Motorbike Licence

[andyb28]

Hi Folks,

I wonder if anyone can explain the rules of bike licences and bikes you can use?

I passed my car licence 25 years ago and also passed my full bike licence 12 years ago, however I didn't send my theory and bike pass certificates off within the two years. I didn't really matter as my wife became pregnant and had issues with me riding a bike.

I am thinking of getting a bike and I realise I can not now get a big bike, but what are the limits for me?

[Davel]

I did it a few years ago and, unless the rules have changed, the limit was 125cc without a full licence.

I did a CBT and then a DAS course shortly afterwards but it was then road based.

[Retroman]

With a full car license and nothing else you can ride a 50cc moped.
Pass the CBT test and you can ride up to a 125cc (and IIRC 13bhp power)
Pass the regular bike test on a 125cc cc bike and you can ride any bike up to 33bhp
Pass the DAS bike test and you can drive any bike straight away

Worth checking this as i'm quite sure it's correct i can't say 100%

[andyb28]

Retroman, I agree those are the current rules, but isn't there something different for people that passed their car test before a certain year?

[paintman]

https://www.gov.uk/rules-motorcyclists-83-to-88/mo...
And this one has a flowchart but you will need to know the groups:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

[Retroman]

andyb28 said:

Retroman, I agree those are the current rules, but isn't there something different for people that passed their car test before a certain year?

I remember something like that some time ago but i think it was all changed

[Slidingpillar]

19th January 2013 is I think the only applicable deadline, so won't alter the OPs licence. Pass a car test prior to that date and you get A(79) thrown in which is a tricycle like my 1930 Morgan. You can still drive a tricycle if you passed the test after that date and are over 21, but this is a derogation applicable only to the UK and will not appear on your licence - so fun could ensue if you move to France, say.

[Corpulent Tosser]

andyb28 said:

passed my full bike licence 12 years ago, however I didn't send my theory and bike pass certificates off within the two years. I didn't really matter as my wife became pregnant and had issues with me riding a bike.

I am thinking of getting a bike and I realise I can not now get a big bike, but what are the limits for me?

As you passed the full bike test can you not just send the theory and pass certificate off to DVLA now ?

My understanding was that if you didn't take your test within a set period, 2yrs?, that the CBT was invalidated, but as you passed your test within that time and just didn't send off the paperwork why would the pass not still be valid ?

[TOPTON]

DVSA rules

A car test is the same when you pass. You have 2 years from the date of pass to send the license off to be upgraded otherwise you then lose that entitlement and have to resit the tests

[Hooli]

TOPTON said:

DVSA rules

A car test is the same when you pass. You have 2 years from the date of pass to send the license off to be upgraded otherwise you then lose that entitlement and have to resit the tests

I know an idiot (in this instance at least) who hadn't sent his forms off & had to retake his test aged 30ish, after originally passing aged 17.

[Corpulent Tosser]

Hooli said:

TOPTON said:

DVSA rules

A car test is the same when you pass. You have 2 years from the date of pass to send the license off to be upgraded otherwise you then lose that entitlement and have to resit the tests

I know an idiot (in this instance at least) who hadn't sent his forms off & had to retake his test aged 30ish, after originally passing aged 17.

I didn't know that but I guess if you haven't ridden again after just passing your test it might have some justification, but you could still pass your test, send off the forms and not ride for ten years and still have the entitlement.

[kurt535]

Route....sadly gonnabe painful:

1. Complete CBT
2. Pass theory
3. DAS course, pass Mod 1 then Mod 2
4. This time send off docs!!

As an ex instructor, I posted elsewhere the major pitfall;ls of choosing a school. If you want me to re-post here I will

[Davel]

^^ ^^ ^^ ^^

But well worth it!

[Spanna]

kurt535 said:

Route....sadly gonnabe painful:

1. Complete CBT
2. Pass theory
3. DAS course, pass Mod 1 then Mod 2
4. This time send off docs!!

As an ex instructor, I posted elsewhere the major pitfall;ls of choosing a school. If you want me to re-post here I will

This basically, looking at £600-800 depending on bike school. Theory can be done before CBT though, that's how I did mine a few years ago.

[roofer]

Hooli said:

TOPTON said:

DVSA rules

A car test is the same when you pass. You have 2 years from the date of pass to send the license off to be upgraded otherwise you then lose that entitlement and have to resit the tests

I know an idiot (in this instance at least) who hadn't sent his forms off & had to retake his test aged 30ish, after originally passing aged 17.

I didn't know you knew me ...

[mikial]

Get a Lambretta GT 200 or Vespa GS 160 , then purchase or borrow a time machine , .( one with a flux capacitor) Travel back to 1964 , take the bike test , this entails riding around a set route ( round the block will do nicely ) the examiner will wait patiently for your return , maybe he has an accomplice hiding on the route to ensure steady progress and no speeding . Helmets not compulsory so don't bother with that detail , although brownie points may be the reward if worn.
Take heed that maybe the examiner ( or accomplice ) will hurl an object in your path noting your application of the braking system , rear brake first , after a split second apply the front device .

Collect your pass certificate , this will allow you to ride a motorcycle of any capacity , the difficulty of gear selection by use of your left foot rather than left hand and twisting the grip whilst pulling the clutch simultaneously is soon forgotten as you ride your new super sports race replica at breakneck speed along the road in 2015 .

I kid you not , that's the way it was in 1964.

[Hooli]

roofer said:

Hooli said:

TOPTON said:

DVSA rules

A car test is the same when you pass. You have 2 years from the date of pass to send the license off to be upgraded otherwise you then lose that entitlement and have to resit the tests

I know an idiot (in this instance at least) who hadn't sent his forms off & had to retake his test aged 30ish, after originally passing aged 17.

I didn't know you knew me ...

I don't as far as I know, it must be another idiot

[Dog Star]

mikial said:

I kid you not , that's the way it was in 1964.

It wasn't all that arduous when I did mine in April '91 (I *had* to take it or they were going to take my provisional entitlement away, which I'd been riding on since '84).

Rode bike to CBT in Huddersfield. Tester asked where I'd ridden from (Rochdale) and how long I'd been riding - just wrote me a certificate out there and then on the basis that I must know how to ride the bike, then sent me on my way.

Test was a pursuit thing in Bolton; about ten minutes of being followed by some geezer with an unintelligable throat mike, then he made me ride around an industrial estate on my own while he sneaked down an alley to check out on me and back again to step in front of me for the emergency stop. About 20 minutes all in for the entire test. Total cost of tests and lessons, £121 paid for by North Staffs Polytechnich Students Union under some scam involving the bike club expenses and receipts for "safety training". Go and buy a bike. Any bike.

I don't think I could be arsed with all the caper you need to go through these days; it looks bloody awful.

[V8forweekends]

mikial said:

Get a Lambretta GT 200 or Vespa GS 160 , then purchase or borrow a time machine , .( one with a flux capacitor) Travel back to 1964 , take the bike test , this entails riding around a set route ( round the block will do nicely ) the examiner will wait patiently for your return , maybe he has an accomplice hiding on the route to ensure steady progress and no speeding . Helmets not compulsory so don't bother with that detail , although brownie points may be the reward if worn.
Take heed that maybe the examiner ( or accomplice ) will hurl an object in your path noting your application of the braking system , rear brake first , after a split second apply the front device .

Collect your pass certificate , this will allow you to ride a motorcycle of any capacity , the difficulty of gear selection by use of your left foot rather than left hand and twisting the grip whilst pulling the clutch simultaneously is soon forgotten as you ride your new super sports race replica at breakneck speed along the road in 2015 .

I kid you not , that's the way it was in 1964.

Don't forget, when pulling up at kerbside, you must turn the bars to the kerb. This was the most vital thing on my test - examiner told me off for not knowing it. At the end he said "well you're not very good are you, but I'll pass you" I did that at 16 so I could throw my L plates away (and then get stopped every five minutes by pig-ignorant plod who seemed to think having L plates was compulsory). I never repeated the daft process at 17 for a bike licence, so I now need to do the whole rigmarole again - I'm quite pleased I need instruction though - I did RAC/ACU training the first time (there was no CBT then).

[Anonymous Bodge]

Reset time machine to 1982. Arrive at test centre, meet nervous examiner. Read a number plate on a car about 50 ft away. Explain to panicking examiner that you have to take glasses off to put crash helmet on, and yes, you will put them back on again. Ride around the block a couple of times, get lost, rush to get back to examiner who tells you "Oh yes, everyone gets lost". Have trouble keeping up with the him as he sprints up the road for the slow riding bit. Nearly collide with him when he walks out in front of you when you're within six feet for the emergency stop. Notice examiner appears even more nervous. Make a best guess at what the pictures mean in the back of the Highway Code.
20 minutes and on the way home again.
Send off pass certificate before the new laws come in and the two part test.