Correct entitlement for riding abroad (50cc bike/moped)
Discussion
Greetings all!
Apologies if this has been posted many many times before but I gave up trying to work out the wonder that is the UK Licencing system!
I’ve got a yearning to buy a 50cc monkey bike next year to go and cruise around Northern France in! I love the thought of not being legally able to use a motorway, thus forcing yourself to go the “long way”.
Anyway, I digress... can anyone confirm what the simplest way to get a licence to ride said contraption abroad will be? I’m 28, had my licence for 10 years and to be fair the entitlements make 0 sense to me!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Apologies if this has been posted many many times before but I gave up trying to work out the wonder that is the UK Licencing system!
I’ve got a yearning to buy a 50cc monkey bike next year to go and cruise around Northern France in! I love the thought of not being legally able to use a motorway, thus forcing yourself to go the “long way”.
Anyway, I digress... can anyone confirm what the simplest way to get a licence to ride said contraption abroad will be? I’m 28, had my licence for 10 years and to be fair the entitlements make 0 sense to me!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
pjnew said:
Simes205 said:
Really?
Yes, I think a small bike that does 28mph will be perfectly suited to a tiny french road and some rural villages!I’ve ridden around rural France on a 50cc moped, my family live there.
Just make sure you can make it to the petrol station as they can be few and far between.
It could be a great adventure.
I think you need to read up on your entitlement to ride though.
A Honda z110 would be better.
Edited by Simes205 on Monday 12th August 22:39
https://www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk/riding-advice-and...
This should help. Sounds like a great adventure, I'm just not sure how much I would enjoy it being on such a slow bike. Each to their own I suppose but the article certainly makes it sound like you'll need a full licence which is well worth doing. If you're 28 you won't have the historic moped provision that some older licences benefit from so doing the test looks like the only way.
If you do decide on doing your full bike test, even if you only ever want to ride small bikes I would highly recommend doing the full DAS anyway (A Category). The quantity of training and difficulty of the test is identical regardless of which category you wish to do so you may as well get a full licence and have more opportunities for the future.
This should help. Sounds like a great adventure, I'm just not sure how much I would enjoy it being on such a slow bike. Each to their own I suppose but the article certainly makes it sound like you'll need a full licence which is well worth doing. If you're 28 you won't have the historic moped provision that some older licences benefit from so doing the test looks like the only way.
If you do decide on doing your full bike test, even if you only ever want to ride small bikes I would highly recommend doing the full DAS anyway (A Category). The quantity of training and difficulty of the test is identical regardless of which category you wish to do so you may as well get a full licence and have more opportunities for the future.
To each their own, but having spent a reasonable amount of time driving around rural France, I think this is a terrible idea. 
You're going to spend your days making bugger all progress, on bike with dire suspension, and brakes. You will regularly have angry French people driving ageing Citroen Berlingos or Clios either driving up your arse, or cutting you up with absolutely no quarter, and at 28mph you will not be able to get away from any traffic. You are the bottom of the food chain, and will be regarded as such by most road users.
Just have a think about the realities versus the romanticism of this trip maybe? I mean, I love France, but it's not like a Stella Artois advert in the sunshine.
What's the reason for not getting a 125cc? I mean... This seems a hugely better idea...
You're going to spend your days making bugger all progress, on bike with dire suspension, and brakes. You will regularly have angry French people driving ageing Citroen Berlingos or Clios either driving up your arse, or cutting you up with absolutely no quarter, and at 28mph you will not be able to get away from any traffic. You are the bottom of the food chain, and will be regarded as such by most road users.
Just have a think about the realities versus the romanticism of this trip maybe? I mean, I love France, but it's not like a Stella Artois advert in the sunshine.
What's the reason for not getting a 125cc? I mean... This seems a hugely better idea...
You'll need a full UK license. Once you have that, it's the usual insurance, passport etc.
As has been said, I think the romance has overtaken the reality. For a few hours one sunny afternoon, a 50cc bike would be great fun. Beyond that, it would be a pain in the arse. The speed limit on rural roads in France is, I believe, back to 90kmh. You really want a bike capable of sustaining 90kmh with a slight head wind and a slight up hill or the other traffic will make life very uncomfortable. The French are generally very accommodating to bikers, as long as you don't get in their way!
As has been said, I think the romance has overtaken the reality. For a few hours one sunny afternoon, a 50cc bike would be great fun. Beyond that, it would be a pain in the arse. The speed limit on rural roads in France is, I believe, back to 90kmh. You really want a bike capable of sustaining 90kmh with a slight head wind and a slight up hill or the other traffic will make life very uncomfortable. The French are generally very accommodating to bikers, as long as you don't get in their way!
king way would I do it on less than that! Thanks for all the advice guys, full licence it is it seems!
With regards to everyone asking why a 50cc and not a 125, I don’t think I’d want to go any faster than 28mph on something a little bigger than a Children’s toy haha! The monkey bike thing is an itch I’ve been meaning to scratch for a few years now and haven’t had the funds (Plowing all money in to my Clio track car haha!)
I’ve got a few things to sort out over the coming months but I’ll look in to my bike test later in the year (Keep telling myself I need to finish off some Cisco certs before I start looking to learn anything “fun”)
With regards to everyone asking why a 50cc and not a 125, I don’t think I’d want to go any faster than 28mph on something a little bigger than a Children’s toy haha! The monkey bike thing is an itch I’ve been meaning to scratch for a few years now and haven’t had the funds (Plowing all money in to my Clio track car haha!)
I’ve got a few things to sort out over the coming months but I’ll look in to my bike test later in the year (Keep telling myself I need to finish off some Cisco certs before I start looking to learn anything “fun”)
pjnew said:
Thanks for all the advice guys, full licence it is it seems!
With regards to everyone asking why a 50cc and not a 125, I don’t think I’d want to go any faster than 28mph on something a little bigger than a Children’s toy haha! The monkey bike thing is an itch I’ve been meaning to scratch for a few years now and haven’t had the funds (Plowing all money in to my Clio track car haha!)
I’ve got a few things to sort out over the coming months but I’ll look in to my bike test later in the year (Keep telling myself I need to finish off some Cisco certs before I start looking to learn anything “fun”)
Have you ever done a CBT? I am making an assumption here based on you wanting a 50cc scooter that you haven't (apologies in advance if I'm wrong). Go out and get one done, it's roughly £100 and will give you a proper taste of biking in a controlled setting. You'll also get a feel for the speed (or lack of) on a 125cc. I would call up the place in advance and ask if they have any 50cc's (which they probably will for 16yo's doing their CBT) and that will give you a live comparison of the two on the day. It's valid for 2 years so really no harm in getting it done sooner rather than later and many places are open 7 days a week.With regards to everyone asking why a 50cc and not a 125, I don’t think I’d want to go any faster than 28mph on something a little bigger than a Children’s toy haha! The monkey bike thing is an itch I’ve been meaning to scratch for a few years now and haven’t had the funds (Plowing all money in to my Clio track car haha!)
I’ve got a few things to sort out over the coming months but I’ll look in to my bike test later in the year (Keep telling myself I need to finish off some Cisco certs before I start looking to learn anything “fun”)
Bumblebee7 said:
Have you ever done a CBT? I am making an assumption here based on you wanting a 50cc scooter that you haven't (apologies in advance if I'm wrong). Go out and get one done, it's roughly £100 and will give you a proper taste of biking in a controlled setting. You'll also get a feel for the speed (or lack of) on a 125cc. I would call up the place in advance and ask if they have any 50cc's (which they probably will for 16yo's doing their CBT) and that will give you a live comparison of the two on the day. It's valid for 2 years so really no harm in getting it done sooner rather than later and many places are open 7 days a week.
I haven’t completed one but you’re completely right in that it’s the beat place to start and see what I like. Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff