Understanding the Licence Regulations

[Robik]

Hi all,

Under the latest UK laws and regulations on motorcycle licences is there any benefit to me have two years experience on a 125cc motorbike (cbt), not sure I am understanding the rules fully?

Thanks

[Glorian]

As far as i understand it.

CBT lasts for 2 years allows you to ride a bike up to (correct if im wrong) 12BHP. After 2 years you have to re-take the CBT to carry on riding.

You can do a full license in several ways, taking 2 theory test then getting A1(17) or A2(19) license will allow you to ride a 125(without license running out like CBT) and standard motorcycle of 35KW of power.

Or you can take the DAS at 24, in which case you do your CBT>Theory>Mod1(Manouvers in a closed area)>Mod2(Riding around a town) and you can ride any bike unrestricted this gives you license category of A

Hope this is helpful / what you wanted to read =D

[Robik]

Thanks Glorian,

I have completed my theory test and am over 24.

Did you mean "the" theory test not "2" theory tests? Just checking I haven't missed.

So at the moment I have a cbt (still valid), a theory test passed and am over 24. If I did my mod 1 and mod 2 test on my own 125cc bike what would that give me and for how long? Would that give me an A2 licence meaning I could ride anything up to 35kW (with no time limit on it)? I guess if I had this I would still need to do a full DAS to ride anything regardless of how long I had the A2 licence for.

Thanks again really appreciate the input.

[Glorian]

There just the one theory test =) And like the CBT it only lasts 2 years. Contact a bike training company and they will arrange training. But to do the DAS it is on a 600CC motorbike so you'll likely get trained for mod 1 (google to see what its about) and then take test and same for mod 2. Mine cost me £500 but that included the theory. So that includes theory Mod 1 Mod 2 bike (fuel insurance etc) and practice time. Ring around and get a good price =)

[wr6133]

CBT is up to 14.6 BHP and 125cc. As you are old enough for a big boys licence there is really little advantage to spending 2 years on a 125, if you have a 125 already just spend a short time getting used to riding. If you don't have one just go do a DAS course if you still want a 125 after that you can get one but if you prefer a Hayabusa you can get that too.

The 2 years on a 125 thing used to be because you could pass your test on a 125 and then wait out a restriction period for 2 years before getting auto upgraded to a proper licence. Europe put an end to that. If you do your licence on a 125 you will have an A1 licence and can only ride a 125 up to 14.6BHP so that's a waste of time too.

[Dav3y]

No benefit on riding a 125cc for two years at all apart from two years no claim bonus before upgrading to a bigger bike. As you're over 24, then I'd look into doing DAS and going straight for an A license on a 600cc school bike. You can still stick with your 125 if you want, but will then have the freedom to move up to a bigger bike as and when you want.

[Glorian]

You can also get rid of your L-plates to

[Robik]

Thanks a bunch everyone!

Here goes my mini rant.... I use my bike mainly for commuting on city roads which are quiet congested. I feel that more bikers will be encouraged to avoid using cars and getting a bike if 125cc users are given more options. I am confused why after 2 years 125cc users need to retake a cbt, they have 2 years experience on a bike. It doesn't make sense.

I really want to get my full licence, it's just time and money need to be factored in.

Thanks again everyone!

[Glorian]

It's only supposed to be a "stepping stone" it stands for "Compulsory basic training" (if i spelt that right) It stands to reason you'll need refreshing on the skills as it's not a full on "test" it's just training. and if the instructor is happy they give you a certificate.

[klingelton]

CBT training is very basic. I wouldn't call anyone an expert that's just sat the CBT course and had 2 years to pick up all manner of bad habits.

You can do a das course over 3/4 days with some training schools which will see you through to getting your A license. This should be your target as the A1 license will cost you as much money, but you will have all the restrictions. Pointless!

after passing a DAS course, as previously stated, you can throw the L places away for your 125 and ride around happily for the rest of your existance. ORRR you can rush out and buy a much nicer bike to commute on - CB500/ GS500/ SV650/fazer hornet etc etc. you won't' need to rinse the bollocks off any of these bikes in your standard town riding.

Best of luck!

[wr6133]

You could if you didn't want to step above a 125 do an A1 licence very cheaply. You would need to book the MOD1 and MOD2 yourself then turn up on your 125 and take the tests. Including theory I think if you passed both MOD's first time you would be around £130-ish. Then no more bi-annual CBT.

No real reason not to pass that way. A carpark and some old coke bottles are adequate to practice MOD 1. MOD 2 I'd suggest reading a lot of roadcraft and watching videos then go and burn off a tank of fuel riding the area near the test centre putting what you read and viewed in to practice.

[Glorian]

CBT training is very basic. I wouldn't call anyone an expert that's just sat the CBT course and had 2 years to pick up all manner of bad habits.

You can do a das course over 3/4 days with some training schools which will see you through to getting your A license. This should be your target as the A1 license will cost you as much money, but you will have all the restrictions. Pointless!

after passing a DAS course, as previously stated, you can throw the L places away for your 125 and ride around happily for the rest of your existance. ORRR you can rush out and buy a much nicer bike to commute on - CB500/ GS500/ SV650/fazer hornet/bandit 600 etc etc. you won't' need to rinse the bollocks off any of these bikes in your standard town riding.

Best of luck!

 

Fixed

[wr6133]

[.........]- ZZR [.......]

 

 

Fixed

 

Properly fixed!

[klingelton]

I'm not going to list every single commuter bike in history!

[Guest]

or.. just cut out the middleman and get a BMW. pipe and slippers are nowadays purely optional.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w40/motobiker/germans-1.jpg~original

[Glorian]

I'm not going to list every single commuter bike in history!

 

That's just not good enough

[Robik]

Thanks again everyone. You make very important points that CBT is "basic" training. Nothing like a full licence worth of training would give you.

Of course I would absolutely love to get my full licence. That's a good suggestion on the A1, doing Mod 1 and Mod 2 on the 125cc, however I would say the chances of passing first time on these would be much less than by going through the training route?

If I could have anything tomorrow (no time or financial restrictions) it would be this:

Full licence, Honda CBR600RR.

Reality is 99% of the my bike at the moment is used for commuting to work and back, so what I have at the moment does the job:

CBT, theory, CBR125R

The main reason I am trying to plan the next steps is that next summer my current CBT will run out

As my biking is mainly commuting at the moment, if I did get my full licence I would probably go for a Honda Hornet which I have been keeping an eye on in the ads for a while now.

Did anyone here do there mod 1 and mod 2 in the winter? Just wondering if this is a sensible option to consider?

Thanks again everyone, really appreciate the input!

[Red Dragon]

Robik, read through my posts on here, i completed my mod2 last month and now own a hornet 600.