Discussion
Looking at the DVLA website as a full car license holder and being over 25 I can ride any bike on L plates?
Or at least that's how I read it.
Since the last two wheeled bike I had was actually a 50cc moped, I suspect picking up a ninja would be suicidal.. so what would the seasoned bikers recommend as a start bike, maybe that I could do a commute on too?
Or at least that's how I read it.
Since the last two wheeled bike I had was actually a 50cc moped, I suspect picking up a ninja would be suicidal.. so what would the seasoned bikers recommend as a start bike, maybe that I could do a commute on too?
DervVW said:
Looking at the DVLA website as a full car license holder and being over 25 I can ride any bike on L plates?
Or at least that's how I read it.
You definitely read that wrong. CBT, then you can read a 125 on L plates, anything bigger and you need to be accompanied by an instructor, and you need to pass a test based on the size of bike you want to ride.Or at least that's how I read it.
DervVW said:
Looking at the DVLA website as a full car license holder and being over 25 I can ride any bike on L plates?
Or at least that's how I read it.
Since the last two wheeled bike I had was actually a 50cc moped, I suspect picking up a ninja would be suicidal.. so what would the seasoned bikers recommend as a start bike, maybe that I could do a commute on too?
You've done well reading it that way. It's completely wrong. You have to take a CBT to ride any other bike than a 50cc moped (even that assumes you've held a car licence since the mid 90s at least). You'll be limited to a 125cc bike with a specific power output cap too and be required to display L plates. As you're over 25 you can do the full tests on a bigger bike and then move to being able to ride any bike you like. Or at least that's how I read it.
Since the last two wheeled bike I had was actually a 50cc moped, I suspect picking up a ninja would be suicidal.. so what would the seasoned bikers recommend as a start bike, maybe that I could do a commute on too?
It's been a very very long time since you could ride larger bikes (unaccompanied) on "L" plates, even I'm not old enough for that.
I was 17 in 1978, and even then we were limited to 250cc solo, the only way you could ride anything bigger on "L" plates was to have a sidecar attached to it (back then you weren't even allowed to ride above 250cc if accompanied), and there were some very silly sidecars that enabled you to flout the law, one was called a sidewinder I seem to remember, but they were horrid and anyone using them had the piss taken badly.
I was 17 in 1978, and even then we were limited to 250cc solo, the only way you could ride anything bigger on "L" plates was to have a sidecar attached to it (back then you weren't even allowed to ride above 250cc if accompanied), and there were some very silly sidecars that enabled you to flout the law, one was called a sidewinder I seem to remember, but they were horrid and anyone using them had the piss taken badly.
Nigel Worc's said:
As a side question, who is allowed to accompany an "L" rider ?
Is it like a car, where anyone with a full licence (over 21 I think these days) ?
If you mean pillion - no-one.Is it like a car, where anyone with a full licence (over 21 I think these days) ?
If you mean on a 'big' bike as part of DAS - you have to be over 21, have had your licence for at least 3 years, and be a registered DAS instructor. Instructor and pupils have to wear high vis with appropriate markings, and instructor has to have radio contact with pupils. And no more than 2 pupils per instructor.
I'm not going mad then! I've held my full car license since 2002, so no grandad entitlement there. I wasn't sure I could ride anything beyond a 125cc with a certian power output on L plates.
For the record this is the text I read that suggested that I could ride any bike on L plates
(https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record)
"Vehicles you can provisionally drive
Category : A
Start date: 22 Jun 1999
End date: 21 Jun 2052
Image of category A vehicle Hide information
Description
You can drive any size motorbike, with or without a sidecar"
I did do a CBT before that hence the 50cc previous experience, but if I recall it expires and hell yes training is a must.
Thank you for the replies and I apologies for making you all think I was about to ride away!
For the record this is the text I read that suggested that I could ride any bike on L plates
(https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record)
"Vehicles you can provisionally drive
Category : A
Start date: 22 Jun 1999
End date: 21 Jun 2052
Image of category A vehicle Hide information
Description
You can drive any size motorbike, with or without a sidecar"
I did do a CBT before that hence the 50cc previous experience, but if I recall it expires and hell yes training is a must.
Thank you for the replies and I apologies for making you all think I was about to ride away!
bgunn said:
Nigel Worc's said:
As a side question, who is allowed to accompany an "L" rider ?
Is it like a car, where anyone with a full licence (over 21 I think these days) ?
If you mean pillion - no-one.Is it like a car, where anyone with a full licence (over 21 I think these days) ?
I wasn't sure who could and who couldn't now, regarding just riding with them, shame really, as you couldn't help an "L" rider like you could an "L" driver.
DervVW said:
I'm not going mad then! I've held my full car license since 2002, so no grandad entitlement there. I wasn't sure I could ride anything beyond a 125cc with a certian power output on L plates.
For the record this is the text I read that suggested that I could ride any bike on L plates
(https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record)
"Vehicles you can provisionally drive
Category : A
Start date: 22 Jun 1999
End date: 21 Jun 2052
Image of category A vehicle Hide information
Description
You can drive any size motorbike, with or without a sidecar"
I did do a CBT before that hence the 50cc previous experience, but if I recall it expires and hell yes training is a must.
Thank you for the replies and I apologies for making you all think I was about to ride away!
Looks like poor phasing, what a surprise on a government site eh? For the record this is the text I read that suggested that I could ride any bike on L plates
(https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record)
"Vehicles you can provisionally drive
Category : A
Start date: 22 Jun 1999
End date: 21 Jun 2052
Image of category A vehicle Hide information
Description
You can drive any size motorbike, with or without a sidecar"
I did do a CBT before that hence the 50cc previous experience, but if I recall it expires and hell yes training is a must.
Thank you for the replies and I apologies for making you all think I was about to ride away!
CaptainMorgan said:
Looks pretty clear to me, provisionally being the important word.
Really ?From that text I can understand his confusion, it says he can provisionally ride any sized motorcycle, with or without a sidecar.
It doesn't say he has to be supervised, and it doesn't say he may ride one below 125cc unsupervised.
Hooli said:
DervVW said:
I'm not going mad then! I've held my full car license since 2002, so no grandad entitlement there. I wasn't sure I could ride anything beyond a 125cc with a certian power output on L plates.
For the record this is the text I read that suggested that I could ride any bike on L plates
(https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record)
"Vehicles you can provisionally drive
Category : A
Start date: 22 Jun 1999
End date: 21 Jun 2052
Image of category A vehicle Hide information
Description
You can drive any size motorbike, with or without a sidecar"
I did do a CBT before that hence the 50cc previous experience, but if I recall it expires and hell yes training is a must.
Thank you for the replies and I apologies for making you all think I was about to ride away!
Looks like poor phasing, what a surprise on a government site eh? For the record this is the text I read that suggested that I could ride any bike on L plates
(https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record)
"Vehicles you can provisionally drive
Category : A
Start date: 22 Jun 1999
End date: 21 Jun 2052
Image of category A vehicle Hide information
Description
You can drive any size motorbike, with or without a sidecar"
I did do a CBT before that hence the 50cc previous experience, but if I recall it expires and hell yes training is a must.
Thank you for the replies and I apologies for making you all think I was about to ride away!
As far as bikes are concerned - You could get a cracking deal on a new little CBR250 or something and would be ok for a commute but my advice would be get a moderate 600cc - something like a GSX-F 600 or CBR 600F - Not scary quick, more comfortable for a commute but enough shove to enjoy when you gain some experience. Learning the tricks of the trade on a Bike is exactly the same as in cars in that start with something moderate and easy to ride and gain some experience then start looking at more exciting options
morgrp said:
As far as bikes are concerned - You could get a cracking deal on a new little CBR250 or something and would be ok for a commute but my advice would be get a moderate 600cc - something like a GSX-F 600 or CBR 600F - Not scary quick, more comfortable for a commute but enough shove to enjoy when you gain some experience. Learning the tricks of the trade on a Bike is exactly the same as in cars in that start with something moderate and easy to ride and gain some experience then start looking at more exciting options
True, but he cannot do that on a CBT, which is what the original post was about.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff