GETTING READY TO TAKE YOUR MOTORCYCLE DRIVING TEST

[Guest]

hi, can anyone help me, i'm 26, and have the urge to get a bike, but really dont know where to start? or what to do first?

cheers wullie

[mealexme]

Lifesavers... if you drive a car, do them in the car too... gets you used to it... thats what I did, and still do now.. its good practice

Plus you may actually see that bike in your blind spot! lol

[Susieque]

hi, can anyone help me, i'm 26, and have the urge to get a bike, but really dont know where to start? or what to do first?

cheers wullie

 

Have a good read of this section of the forum & hopefully it'll be a bit clearer.

If you're unsure of anything just ask

[mealexme]

The original post has a link that is out of date. The government are trialing a new website which has all the relevant information up to jan/feb of 2013. I cannot remember the exact date the new tests come into effect. the link is https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-practical-test/overview so can the op/mods change/add the link if they think it is appropriate, so new riders who are reading the first post and don't read the whole thread can be linked to it.

[Guest]

Very useful, thanks

[MRB3N]

DRIVING TEST?

Please please edit all instances of the word DRIVING to RIDING. Haha!

[littlecat]

DRIVING TEST?

Please please edit all instances of the word DRIVING to RIDING. Haha!

 

ffs really??

clearly not the owner of either certificate, as it clearly states PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST

at the top of both MOTORCYCLE pass certs.

[Red Dragon]

im 29.

i have all intentions of doing the DAS, but am i right in thinking i can do my test on a 125 and be restricted for 2 years and then ride any size bike? even though im 29?

[GaryJM]

No you will need to take a further test under the new rules.

Was that way before they changed them this year

[Red Dragon]

No you will need to take a further test under the new rules.

Was that way before they changed them this year

 

So the impression i was under is wrong? my impression was:

complete theory test

complete CBT

ride 125cc to build up experience,

sit MOD 1 and MOD 2 on a 125cc and be restricted to 125cc for two years.

after 2 years, ride any size bike.

(im 29 years old)

and now i can't do this because the rules have changed?

[Susieque]

Rules changed last Jan - as has been said, if you take test on 125 you can only ride 125.

As you're 29 you may as well do mod 1 & 2 on 'big' bike!

Nothing to stop you riding 125 on a CBT for a while, to gain experience.

[GaryJM]

No you will need to take a further test under the new rules.

Was that way before they changed them this year

 

So the impression i was under is wrong? my impression was:

complete theory test

complete CBT

ride 125cc to build up experience,

sit MOD 1 and MOD 2 on a 125cc and be restricted to 125cc for two years.

after 2 years, ride any size bike.

(im 29 years old)

and now i can't do this because the rules have changed?

That was the way it was before January.

Now it's 3 separate test and age limits.

At 14 you can do DAS I think.

[Bogof]

At 14 you can do DAS I think.

 

No you can't! Thankfully.

[GaryJM]

I meant 24

[Stu]

I meant 24

 

Its ok it was obvious it was a typo there is just some pedantic people about

[fullscreenaging]

DRIVING TEST?

Please please edit all instances of the word DRIVING to RIDING. Haha!

 

Completely agree. You don't DRIVE a motorbike, you RIDE one.

You don't call Marquez, Rossi etc a motorbike driver!!

[NooBish-AbbZ]

just posting to confirm that a Suzuki GSF 600 Bandit is ok to ride restricted on an A2 license

And that this will continue to be the case after the end of 2013? Taken from DFT.gov.uk etc...

Category A2

This is a motorcycle without a side car that:

is at least 395cc

has a power output between 25 and 35 kW (33bhp and 46.6 bhp)

There's no upper engine size limit, but:

the power to weight ratio must not exceed 0.2kW/kg

it must not be derived from a motorcycle of more than double its power

From the end of 2013 the power requirement will change to between 20 and 35 kW

DSA will accept evidence from manufacturers or official importers that a specific model of motorcycle meets these rules. DSA will publish this information where it applies to a number of machines of a specific type.

[Guest]

DRIVING TESTS FAULTS

Failing to make progress by riding at less than the speed limit when safe to do so.

 

This is a bit of a strange one unless you were exceptionally slow as to seriously impede other traffic and it would appear you are not confident. The highway code (rule 146) states "Do not treat speed limits as a target. It's often not appropriate or safe to drive at the speed limit". Of course, if it's safe (and I assume they consider it's appropriate when it's safe, though I can't find that defined in the highway code) and doesn't conflict with rule 125 when riding in wet weather or around bends etc, then you can but I rarely ever see minimum speed limit signs when driving. I can't see what is appropriate in the highway code. It might not be courteous to other road users to drive slowly but think it would be wrong to be penalised for riding say, 20mph in a 30 zone when there isn't a minimum speed sign (not that I would if it was safe to go a bit faster).

 

After the test the examiner will ask you some questions regarding carrying a pillion passenger or load on your motorcycle.

 

I wasn't aware of this. Thanks for that info.

[NeilM]

Riding too slow is a fault when for example you go from a 30 to a national speed limit zone and for whatever reason you are un willing to ride at speed.

therfore in a real life situation you would be a hazard on say a motorway.

[Guest]

Riding too slow is a fault when for example you go from a 30 to a national speed limit zone and for whatever reason you are un willing to ride at speed.

therfore in a real life situation you would be a hazard on say a motorway.

 

I agree in the case of dual carriageways, it's common sense really, although as far as I am aware, there is no legislation that sets a minimum speed limit, even on motorways.

[NeilM]

Its called dangerous driving.

Hence when you get slow vehicles on the motorway for example cranes they have an escort to warn others of the hazard.

[Guest]

Its called dangerous driving.

Hence when you get slow vehicles on the motorway for example cranes they have an escort to warn others of the hazard.

 

Interestingly, I just discovered that it's not dangerous driving which carries a sentence up to 14 years but "Careless or inconsiderate driving" carrying up to 5 years. I didn't know that was an actual offence but apparently it is.

http://cps.gov.uk/news/fact_sheets/dangerous_driving/

- unnecessarily slow driving or braking

Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving (Section 20 Road Safety Act 2006)

Penalty: Up to 5 years in prison, and disqualified for a minimum of one year;

[NeilM]

Right sound.

Cleared up then.

[Guest]

motorways have a minimum speed of 30mph i remember years ago in a military convoy we got pulled up and got an earful from plod cos we were at the speed of our reme workshop R.L which was under 30mph

[Zerstört]

Minimum speed signs are advisory, so no automatic offence. However, it may be considered dangerous/careless, so words of advice or, if you get arsey, prosecution.