Old bikes - 33bhp restricted license

[Arfdog]

If I had to stupidly go for a 33bhp restricted license instead of DAS purely because it'll cost me less:

I would want to buy a cheap but reliable GS450E, or CB550 supersport, or CX500, something out of the eighties but a bit meaty. You know the kinda thing, I love all '80s vehicles.

How could I determine whether one of the bikes listed above would be under or over 33bh, without getting it on a dyno? Cash is King for me.

Arf
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I'm a lover, not a fighter.

[Gazdaman]

Google for the model and check out the claimed power.

Why is it cheaper to do your A2 rather than DAS? Surely they cost the same, is it about the cost of bike hire?

TBH I'd say the amount of shit you have to go through for 2 years it's worth saving up that little bit more and doing DAS whilst you still can.

You'll soon want more than 33bhp. Trust me.

And if you want to do a trackday, you can't do MSV tracks with a 33bhp licence.

Gaz

[Marci]

Buy one advertised as restricted that comes with a restriction certificate...

Other than Dyno, that's the only way - or go by seat of the pants. Test drive shouldn't see it go any faster than about 110mph depending on it's weight.

Price of test should be exactly the same between 33bhp test and DAS tho in terms of actual test fees. Only difference is in training costs, but even then they tend to be more or less identical... main reason I did DAS was that it didn't cost any extra over going for 33bhp or any of the other tests once I factored everything else in.

If it's down to bike rental - borrow. Find a mate with a 500cc+ bike, get him to add you as named driver on his insurance temporarily, take you to test with you on back, do test on his bike (with L-Plates attached) then get him to run you home again.
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[Blau Zedong]

I would say all three of those are claimed to make more than 33bhp.
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[Bishbash]

Dude, you know you can just book a full bike test for about the same price as a 33bhp one without doing all the training wich the DAS course has.

If you're going to buy a 500 or you know someone with a 500 that you can use on the test then do it on that and you have a full license without extra costs.

[Arfdog]

Ok, i'll do the DAS straight off then...

I only have 2 mates who have bikes I could borrow for DAS. One bike is a 1.2litre chopper, the other is a R1. So I'll be way too scared to borrow either of them!

All my recent (within last 10 years) riding experience has been in the last 6 months on the RXS100, so it's quite a leap to a R1

Was only really considering doing the 33bhp if the bikes I listed were definitely under 33bhp - i have no interest in going over 100mph, I prefer slow and comfy - but since they aren't, DAS is only way forward.
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I'm a lover, not a fighter.

[edd]

Any bike can be restricted, you could just do what 90% of 19 year olds do and ride about unrestricted. If you do this don't bother getting a certificate, since they have no legal value at all (you may as well make one at home, since it would have equal legal status)

Though if I were in your position I would go and take a couple of lessons on a 500 then you will be able to borrow the riding school's bike for the test. Riding a 500 is actually easier than a 125 IMO, the frames are usually bigger so they are more comfy and suited to my size, and you have more power so you can be more lazy with your gearing.
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[Arfdog]

[Marci]

[Marci]

And I'm same height & weight (and more or less age and family circumstance) as yourself, and found a CB500 infinitely easier to control than my Mito125... same goes for a Maxim750 (which tops out at just above 80mph fer reference, despite being over 33bhp, and is VERY comfy)
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FAB-Racing MiniMotoSidecars - Back with a vengeance - F1 Class 2011...
CBR170 engine, custom chassis - www.minimotoscene.co.uk

[Trixie]

[Arfdog]

[Trixie]

[Nath]

You want an 80s bike that's not to physically small but still under 33bhp? The Honda Bros400 is the most common answer to this problem.

I bought one after passing my test at 18, and two years later it's still going strong. I use it everyday to commute to work at the moment, and it never fails to put a smile on my face. Did a 5k mile tour of France and Spain on it and it didn't let me down once.


I got my 550/4 supersport on the road with about 6months of my restriction period left, but rode it unrestricted. Though in reality it's probably not pushing much more than 33bhp. This bike has also provided me with fantastic reliable service, both when commuting daily and also on long distance european touring. Mine looks a little bit less than standard now though
https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/cb550_story/story-26.jpg
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[beatnck]

arfdog, im in pretty much the same situation as you - 27, kids, skint! im sure we'll get there in the end though mate
oh, and 550/4 is lovely and i want it

[Pete.]

Arfdog you could borrow my bike to take your test on if you're stuck - but not your lessons coz I use it for work

Actually, you're gonna be gutted coz I just sold this to my sister in Strood for £100:
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[stevo as b4]

I think even the Honda CB400N Super Dream, was rated at 36bhp. As said all of those bikes are going to be originally rated at over 33bhp.

I would say that as nice and retro and old school as some of these 80's bikes are, they are getting harder to find in a decent running condition. Any bike that is 20years old, is likely to need a fair bit of work to make it safe, and reliable and nice to ride too.

If you can do the work yourself then fine, but otherwise you could end up with an old but expensive bike that costs you a lot to keep on the road and maintain, compared to a modern bike like a CB/ER5 etc.

There's lots of 80's bikes that i wouldn't mind owning someday, but one of which would be a Honda CBX750. Id buy that bike for the engine sound alone, despite being quite impressed with how well they go, for an old 80's streetbike.

[Blau Zedong]

Even my 1972 YR5 is 36 bhp . Older bikes are all well and good, but you ideally need some mechanical skills to run one and control costs. Bits arn't always a problem, plenty of people around doing NOS (new old stock) stuff, and ebay etc. Come to think of it, buy a YR5 - bit like a big RXS100 but with a HUGE front drum brake .
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Arfdog]

[Pete.]

Plentiful spares for the 650 but my 1100 which I did 7000 miles on last year had to be sold as spares/repair when the TCI (ignition box) crapped-out. Rocking-horse crap don't even come close....

Now that WAS a nice bike to ride, air-filled shocks, comfy seat, great engine. Let-down badly by the utterly rubbish brakes. It was like stopping the Exxon Valdez.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Arfdog]

That bike looks more comfy than a reclining sofa!

Geez Geri, you don't have any more awesome bikes of a similar vintage laying about your garage?

Please consider PMing me next time you sell ANYTHING!!
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I'm a lover, not a fighter.

[Arfdog]

[satans_BIG_helper]

In reply to your comment thinking that a bigger bike would be harder to handle, i find the bigger bikes better for me much more stable far less twicthy only thing i do miss bout my mito 125 is the way you could just throw it into corners no matter what speed you were doing

the yamaha SR500 is a nice bike from the kinda era you like and it is only 33bhp

anything can be restricted to 33bhp you just need the right size washers to put in the carb inlet and a dyno to test it

Good luck with the test tho

[Nath]

[norton]

I have the sizes of the restrictor fror an XBR 500 if anyone is interested?

PM me if needed