As TimR says Northern Ireland laws require a CBT Extract from https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/motorcycle-licence-requirements Motorcycle licence requirements Part of: The Highway Code, The Highway Code Annexes Motorcycle licence requirements. Jump to table of contents If you have a provisional motorcycle licence, you must satisfactorily complete a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course. You can then ride unaccompanied on the public road a motorcycle up to 125 cc with a power output not exceeding 11 kW, with L plates, for up to two years. So it boils down to , did the OP have a valid CBT and provisional license at the time.