Thread: Might be time for a Motor Bike

Originally Posted by scrambler

Are you sure on the 250 thing? I thought this had been standardised nationally and i know that in Qld we've gone to allowing those with more maturity (read, more than a couple of years on a license) to jump straight to a "big" bike after mandatory defensive riding training. That is, you can learn and license straight on an unlimited license. At least we HAD gone that way about 6 months after I got my open. Maybe it's gone back the other way again.

No, it's stillpossible to go unrestricted straight away:

http://www.roadsafety.qld.gov.au/qt/LTASinfo.nsf/ReferenceLookup/Your_keys_QRIDE.pdf/$file/Your_keys_QRIDE.pdf

This is how it was about 12 months ago but may have changed.

Tasmania does not have a restricted motor-cycle licence.

A.C.T. sensibly works on a power-to-weight ratio restriction for twelve months.

Queensland has a restriction to under 250cc in the first twelve months. you then have to take the same test again on a large bike this time to upgrade to an over 250cc licence. If you go through the Q-Ride scheme (private sector contractors) then you can get an open motor-cycle licence straight away. This costs several hundred dollars. I am told that very, very, few applicants for open licences who go through the govt. testing scheme are passed. I am also told that many people in the motor-cycle community believe that there has been an instruction to the govt. testers not to pass applicants, in order to force them into the Q-Ride scheme which has to be seen to be successful.

Interestingly, if you once held a motor-cycle licence in Qld. and let it lapse, and can prove it, but still hold another licence in Qld, you can have your licence re-issued without a learner's and without testing. Apparently all Qld's old licence records held on file cards have been destroyed following the use of computer records. So if you can produce your old grey thin cardboard licence from before the early '80's, you will be OK.