For the most part people’s first experience of motorcycles on the road is from getting a pillion ride from someone with a licence – either this will have them hooked straight away or they’ll find it incredibly intimidating and stick with a car, if they go for anything with an engine anyway. Sometimes people convince their mates with scooters for a quick blast around a car park and have that amazing feeling of going fast without any pedals! Once you’ve got the bug it’s time to get your licence to get you on two wheels safely.
It’s worth saying before we get going that you’re going to struggle to do a test at this very moment in time because of, you guessed it, Covid-19. The UK Government has stopped all motorcycle tests except for those who need a licence for their work, and they’re a key worker in the response to the virus. If you’re one of these key workers you can apply for test here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-emergency-driving-test. If you were hoping to get your licence soon, or have taken the decision now that we’ve all of a sudden got superb weather, then read on to see how to go about doing it when test centres and training schools reopen.
In the past few days applications to get provisional licences have reopened, so if you're starting from the beginning it's well worth getting ahead of the curve when the rush for everyone getting back to learning to drive and ride begins.
Car licences are pretty simple by comparison, with only a theory and practical test allowing you to drive any kind of car you want. Motorcycle licences are not so simple because the risk you present to yourself on a powerful bike is extreme, no matter how level headed you might be. Age is the way this has been decided with younger people restricted to certain power outputs or capacities.
Everyone starts in the same place however, with the CBT or Compulsory Basic Training. The clue is in the name, but this isn’t actually a test, although you can fail it if the instructor thinks you’re unsafe. The CBT includes basic road theory, manoeuvres and a bit of time on the road – providing you don’t majorly cockup you’ll get your certificate which allows you to move onto bigger and better things. The CBT can be done on a geared or automatic bike 50cc at 16 years of age, or on a 125cc geared or automatic from 17 years of age. Bear in mind if you choose to go the automatic route you’ll be restricted to this from this point forward unless you redo the CBT. With the CBT you’re legally allowed to ride a bike up to the aforementioned capacity with L-plates without a pillion and not on the motorway.
Some say staying on the CBT is good way of practicing for your tests on bigger bikes, however there are some serious caveats to this. A CBT is precisely what it says - ‘basic’. Arguably it could be presented as dangerously basic for those with no previous road experience or in handling a bike! Further training is crucial if you want to get anywhere near passing the next round of tests, let alone to make you a safer rider.
The next step involves no riding – the theory test. This is very similar to the test for car licences with a series of multiple choice questions about road theory such as road signs, steps to take in certain events and some motorcycle specific questions thrown in. The other part of this is a hazard perception test where you press a button when you spot a potential hazard in a video of driving and when that potential hazard changes. There are plenty of free examples of questions and videos which can be used to brush up on your skills. A copy of the Highway Code is handy to have for revision and if you’re ever unsure about what to do when seeing certain signs and understanding junctions. Once you’ve passed this test you can move onto training for and passing the next two tests.
This is where age very much affects your next course of action. The two tests, Mod 1 and Mod 2, are available for all ages from age 16, however the bikes you ride in them and the bikes you can ride after vary wildly depending on your age.
Up to age 19 you’re restricted to 125cc machines (A1 licence), 19-24 up to 47bhp with a specific power-weight ratio (A2 licence), and from 24 upwards you can do a full Direct Access course to get a full licence and be able to ride any bike (A licence). Mod 1 and 2 must be done in order, with a pass in Mod 1 required before attempting Mod 2. You can use training school bikes during lessons at the required capacity and power, otherwise you’re restricted to 125cc on your CBT. There is also an AM licence you can do at 16 years of age, but it only allows you to ride a 50cc moped which offers no real benefit over a CBT at 16.
Check the video above to see the 44teeth guys attempting the Mod 1 test for an A2 licence and all their funny missteps. (Swear warning!)
Mod 1 is a test of your manoeuvres, especially at slow speed. You’ll need to push your bike around correctly (not in the saddle, sorry!), conduct avoidance manoeuvres, emergency stops and the tricky slow speed manoeuvres. This is all to prove you’ve got all the basics of control of a bike in most eventualities. You can afford minor mistakes, but there are some that will cause an instant fail, although it’s absolutely worth finishing the test to get a feel of what the test feels like in reality. For those on 125cc bikes for this test the speed trap for the avoidance and emergency stop is probably the most punishing part of the test – you will have to pin the throttle in 2nd mid-corner to stand a chance of making the required speed! Your rear brake and clutch are your friends for slow speed parts, keep them balanced against each other and you’ll glide to success.
Mod 2 can be booked on completion of Mod 1 and it’s very similar to a car practical test, with the major difference being the examiner is not on the bike with you. Usually they’ll be on a bike following, but on occasion they’ll be in a car. You’re completely okay to filter through traffic, but bear in mind that the car won’t follow and you’ll need to correctly pull over and get going again – just sit in traffic, it’s much easier. Your road positioning, observations, response to other road users and hazards are what are being marked here. You also run the risk of being marked down for being excessively slow, hit the speed limit where safe. Like Mod 1 you can accrue minor faults; providing you don’t repeat them or get a major fault you’ll be through in no time. With the full licence, on whatever capacity you can head to the motorway (they’re pretty boring for bikes to be honest) and you can take a pillion with you to show off your new skills, just take your time with it!
The bike you’ll be riding through training for the tests will be appropriate to the test you’re taking, with a 125cc machine for A1, a bike up to 47bhp for A2 and something larger (although generally not much more) for the Direct Access Scheme, or A licence.
Hopefully this goes some way to explaining the minefield of getting your motorcycle licence - if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask in the comments.
The Bike Stop shop in Stevenage is currently temporarily closed (we're looking to open as soon as we can!), but our online shop is still alive and well and taking orders (and calls Monday to Friday!) We’re even doing a 10% off promotion – just enter the code ‘TOGETHER’ at checkout. You can check out our full range on our website with free delivery for any order over £50 on the UK mainland, and delivery possible to almost anywhere else. Not only that but our ‘No Quibble’ returns policy allows for returns within a 365 day period – see our returns page for more details.
