Here's a brief overview of the legal requirements if you want to be a biker. These facts are taken from the DSA website.
Motorcycle Licences
- You can hold a provisional licence for a Moped if you are at least 16 years old. Your provisional licence is only valid when you have the DL196 certificate issued on
successful completion of the CBT. With this you are allowed to ride a moped (max speed 31mph, engine size less than 50cc) as a learner. This means you need to have
L plates on and must not carry passengers. You also have to stay off Motorways!
- If you have a full car licence obtained before 1st February 2001, you are already entitled to ride a moped without L plates.
- For riders under the age of 21, there are two types of full motorcylce license to aim for. The A1 licence is for 'light motorcycles' and restricts riders to any motorcycle up to 125cc and power output of 11kW.
For those wishing to ride largers bikes in the future, the Standard motorcycle licence (A) is required, which just means you need to take the test on a bike between 120 and 125cc, capable of at least 62mph.
- The standard motorcycle licence (A) restricts you to riding a motorcycle of up to 25 kW and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16kw/kg; essentially that means a 125cc bike.
However, after two years of riding, the restriction is lifted and you can ride whatever you like! Be careful though and consider taking a couple of days 'step-up' training with us, because it's a BIG step from a CG125 to a 1300cc Hayabusa.
Training Schemes
- A Theory Test must be taken for anyone new to riding. These are available through the DVLA website.
- Compulsary Basic Training (CBT) is required for most newcomers to riding. Check our CBT page for more details.
- Direct Access Scheme (DAS) is a scheme to allow anyone over the age of 21 to avoid the 2 year engine size restriction of a standard licence. See our DAS page for more details
- Accelerated Access is for riders on a restricted standard (A) licence who reach the age of 21 within their 2 year restriction period and wish to ride larger bikes. To do this, they need to pass a
further test on a motorcycle of at least 35kW (usually 500cc). They will be entitled to ride as learners on larger bikes under the same conditions as DAS riders.
