*RANT ON*
This is a real sore spot for me.
The most frustrating thing about this topic is that I don't thing people fully understand the concept of a tiered licensing system and have a knee-jerk, "nobody should infringe on my rights" reaction. Trust me, given the gianormous (if that's even a word) state of our government today, I fully understand the concern. But a couple of points:
1. We already have forms of tiered licensing.
In order to get a driving license a person has to take the written driving test to make sure you know the rules of the road. If you pass, the person gets a "provisional license", ie: learner's permit. The right to drive a car as long as you have another licensed passenger in the car, no freeway or night driving. Presumably the DMV believes that if the passenger (parent) isn't too busy screaming and praying for deliverance, they will be able to actually impart some words of wisdom while giving the learner valuable time behind the wheel in real world situations. After 6 months (in Cali) or 60 hours behind the wheel, you are now permitted to take the driving test that allows you gain an unrestricted license. BUT even passing that doesn't give you full rights as a licensed driver. For one year no more than one other minor in the car with you, no cell phone use, at all. After a year you gain the freedom to terrorize the rest of the driving population with impunity.
(I'm not having too much of a problem with this. Actually, living in SoCal... I wish it were more stringent. If you ever get a chance to drive our freeways you'll understand perfectly what I mean. )
The second point...
2. Tiered licensing DOES NOT have to be patterned after any existing system from another country.
Yes, Europe has a tiered licensing system. Works well for them. Germany's is one of the most extreme I have ever seen (and they have far less accidents, per capita, than the U.S.). Our roads are not like theirs, our drivers are more experienced, our traffic laws are more comprehensive. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT WHAT WORKS THERE WILL WORK HERE. It HAS to take a different form. Everybody thinks that it has to be like England or France or Germany... that's just not true. Tiered licensing would work and be more than beneficial if it's designed for us not forced upon us. Everyone is so scared it's going to be some Euro system.
How many of us would feel comfortable handing the keys of a Porsche GT or Mureclago over to an 18 year old with a year of driving experience? If you really think about it, we do that every time an 18 year old with a learners' permit rides off the lot on a literbike or... Busa. We've given them the keys and told them they're ready to ride the public streets on a vehicle that can out perform 98% of the cars registered in the state of California. If you give them a Busa, you've just handed over the keys of a bike that will out accelerate every car they will ever encounter except eight... in the world! I personally would like that sort of power and performance in the hands of someone who had more time in the seat than illegally riding his brother's bike around town, 4 hours of MSF time, or passing the lame DMV test (Given by DMV personnel that don't even ride). Heck, I had a hard time giving my 18 year old son the keys to our '92 Honda Accord. Driving a car is an awesome responsibility. Riding a motorcycle is infinitely harder... why judge any differently?
It's not like "The Man" is telling you you can't buy an R1 or Busa. A tiered system just says you can't ride it until you've proven you're capable of handling it. No need to get your chonies in a bunch by saying "How dare you question my ability!". You can't do a track day until you're PROVEN proficient, why should the streets be any different?
The big problem I have with the government getting involved with this is that they will pick some arbitrary way of doing it. Any tiered system MUST be designed by, and created by RIDERS. Riders who's qualifications aren't based on how long they've been riding but by how often they ride. I have a hard time listening to bureaucrats in Washington taking advice from "motorcycling experts" that live north of Ohio, ride on the weekends during the riding season and consider a front brake a needless accessory that wastes valuable chrome.
We're so concerned about protecting our freedoms. I'm concerned about my freedoms, too. The freedom to ride the canyons and highways without having to guard myself against the newbies learning to ride on a Gixxer1000, the old timer who hasn't ridden in 20 years who buys a bike that he has no business on, the kid with 6 months of riding time who believes he's invincible, or the 120 lb. woman who just passed MSF and buys a 900 lb. Harley because it's the only bike that she can sit flat-footed on.
The real reason we don't have a tiered licensing system here in the U.S. is because the manufacturers don't want it. They're perfectly happy to see this topic devolve into a "No one takes away my freedom" debate. A tiered system would force them to sell bikes in lower cc ranges in the U.S. Profit margins are significantly lower - Less R&D, less technology, simple construction and pedestrian materials. In Europe they have to fulfill that demand and they build brand loyalty by getting newbies on the smaller bikes during the tiers, so when they "graduate" to the Open Class they'll buy the bigger "profit" bikes. Over here... no such restrictions. We lucky folks get to wrap the new ZX-10 around a telephone pole sooner than our Euro brethren.
What cracks me up is that newbies and kids feel that they HAVE to have that bike NOW! Jeez, the big bikes will still be there in a year. They aren't going anywhere.
The real reason WE don't want to have a tiered system is people feel that if it's installed they won't have anything to ride. That's what pisses me off the most - they're right! We have no choice under 600cc. Until Kawi redesigned the lil' Ninja what possible bike could we steer a new or inexperienced rider to? I totally understand why people buy bikes over their heads. Given the choice between a 20 year old 250 or a big arse cruiser there isn't a choice. Find a Euro bike magazine and take a look at what they have to choose from under 600cc's. Makes you sick just looking at stuff that will never hit our shore.
Many other countries categorize bikes as "transportation" not "recreational". That makes a big difference in how the government views them. Our government officials don't take riders seriously. We're pretty much a recreational nuisance. Instead laws looking out for us, laws are passed to protect drivers FROM us by limiting our rights. If you want to rail against "Big Brother" THAT'S where to start.
*Sorry*
Sorry couldn't resist. Threadjack over
