Learner-approved motorcycles

Learners and riders with less than 2 years experience (R-Date licence holders) are not permitted to ride high-powered motorcycles capable of unnecessarily high performance and speed.

The changes to the R-Date class of licence, the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS), were introduced into South Australian law in November 2005 to reduce the incidence of road crashes involving motor cycles that result in death and serious injury.

The power-to-weight ratio of a motorbike is the ratio of the maximum net power output of the engine to the motorbike's weight. This ratio determines the acceleration - the higher the ratio the faster the motorbike can accelerate.

South Australia has adopted a national list of approved motorcycles suitable for R-Date licence holders, allowing R-Date riders to travel to other states that also have a LAMS.

Most models of motorcycles in the category 0-260 ml and all motor cycles built before December 1960 with an engine capacity not exceeding 660 ml are approved under the scheme, please see the approved list for details.

All motorcycles with an electric powered engine and a power output not in excess of 25 kw are approved. For other electric powered motorcycles, please refer to the below list of approved motorcycles to determine whether the particular model is approved.

• List of approved motorcycles that can be ridden by holders of an R-Date learner's permit or R-Date licence

In order to meet the definition of a learner approved motorcycle, the motorcycle must meet all of the following criteria:

• be a motorcycle on the approved list of motorcycles by notice in the Government Gazette
• have a power-to-weight ratio of 150 kilowatts per tonne or less
• have an engine capacity of 660 ml or less
• be the standard model and variant as specified on the approved list
• not been modified in any way that increases its power-to-weight ratio.

R-Date class licence holders whose eligibility period has lapsed are no longer restricted to learner-approved motorcycles and can commence riding any motorcycle or motor trike. They do not need to apply to have the class upgraded to an R class prior to riding any motorcycle or motor trike, provided the eligibility period has lapsed.