getting back into it

[craiglannon]

hi folks..

looking getting back into biking had a bike when i was 16 and kinda lost interest when i sat my driving test but need something a bit more fun than the car

been having a look around on the forum on the best ways to get my license and so on but still abit confused. i know i will need to sit my cbt again as i was 16 im now 19 and it only last for 2 years( is this right ). also as i will be 20 in february should i do my full test and run on 125 till im 21 then get a big bike ?

any advice taking


cheers craig

[Teflon-Mike]

1/ You need to re-do CBT
2/ You wont be able to do DAS until you are 24.
If you are 20 this Feburary, you wont be 21 until NEXT feb, 2013, which will be one month AFTER new 3rd Directive licence laws are introduced raising DAS age to 24.
3/ If you test on a 125, Within the YEAR, ahead of 3rd directive laws, you will gain a 33bhp 'restricted' licence. Restriction lasts two years.
You can ride any capacity bike you like, but better be restricted to 33bhp. until restriction lapses.
4/ if you dont pass tests on a 125 within the year; testing on a 125 will stick you with an a1 '125 Only' licence limiting you to a 14.5bhp Learener Legal, just without having to display L-Plates, that you can carry a pillion on & use on the Motorway.
BUT you'll have to test again, DAS style for an A2 'restricted' licence, that again, lets you ride no more than a 45bhp bike, until you pass another test DAS style, to gain full urestricted licence.

By DAS style, I mean you will have to train & test on a 'bigger' bike you cannot ride unsupervised on your own, ahead of passing test, demanding you basically pay high DAS course fees to train & use hire bike for tests.

I have a son & a step-son, in the effected age range that COULD test for a full A-Group (restricted) licence this year, on a 125.

And am trying to help them do so. FUCK big bikes or anything after that! Without the licence, pretty immaterial. System will basically keep them off anything BUT a 125 until they are 24, and even THEN likely that new system MAY do away with unsupervised L-Plating and they will HAVE to pass a test before they can even ride a 125!
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[craiglannon]

they like making everything so difficult.

so the best route to go is get the cbt then do my restricted test on a 125, then ride any bike which is restricted to 33bhp for 2 years then i can ride full power ?

cheers for the reply mate (Y)

[anthony_r6]

Yeah - if you pass your test on a 125 bike, you'll be restricted for two years. Once that two years has passed you can ride whatever you choose.
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[craiglannon]

cheers for the help folks..

get everything booked up in the new year

[Rogerborg]

Wow, Tef For The Win.

Yup, crack on and pass the (current) A2 test on a 125 and get an A <= 25kW license that will automatically upgrade to unrestricted A after 2 years.

The other option is to wait until January 2013 and gamble that the DfT follow through on their promise to give you (at 19+) direct access to the new A2 test and license that gives you access to 35kW bikes, with no automatic upgrade, then another test at 24 or (A2 pass date + 2 years) to get unrestricted access. However, our implementation of the 3DLD is now pushing 12 months overdue and 2006/126/EC doesn't actually provide any such route, so that may get killed in committee.

tl;dr - version, pass any test that you can as soon as you can. And welcome to the adventure.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike