Auto license, or buying a bike ahead of a license?

[NetherSchot]

Hi all, I hope perhaps some of you can advise on something aim stuck with: best route to a full license.

 

I've been riding 125cc scoots for over a decade between Manchester and Dundee on all sorts of roads and tracks and through the winter. I'm quite happy with automatics, don't really see the need for me to have a geared bike now that EVs and DCTs are anyway breaking the stigma. If I'm uncool or unmanly, so be it, I've got nothing to prove.

 

I now want to upgrade so I can travel to the continent, carry a passenger and get on motorways. In theory my 125 can handle that, but not in a sensible way. I want to get a Piaggio Beverly 400 to more easily cope, which requires an A or A2 license. I want to get done before my son goes to secondary school in September, as he might need a ride.

 

My problem is that though I can find hundreds of automatic driving schools for wannabe cagers, there's none for bikers. Especially up North? This leaves me with the option of faffing around with geared bikes which would cost me extra lessons for no benefit to me.. Or one where I go ahead and buy the bike to then use it for lessons and exams, which would restrict me to A2. Would that even be doable in terms of insurance etc?

 

Does anyone have advice or prior experience of aiming for an auto bike license or buying a bike to do lessons and exams on?

 

Also why does it have to be so difficult to get licensed for a bike? A moneyed 19 year old could get a license and a powerful SUV more easily than I could get a license for a far less lethal, far more sensible option.. Bit fed up of that.

[Guest]

No idea about automatic tests on bikes but don't rule out learning on a geared bike. It's not difficult to master, you'd have it down in the first lesson pretty much. Opens up your options for schools and for bikes later on.

 

No bike is a less lethal option than an suv. You are inherently more vulnerable on a bike than in a car.

[dynax]

It's all the same tests and all the same price regardless, so you might as well bite the bullet and do it on a geared bike and you have all the options open to  you

[NetherSchot]

@goat Yeah I get that, though I think learning on a geared bike for me is a waste of time and therefore money. I'm tempted just to bite the bullet and walk a bike to a test centre, then have a go at the exam

[Gerontious]

Do the test as it stands, there is no way round that if you want to ride a more powerful 2 wheeler. The only stigma aimed at DCT owners for example are either from those who have never tried one at all, or for just a short road test.. or those who dont understand what they are.

 

I have a DCT and cannot imagine going back to fully manual bikes.

 

 

[keith1200rs]

I wouldn't mind a DCT bike but the choice is very limited. I think you are better off giving yourself complete freedom of choice.