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Buy the bike of your dreams and castrate it

Buy the bike of your dreams and castrate it, can be a good way of by-passing the 33 bhp rule, but does it really make sense on your riding fun and wallet?

Okay, a bit of background first. Currently, there are three types of motorcycle licence that can be acquired. Firstly, Category P, which covers the moped. Category A1 covers motorcycles with an engine size over 75cc, but no more than 125cc, with a power output of no more than 14.6 bhp (11kW) and one that can't go above 62.5 mph (100 kph).

The third licence, the standard motorcycle licence, and known as Category A, or commonly A2, allows you to ride a motorcycle with an unlimited engine size, but, and this is a big but, with a maximum power output of 33 bhp (25kW) and a power to weight ratio not greater than 0.16kw/kg.

In others words, you can happily sit on many models from 125cc to 400cc, as long as they produce no more power than 33 horses, and there are plenty of bikes within the range.

Now, when you pass your test, or if you're under 21, your stuck with this 33 horses rule for two years, so you're faced with the dilemma of buying a bike within the power range, or buying a bigger one, and restricting it.

Of course, if you're impatient to straddle a proper thoroughbred and if you are over 21, or come of age during the two year restricted period, then you can bypass the delay by proving you're man enough to handle a wee beastie. Two schemes allow you to do this - Direct Access Scheme and Accelerated Access Scheme - but it involves extra training, supervision and money.

But lets assume you're going to hang on. Buying a bigger bike and getting a mechanic to castrate it is a viable idea and many regular riders go for this option. It is not illegal and is an acceptable way of buying your dream bike and using it for the two years before you become a fully qualified bike rider.

But, there are things to consider. The restrictor kit is just that - it restricts your bike to 33 bhp and reduces the power to weight ratio, in effect, totally altering the bike you've just bought. The price you will have paid is based on its unrestricted performance, not its castrated state. You will have higher running costs and insurance companies, do not recognise the restricted status. Premiums are based on the original bike's performance, not its altered state.

Arguably, you would do better to accept the 33 bhp ruling and hone your skills on a still gutsy machine, before stepping into the big league. Any money saved by doing this can be used to good effect, kitting yourself out and putting some goodies on the machine. The big manufacturers all offer superb bikes within the 33 bhp range.

So, you can buy the bike of your dreams and castrate it, but do you really want to? Have a good think first.


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