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Quick start guide

WARNING: Act now! it gets tougher and more expensive to pass your practical motorcycle test from October 2008! Bike magazine gives you a quick start...

Quick start guide


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WARNING: BIKE TEST RULES CHANGE IN OCTOBER 2008. ACT NOW OR FACE A TOUGHER AND MORE EXPENSIVE TEST. More»

I’m under 16 but I’d like to try riding a bike – what can I do?

  • First, register on this site, fill in your d.o.b and we'll send you useful alerts to get you on to two wheels.

On-track training:

Ron Haslam’s Race School at Donington Park accepts students from 12+. Using Honda CBR125s, 12-13yr olds can gain an introduction to riding Performance bikes. Over 14s can use one of the schools fleet of new CB500s. Courses cost £159 for the day, which includes all necessary kit and personalaccident insurance. See www.haslamraceshool.com for more details, adults and experienced riders also welcome.

Off-road training:
Schools such as Track Sense offer all-inclusive days for £199 which includes bike, kit and training. Both beginners and more experienced riders are catered for, and the emphasis is on having fun and keeping safe. Contact www.tracksense.co.uk for more details, adults and experienced riders also welcome.

I’m 16 or over, I’ve never ridden before and don’t have a licence, kit or a motorbike, but I’d like to give it a try. What can I do?

You need to have:

A provisional motorcycle licence (£38 from DVLA)

You need to do:

A CBT course (£70-100 from a local instructor)

You don’t need to have:

Your own bike, insurance or kit (offered with CBT for around £20)

If you don’t have your own helmet, gloves and waterproofs, almost all training schools will have them available – make sure you ask before you book your CBT – turning up in shorts and a t-shirt won’t impress your instructor. Wear the best clothing you can – jeans, a warm jumper and boots if you have them – the more ankle and foot protection you have, the better.

Legal requirements for training

You need to be:

16 years old (to ride a 50cc motorbike) or 17 years old (to ride a 125cc motorbike).

If you’re under 16, but still want to get into biking then you can either try an off-road training day, or a novice on-track training day (see below for details).

You need to have:

A provisional motorcycle licence (£38 from the DVLA, www.dvla.gov.uk or from a Post Office).

You need to do:

A Compulsory Basic Training certificate (£80-100 including bike and kit hire from a local instructor).

You can then:

Ride a 125cc motorbike on the road with L-Plates displayed (front and rear).

You can not:

Take a pillion, ride on a motorway or remove the L-Plates.

The next step is:

Getting your motorcycle licence.

You should then:

Get some training with an instructor. Budget £450-£600 which will cover the hire of a 125cc bike, helmet, gloves and waterproofs, a course of training sessions and a mock test.

Before you can pass your test you will need:

To pass the motorcycle theory test. The test costs £21.50 (goes up to £28.50 from September 3, 2007) – free online samples are available from www.theory-tests.co.uk.

You can then:
Take your practical test on a 125cc motorcycle which, if passed, permits you to ride a any motorcycle with less than 33bhp and not exceeding 0.34bhp/kg, without L-Plates and you may take a pillion and ride on a motorway. After two years the power restriction expires and you may ride any motorcycle.

The test costs £60 on weekdays, £70 on weekday evenings and weekends.

Extra information:

Provisional Motorcycle Licence:

To get your licence, you need to fill in a form which can be obtained online (www.dvla.gov.uk) or from a Post Office. The application costs £38. You will need two passport-approved photographs and have an approved person (doctor, policeman, teacher etc – full details online and on the forms) witness your application.

Motorcycle Theory Test:

A two-part test designed to test your knowledge of the Highway Code and hazard awareness. The first part is a multiple-choice 35-question test, and the second part consists of 14 video clips where you click when you see a potential hazard. The test costs £21.50 (rising to £28.50 in September 2007) – free online samples are available from www.theory-tests.co.uk

CBT:

A Compulsory Basic Training certificate entitles you to ride a 50cc or 125cc motorcycle for two years, depending upon your age (50cc at 16 and 125cc at 17+). During this time you cannot take a passenger or ride on a motorway. At all times you must also display L-Plates to the front and rear of the motorcycle. After two years if you have not taken your test. Your CBT will cost £70-100 from a local instructor including helmet and bike hire.

Direct Access:

If you are over the age of 21, you can take your test on a motorcycle with 46.6bhp and bypass the 2-year 33bhp restriction.

Track Training:

Training events designed to teach road-based skills at a track are available. Also, you can attend a Track Day: an event held at a race track where you can ride around and get advice from instructors.

The day is typically broken into three groups: Novice, Intermediate and Expert – which go out in rotating 20 minute sessions. You will normally need a full motorcycle licence to ride, as well as one or two piece leathers and an ACU Gold approved helmet.

Off-road Training:

A day spent riding trials bikes on a test track. Off-road days give you a chance to try something different, as well as get used to the feeling of a bike losing and finding traction – and many other skills that will improve your road riding and confidence.

Advanced training:

While the motorcycle test ensures that you can safely operate the bike and have a basic level of road awareness and knowledge of the Highway Code, advanced tuition will help you build on this, helping you become a faster, safer, more skilful rider. Progressing to one of the advanced motorcycle tests can also lead to insurance discounts.

For information see www.bikesafe.co.uk, www.IAM.com, www.rospa.co.uk/roadsafety or www.driving.org/diamond

What if I have a car licence?

If you hold a car licence issued before February 1 2001 you are legally entitled to ride a 50cc motorcycle without L-Plates and you make take a passenger. You must not ride on a motorway.

This does not affect your entitlement to ride 125cc or larger machines – you will be required to follow the normal CBT, test and licence procedure.

 

 

 

What can I expect in the practical test?

The practical motorcycle test includes an eyesight test, safety questions, a test of riding ability, a test of specific manoeuvres and a question about riding with a passenger.

You should bring your valid CBT certificate (if required - and it is for most people).

You'll be fitted with a radio so the examiner can talk to you while you ride.

During the test you'll have to do an emergency stop. You'll also be asked to position your bike by the kerb and put it on its stand, then take the machine off the stand and wheel it across the road in a 'U' turn.

You also have to do a 'U'turn while riding and demonstrate you can control your bike at slow speeds (ie in slow-moving traffic).

After the practical part of the test you get asked a questions about 'balance when carrying a passenger'.

And you'll breeze through it!

 

WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE YOUR TEST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

The motorcycle test is going to get harder with new 'brake and swerve' elements due to be introduced to the practical test from October 2008. (More, from the Driving Standards Agency on this here).

Fewer test centres will be able to offer the facilities required. It's likely to cost more and you'll probably have to travel further to do it.

So act now and beat the rush.