Quote from: DoktoroKiu on July 16, 2014, 06:30:55 AM
Sounds like you Aussies have a bit more common sense when it comes to licensing policies. 

It does seem a little excessive though.  I can see the cc limit based on experience, so that way some newbie doesn't get wrecked on a liter bike on day 1, but all those tests and formalities and different plates and stuff...

If you ask me when you get your license it's good for up to 650cc, then after 6 months you can opt to take a skills test on that bike and if you pass you get upgraded to any size.



In Illinois I'm pretty sure you can straight up go to the DMV, take the written and "road" test, and if you pass you get a license.  You do need to supply your own bike, but you don't even need to take a class or start with a permit.
The permit allows you to ride in daylight hours with anyone at least 21 years old.

I opted to do the smart thing and took the MSF class.  It's free ($20 retainer for a seat, refunded at end of class unless you opt in to donate it), was a few hours a day for 4 days, had a written exam, and had a skills test at the end (up to about 25mph IIRC), and if you pass they send you paperwork and a completion card.  The paperwork is turned in at the DMV and for the price of a new ID ($10 I think) you get an M class endorsement.  The completion card is turned in at your insurance broker and if your provider is cool they will give you a discount!


Funny part is that a class L license is good for anything under 125cc while a class M license is good for anything above 125cc and includes anything under 125cc as well.  So L license is good for scooters, and an M license is good for anything on 2 wheels.
The fees are the same, and both require both a written and skills exam.  So why on earth would anyone get a class L license?


There is no helmet law in Illinois, but in order to take any advanced rider class you must provide your own DOT approved helmet.  The beginner's course supplies everyone with a helmet.

Quote from: Watcher on July 16, 2014, 02:57:21 PM

Quote from: DoktoroKiu on July 16, 2014, 06:30:55 AM
Sounds like you Aussies have a bit more common sense when it comes to licensing policies. 

It does seem a little excessive though.  I can see the cc limit based on experience, so that way some newbie doesn't get wrecked on a liter bike on day 1, but all those tests and formalities and different plates and stuff...

I can understand it from an enforcement perspective.  As it is in the US there's no chance in hell you're going to get caught riding without a helmet or riding after dark when you only have a permit (unless you get pulled over for something else).  There would be no force behind their additional restrictions if there were no way to tell (different plates, etc.) if someone was violating them.

IMHO there's no sense in having such laws if they can't be enforced directly (in cases such as these anyway).

Quote from: DoktoroKiu on July 16, 2014, 03:34:48 PM

Quote from: Watcher on July 16, 2014, 02:57:21 PM

Quote from: DoktoroKiu on July 16, 2014, 06:30:55 AM
Sounds like you Aussies have a bit more common sense when it comes to licensing policies. 

It does seem a little excessive though.  I can see the cc limit based on experience, so that way some newbie doesn't get wrecked on a liter bike on day 1, but all those tests and formalities and different plates and stuff...

I can understand it from an enforcement perspective.  As it is in the US there's no chance in hell you're going to get caught riding without a helmet or riding after dark when you only have a permit (unless you get pulled over for something else).  There would be no force behind their additional restrictions if there were no way to tell (different plates, etc.) if someone was violating them.

IMHO there's no sense in having such laws if they can't be enforced directly (in cases such as these anyway).

True, and I think having the different looking plates is a good idea.  Just why so many?

Permit, learners plate, P plate, 2 speed restrictions, and a size restriction, then you "graduate" to full size and no restrictions?

I would think a permit would classify as a learners plate, then have a P plate of sorts with a cc restriction, then a full plate.

Permit, novice, expert.  3 levels.  Done.


The day I got my first running motorcycle I rode it on the expressway at speeds around 65mph.  That's over 100kph.  I'm not going to say it was necessary, but that's the speed the expressways are and they are the best way to get to and from everywhere.  I ride a section of expressway to work and back every day, and I do it on the bike as often as possible because of gas mileage.
If I lived in Oz, you mean to tell me I can't take my bike to work and back until I've been riding for a few years?

THAT seems excessive to me.  I'm not going to say me diving into expressway was smart, but telling me I can't access 50% of the roadways until I've been on the bike for 3 years sounds like a bogus idea to me.

You could say I've learned a little bit since I started 2 years ago





I've also learned I have a thing for black and yellow bikes lol

Back when I started I didn't think at all about gear. I was given a Vanson leather jacket (no armor... but that'll be remedied eventually) not long after I started riding. I always had gloves because I already have road rash on my hands from a bicycle accident doing about 25. Had my Icon Alliance helmet (because it looked cool and wasn't 10 years old) and some HD boots because dangit, they're good boots. But I didn't wear the jacket all the time, it's solid leather and I live by Tampa, FL. Either way, one day I was going down the road about 6 months into my riding career, thankfully wearing everything I had at the time. Picked up a nail in my rear tire getting on a cloverleaf style on-ramp to I-75 and it blew my tire out midcorner. I saved it and didn't go down somehow, and the first words through my head after I brought it to a stop were "holy shaZam!... thank god I'm wearing gear"

Didn't even take an accident and I'm a firm believer. Still need to get something sorted as far as leg protection goes, but the rest of my body is covered 

Quote from: mustangGT90210 on July 16, 2014, 04:43:29 PM
Still need to get something sorted as far as leg protection goes, but the rest of my body is covered 

It's funny,  as the years went by, I continued to wear my gear but have "evolved" into really liking the Denim Look for pants along with the rest of my gear.  It started because my Joe Rocket and Fieldsheer Ballistic Pants were just to slippery on my seat.

Currently, What I've been doing is:

Wearing my jeans on top of my Un-armored Ballistic pants.  Underneath, I have some Alpinestars Armored mesh shorts that have hip pads, and armor on the legs , butt etc.  It sound's like a lot of layers but up until 90 degrees it's really not that hot and I feel protected.

The jeans look good with either my ICON Jacket or Xelement mesh jacket (Both upgraded with D3o pads).

I have a set of knee pads but never seem to wear them.  I really should.  They fit underneath pretty well.

When it get's really hot,  or when I don't feel like jeans / lots of layers on the bottom, I wear the Fieldsheer pants which have hip pads, knee pads and I wear the Alpinestars undrneath.  My Puma Boots extend to the shins and other than me being a bit more slippery on the seat, it's a pretty good setup.

I did pick up some material for my seat which is really grippy.  I should get that on there as well.  It's nice to be able to just throw on the lower gear real quick grab the jacket , helmet and gloves and get on the road.

Quote from: mustangGT90210 on July 16, 2014, 04:43:29 PM
I've also learned I have a thing for black and yellow bikes lol

Over the course of my life I've owned 3 motorcycles and 2 cars.  Both cars where blue, all three bikes were red, and none of it was on purpose.

The bikes didn't stay red, though, but still.  Weird.


I'm thinking I want my next bike to be white.

Quote from: Watcher on July 16, 2014, 03:50:45 PM
True, and I think having the different looking plates is a good idea.  Just why so many?

Permit, learners plate, P plate, 2 speed restrictions, and a size restriction, then you "graduate" to full size and no restrictions?

I would think a permit would classify as a learners plate, then have a P plate of sorts with a cc restriction, then a full plate.

Permit, novice, expert.  3 levels.  Done.


The day I got my first running motorcycle I rode it on the expressway at speeds around 65mph.  That's over 100kph.  I'm not going to say it was necessary, but that's the speed the expressways are and they are the best way to get to and from everywhere.  I ride a section of expressway to work and back every day, and I do it on the bike as often as possible because of gas mileage.
If I lived in Oz, you mean to tell me I can't take my bike to work and back until I've been riding for a few years?

THAT seems excessive to me.  I'm not going to say me diving into expressway was smart, but telling me I can't access 50% of the roadways until I've been on the bike for 3 years sounds like a bogus idea to me.

I didn't say I agree with it, just that if you have laws you should definitely make them enforceable.  From a fairness standpoint the same restrictions should be expected on cars/trucks, but it would be political suicide to enact laws like that (like it might be in the States to require so many MC plates/restrictions).  My guess is that because the MC population is far smaller than the cager population they can get away with far more regulation without it backfiring on them.

It makes little sense to me to reduce the speed limit so low, since the freeway is about one of the safest places on a bike, and it would be markedly less safe if you're putzing along under the speed limit on one.  I don't know about you, but around me if the posted limit is 65mph you can bet almost everyone is doing an average of 75-80, and even the semi trucks are going 70.

Looks like the most common speed limits in Australia are between 80-110km/h on freeways, so you'd still be able to use them relatively safely if everyone followed the limits.  To the Aussies among us; do people normally go the speed limit on freeways, or do they do 10-20 over like we do here?

Well where I am in the states I take backroads everywhere as the freeway/highway is the unsafest place to possibly be. People are usually on there mobils going 30MPH over the posted speed and rarely looking before they switch lanes. There is a reason we are referred to as Massholes.  One thing that would keep us as motorcyclist safer would be for police to actually enforce laws against cell phone use while driving. I am always perceptive of my surroundings and luckily was not hit the other day but was cut off by a young woman on here cell with a cop behind me and he did nothing about it except for go around me.

Quote from: Watcher on July 16, 2014, 06:49:29 PM

Quote from: mustangGT90210 on July 16, 2014, 04:43:29 PM
I've also learned I have a thing for black and yellow bikes lol

Over the course of my life I've owned 3 motorcycles and 2 cars.  Both cars where blue, all three bikes were red, and none of it was on purpose.

The bikes didn't stay red, though, but still.  Weird.


I'm thinking I want my next bike to be white.

Man I've been a complete mix up on colors. I've also had 2 trucks and 3 bikes.

My F150 was blue
My GMC is white.
My GS started life purple with yellow wheels, then morphed into all black with yellow wheels, then again to a new style tank/seat for the black and yellow.
Then I bought a blue and white Gixxer 750 that I didn't mess with!
Sold that and bought this SV as a yellow and silver variant. Painted the forks, wheels, swing arm and the frame all black to get the look I wanted.

Next bike will either be very, very green, or maybe blue. And not a suzuki for once, I'm looking for a Ninja 636 

And unlike all these squids, I'll still wear all my same gear no matter what color it is! Because it all looks better than road rash.

But back to the real topic here, and still kind of on a tangent, what is everyones opinions of riding with a tinted visor at night? Or wearing sunglasses with the visor open during the day?

Quote from: mustangGT90210 on July 17, 2014, 01:31:06 PM


But back to the real topic here, and still kind of on a tangent, what is everyones opinions of riding with a tinted visor at night? Or wearing sunglasses with the visor open during the day?

tinted visor at night= you can't see shaZam!.
sunglasses + open shield= shaZam! gets in your helmet

I have an hjc helmet with quick unlocking visors a dark smoke for the day time and clear for the evenings.

visors are only 20-30 bucks and if you bring a daypack with you they fit conveniently in there.

Quote from: AnonRider on July 17, 2014, 02:23:39 PM

Quote from: mustangGT90210 on July 17, 2014, 01:31:06 PM

But back to the real topic here, and still kind of on a tangent, what is everyones opinions of riding with a tinted visor at night? Or wearing sunglasses with the visor open during the day?

tinted visor at night= you can't see shaZam!.
sunglasses + open shield= shaZam! gets in your helmet

I have an hjc helmet with quick unlocking visors a dark smoke for the day time and clear for the evenings.

visors are only 20-30 bucks and if you bring a daypack with you they fit conveniently in there.

I can fit sunglasses on in my helmet and close the visor.
I use a pair of ESS ICE glasses, they are I guess what you'd call frameless and have very thin and flexible/bendable arms.  Fit right in between the padding and the helmet shell and are very comfortable.
Plus the little eyeglass carrying case is way smaller than a whole extra visor.

Quote from: Watcher on July 17, 2014, 02:29:39 PM

Quote from: AnonRider on July 17, 2014, 02:23:39 PM

Quote from: mustangGT90210 on July 17, 2014, 01:31:06 PM

But back to the real topic here, and still kind of on a tangent, what is everyones opinions of riding with a tinted visor at night? Or wearing sunglasses with the visor open during the day?

tinted visor at night= you can't see shaZam!.
sunglasses + open shield= shaZam! gets in your helmet

I have an hjc helmet with quick unlocking visors a dark smoke for the day time and clear for the evenings.

visors are only 20-30 bucks and if you bring a daypack with you they fit conveniently in there.

I can fit sunglasses on in my helmet and close the visor.
I use a pair of ESS ICE glasses, they are I guess what you'd call frameless and have very thin and flexible/bendable arms.  Fit right in between the padding and the helmet shell and are very comfortable.
Plus the little eyeglass carrying case is way smaller than a whole extra visor.

true, but dark smoke visors look cool as hell 

Quote from: AnonRider on July 17, 2014, 02:23:39 PM

Quote from: mustangGT90210 on July 17, 2014, 01:31:06 PM


But back to the real topic here, and still kind of on a tangent, what is everyones opinions of riding with a tinted visor at night? Or wearing sunglasses with the visor open during the day?

tinted visor at night= you can't see shaZam!.
sunglasses + open shield= shaZam! gets in your helmet

I have an hjc helmet with quick unlocking visors a dark smoke for the day time and clear for the evenings.

visors are only 20-30 bucks and if you bring a daypack with you they fit conveniently in there.

I've got an Icon Alliance with a dark smoke shield, and really don't like changing the visors out for any night ride so I get lazy. But I've got a pretty good little headlight on my bike currently.

Wasn't sure if sunglasses with an open shield was considered squidly lol. I live in hot, sunny Florida so more breeze in the helmet is always welcomed. I'm a more city rider than distance rider keeping that visor closed gets really hot. And it's really convenient to be wearing sunglasses, get on the interstate, flip down the visor and have a nice, dark field of vision that you can look at all day

Plus it makes you look cool! lol And in an area with streetlights, it's like having a clear

Regarding the visor up w/ sunglasses: last summer here in PA was one of the absolute hottest summers I can remember. Normally I won't ride with my visor up more than slightly cracked open for air flow, but I was just pulling out of my driveway and had the visor completely open. I literally went about 20' up the road when a huge wasp went right into my helmet, landing on my bottom lip and started stinging the shaZam! out of me! Luckily, I didn't drop the bike and was able to flip up the modular section of my helmet and rip him away from my mouth.

Never. Again.

I... wow haha

The closest I got was a cigarette ash that burned my clear glasses. I *knock on wood* have avoided wasps so far.

Quote from: Big Rich on July 17, 2014, 05:02:21 PM
....... when a huge wasp went right into my helmet, landing on my bottom lip and started stinging the shaZam! out of me!

I have that Nightmare all the time!  At the rate those big Japanese Beetles "Bounce" off my visor, I'm paranoid to have it open for fear of bees.  (And I live in PA as well, so now I know those "PA Wasps" are gunning for me!)   

Quote from: Big Rich on July 17, 2014, 05:02:21 PM
Regarding the visor up w/ sunglasses: last summer here in PA was one of the absolute hottest summers I can remember. Normally I won't ride with my visor up more than slightly cracked open for air flow, but I was just pulling out of my driveway and had the visor completely open. I literally went about 20' up the road when a huge wasp went right into my helmet, landing on my bottom lip and started stinging the shaZam! out of me! Luckily, I didn't drop the bike and was able to flip up the modular section of my helmet and rip him away from my mouth.

Never. Again.

This is one sting, not sure what insect, maybe a bee? I looked like Homer Simpson.

This morning, around 5 AM, I finally ordered cheap armor shirt so I would at least have SOMETHING more than just a Columbia jacket on.

As it's been warmer and warmer, I've gotten a bit lax about always having arms and legs covered.

Today I was passing out marketing materials in suburban NJ. This involved running back and forth around 30-40MPH neighborhoods and a couple short jaunts. I'd forgotten my presentable shirt and didn't want to be all sweaty when I talked to them, so I rolled the jacked up and stuck it under the bungies on the pillion. I even did something I never do and rode back and forth a little with the helmet resting on top of my head. While I was doing this, I was particularly careful. This was also me and Pokey's longest ride, and I was feeling a bit antsy about it.

As the day wore on, I relaxed. The jacket stayed off, but I started pulling the helmet all the way on.

Around 2:30p, I was heading toward a destination and suddenly decided to go to another and pulled into an unpaved parking lot. I don't remember anything but being sideways and realizing that there was no stopping it, the smack, and the feeling of my helmet bouncing of the ground.

I hopped up and turned Pokey off (engine never even skipped a beat). I looked at my arm expecting road rash, but really only got a scrape - just skinned a little.

Pokey caught the worst of it -

cracked windscreen (that I JUST got for $16 shipped on eBay)
snapped frame slider (that thing had caught so much hell, it was time for it to just let it go)
chewed up right cover and emblem (which is ironic because I bought the bike missing the same cover due to right-side drop.
handlebars bent just enough to be annoying.

Me? Skinned/bruised arm, scraped knee (K-Mart Wrangler can apparently handle lo speed low-sides just fine, thanks. ten dollar leather work gloves from Harbor Freight did their job with no residual effects other than being dirty afterword.

I cherish this crash the way I cherish my last bicycle crash. Both left a lesson well-learned, but not really any the worse for wear.

Quote from: Suzuki Stevo on July 17, 2014, 08:36:11 PM
This is one sting, not sure what insect, maybe a bee? I looked like Homer Simpson.

Damn...... Are you sure it wasn't a Badger or some sort of Snake that flew into your helmet ??   

Seriously , that looks nasty.  I swell up with just 1 sting - and last summer, I was kneeling down cutting a stump with the chainsaw.  My leg started getting really "Hot" and when I looked down, I was covered with wasps!  ("Those Yellow Jacket Looking Ones").

I dropped the chainsaw and took off.  33 stings, 2 Benedryl, and 1/2 hour later, I went back outside - chainsaw still idling with the muffler COVERED in dead /burned wasps.  Must have been hundreds of those damn things. Took me another 1/2 hour before I could get close enough with the hornet spray so I could get my chainsaw.  They hovered around for hours!

The next day, my leg looked like I was a Linebacker for a Pro Football Team.  (Too bad the other one didn't match!)...

Man, this topic is riddled with tangents...

But while we're here, my parents had an apple tree in the back yard.  Not a good apple tree, it produced these little golfball crabapples that you can't eat.  Worst part was it dropped them constantly, all summer, thousands of the damn things, and you could always tell when it was going to be a bad year for it because the tree would light up pure white with blossoms in the spring.

Anyway, we used to collect the apples into a bin and toss them out with the yard waste instead of letting them rot in the yard because you'd practically snap your ankles off trying to walk over them, they killed the grass, and they made mowing a PITA.  We'd be out there almost every day picking up apples.
Occasionally there'd be flies and ants and stuff chowing on the apples so picking them up by hand was always a little unpleasant, and there'd be the occasional wasp or bee in there so I'd only go for the ones that were fresh looking and not turning brown.

Well one day I go to grab one that looks good, but the other side was all rotted out and inside was a big black hornet!  Yup, he got me, stung me in the web of my thumb!
Hurt like hell, lost dexterity due to the swelling (no permanent injury, thankfully), and since then we used a rake and a flat shovel to deal with the apples.  They don't like to rake very well because of their weight and the fact they're round, but it's better than being stung.
The location was the worst part.  Stung on the finger, ow, but being basically stung on the palm means your whole hand is jacked...

That apple tree is gone now.  Chopped it down last month.  It was diseased or infested or something anyway, was dead in some parts and rotting in others...  Besides, it was an ugly tree.  Kinda scraggly so it wasn't even good for climbing when I was younger, it attracted bugs, really there was nothing good about it other than providing a mount for some bird-feeders.