LAMS Motorcycles. Links to Each States Approved Motorcycles List

Had a need today to find a LAMS approval for a motorcycle and thought I would dump the info here as well as a guide to anyone looking for information on what is and what isn't LAMS approved. Just thought it would be handy to have a page to reference back to when required.

Current lists as of 10/1/2025 (might update later if I find any links dead/information has changed)

  • NSW
  • Qld
  • ACT (Hilariously, you can ride BIG Harley's as a LAMS bike in ACT.)
  • SA
  • WA
  • Vicwegia
  • (Tas and NT follow the NSW LAMS list)

For most states, a LAMS approved motorcycle is as follows;

In order to be approved for L, P1 and P2 rider, motorcycles must have:

  • an engine capacity up of 660ml or less
  • a power-to-weight ratio of 150 kw per tonne or less (<—- Take note, as some new 400cc bikes are NOT LAMS approved)
  • a power up to 25kW or less for electric motorcycles
  • appear on the Approved Motorcycles for Novice Riders list. (<—- This is the important one.)

If in doubt, you can do a rego check on a motorcycle and it should have the status of the motorcycle as a part of the registration condition codes (usually denoted by the "LA" on conditions or in some states it will say "LAMS Approved: yes/no").

Word of warning: Some motorcycles have the "LA" designation on their rego but are FAR from being LAMS approved (There was a GSXR 1000 in Qld that was listed as LA , several older R6's that I found and the BMW CE04 electric maxi scooter was, but now isn't considered LAMS approved as some examples). The final word lays with your states "LAMS Approved" list. Coppers are going to refer to this list, not your bikes rego.

Side note: This is not "legal advice" and any or all of this information can change at any moment. This is only intended as a jump off point to do your own research and I will endevour to update it as I find newer information available. If you find any errors, feel free to let me know and I will update the post accordingly.

Comments

  • +1

    of 660ml

    I've never seen engine capacity quoted this way.

    • +1

      I've never seen engine capacity quoted this way.

      You've never seen an engine like the 5.7L LS series? or seen a car sold as a 2.3L?? (Also note, the unit for "litres" is "l" or "L", but I have used "L" here because "l" looks like "I" (capital "i") for all the pedants that will be along in a few mins… it can actually be "either". also note that "litres" are not an SI unit, but it is recognised by SI)

      cc and ml are the same thing when it comes to engine displacement. You will actually see on the side of some engines it is cast into them the engine size as ***ml and some will show ***cm³, some will just be ***cc

      1cc = 1ml. Ergo, 660ml = 660cc.

      NOW! for the technical part… "cc" or "cubic centimeters" is a volumetric measurement based on lengths, litres (and therefore ml) are based on the weight of water at a set temperature and atmospheric pressure. 1ml is 1 gram of water at something like 24 degrees and set atmospheric pressure, like 1 bar? (I know some nerd is going to give me a "well, akshully…"). 1 litre is 1,000g (or 1kg) of water at that same temp/pressure. Now water is not exactly 1g@**degrees to fill a 1cm x 1cm x 1cm space, but it is sooo close (something like within 28 millionths) that it is not worth considering and is rounded to 1cc.

      The reason that ml is used on motorcycle engines (and L ("l") for car engines) is that combustion chambers are hard to measure out with millimeters because of the shape of heads, valves and pistons, so they often use water to fill the areas and from the amount of water they put in, they can determine the volumetric capacity of the engine.

      So, technically, all engines are measured in "ml" and then converted to "cc's" because "cc's" is an SI unit and "litres" are not. :)

      • +3

        I understand the conversion part. I've just never seen anything under 1L referred to as ml, just in cc.

        I'm in the process of rebuilding a 304 for a project car. I guess we shouldn't exclude cubic inches as a capacity measurement in case someone gets offended 😉

        • +2

          What? no "ml makes cc's, cheers"??

          Colour me disappointed.

          • +1

            @pegaxs: Lol. I'm not a troll so why would I say that? 😉

    • 660 cubic centimetres.
      Happy?

      • Kind of makes my neighbour's V8 SS Commodore sound better with its 5.7 cubic meter engine… :D

        • +1

          More importantly , have you got decent riding gear ? DO NOT SKIMP ON THAT .

  • +1

    In NZ it's known as a LAMBS approval

    • +1

      *bah dum tssssh.wav*

      • +1

        Do you think jv likes me

        • jv loves everyone… they just have a weird way of showing it.

  • Hilariously, you can ride BIG Harley's as a LAMS bike in ACT

    Possibly a politician culling methodology. Do they come with chalk brake pads, as well?

  • +2

    Henceforth this PAGE shall be known as ;

    THE SCIENCE OF THE LAMS

    • In NSW it was removed because it was originally allowed because it was "electric"… but they introduced a "kW" power limit for electric bikes in NSW of 25kW and the BMW CE04 is 31kW. So, when it was first released, it was LAMS approved, but that has since been removed in NSW, NT, Tas and Vicwegia, but some old rego checks will have the CE04 marked as "LA" when it isnt approved in some states.

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