What's the law on restricted bikes?

[marksmith]

Hi all,

My girlfriend has a nice 2006 Kawasaki Z750s in the garage, waiting for her to pass her test. She plans to do the test on a 125 and then ride the 750 restricted to 33bhp.

It looks like the restriction is very easy to do - simply add a throttle-stop screw into a factory-provided hole. Really easy job. However garages want £100-£200 to do it and provide paperwork to say it has been done.

So - question. Does the law just require that the bike be restricted to 33bhp, or does it also require her to have documentation to prove it has been restricted?

I have been told it's "definitely" OK just to restrict it - but no evidence has been given for this, other than the person's deeply-held genuine belief that this is the case. He might just be wrong, and I'd like to be sure - so something official would be good.

That said, I haven't been able to find anything to say she needs documentation...

Thanks!

-Mark

[spafe2302]

She doesn't need documentation, as such documentation doesn't exist. the garage will give you a certificate to say they put one in, but no proof that you didn't jsut ride it home and take it straight out again. if its restricted then you ahve nothing to worry about, although make sure its below 36bhp (thats their 10%leeway thing), it then falls to if a copper sees you giving it the beans and decides to pull you for it, they cant prove anyhting(the earnest is on them). If they are having a bad day (i mean truly terrible) they could take it, and test if, and no certificate will help you since you can pick em up on ebay for a tenner. however thats unbelivably rare. i think there was one case on another site where this happened, and then i got pulled a while back for it, but thats it.

Quick fix if you are limiting the throttle (what i've got) just ask them to watch the rev counter, rev it to the limit (dont hold it there long as im sure its bad in waaaay too many ways for the bike if kept on) and that should satify them (worked for me). thats even assuming you've been pulled for something. ride sensibly and dont get caught when you do have a bit of fun and it'l never happen.

Having spoken to some coppers, there seems to be two camps with the certificate, one lot who go well its more proof that its restricted, which makes them more inclined to let you ride away, and the toher who go, well anyone can get a piece of paper, only the guilty would bother carrying it with you, so its horses for courses, but as long as its restrcited theres no problem

sorry for any typo's and for the lack of structure to post

hope it helped

Cheers

[Ingah]

Restricted license holders may not ride a large motor bicycle (motorbike to me and you) exceeding 25kW net power output (~33.5bhp). Or words to that effect.

Yes, i've read the actual law itself. And yes, it really is that vague.

Check your PMs, i wrote an article (which i'm not allowed to link to) that explains my take on the whole thing - i'm going to send you a copy of the text of the article. The upshot is that the law itself requires no certification in the slightest. Your insurance policy though, might (ask your insurer).

[cypek]

Just google "33bhp certificate rip-off" and read the article on MCN

[NearOn]

Is all a bit vague when comes to 33bhp restricted. Im on this licence,and have looked a great deal into it. As said above,theres no legal requirement for a certificate. Long as bike is restricted then your riding in accordance with your licence.

Having said that, if a copper stops you, and you have a certificate to show them, they are obviously more likely to accept your bike is restricted correctly. But for all they know you could of knocked one up yourself, so is catch 22 situation. It then comes down to if they can be bothered to take your bike and have it tested, which is a lot of hassel.

It comes down to the situation in my opinion, if your caught doing over 120mph, on a big old sports bike,and you then show a your driving licence which is restricted, they are going to take it to be tested, is common sense.

But if you ride your bike in a sensible manner,and dont attract the fuzz, then is highly unlikely. If you are stopped randomly for just a check, then they have no reason to suspect your bike isnt restricted if you tell them it is.

This is only my opinion, and is something my misses who was in the Police agrees with. I had no intention of paying F1 International over 200 quid for a worthless piece of paper, and 4 metal rings, that cost very little to make. I got the rings myself.

[marksmith]

Thanks everyone for the replies. The MCN article, and Ingah's information to much the safe effect, were very useful. Seems essentially it's misinformation put about by a company whose interest it is in for people to believe they need the certificates.

My girlfriend is not likely to be caught doing 140mph!! or indeed anything silly, but in any case the bike will be restricted as required, should the situation arise to have it inspected.

Next question is whether it has the throttle restrictor screw hole like the other Kawasakis I looked at. The throttle is right down in the middle of the engine, unfortunately, so a bit harder to get to... I'll have to get it apart and find out...

[marksmith]

Starting to see part of the reason the restriction certificate myth propagates. Just had an irritating conversation with the insurance company who want the restriction to be done "by a professional", and want proof of that, but won't really define what that means. (But you can bet they'll suddenly have a definition when the proof I supply isn't good enough.)

If the restriction is just a screw put into a factory-drilled hole in the throttle cable bracket, paying for that to be done is a joke. (And we could pay for it to be done, then remove it - although we won't.) But even if we DO, will the insurance company accept a receipt with "installed restrictor screw, £5" from my local bike garage? Or will they end up demanding a pointless piece of paper which my conscience won't allow me to forge?

[spafe2302]

If the restriction is just a screw put into a factory-drilled hole in the throttle cable bracket, paying for that to be done is a joke. (And we could pay for it to be done, then remove it - although we won't.) But even if we DO, will the insurance company accept a receipt with "installed restrictor screw, £5" from my local bike garage? Or will they end up demanding a pointless piece of paper which my conscience won't allow me to forge?

 

I think that'l be down to individual companies, or maybe even the individual you speak to, I just said mine was restricted and they turned around and said it wouldnt make a difference , obvs if its not restricted and you make a claim they will throw it in your face that it wasn't so no pay out, but in buying the insurance I would imagine a reciept would be plenty.

At the end of the day i'd say jsut ring up who-ever gives you the best deal, and ask them BEFORE you do anything, if they say no reciept is needed then do it yourself (if your confident) and if they do want one then ask garage to give you a reciept for it. IF they want a certificate, ask them why and point out that they arn't recognised by law or anything (I think I joked that I could type one out on word if they needed one rather than spend £100 to get soemone else to type one up on word)

Hope this helps

[NearOn]

Someone was selling home made knocked up certificates on ebay for 25 quid, not sure if they still are. But couldent believe looking at his feedback, people were actually buying them. Anyone could make one.

[marksmith]

To clarify, my conscience also wouldn't let me buy and pass off a forged one. (It's the forgery aspect, not the typing, which is the issue )

[asharin]

In that case I won't post a link to one