| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/22/2008 3:07:05 PM | Recently have been reading a lot of stuff about the benefits and or shortcomings of Q ride. Apparently they are changing the goalposts once again for people to obtain there licence and it is rumoured you may have to go back to the system of having to ride a 250cc for the first year again through the Q ride System.
I have various thoughts on a lot of road issues that are put in the press everyday and am always sceptical of statistics that are put to the public as they can be structered to serve the person or group publishing them.
My personal thoughts on the 250cc issue especially for people doing the Q ride competency course is that the cc of the bike these days really is a non argument. I have a Suzuki cruiser and also a Harley Fatboy and when I am out on the road I would need an engine from the space shuttle strapped to my back to be able to take off or even to keep up with or attempt to catch some of the modern day 250cc sports bikes. This is why I think that it is more attitude of the biker,attitutude of some car drivers and lastly our deplorable roads more so then the cc size of the motorcycle.
Am interested on your views on this as various groups of non bike riders are quoting increased deaths etc to stop q ride or to make it maybe over the top to pass.. In all the stuff I have read they also seem to ignore the increase in motorcycle ownership or even if the deaths are rider fault(due to inexperience) or the fault of other road users..
tell us what you think ...and please do not make the thread "lets blame all car drivers for using us as speed humps"
cheerz all be safe and be well | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/22/2008 10:08:17 PM | This is interesting. Who is to say that the "rider" is even riding a motorcycle during that 12 months? Maybe they are sitting it out and have their eye on a larger bike from the outset. Pretty sure they don't have a log book (correct me if I'm wrong) and who would be signing it off anyway? It's much like a truck licence in a lot of respects. Up until recently, police in country towns would virtually write them out over the counter if they knew the person. At the most a lap around the block might be in order, next thing you know, the driver finds himself rocketing down a mountain range with a full load in the wrong gear. Absolute recipe for a tragic disaster.
So the legitimate driver training provided is considered ample for the driver to cope in all situations. So it should be with a bike I believe. | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/22/2008 11:59:44 PM | I did Q-Ride. It was a pretty good course.
But yeah, 250cc is a bit of a larf. The difference between an Aprilia RS250 and an old Suzuki GN250 is vast, and the Aprilia is easily enough to get you pretty thoroughly munted. That being said, the main thing you have issues with is cars, so... they don't really care what your engine capacity is as they mention that they "never even saw you". Yeah, clearly.
In other states the power to weight of the bikes is what makes the difference. Some 400 and even 500cc bikes make it in as learner legal. A better system in my opinion. A nice 500cc cruiser for distance travel is better than straining a 250.
Sid's right, though. I've had my licence for years (motorbike) and have barely ridden. I'm out of practise, relatively poorly skilled, and inadequately experienced. But I am completely licensed to ride away on a Hayabusa. I'm not that stupid, but a lot of guys are. I had a "friend" who did Q-ride on a mate's ZX250R, borrowed it for a few weeks, then bought an R1. Needless to say he crashed it almost immediately, he was lucky not to be killed.
Whatever you choose to do take responsibility for yourself and don't get anything over your own skill level. And watch out. Those tintops are insane. | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/23/2008 1:51:44 AM | yea sid exactly who is to know how much riding you have done for the year period..
I also did Q ride gold after being licenced in nsw for many years when I moved to qld they swapped my c class nsw licence for a qld one...they didnt check and so just gave me a full car license so for a number of years I didnt actually know I didnt have a bike license anymore.I found out one day when i went to hire a bike for a weekend...lol..nice rude shock. I found the Q ride to be good and the guy I had was quiet harsh and failed everyone in the course...talk about peeved , but i kpet my mouth shut and did the extra day required...lol....
But yea gents it is the attitude of people more then anything
cheerz all be safe and be well | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/23/2008 2:17:50 AM | i completed q-ride last year and found it to be a joke. i came to this conclusion as i have had a lot of riding experance and for me it was a walk in the park. for the riders with alot of experance it is a good way to fast track your licence. for those that have minimal experance i think it is a good idea to do riding school.
pros , you can fast track your licence in a course that is easy to complete . you dont realy get enough time to practice the manuvers so that in the event that you might actualy need to use them you may get it wrong and come a cropper.
but all in all , if they are going to make changes to it get in now while it is still easy. | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/23/2008 2:40:50 AM | I did Q-Ride but only because I don't know anyone with an Open bike licence that could ride with me.
I have a 250cc bike and am not upgrading for at least another year (so 18 months in total) and if and only if I feel confident, can pass the tests etc.
I'm not out there to be an idiot on the road, I'm out there to enjoy my riding.
I think Q-ride is ok for those that have sense in their heads. | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/23/2008 3:56:47 AM | I know 2 ladies who did the Qride thing and soon after bought themselves a tame bike (both Honda VTR 250's as it turned out).
Girl No 1 got lots of practice on my DR250 chook chaser both on and off road and her basic skill level was quite good. Suffice to say she breezed through the Qride course and has been riding confidently and safely for several years.
Girl No 2 had a bf in Canada 10 years earlier who doubled her around alot on his Katana. She went straight to Qride with no experience at all and somehow got her 250 licence. She begged me to go bike hunting with her so I did (sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do...). We picked one out in the paper when she was in town and went to see it. I rode it up the street and it was right on the money. Then she hopped on it and, well, it was like a kid's first time on a bicycle -over balancing, overcorrecting... I was scared and the vendor was petrified!. That was last weekend and this week she comes down to pick it up with her non-biker bf's ute. I hope she's careful enough to stick to the back streets until her confidence and road-smarts sharpen up a bit. Sadly she lives 250km from me so I can't keep much of an eye on her.
Moral of the story: Get some practice any way you can before you do the Qride thing. Some of the bigger bike shops will do 1 on 1 lessons to help you prepare for the day. If you do the Qride thing just BEG someone experienced to show you how to ride safely out in tin-top land.
Keep your eyes open and your brain in gear. Remember, if the car or truck driver hasn't made eye contact with you then he/she hasn't seen you.
Happy riding... | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/23/2008 6:42:17 PM | Hmmm lots of similar and differing thoughts in all that.
I started riding about 5 years ago , Got a DR650 , had my opens (car licence) for years , so did the Q-Ride up to 1000cc course. Wanted to restrict myself as to what I could ride. Just over 2 years ago I got my road bike , an SV650s Suzuki , well hasnt that opened my eyes. What if I had got my unlimited licence and bought something faster. It all comes down to attitude.
BIKES DONT KILL PEOPLE , PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE.
I come from 22 years of motorsport (rally) and several years of driver education as well as my job as a rep where I drove every day for 7 years. I have stacked my bike and learnt lessons , but Im here because I knew (mostly) the right attitude to ride with.
THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR ...................
the best thing I got out of the Q-Ride course was the info about cats-eyes , painted surfaces and steel manholes , all the slipery things and the point about making yourself visible , dont ride in vehicles blind spots , move around , so people see you , have an escape route for emergencys. Remember they are looking for another car or a truck , NOT A BIKE. Be defensive , never expect to be seen , ALWAYS EXPECT TO BE NOT SEEN. I get around cars and trucks as safely and quickly as possible and dont sit beside them on the freeway etc. I watch their hands on the steering wheel as I pass so I see if they go for the blinker. And one last point I learnt by the instructor I had , rev the shit out of your bike at lights , stop signs and give way signs when in traffic. I would rather be heard and noticed than to be not heard and flattened.
Ride safe and remember good education and riding practices make for great riding experiences.
Keep upright
and enjoy.
PJ | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/23/2008 11:36:49 PM | yea good points sleepless, as ya said its the knowledge thing, one fo the good things i got out of it was when ya pull up behind someone and to park to the side as I was told most bikes get cleaned up in tail enders at the lights when they are stationary,,,that suprised me as a statistic, and yes the noise thing is a main factor especially these days when nearly everyone in a car drives with the aircon and music on(myself included) when in the old days most cars didnt have aircon and windows were down...lol...I chabged the exhaust on my suzuki for this reason and soon will be doing the same to the harley cos it so so quiet no-one can hear you..
cheers all be safe and be well | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/23/2008 11:44:30 PM | WELL i went through q r and i got my 250 licence only that i wanted to go that way if i wanted i could have got my big bike licence and i can still up grad any time i wish to know and when I'm more confident in riding and get my skill up i will up grad to a bigger bike
and i like my life to much there's enough idiots on the road we dont meed another one
I think thay did a good job with it all .........shaz | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 1:20:07 AM | what is q- ride. please explain..........
an explanation would help - or is this thread just for specific people!? | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 2:04:47 AM | I haven't looked too much into what Q ride is, as I have had my road bike licence since the early 80's (damn...I'm old...).....
But I do believe any proper instruction can only be a good idea.
I started on dirt bikes at around 8 years of age, and also built and drove beach buggies since the age of 13.....I was also lucky that my Dad raced motorcycles so I was always encouraged to do this type of thing.
It does worry me that I can't take my daughter out to the bush somewhere and teach her to drive the way I was taught by my father.
I just hope Q-ride saves some lives.. | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 3:30:30 PM | Dearest squigleGeesquiggle,
Qride is a rider training school in Qld, where in one day you can go from never having ridden a bike to a licenced rider. It's done as a group where they provide the bikes and sign you off as competent. They give you a certificate to take to the MRD where they issue the licence without a riding test.
You sometimes see a bunch of 6 or so bikes playing follow the leader on the roads all wearing their reflective vests etc.
Scary thing is if you have never ridden before you still know Jack about staying out of trouble when they sign you off after a short days' instruction as part of a group.
I went to the car & bike show in Ingham last night where the ferals and petrol heads were out in force. A 2 day long burn-out comp, a dyno comp, hot cars, hot promo girls, live music, RAIN, wet T shirt comp etc. Anyway a Harley riding lady I was chatting to was wearing a cool T shirt which said -
Loud Pipes
Save Lives
She's been riding for 20 odd years and swears that you need to alert as many of car drivers' senses as you can, and I agree. However there's loud and then there's LOUD... | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 4:39:43 PM | dear like a laugh,
thank you for being a gentleman and explaining it. i thought is was something to do specifically with qld, but thank you for taking the time to explain it.
if ever i need it - now i know what i would be asking for
(think i might wait til warmer weather for q ride thingy)........ | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 5:00:58 PM | yea gee it is specially set down for people who already have had a full motor vehicle license for a minimum of three years,,The idea is that supposedly you actually know the road rules so that part of a license you do not have to do.
it is a competency based program and you are supposed to be found proficient and competent before they provide you with your certificate. Then you take that to the motor transport dept and they give you a full bike licence with the only restriction is not being able to carry a pillion for a period of one year.
Unfortunately like all systems some business's milk it and some instructors are not on the ball themsleves so hence a number of unqualified people fall through the cracks..in principal i think it is a great idea yet could be tightened up to be a few xtra days with a specified amount of hours actually on the bike under an instructor.The 250 part of normal licensing i think is silly if you have had previous experience..
cheerz all be safe and be well | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 5:16:06 PM | Q ride was a disaster from the start!
to be over 25 , have absolutely no experience on a bike , train for a few hours , and have an open licence is asking for trouble!
Many years ago i went into a wreckers here in brisbane and the amount of almost brand new damaged bikes was phenominal , the guy behind the counter said it was because of the new laws , guys would Qride , go out and buy big CC bikes with pretty much no clue to to ride safely.. and the bikes would end up being crashed , rider with no confidence to jump on agin , bike ending up at wreckers.
Imagine if a car licence was the same , your instructor had the ability to pass or fail you.
The proposed changes to Qride are long overdue IMHO , it will make it safer for everyone ( although if a restricted riders goes out and buys a RGV250 , then it may as well be a 500CC bike as these things are true pocket rockets ) and as the smaller bikes are lighter , they will be able to manage them better. ( maybe they should throw the riders on pushbikes to begin with to see exactly how their balance is lol ).
I have just upgraded to a 1000cc bike from an older model 750 , and i can tell you , even though i can ride , and have been for several years.. the new power is a bit overwhelming , but i know i'll adapt to it over time , but i can see how , with this much power , new riders can get into trouble too easily.
Qride , its about time changes happened
P.S this will drive the prices of 250cc bikes up , so it might be time to invest in a few and profit from the new laws
Lok out | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 5:38:01 PM | hehehe lok good idea on buying a few 250's.....lol...yes i do agree there needs to be change, personally i believe Q ride should not be run by dealers, altho I wouldnt like to see it run by the government either as they couldnt organise a piss up in a brewery. lol
cheers all be safe and be well | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 8:13:45 PM | I'd never heard of Q ride until i went to the car and bike exhibition in Brissy in Feb??this year. I'd always fancied learning but 'always' found excuses not to do it. Guy on the bike stand told me about it and how the laws were going to change in June/july so i just went for it.
Booked the QRide course and i thought it was very good. I'd never ridden a bike before but driven cars in the UK and here since age 17.
The instructor showed us exactly what we should be doing and although 1 person failed i felt much more confident after the weekend. I don't believe 'over' confident cause i've learned a bit driving cars, both making serious mistakes and being the victim of serious mistakes. I think road sense takes time and when i get a bike i'll go for something mid range 500-700 sh and get a few kms under my belt before going for something a bit bigger.
Yeah Q ride was good for me and i've now got my bike licence which is excellent!!!!
Great day for a bike ride
 | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 9:20:48 PM | There was a suggestion a few years ago to make first time licence holders limited to 33bhp on their bikes.
This has a few advantages,
Firstly theres no need to buy a 250, you get your 600/750/900/1000 and have it goverend to 33hp this way you learn the characteristics of the bike. Braking distance and weight etc.
Once you pass your test you get the govenor taken off and then you already know the setup of your machine.
The biggest thing is training, the problem with Qride is that people who havent ridden since their teens think that bikes have remained the same. Not realising that a decent rgv250 could see off an old 750. I got the shock of my life going from riding 500cc motorcross bikes and 750cc roadbikes in the early 80's to how fast the rgv was when I returned to riding in the 90's.
Personally I'm against Qride whatsoever. I think that licence holders no matter of age should take part in mandatory defensive riding courses and a period of learner riding under supervision.
Stats show we as riders are 30 times more liable to have an accident then any other road user. | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/24/2008 9:50:33 PM | I think Q-Ride is quite a good thing if done properly. Unfortunately a few dealers have gotten on the band wagon and think it is a good idea to sell some people bikes and the licence to go with it. No experience necessary and we can include the cost for you with the bike package etc. I am not saying they all do it but some.
I have ridden bikes for 37 years . I started on dirt bikes and road a trailbike for the first year on the road (with knobbie tyres). I have done several courses throughout my riding career and one guy stood out as an instructor named Fred Davies. I will quote him "a thinking rider is a survivor, a non thinking rider is a statistic waiting to happen " I take this advice with me everywhere. Dont just assume the green light gives you the right to take off. Scan the intersection before you take off. This has saved me several times from red light runners.
Riding for me is an absoloute pleasure, some times shit happens though, so take care and look around you in the world for those other people whom may not see you.
Good riding to you all. See you on the 1st June run to Mapleton if you are in Brisbane,
GSXKing
Chris :^) | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/25/2008 12:14:45 AM | | QRis for men and women that want there licence they teach you how to ride a bike in a proper way then to be learn the wrong way how to steer the bike breaking etcetera it was good i had a tw9o day course inn with they wouldn't let me out on the roads until they new i was safe so i went back the-next week at least i got out on the road but didn't get there so went back the next week and got out on the r9oad again and passed with i was glad of they did this with no extra cost to me they even have people that have been riding for year s come there to get up there skill they learn things they never did before about the bike and do it at one set price witch you dont have to pay extra for ......shaz | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 5/25/2008 6:07:46 AM | Q ride was a disaster from the start!
to be over 25 , have absolutely no experience on a bike , train for a few hours , and have an open licence is asking for trouble!
Many years ago i went into a wreckers here in brisbane and the amount of almost brand new damaged bikes was phenominal , the guy behind the counter said it was because of the new laws , guys would Qride , go out and buy big CC bikes with pretty much no clue to to ride safely.. and the bikes would end up being crashed , rider with no confidence to jump on agin , bike ending up at wreckers.
Very informative post lok. It does sound about right and I do know people that have lost their mojo after a stack.  | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 6/5/2008 1:55:20 AM | Hey Guys,
I have only just joined the p.o.f community and I'm really enjoying it so far, anyway back to the topic at hand..
This Q Ride has obviously got a few mixed opinions about it
Well i have only recently completed the Q Ride in the last few months and i think the Q Ride was is a brilliant way for people like me who are fairly competent riders to jump strait on the road. To be honest there are things i did learn that day that have helped out in a few hairy situations i have had on my bike (kawasaki ZZ-R 250... brilliant bike by the way perfect for a new rider or the every day commute). The other advantage of the Q Ride is that unlike the car licence if you fail on anything (which is impossibe but we will get to that) you only have to go back for a lesson and the instructor can pass you off on that thing that you failed and you don't have to fork out all that money each time you go for it. which is really handy for a 1st year apprentice on a feeble wage :-). On the other hand the Q Ride i think is way too easy to pass. honestly i accidently rode through a stop sign and still passed and yes the instructor saw it and baught it to my attn, (mind you i'm lucky the coppa just around that corner didnt see it:-) ) so they just tuned a blind eye to things like that, and it makes you wonder what else they would let slide?? personally it should be nothing bikes are dangerous enough as it is, we dont need lazy instructors letting people who do things wrong (like rolling through stop signs) onto the open road, i should have failed and i would have if i would have done it in a car..
the other beef i have is not with the Q Ride itself but the 250cc restriction laws on riders, its really confusing. They say the law is restriction is 250cc yet i wasn't allowed to buy an Aprillia 'cause it's "power to weight ratio was too high" and yet there are some 650cc bikes that are learner legal so what is it??? Is it a 250 restriction or a power to weight restriction????
All in all i think the Q Ride isn't a bad idea but it really does have alot of room for improvement.
all the best guys
take care be safe and have fun ... | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 6/5/2008 6:22:29 AM | I had never even heard of this till now.
Down in Vic it's totally different, you have to go for your learners permit which you have to hold for 3 months, then you do your licence test where you get your P's and have to hold them for 12 months.
Now in that time you can only ride upto a 250, but as been said above we know how quick the RGV and more so the Aprillia RS 250 can be (RGV engine but more refined), can blow a lot of 600's clean off the road.
Down in Vic now they are bringing in the laws like NSW have, power to weight ratio, so no more RGV etc for L and P platers, but can ride ceratin 500's.
Through my L and P's i had a Suzuki Across 250, got my full licence and still rode it around for a bit and sold it, poor bloke that bought it picked it up sat and wrote it off monday along with his right leg.
I now have an 01 Kwaka ZR-7 and i love it, such a buzz getting on and going for a burn, but i am 36, not 18 and don't do stupid shit.
I look at every single vehicle as if it's going to cut me off or run into me, the concentration level needed on a bike mentally f**ks you after a long ride, it makes you so tired as some of you will know. It's not just cars, it's obstacles on the road like bits of blown truck tyres and blocks of wood etc, living on the Hume Highway i am all too familiar with it. | |
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| Your Thoughts on Q ride
Posted: 6/5/2008 7:10:13 AM | I think it depends on the people - as usual. I went through Australian Motorcycle Academy. Tony was fantastic. Explained everything. Taught me well. Taught me to get into my own space. To be visual to drivers.
I would highly recommend them. As a brand new rider he insisted i ride a 250 for 5000k's and go back and see him for my opens. To get the experience first. He even checked out the bike I bought and made sure it was a good buy.
I'm ready for my opens and a bigger bike, so look out Tony, here I come. | |
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