want to ride

[Fruitcake]

hya,

i'm 21, Male and have had a car licence since september 2001

i want to be able to ride bikes but dont know what i have to do

my licence doesnt include bikes (theres no bike pic on the back but there is a pic of a car and what appears like a milk float

says catogaries B, B1 and f k p

can anyone understand that?

anyone able to advise me on what to do?

thanks

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Howdy!

Firstly, you will have to do your CBT (compulsory Basic Training) which is basically just a day out, learning the basics of biking for a couple of hours (clothing, how to ride safely, road position etc), then you have a couple of hours riding around cones and practising slow speed riding, then you have two hours or more on the road.

One you have this, you can ride up to a 125cc as long as you have 'L' plates, don't go on any motorways, and don't carry a pillion.

You can do this for up to 2 years, then you can either do your CBT again, or before this period is up you can sit one of the three bike tests.

You have the A1 which is exactly the same as the A2, except after it you can only ride 125s.

The A2 which means you can ride any bike restricted to 33BHP for a couple of years, then after that you can ride any bike you want

DAS (Direct Access) which means you can ride any bike you want straight away, but you have to take it on a certain sized bike (the size of which escapes me)

There is plenty of stuff about this on the sticky post at the top of this forum "A Duffers Guide to Getting A License + Newbie Bikers Links"

Hope this helps.

[Toady]

I am not exactly sure as I have only just done my CBT (Compulsory Basic Training). It costs about £80 and lasts most of the day (mine took 4 hours). This allows you to ride a bike upto 125cc with 'L' plates. As you are 21yrs old you will be able to ride a much bigger bike once you have passed your 'DAS':

'21 years and over have the option of Direct Access (DAS), the test can in this case be taken on a large bike (500cc) and on passing the licence has no power restrictions.'

So really it depends what sort of bike you want and how powerful it will be.

I found this link for you which should explain it more clearly (and probably accurately than I can (am new to biking myself):

https://www.driversdomainuk.com/motorcyclist/law.php


Although the other people on this forum are very knowledgable and helpful so no doubt they will be able to post their adviceon which test you should do etc.

*ooooppps too late someone posted before I did*
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I can see paradise by the dashboard lights....................or at least the speedo on my NSR!

[Fruitcake]

i was slightly confused as to if i need to take a theory test due to the fact that i have a full licence

[JonB]

If you want to pass your bike test to ride a big bike you will need to take another theory.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Fruitcake]

really? i had to do the theory when i got my car licence


i was afraid of that

[JonB]

Well it is only £20.50 to take a theory test and it isn't that hard really. Basically the same as the car one.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Fruitcake]

i did it before hazard perception was introduced, and i really dont want to have to do it again!


how come i cant use my car licence and 'enhance it' with a CBT



i'm trying to understand it

[JonB]

Basically because riding a bike is a completely different kettle of fish, you get a world of new hazards, believe me you will hate car drivers and realise yourself that you should look out for bikers more.

Biking is interpretted as a highly dangerous mode of transport, but with the right attitude and training it isn't.

Hazard Perception isn't hard if you had good awareness skills on the road.

You need the CBT to enable to ride a bike, then a theory test and then either a DAS (DirectAccess course enables you to ride a big bike straight away) or an A2 restricted license which enables you to ride a big boys bike but it must be restricted to 33BHP.

Hope this clears up a few things.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Fruitcake]

ah, ok


i hate cars anyway due to riding a push bike, but i get what you are saying

might have to put this on the back burner

[JonB]

Why you putting it on the back burner?
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Fruitcake]

cost

[m99dws]

[JonB]

www.begin-motorcycling.co.uk is good for information on costs, requirements also.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[El_Bandido]

my mate has just done his cbt and got himself a cg125 so he can get ready for his bike test. cost him £85 for the cbt £450 for the bike and £100 for the insurance so its not too expensive.

Full license cost me about £600 as i took the test twice but i had been wanting it for ages so i knew what it was going to cost

[Fruitcake]

yeh, i was mainly wondering if i could cut out some of the tests and also some of the cost because i already have a car licence

[Barker-CBR 600]

Nope its the great DSA rip off at work.

The thing that gets me, the motorbike hazard perception is from the viewpoint of a Car.

So when it slows down/cant go a bike would fit with a ton of room! plus the camera is always dead straight upright!

A theory is only £20-£30 isnt it?

Dont be put off by that?! just dont buy the g/f a birthday present this year

Your total test cost would be

Theory - 20-30
Practical (DAS or A2) - 50

So 70-80 at the most, and just think of the possibilities that open up to you getting that nice motorbike symbol on the back of the license?!
____________________
Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[Fruitcake]

bit hard to buy the GF a present, i dont have one,

my brother is getting downloaded hitch hikers guide to the galaxy radio show mp3s on CD

dont know what mum's getting and i cant remember when my dads birthday is!


do i need to have a bike to do this?

do i need to have my own bike to go right through and get a licence for bikes,


i'm planning on doing it so if the oppertunity arrises to get a bike i can without having to go through all the test process so theres no point in just getting the CBT done as it would just run out if i have to have my own bike to do the test

[b0ss]

To be honest if you can't afford the theory test you can't afford biking full stop. You need to buy a bike, clothing, boots, helmet, insurance, tax and spending on security is a must.

[JonB]

Must say I agree with the above a lot of people think biking is a cheap mode of transport, which is true once you have spent over a grand on kit, insurance and bike.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Fruitcake]

but which will work out cheaper? getting a car or getting a bike?

[paulyzf600]

Hello this time last year I was in your shoes. Now I am riding a YZF 600 thundercat sportsbike!

The way I looked at it was my car driving did'nt help really other than knowing how road systems worked as riding a bike is totally a different thing.
I took my CBT then theory then DAS test. I spread it over three months, i bought all my kit this time last year then got lessons through sumer and past in october. It depends on what you want. Now that I have passed and have the bike and the kit it's far far far cheaper to run than my car is in everyway, tax insurance, petrol,service.
Do it just spread it out to make it affordable!
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Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat

[Barker-CBR 600]

Cheapest option would be a clapped out old banger of a car and using that since you got the test an could pick it up tomorrow if wanted to.


However in the long run, the best VALUE would be a bike, since its not just a mode of transport its a way of life (or at least, a hobby!)

With a bike you have a big expense at the start on tests, bike, kit.

But then a bike is usually cheaper to run (especially non-sporty ones like the CG that last forever off a drop of petrol).


If its only price your lookin at, get a crapped out car.

You really cant base getting a bike on cost in your position, maybe if someone had all the gear and an old license they got 10 years ago and never used... but to buy kit, insurance, bike, tests etc... you would need cash.
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Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[Fruitcake]

i'd like to be able to ride but could do with some transport for when i go on placement. so in a way i'd like to get a licence so that i can just get a bike tomorrow in the future.

also i think i'd proberbly be able to get hold of a decent bike reletively cheap ?

yeh i accept safety gear is expencive