Taking full bike test on my restricted A2 bike
Taking full bike test on my restricted A2 bike
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Discussion

TastyBurger

Original Poster:

26 posts

147 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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As you may be aware it is now quite a long winded and frustrating process for young riders (under 24) to get a full unrestricted bike licence.
Two years ago I did my A2 test on a Suzuki gs500 which allows me to ride my ratty old sv650 as long as it is restricted to 35KW (47 HP). After two years of holding an A2 licence you are allowed to take the test again on a larger bike (40kw +) in order to obtain a full licence to ride anything.
To be honest I resent having to do the same test twice on a slightly more powerful bike but those are the rules so I'm trying to do so as cheaply as possible.
Can I do the test on my own bike which will still be restricted so that I can legally ride it to the testing station?
As far as I'm concerned there will be no way they can check whether it is restricted or not and the difference between 47hp and 69hp (original power) will not be noticeable on the road. It seems ridiculous that I will be using a bike of exactly the same power as my previous test but that's the well thought EU rules for you.

podman

9,086 posts

271 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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Id say use it but if the examiner spots you pulling up on the bike prior to the test, he may ask questions..? As I see it, thats the only flaw in the plan...could someone else ride up to the test centre on it and you cadge a lift, then get changed there...make a proper job of it like..


matthias73

2,901 posts

181 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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What sort of restrictor is it? You may be able to remove it in ten mins.

I'd be more concerned about your insurance not covering you for it. Give them a call?

Bikesalot

1,889 posts

189 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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I'd be inclined to turn up on your 47bhp bike and ride as is.

I know someone that turned up on their 47bhp bike 'removed the restriction kit' and done the test as normal and then happily rode home.


Pravus1

235 posts

137 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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No way to do it unfortunately. I was in the same position but unless you can find someone to insure you specifically for the test and do the work to change it to restricted and back at the test centre your out of luck.

I've heard people riding full power bikes they own to the test centre and then they have called the police to pick you up as soon as you try and leave

TastyBurger

Original Poster:

26 posts

147 months

Friday 12th January 2018
quotequote all
Surely for insurance and legality purposes I'll be fine since it's actually restricted, it's just that I'm not supposed to be taking the test on a restricted bike so I have to lead the examiner to believe it's unrestricted.
Reckon I'll ride down and push it down the road to the test centre and if anyone asks, my mate dropped me off in his van.
Restriction is just a washer in the carb so removing it in the car park is an option but it'll probably be raining and I have a history of taking things apart and not being able to put the them back together so maybe not.
Now I just need to go out in the cold and practice u turns instead of looking at street triples on ebay.

kurt535

3,560 posts

148 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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TastyBurger said:
Surely for insurance and legality purposes I'll be fine since it's actually restricted, it's just that I'm not supposed to be taking the test on a restricted bike so I have to lead the examiner to believe it's unrestricted.
Reckon I'll ride down and push it down the road to the test centre and if anyone asks, my mate dropped me off in his van.
Restriction is just a washer in the carb so removing it in the car park is an option but it'll probably be raining and I have a history of taking things apart and not being able to put the them back together so maybe not.
Now I just need to go out in the cold and practice u turns instead of looking at street triples on ebay.
- Speak to your insurance company. many do agree for the bike to be full power for the test then restricted back if you fail.

Pravus1

235 posts

137 months

Friday 12th January 2018
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In the grand scheme of things it's not much to hire a bike from a school for the test.

The bike examiners aren't daft. They will want to see certificate of insurance for the unrestricted bike, probably proof it is unrestricted because if it's not then it doesn't meet the test requirements and then they'll want to see you restrict it back if you fail.

You'd have to restrict it back after mod 1 unless you do both at the same time which has the potential to be even more costly.

TastyBurger

Original Poster:

26 posts

147 months

Friday 12th January 2018
quotequote all
Pravus1 said:
In the grand scheme of things it's not much to hire a bike from a school for the test.

The bike examiners aren't daft. They will want to see certificate of insurance for the unrestricted bike, probably proof it is unrestricted because if it's not then it doesn't meet the test requirements and then they'll want to see you restrict it back if you fail.

You'd have to restrict it back after mod 1 unless you do both at the same time which has the potential to be even more costly.
How could I prove that it's unrestricted? My insurance certificate doesn't make any distinction since MCE don't know what an A2 licence is

TastyBurger

Original Poster:

26 posts

147 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
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So I did my mod 1 today, the examiner blatantly new that I'd ridden it down illegally or it was still restricted because I turned up soaking wet from the rain but he didn't make an issue if it.
I then proceeded to mess up just about every part of the test, I touched the line on the U-turn, got lost in the figure of 8 and locked up the front wheel slightly as I came to a stop on the emergency stop. My L plate even fell off half way through. Still passed though, roll on mod 2.

podman

9,086 posts

271 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
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You took the gamble , the test didnt go that well...and you got away with it...your a lucky type so im sure the Mod 2 will go well !

Clinton Baptiste

657 posts

213 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
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TastyBurger said:
So I did my mod 1 today, the examiner blatantly new that I'd ridden it down illegally or it was still restricted because I turned up soaking wet from the rain but he didn't make an issue if it.
I then proceeded to mess up just about every part of the test, I touched the line on the U-turn, got lost in the figure of 8 and locked up the front wheel slightly as I came to a stop on the emergency stop. My L plate even fell off half way through. Still passed though, roll on mod 2.
Bloody hell he must've been in a good mood! Well done though!

tonyinbrighton

107 posts

159 months

Thursday 25th January 2018
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Just goes to show there are some supportive people in the test centres: I took my DAS at Burgess Hill in Sussex and all the blokes there were top drawer...