Licence motorbike restrictions

[Slow]

Been looking into getting a small bike like a 250 or something.

I know bikes have some sort of weird power/weight ruling with ages/tests etc.

I last rode a "bike" as we will call it as 16 on a cbt. I am now 25 and driving cars since 17.

Reading the rear of my licence I have

AM from 2014
A from 2013 with the 79(3) in brackets meaning like 3 wheelers only
B1 + B from 2012
BE from 2015

What do I need to do to ride a bike? Is there more theory or just a practical test to show you can ride?

[Baldchap]

To ride anything bigger than a 125 you need a full A license. There is some graduation in terms of power to weight, but over 24 you would be mad to do anything other than a full big bike license.

CBT
Theory
Mod 1 (manoeuvres)
Mod 2 (road test)

[Hammerhead]

You've got a choice dependent on what size of bike you want to ride. In either case, you'll have to re-do your cbt for starters, which will limit you to 125cc on its own.

As you're 25, you could go and do your full test. Theory plus 2 practical exams. Once you've got those, you ride any cc bike you want.

[Desiderata]

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...

I don't think you can even take a moped on the road now until you've done a new CBT (if my maths is right and you didn't get your car licence before 2001.

Glad I did ,mine in 1983 when they stopped allowing you to ride a 250 on l-plates

Edited by Desiderata on Friday 28th February 16:06

[SuperPav]

I'll piggyback on this thread..

I'm 32, and did my CBT 3 years ago, which I believe allows me to ride <50cc mopeds indefinitely (although the CBT for all other class purposes has expired).

I've ridden scooters and mopeds loads, but never big bikes or manuals. The last "test" I did was a trailer (B+E) training and test two years ago.


How "hard" is the full DAS license, and what's a reasonably short/cheap route in terms of time to it? I'd only want it for commuter bikes <250cc rather than anything powerful or large.

[Zakalwe]

You can’t ride a 50cc unless you passed your driving licence before 2001. Your old CBT means nothing at all now, you need a new one. The DAS for a full licence isn’t “hard” unless you’re not able to ride a bike - that’s what the test is. Factor in about 800 quid total for the cost of tests and some training, more if you have to redo or need a more training than usual. Also consider the cost of gear you might want to buy for training on - you can borrow gloves and helmets usually but you might want waterproof or warm gear going forward, your own helmet eventually etc

[Pope]

I passed full licence in 1998; just after the 33bhp/unrestricted classes were implemented - long before mod1&2 as they are now.

My brother and I did a 3 (or was it 4?) day residential course at West Pennine MC training; CBT on first day, training and test followed after that - free retest if you failed all in was around 250 inc. bike hire and B&B!

Not sure what the cost would be now but I believe West Pennine are still at it*; and I would recommend the intensive method - total immersion!!

Take a few days off work; get it done, Bosh!

It would appear they are!

https://www.wpm-training.co.uk/motorcycle-training...

Edited by Pope on Friday 28th February 18:41

[Slow]

Ive ridden bikes offroad a fair amount just never had a licence for the road. Would it be a case of just rocking up for the tests or would I *need* lessons for learning some tricks for the test?

[easy_rider33]

It certainly makes it easier being able to control the bike, but you should really have lessons as this will give you the road positioning etc. Also gets you in to the habit of doing life savers. It should all come together fairly quick as you don’t have to think about gears and clutch control.

[sooty61]

Slow said:

Ive ridden bikes offroad a fair amount just never had a licence for the road. Would it be a case of just rocking up for the tests or would I *need* lessons for learning some tricks for the test?

You need lessons even if it is just to make sure you know the process. You also need a road legal bike which the training school provides.

[Pizzaeatingking]

Zakalwe said:

You can’t ride a 50cc unless you passed your driving licence before 2001. Your old CBT means nothing at all now, you need a new one.

If you have a full car licence and do a CBT it gives you a 'full moped entitlement' so no L plates and it doesn't expire. At least that's how it worked last time I checked a few years back.

SuperPav said:

I'll piggyback on this thread..

I'm 32, and did my CBT 3 years ago, which I believe allows me to ride <50cc mopeds indefinitely (although the CBT for all other class purposes has expired).

I've ridden scooters and mopeds loads, but never big bikes or manuals. The last "test" I did was a trailer (B+E) training and test two years ago.


How "hard" is the full DAS license, and what's a reasonably short/cheap route in terms of time to it? I'd only want it for commuter bikes <250cc rather than anything powerful or large.

I was in a similar situation a few years back. Found a decent local training school, done a few afternoons on the bike and the mod 1 then a few more afternoons and the mod 2. If you ride/have ridden before then it's pretty easy, riding a big bike is no harder than riding a 125 tbh. It's not cheap, even if you dont need much time in the saddle it soon adds up but it was worth it for me.

[Kneedragger95]

At 25 you can sit your CBT (you'll need to do this as your old CBT expired after 2 years) and then do your Full A license DAS, which allows you to ride anything.

If you only wanted to ride a 250cc you could just do your A2 test, but itll cost you about the same as the Full A test, only you are restricted to around 44 bhp.

[Desiderata]

If you passed your car test within two years of doing the CBT, then you are OK on a moped without L-plates and without a further CBT until you're 70 . If the initial CBT expired before you passed the car test then you'll need a new CBT which will then last you till you're 70 for a moped.
You'll need a new CBT for anything other than a moped., renewable every two years till you pass a bike test.