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Re: Queensland Motorcycle Laws

Okay, one must have their motorcycle license for at least 12 months before you can legally take a pillion passenger in Queensland.  If you are driving a 50cc scooter/moped on a open C (car) license, are you then allowed to carry a passenger if you have had that car license for over 12 months (assuming the scoot rego is for 2 seats)?    What ARE the rules for carrying a passenger on a moped with an open car license?  I've been through the Queensland Transport website and road rules handbook, and came up empty?

So if you upgrade to a R/RA license, and a 125cc or 150cc scooter, can you still carry a passenger on a 50c but not on the larger-engine scooter that you can legally ride by yourself?

 thanks!

The only people who will be able to answer your question with any authority is QLD dept of transport.  Contact them and request that they send you the advice in writing.  I could make some educated guesses about the answer, but that is all they would be, guesses.  Contact the dept and then you'll have it straight from the relevant authority.

Just my thoughts, comments and opinions.  Cheers :) 

thanks for the response... I just thought that since upgrading from a 50cc to a larger (R-license) scooter seems to be such a common experience, that someone else would know the answer already?

When I first started making enquires to Queensland transport (2001) about getting a license on a scooter I could not get a straight answer some told me "no it's not possible to get a license on a scooter it has to be a motorcycle" this was by phone. I ended going in and made enquires in person, it was when I asked to have it in writing because I was moving from the country to the Gold Coast that they got someone to check and verify the answer. At that time it was as you say. You could pillion on a 50cc with a full car license providing the scoot was registered for a pillion but only carry a pillion on scoot bigger after holding your restricted automatic license for 12months. With the recent changes to Queensland license laws regarding L's and P plate holders you had better check by actually fronting the counter in person and requesting the information and if still needed in writing. They were more than willing to help when I said I had previously been given conflicting advice.

Some of the dealers (Scooter HQ) that post on this forum will more than likely know the correct answer.

Good luck and let us know what you find out:)

Would any 50cc be able to handle 2 persons that weigh more than a combined 80kg?

Personally I dont feel any 50cc could handle the experience in a safe manner, but maybe someone else has a different opinion.

When in Vanuatu last year I hired a 50cc Bug Jive or Vibe, I can't remember which. I managed to get 70km/h out of it on the flat with my wife on the back. Combined weight was around 150kg, with me being the majority of the weight.

It wasn't a ball of fire but it did the job. There was one steep hill where we slowed to about 10km/h as it struggled up :-)

My first scoot was a Zip 50cc unrestricted, I used to pillion on that it wasn't a rocket but it kept up with the traffic (60 &70km/h zones). The max combined weight was 110kg.

Don't know how the restricted scoots would cope keeping up in the traffic :)

Dakoda:

Would any 50cc be able to handle 2 persons that weigh more than a combined 80kg?

Absolutely

I would get around everywhere on the S-five with my son on the back (Combined weight over 100kg). I'm in a unique positition in that I get to ride heaps of different scooters, there are some 50's that I wouldn't take two up that you will see someone two up on. Ask & the rider will say its great two up (even though its not) because they just haven't sampled anything else and the thing seems to cope.

To carry a Pillion in Qld (LA class restricted 50cc & dual seat rego)

LA class = Car license (Open & Provisional)

LC class = M/cycle licence held for 12 months 

Scooter HQ:

To carry a Pillion in Qld (LA class restricted 50cc & dual seat rego)

LA class = Car license (Open & Provisional)

LC class = M/cycle licence held for 12 months

This seems a little strange. You can pillion on a restricted 50cc without a motorcycle licence, but I can't pillion on a 100cc or larger within the first year of having a motorcycle licence. As has been discussed elsewhere on the forum you need to be confident as a rider before you'd consider taking a pillion but the laws (in QLD at least) have a big discrepency in this respect.

Keeper75:

This seems a little strange.

Not as strange as living on the Gold Coast & not having daylight savings.

It is weird but you can ride a 50cc scooter on a car or motorcycle licence, if you have a car or motorcycle licence you can carry a pillion on a dual seat 50cc scooter. Once you get on a motorcycle its a different category of vehicle (LC) so a different licence system applies.

Whilst some people may not agree with the system at least the Qld government has provided an incentive to get people out of gas guzzling, parking spot hogging, road clogging, environmentally unfriendly tin tops & onto scooters.

Now about daylight savings...

Scooter HQ:

Now about daylight savings...

look out the scooters will fade.....

Scooter HQ:

To carry a Pillion in Qld (LA class restricted 50cc & dual seat rego)

LA class = Car license (Open & Provisional)

LC class = M/cycle licence held for 12 months 

Just to over-clarify, acquiring the license to ride and LC class scooter (>50cc) does not affect the legal ability to carry a pillion on a LA class scooter/moped (50cc) in the first 12 months?

I am focusing on this because in the Q-ride class I took, an existing licenced motorcycle rider (who had his license for over 1 year), and who was there to upgrade his license to bigger motorcycles was certain that once he got the new unrestricted engine R license he would "loose" the ability to legally take a pillion on <250cc motorcycles for 12 months - which sounds odd/unreasonable to me? 

Restricted 50cc Scooters are LA class not LC so someone with a RE class motorcycle licence (P or O) who has not held it for 12 months can carry a pillion on a LA class scooter but not on an LC class motorcycle.

I think it reads along the lines that you must hold the licence for THAT class of vehicle. Under 250cc is RE over 250cc is R, so are they different classes of vehicle? better check that one with Qld transport.

After I bring in the scooters to stop the paint fading.

Scooter HQ:

Now about daylight savings...

Even Tasmania has daylight savings!