Getting a foreign licence then exchanging it back home
Discussion
Morning all.
I was working towards my bike licence (trying to get it sorted before the new rules come it) when work decided that they needed me to do a stint at another office, so now I'm in the South Atlantic until mid October. Don't get me wrong, I'm in favour of improving the biking test, even if it will cost me more, but I'm not convinced that the new test will do this.
I've been told that I should look into getting a bike licence down here, as the Falkland Islands are one of the designated countries where bike licences can be exchanged for UK ones; and basically I’d like some thoughts about this from you guys.
So do you think it’ll be worth getting a local licence, exchanging it back home and then doing some further training or should I just wait till I get back and do the test at the shiny new Aberdeen test centre? Does anyone have any experience with the South Atlantic Islands test (have no info at the moment) and is there the risk I'll miss something important that would be covered in the UK test? This is partly a financial thing and also a convenience issue but I don't want to end up on the roads being unsafe.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, different views would be useful.
Cheers all.
I was working towards my bike licence (trying to get it sorted before the new rules come it) when work decided that they needed me to do a stint at another office, so now I'm in the South Atlantic until mid October. Don't get me wrong, I'm in favour of improving the biking test, even if it will cost me more, but I'm not convinced that the new test will do this.
I've been told that I should look into getting a bike licence down here, as the Falkland Islands are one of the designated countries where bike licences can be exchanged for UK ones; and basically I’d like some thoughts about this from you guys.
So do you think it’ll be worth getting a local licence, exchanging it back home and then doing some further training or should I just wait till I get back and do the test at the shiny new Aberdeen test centre? Does anyone have any experience with the South Atlantic Islands test (have no info at the moment) and is there the risk I'll miss something important that would be covered in the UK test? This is partly a financial thing and also a convenience issue but I don't want to end up on the roads being unsafe.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, different views would be useful.
Cheers all.
The bike test and training for the test is exactly what it says on the tin. It is training to pass your test. Same as car driving lessons are there to pass your car test. Perhaps that is being a bit harsh - but is more or less the case.
You learn how to ride a bike on the road through experience and advanced training.
So I would get the piece of paper, then get yourself booked into IAM/BikeSafe etc when you are back.
You learn how to ride a bike on the road through experience and advanced training.
So I would get the piece of paper, then get yourself booked into IAM/BikeSafe etc when you are back.
Fats25 said:
The bike test and training for the test is exactly what it says on the tin. It is training to pass your test. Same as car driving lessons are there to pass your car test. Perhaps that is being a bit harsh - but is more or less the case.
You learn how to ride a bike on the road through experience and advanced training.
So I would get the piece of paper, then get yourself booked into IAM/BikeSafe etc when you are back.
+1You learn how to ride a bike on the road through experience and advanced training.
So I would get the piece of paper, then get yourself booked into IAM/BikeSafe etc when you are back.
As an aside, how experienced do IAM/Bikesafe prefer you to be before you take their course?? Can you do it straight after the DSA test (wobbles and all!) or do they prefer a few months road experience?
If I was in your position by all means I'd get the foreign license and exchange it back here, just bear in mind you only really start to learn once you've passed the test, take it easy, build up a few months road experience to get used to your machine and the road conditions and then consider an advanced riding course of some description.
Well, I'd get the license in the FI, (it's not a foreign license as FI is a British dependancy) and take advantage of the terrain and get some serious off road riding/green laning done while your there 
which will certainley enhance your bike handling skills. Then convert license with extra road riding instruction when you get back here.
Job done.
which will certainley enhance your bike handling skills. Then convert license with extra road riding instruction when you get back here.Job done.
Edited by aeropilot on Monday 4th August 08:35
Cheers for the replies guys! Any more thoughts still more than welcome.
Sounds like pretty much what I thought, I'll see what I can do down here and keep everyone informed.
Definately like the idea of taking it easy when I get back to the UK to get experience!
Seems to be that green laning round here is also called "driving along the main road" but as there's extensive ice just now with more snow on the way I might take it a bit slow for the next couple of weeks...
Sounds like pretty much what I thought, I'll see what I can do down here and keep everyone informed.
Definately like the idea of taking it easy when I get back to the UK to get experience!
Seems to be that green laning round here is also called "driving along the main road" but as there's extensive ice just now with more snow on the way I might take it a bit slow for the next couple of weeks...
Edited by mountainmetman on Wednesday 6th August 16:43
YZF600R said:
+1
As an aside, how experienced do IAM/Bikesafe prefer you to be before you take their course?? Can you do it straight after the DSA test (wobbles and all!) or do they prefer a few months road experience?
You will get more out of BikeSafe after getting some experience. Not to say they will not welcome you, but you will get more out of after getting over the "wobbles".As an aside, how experienced do IAM/Bikesafe prefer you to be before you take their course?? Can you do it straight after the DSA test (wobbles and all!) or do they prefer a few months road experience?
IAM - I would say that the sooner you do the better. Stops the bad habits before you pick them up!
Batz817 said:
Did you manage to get your test done in the falklands as i am off out there soon. If so who did you do it with. I heard the police run them out there. Any info would be great.
Well done for bumping a nearly 10 year old thread with an OP that's posted 4 times in that time span. 
Batz817 said:
Did you manage to get your test done in the falklands as i am off out there soon. If so who did you do it with. I heard the police run them out there. Any info would be great.
The Falklands is a completely innapropriate place to ride a bike.Horrendous weather, wind strong enough to knock you over, roads made of gravel and prone to sliding in the wet.
Exception being the roads in and around Stanley.
It's not like it would be great for off roaring either unless you like getting pisswrapped and stuck.
What are you going there for?
matthias73 said:
The Falklands is a completely innapropriate place to ride a bike.
Horrendous weather, wind strong enough to knock you over, roads made of gravel and prone to sliding in the wet.
Exception being the roads in and around Stanley.
It's not like it would be great for off roaring either unless you like getting pisswrapped and stuck.
What are you going there for?
Don't most people who go there do so as part of their job for HM Forces? Either that or Penguins/Whales wildlife related or dare I say it Oil related industry activities now? Horrendous weather, wind strong enough to knock you over, roads made of gravel and prone to sliding in the wet.
Exception being the roads in and around Stanley.
It's not like it would be great for off roaring either unless you like getting pisswrapped and stuck.
What are you going there for?
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