Derestricting a motorbike ?
If you pass your bike test and gain your licence (A2 restricted if under 21 years of age) then you can legally ride ANY capacity motorbike, so longs as it doesn't make more than 33bhp. So, if your 125 has 13bhp as standard, de-restricting it will give a little more mid-range power and a little bit better top speed. As for the power amount, look for around 15/16bhp after de-restricting. Doesn't sound much, but it makes a fair difference. If your bike is a 2-stroke, then you can crank the power upto around 30bhp just by removing the restrictors. But beware...2-strokes tend to go bang alot!! As for insurance, it may be worth getting some quotes before you actually decide to de-restrict your bike. To be honest, in my opinion, they don't normally check for restrictors and technically, if your bike makes less than 33bhp and if you have the correct licence (A2 restricted) then they wont have an issue. Remove the L plates as well once you've passed ;). Here's where to look for said restrictors: 1. Exhaust - Normally a washer or blanking plate of some description, somewhere along the length of the exhaust system, but normally in the downpipe. Usually just tack welded in, so easy to hammer + chisel out 2. Air Filter - May be some sort of blocking plate on the air box itself. Remove and check all over the 'box for plates that look like they stop or delay the airflow 3. Check intake tubes - Only really on carb'd bikes. The rubber hoses that put the fuel into the cylinder might not be completely round inside. Sometimes the rubber internally is unsymetrical. This means that instead of the tube looking like this, 'O', it looks like this 'D'. this can prevent a big mixture of air/fuel into the cylinder, thus sapping power EDIT!: YOUR BIKE SOUNDS RELATIVELY NEW. DE-RESTRICTING CAN SOMETIMES INVALIDATE YOUR WARRANTY. PLEASE PHONE THEM OR FLICK THROUGH YOUR OWNERS MANUAL TO VERIFY THIS. (SOME MANUFACTURERS ALLOW DE-RESTRICTION, SO LONGS AS IT'S DONE BY ONE OF THEIR APPROVED DEALERS). IF IT DOESN'T INVALIDATE IT, THEN BY ALL MEANS DO IT. AS I SAY, EXPECT AROUND 15/16BHP, 75/80MPH DE-RESTRICTED. Good luck, keep it shiny side up --Mikey B--
Will a motorbike restrictor damage the engine?
I assume you live in the Uk. You will have to wait until you pass your full motorcycle test before you can get a bike and restrict it and then it needs to be restricted in a garage and a dyno run taken to verify that it is restricted to 33 bhp. You need that certificate for the insurance You can ride any sort of bike with a restrictor and it should not damage the engine. I am riding a Honda CB400 with a restrictor that has been on it for 4 years at least and not had any problems. I know a guy that has a 700c sports bike and he restricted it with and it was running fine. Take my advice though and if you want to get a bike and restrict it, make sure it is a light bike. My 400cc bike would have 60% more power without the restrictor (once I find the damn thing it is coming off) which is a lot of power for an engine to loose. The guy with the 700cc says he did not notice the difference before and after the restrictor was fitted but I suspect he did not push it hard as he just drove it to the garage.If you get a heavy bike, then you may find that the engine will struggle, but generally on motorbikes they have far more power than you can ever use on the road.
What power motorcycle can I ride at 17?
Hey, I'm 17 and I'm going for my motorcycle license soon. I've read through a couple of web pages, yet the subject still is a little vague to me. At the age of 17, with a full motorcycle license, what is the maximum power of motorcycle I can ride?
Motorbike question! Is a Honda vfr 750 a good bike to start out riding on?
All of these answers so far are from guys but, while well intentioned, they don't really know what it's like for a female rider. So, from girl to girl, here's my opinion. I've probably had as many bikes as years you've been alive, so I know what I'm talking about, haha. Everything from a 25cc Montessa to a Honda 750cc (cc's are cubic centimeters which has already been explained). I've probably owned at least half of the available brands too. I was about a year younger than you when I learned to ride. The first thing you want, no, need to consider is the bikes weight. Girls (generally) can't lift as much as guys can and, like someone else mentioned, you're going to drop it sometime; what will you do if it falls and you can't lift it? Especially if it lands on top of your leg or something? I almost bought a Honda 1000 once, but I couldn't lift it so I decided not to. So here's my advice: Since you've never ridden before, you should get a dirt bike and practice off-road like someone else suggested. And get a used bike because you're probably gonna drop it. Get a 100cc to 150cc bike ( learned on a Honda 125). It doesn't really have to be a dirt bike, but it would be better. When you go to buy it, have the seller lay it down for you to make sure you can pick it up yourself. Try to get one with an electric starter -- some of those kick starter can throw you right off the bike! (I had a Yamaha 250 do that to me; sweet bike other than that, lol). It shouldn't take long to learn, maybe a month or so, and by then you will have a better idea of what size you would like. Oh, one more thought, maybe you have a friend who will let you use his bike to learn? Guys seem to be pretty helpful in this situation :) That's what I did. I think the first bike I acutally bought was a 1964 Honda 300, haha. That was an oldie, but it was a sweet ride too. Good luck and be safe! Don't forget to always wear a helmet.
Why are motorcycles so much louder than cars or buses? Why can’t the noise be reduced?
This question has a number of good answers. But some I disagree with. Two points:First, most motorcycles as they come from the factory are fairly quiet. I’m on my 14th motorcycle and only one was particularly noisy. And it was noisy ONLY because I put high performance mufflers on it. I was childish and stupid… Mea culpa!Also, most motorcycles are so fast today that they don’t need more power. That motorcycle I referred to above was already possibly the fastest production motorcycle of the time. And I needed more power? Dumb…Second, many motorcyclists think that having a loud motorcycle makes them safer. Personal opinion, most of the time I think they just like to make noise because they want attention not safety (if they wanted safety, they would wear REAL helmets).As a motorcyclist and car driver I find these noise makers irritating. Irritating because they are distracting drivers from the act of driving. I see car drivers reaction when the noise makers ride by. It’s not good.And they are irritating because each individual one of them give the collective motorcyclist community a bad name.The law, at least where I live is pretty specific in terms of the db level that motorcycle can have. It’s rarely enforced because it requires a fairly expensive sound measuring device and that has to be calibrated before use every day.So, the noise pollution continues…One last point. Again, personal opinion. I truly understand the desire to go faster than the speed limit. It’s a pleasure I partake of on occasion… :-) All I have to say is that if I’m speeding AND my motorcycle is making excessive noise, do you think that raises the probabilities that I’ll get a ticket? You bet your whatever… :-)
What are some pros and cons of cruisers and sport bikes? Which do you prefer and why?
I’ve ridden both, along with some other types that are “in between”. Most of my riding was commuting back and forth to work, but I’ve also done some canyon carving and some very long trips.Sport bikes are great in the twisty bits. They corner well, they accelerate quickly, and they brake quickly. They’re lighter than cruisers of the same displacement and have a much better power/weight ratio. However, the ergonomics are a bit punishing for long rides, and there’s practically no weather protection - you’ll be in a full-face helmet and leathers not just because Crashing Sucks, but also Bug Strikes Suck and Rain Sucks. I’ve ridden two sportbikes thru downpours, and neither was at all ‘fun’. There’s also the matter of cargo space - if you want to carry more than a change of socks, you’ll need to get sport saddlebags, a topcase, or a fair to middling tankbag and backpack.Sport touring bikes are basically a marriage between a sportbike and a full tourer. They’re usually bigger displacement than their smaller, zippier cousins, but the gearing and the ergos are a bit better for long rides, plus they have the guts to carry cargo or do a two-up ride. I did ONE long ride on a 750cc sportbike, but I did several on a 1050cc sport tourer.This was my sport tourer, a 2008 Triumph Sprint ST 1050. Faster than the law allowed, but also comfortable to ride thru several jurisdictions at legal speeds. I could easily manage 750-mile days on this bike.Cruisers come in all kinds of flavors. You’ve got everything from stripped-down barhopper bikes that are just as punishing to ride as a racebike, to full-dress baggers that are basically two-wheeled Winnebagos. My preference is what’s called the “muscle cruiser”, a large-displacement bike with cruiser ergos (feet forward, relaxed reach to the bars) and enough power and lean angle to still have some fun in the corners. I’ve added a windscreen and a tailbag to mine, to make commuting easier, but it’s also fun to take all of that off and just ramble about.The Sprint got traded in for a 2014 Triumph Thunderbird Storm. It’s 650 cc’s higher displacement, weighs about three hundred pounds more, and it still goes faster than the law allows. However, I don’t have quite the staying power anymore, so the most I’ve done on the Storm in one day is 350 miles, give or take.
Scared of riding my bike in traffic.?
It's normal for a beginner to be wobbly and scared. All you can do is practice. Ride in less populated areas, streets with little traffic. Keep your eyes infront, always looking at the things ahead. The key is thinking twice ahead, and always be prepared. Using that method, you'll be ready for most things.
I'm 6 foot 270lbs.Would a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 be a good bike for the interstate?
Thanks Rides365. I understand your view but until you ride one it's hard to determine if it is the right size. Since most motorcycle dealers don't allow test drives like car dealers, it's hard to determine which bike fits. It's not wise for me or you to assume that all 900's or 1000's etc. will have the same power. I have ridden 500's that would spank a 900's a** but I have also ridden 500's that couldn't out run my riding mower. You sound knowledgeable about what you speak, but it would have been more help if you had answered my question.