But attempting to preempt someone's bad decision by not allowing them to make a decision is not only a bad idea, but a near impossibility to implement.

This isn't true. Many countries restrict you to motorcycles below a certain engine size until you have more riding experience. And in the EU every new motorcycle sold has ABS, which is proven to reduce accidents and fatalities.

Of course the response will be to point out that accidents and deaths occur even with regulations. But demanding that regulations be perfect before implementing them is foolish. It's a cost benefit analysis. There's very little cost to implementing restrictions like this, but a lot of benefit.

New riders have to ride for two years before stepping up to a liter bike? No big deal. People lose the "freedom" to get on a bike without a helmet? No big deal. Reducing the accident rate, deaths, insurance costs, and traffic caused by accidents? Big deal.

You can't expect that everything will just naturally work itself out because of "knowledge and common sense." Too many people lack those things, they need to be protected from themselves, and we need to be protected from them.