If you are new to biking, this quick guide will cover all you need to get started!
The first step to riding a motorcycle on the road is by applying for a Drivers Licence.
All UK Driving Licences should have the letter A in the PROVISIONAL entitlements
section - that is the motorcycle entitlement. At the age of sixteen, a licence will
allow a rider to
take the CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) course. On completion of the course,
riders aged sixteen can ride a MOPED (not more than 50cc, not more than 30mph!).
Aged seventeen or over, riders can ride bikes up to 125cc and not more than 15 horsepower.
Anyone with a FULL
CAR Licence still has to take a CBT course to ride bikes up to 125cc.
Until a FULL PRACTICAL TEST is passed, riders are using their PROVISIONAL entitlement;
this means that they are LEARNER riders, must display L plates and not carry passengers.
To ride bikes bigger than 125cc, carry passengers, go on motorways or remove the
L plates, riders must
pass a WRITTEN THEORY test. This is a computer generated test in two parts;
multiple choice questions based on the Highway Code and a series of Hazard Perception
video clips.
Once a rider has passed the CBT and WRITTEN THEORY test, there are two options for
the PRACTICAL TEST -
A2 and
DIRECT ACCESS (DAS).
A2
is the standard bike test, taken on a 125cc machine. On passing this test,
riders will have a RESTRICTED licence and can ride bikes up to 33 horsepower, carry
passengers, go on motorways and remove the L plates. After two years, the 33 horsepower
restriction is removed and they have a FULL UNRESTRICTED licence.
DIRECT ACESS (DAS) is available to anyone aged OVER 21 and the test is taken
on a large motorcycle (over 48 horsepower). On passing this test, riders will have
a FULL UNRESTRICTED licence, carry passengers, go on motorways and remove the L
plates.