It’s something about the reputation. All of those super sport bikes are insanely powerful but it always seems like the worst people to own them are riding GSXRs (we called them Gixxers). I used to race (on a track) and we would see racers come in with second hand GSXRs that had been repaired from accidents, totaled, sold by insurance, and turned into track bikes.
In high school?! Shit… Good thing we have a more sane system in Germany about bikes specifically. You can’t just legally drive a high-performing bike when you’re young, you have to work your way up from AM (45kmh, 4kw, 50cm³, as early as age 15), then A1 (11kw, 125cm³, 16 years old), A2 (35kw, 18 years old) to A (unlimited, 20 years old if you got A2 for at least 2 years). Only if you’re age 24 or older you can go directly to A as it’s assumed you’re adult enough, and well, freedom and all.
Still, too many people drive superbikes on the Autobahn like they’re living in GTA… but at least not out of youthful ignorance, but simply stupidity.
Yeah, when you’re 18 you can go directly to A2 and after 2 years do the unlimited A license. Or directly A1 when 16, only the unlimited A license got this 2 year time limit if you’re too young so seasoned young drivers don’t need to wait all the way until they’re 24 if they already got experience with handling bikes and a feeling for the dangers of high speed (at least that’s the hope).
AM, A1 and A2 also got a special paragraph for trikes since they’re heavier, so it takes a tiny bit more engine power to achieve the same acceleration and max speed.
One of my brother’s friends bought one back in high school and within a couple weeks he was medevac’d from a major freeway by helicopter
It’s something about the reputation. All of those super sport bikes are insanely powerful but it always seems like the worst people to own them are riding GSXRs (we called them Gixxers). I used to race (on a track) and we would see racers come in with second hand GSXRs that had been repaired from accidents, totaled, sold by insurance, and turned into track bikes.
In high school?! Shit… Good thing we have a more sane system in Germany about bikes specifically. You can’t just legally drive a high-performing bike when you’re young, you have to work your way up from AM (45kmh, 4kw, 50cm³, as early as age 15), then A1 (11kw, 125cm³, 16 years old), A2 (35kw, 18 years old) to A (unlimited, 20 years old if you got A2 for at least 2 years). Only if you’re age 24 or older you can go directly to A as it’s assumed you’re adult enough, and well, freedom and all.
Still, too many people drive superbikes on the Autobahn like they’re living in GTA… but at least not out of youthful ignorance, but simply stupidity.
Huh, that’s a super interesting system. If you’re 18 can you also directly go to A2 or is it all gradual from one to the next?
Yeah, when you’re 18 you can go directly to A2 and after 2 years do the unlimited A license. Or directly A1 when 16, only the unlimited A license got this 2 year time limit if you’re too young so seasoned young drivers don’t need to wait all the way until they’re 24 if they already got experience with handling bikes and a feeling for the dangers of high speed (at least that’s the hope).
AM, A1 and A2 also got a special paragraph for trikes since they’re heavier, so it takes a tiny bit more engine power to achieve the same acceleration and max speed.