Who stopped the rain?

Not fucking Credence Clearwater Revival cos it’s been a few wet days in Brisbane!

Not one to be easily deterred 😂😂😂 with one week of forecasted rain, Mr & I went for a tiki tour around Brisbane for some special interest shots of the bikes. Took Little Boop as I feel my luck with ‘G-Force’ (shuddup, that’s the name until I can think of something better) would run out and I would 1. Get busted riding her when I shouldn’t be and 2. End up walking home as a result of point 1 with a fat fine in my pocket and having to wait longer to sit my R licence 😦

Ended up at the Bhuddist temple in Underwood, Old Cleveland Lighthouse and a random wall on the side of a brownie shop in Bowen Hills. I dunno where I find this shit, it finds me! Not an overly long day out as rain was threatening to piss down just as we reached home.

Today, putting on my brave pants again to ride G-Force (shuddup shuddup shuddup!), we went for a quick scoot down the Logan Mway to Helensvale to see my Uncle. He wasn’t home so chatted with my first cousin Luke for a bit.

The pleasure of riding G-Force is addictive. I know I shouldn’t. But I do. And I love it. And it makes July seem so far away.

The licensing system is a bit of a giant turd really. I don’t know who gave the recommendations to change the flow of obtaining a motorcycle licence but it sucks balls. Big, hairy, oversized, unwashed balls.

Pre Oct 2016

Learner – online or in person, answer 30 questions and pay $30

RE – can do the RE course at any time after getting your L’s. 1 day RE course. 1 year on RE before you can take a pillion. 1 year on RE before you can ride a non-LAMS motorcycle with an L plate and a supervisor.

R – held your RE for at least 1 year. Once you get your R cannot take pillion for 1 year

Post Oct 2016

Learner – 2 day pre learner course (approx $400)

RE – held your L for at least 3 months. 1 day RE course. 1 year on RE before you can take a pillion. 2 years on RE before you can ride a non-LAMS motorcycle with an L plate and a supervisor.

R – held your RE for at least 2 years. Can take a pillion as soon as you have your R licence

2 years is like an eternity. The knowledge and skill I had at 6 months on my RE was sufficient. I learnt a lot and would have been 100% confident going to an R motorcycle by the 1 year stage. Just takes so long and costs so much more to get your licence.

I suspect the course providers were expecting a massive flood of cash however by all reports, motorcycle sales and the number of people getting their licence have dropped right off. All good intentions for RE riders to get much some road experience but this should also be at the L stage.

My preference – get your L’s, ride for at least 3 months getting a minimum of 25 hours road time registered in a log book similar to car learner drivers. If you had not done 25 hours by the time you sit your RE (by fudging the log book) this would be highly apparent on your RE course. You should have a reasonable level of competence to be assessed on by then.

I don’t want to be riding around with incompetent people hiding behind no L plate after sneaking through the RE programme 🤷🏻‍♀️ we have to share the road with these unproven riders! Just my thoughts based on my experiences and those of other Learner / RE riders I have spoken to.