Now if THIS was on
the LAMS list, nobody would want their full licence.
Welcome to the Complete Visual guide for the 2014/2015 Victorian Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) list. First, let me explain what it's all about and why I compiled it.*
The first challenge you'll face as a learner rider is trying to decipher that damn LAMS list of approved bikes. Many of us have a good working knowledge of bikes but let's face it, you'd have to be a walking motorcycle encyclopedia with a memory verging on the superhuman to be able to recognise the majority of the bikes featured on that list as it's seemingly endless.
"Pig's arse, numb nuts!" I hear you thunder. "I've been eating, sleeping and pissing bikes since I was a glint in the milkman's eye! I know every bike on that list. Go on. Test me! Test me, ya smarmy bastard!" If that's the case you are certainly the exception to the rule and are free to leave. But before you do, you may want to take a deep breath and calm the hell down, buddy. Sheesh!
For the rest of us the LAMS list is massive compilation of bike after bike, with model numbers many of us may be unfamiliar with and manufacturers some of us have never even heard of. If that's case, then this visual guide was created with you in mind.
If you're like many Learners and you don't know which bikes are the cafe racers, the scooters, the dirt bikes, the sports bikes or the cruisers just by reading ghte model numbers on the LAMS list, then your only option is to google each bike on the list to find out. And believe me, that gets real old, real fast.
As a Learner, I too was faced with that massive LAMS list and after trawling through it or a few hours and googling bike after bike, I thought, if only there were pictures of each of them so I could see at a glance what type of bike they are and some handy information to help me decide which one I want. And with that, the Complete Visual LAMS List was born.
Another reason I put the list together is that many new riders will be tempted to stick to what they know and to motorcycles that are already familiar to them. But with so much variety on offer, you may be depriving yourself of a uniquely cool ride simply because you don't realise it's available or that it even exists, and that would be a real shame.
The beauty of the LAMS list is that it contains everything from vintage cafe racers, dirt bikes, cruisers and sports bikes of every vintage and variety you could imagine. There are bikes so authentically Old School your Granddad may have ridden them in his youth. There are of course gleaming machines merely minutes off the assembly line. Whatever your tastes, requirements, budget or style, the LAMS list has a bike to suit you.
You may be looking for a cheap, reliable bike to be your primary mode of transport to get you around town on the cheap. Others may want something they can use during the week that doubles as a weekend dirt churning, off-road thrill machine.
Others may wish to unleash their inner badass and shake the fillings from their teeth on a shiny cruiser and show off more gleaming chrome than Optimus Primes' nether regions.
For the crotch-rocket loving Power Rangers speed freaks scraping their collective knees across the bitumen as they blast through the twisties like a lubed-up rocket has been shoved up their arses, there's a ton of sports bikes from the old school and cool to the band-spankin'-new.
So whatever you're looking for, the selection of LAMS bikes on offer has enough variety to float a whole flotilla of boats.
And for those who aren't sure what style of bike they want, there should be some pleasant and exciting surprises in store. It's my hope this visual guide opens up a whole new world of bikes to discover for the Learners out there who are weighing up what kind of bike they would prefer to call their own.
So whatever you're looking for, the selection of LAMS bikes on offer has enough variety to float a whole flotilla of boats.
And for those who aren't sure what style of bike they want, there should be some pleasant and exciting surprises in store. It's my hope this visual guide opens up a whole new world of bikes to discover for the Learners out there who are weighing up what kind of bike they would prefer to call their own.
So if you're Learner rider looking for your first bike you should be all over his guide like stink on a monkey. So whiff it up, Bonzo!
Of course, pictures of bikes are helpful, but what new riders really need is information. So where possible, I’ve included hyperlinks of technical specs, cool YouTube clips showing the bikes being used (and abused), reviews of the pros and cons from some of the most reputable motorcycle writers on the planet and of course, links to manufacturers' websites to assist in your purchase.
Keep in mind that paint schemes will often vary widely between models, despite the bikes being essentially the same. You won't find any prices listed simply because there are too many either, variables that determine market value.
www.redbook.com.au or www.bikesales.com.au will give you a good indication of current market values but beware, while Redbook is often a good indication of the market value of bikes, use it as a general indication rather than a definitive value that's set in stone. Other sites to assist you in researching and purchasing your ride include:
Other errors may result in serious, long term injury or even death. And let's be honest, the stats for riders in Victoria are not good...due in unequal measure to rider error and the general stupidity and incompetence of many drivers. Many of these errors are preventable and there's really no excuse for drivers to make them but by being aware what risks you face on the road, you can avoid many of these errors and hopefully enjoy many years of incident free riding.
To assist in this aim, I've compiled and analysed crash test data, including the 2012 Victorian Government Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety.
Want to know why the LAMS period was increased from 12 months to three years? Why you have to wear that gorgeous Hi Vis vest? Want to understand the official line in front number plates? Then these reports are well worth a read.
I've also included the Victorian Motorcycle Council's (VMC) response to the Victorian Government's Road Safety Strategy. It's information you need if you want to understand what these recent changes are and why they were made. These new laws affect you after all and may even be extended to include ALL riders. So it's important to understand the reasoning behind these decisions.
Another important area I wanted to cover was the importance of wearing adequate abrasion and where possible, impact protection, especially on long rides. A minority of new riders don't bother wearing protective clothing, and that's entirely their choice. Hell, I'm not going to preach to anyone and tell them what they should or shouldn't wear on the road. But to assist you in making wise choices regarding your selection of gear, there's a look at the phenomenon of Squidism and plenty of photos demonstrating why it's something you probably want to avoid.
To hammer the point home, I've included motorcycle injury pictures that all have one thing in common: none of the riders were wearing adequate protective clothing and to be honest, have buggered themselves up, big time. Some will walk again, some won't. Some will be permanently disabled, some will be hideously disfigured and for those whose injuries were relatively minor, they may well live to Squid another day.
All the images are abrasion injuries-those sustained by impact with the road surface-rather than impact injuries. Crash test data says that any collision over about 40km is enough to cause injuries that can permanently disable or kill. If the human body impacts with a solid object at above 40kph, no amount of protection will protect you BUT impact protection is something you may well want to consider. As a general rule always assume your injuries will be severe and wear appropriate gear. As the saying goes, 'Dress for the crash, not the ride'
To add an element of bike porn and eye candy, what motorcycle blog would be complete without a gallery of some of the most incredible examples of sports bikes, mean ass custom cruisers and some concept bikes that have to be seen to be believed. For the dirt bike fans, there's plenty of images of wild dirt shredders and riders catching some serious air.
So welcome to the Visual LAMS Guide, take a look around and hopefully there'll be something you can use to help you select the bike you're looking for, get a better understanding of how to stay safe on the roads and what gear is best to wear and why.
I'll be adding to this blog every now and then and feel free to drop a comment with any thoughts and suggestions. There's plenty of opinion expressed and there'll probably be some stuff here you don't agree with. Feel free to leave a comment as well.
When I've recovered from my rather nasty crash, I'll see you on the road.
Christian Saunders
April 2014
*At the time of
writing I had a few months to go on my LAMS so I'm still a Learner rider as
well. I don't pretend to be some world authority on motorcycles or riding so
forgive me if there's anything here that is a naive, debatable or just plain
wrong. Feel free to offer any suggestions, corrections or concerns and I'll fix
it up. Cheers everyone.
