

Wrong!

Tonight we have discovered that Junior's ZZR600 (restricted to 25kW) is NOT A2 compliant. The dealer selling it, at no point in the run up and the sale did not say it was not A2 compliant, even though they were made aware that he was 19, and had just passed his test. They supplied and fitted (so they say anyway) a 25kW kit, as "The ZZR is old hat now, and nobody makes the 35kW kit as there aren't many around".

It's only down to me sitting down and looking up specs and crunching numbers etc that has led to this discovery. Luckily it was discovered this way, and not the hard way!

And i'm not entirely convinced that the restrictors have been fitted. Even at 33BHP, it's a bloody rocket. According to his dad, who was riding with him this weekend on his Thundercat, the ZZR walked all over it. There is a certificate of restriction with the name of a reputable supplier on it, and a sticker on the bike which says Alpha Technik (who I assume make the kit, it's different to what is on the certificate). I have my doubts personally, but we'll soon see tomorrow when the missus rides it back to the dealers with a major bee in her bonnet!

So, does anybody want to buy a 1993 ZZR600E? restricted to 25kW, well inside the A2 power limit

Not a happy bunny
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1996 Triumph Sprint 900, 1981 GS-650 Katana, 2008 Sukida SK-125 Pharoah.
Twitter @triplemeister

[G0FHM]

Incidentally....

I'm wondering if, for a bike to be A2 compliant, the Power Output and P/WR, does it have to be printed on the V5?

I only ask, as a few years back there was a local lad with a CB-125T on L plates who got taken to task over that fact, as there was no officially documented Power and P/WR figures for the bike, therefore it didn't comply with the license conditions for learners.....

I would assume, based on the case above, that the V5 will need to show the figures or else you could be in the mire?

J
____________________
1996 Triumph Sprint 900, 1981 GS-650 Katana, 2008 Sukida SK-125 Pharoah.
Twitter @triplemeister

[Rogerborg]

We don't know if or how A2 is going to be policed. I'd imagine that it's not, by and large. Two decades of the previous system didn't result in anything like consistency from coppers or insurers.

Knee jerk would be that the DVSA's list of test bikes will be the first port of call:
https://www.dft.gov.uk/motorcycle-test-vehicle-list/

But note that's only test bikes, so nothing under 395cc will show as A2.

This site is making a good attempt, but surprise, surprise, they use that 69kW rear wheel power as well.

https://a2bikes.co.uk/

[G0FHM]

You are right, it's a total minefield and open to interpretation...

I'm with you on the policing side of things, however all it takes is one cop who actually knows the rules and who is having a bad day, and suddenly the rider is in a whole world of hurt - Section 165 seizure for no insurance, which is an automatic 6 points and therefore revocation of license if within 2 years of test pass, and possibly the offence of driving otherwise than in accordance with a license on top (depending how anal the cop wants to be).

Junior has been lucky. He has done a lot of miles in the Lincolnshire (Market Rasen) area recently, and given the "keenness" of the local constabulary where bikes are concerned, i'm very surprised he hasn't fallen foul.

This probably isn't a bad thing, as we put a GPS tracker on the bike for security reasons, and some of the speed returns have been somewhat unacceptable...

I rest my case!
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1996 Triumph Sprint 900, 1981 GS-650 Katana, 2008 Sukida SK-125 Pharoah.
Twitter @triplemeister

[Matt B]

[G0FHM]

It would appear that the Power and P/WR figures have appeared on V5's at some point. Both of our '96 Triumphs have nothing marked, but a friend had a 55 plate ZX636 that did. Just wondering if that came to be on the change to the new style registrations?

I suppose having that info on the V5 immediately removes any question as to what is and is not suitable for A2. If the figures on the V5 are above the pre restriction level, it's not legal!

I'm pretty sure to begin with, there was a maximum 600cc limit on bikes that you could take the A2 test on, as well as the power restrictions. Now, looking at the DVSA document, it seems you can test on a Tiger 800XC and even a Harley, provided it meets the power limits.

I've spent the afternoon trawling bike specs and seeing what is available. So far I've narrowed it down to either a GSX600F (Teapot, yuck!) or a SV-650. The SV's appear to be holding their money though....

J
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1996 Triumph Sprint 900, 1981 GS-650 Katana, 2008 Sukida SK-125 Pharoah.
Twitter @triplemeister

[weasley]