So, I’ve been riding a month now, and I’m loving it. So much so, that a few weeks ago I placed an order for a new motorbike to last me through my L’s and P’s period.

The bike I’m after is a Suzuki GSX650FU.

The NSW government recently changed the rules for “mature” learners (over 25s with an unrestricted car license), or I would have stuck with the 250. Before the change, I could have gone for my Ps at any time after getting my Ls, and gone straight for an unrestricted license by performing the MOST test.

The only restrictions that I would have at that point is that I would not be able to take a pillion for 12 months. Not sure how the police would enforce that at a traffic stop, unless they print the date you received the R endorsement on the license itself.

But, with the licensing changes, I need at least 3 months of L’s and then need to do 12 months of P1’s., so at least another 15 months of restricted riding at 80km/h (L’s) then 90km/h (P1’s). Which fucking sucks. But oh well.

The bike itself is a 650, but the ECU has been modified to restrict the power to be within the 150kw/tonne limit that the RTA require for a LAMS bike. Suzuki are keeping quiet on what you do when you no longer need the restrictions, it looks for those of us who buy this bike that there is no really easy way to unrestrict it so it might be better to just trade it in and buy a new bike when you are on an unrestricted license. I might do this, as by then the GSX650F might come with ABS as an option, like the U.S. model. We’ll see.

Can’t wait to ride it, it should be much better than the Honda CB250 :)