Which Test?

[kfc v lot]

Hey guys,

Sorry for been absent for a while college and life have been conspiring against me having much free time.
Anyway I have been riding on the road since april with my cbt anyway I realised last month that I need something with a bit more grunt.

Long story short sat my theory this morning and passed so know I am looking at mod1/2 and the route I take to it. I turned 21 in january so I presume I able to do direct access?
What I really want to know is what is hapening to the restricted lisence? I see no point in sitting it if when the new rules come into force, my restriction stays.

At the end of the day it's the cost that I'm bothered about but there is no point sitting the test on a 125 saving me money but ultimately meaning I have to sit another test 2 years on and pay for more lesssons and tests.
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"you've proper quadraspazzed a bunch of schoolkids by throwing your bike into them at 60 mph"

[andy_uk]

If you take your test on a suitable 125 before the new directive comes into force, you'll still have your restriction lifted after the 2 years are up.
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Aprilia Classic 125, GS500E, ER5-A1, ER5-C4, ER6 & an XJ6 project frame...

[Dean-J]

If you are confident and have good control and road sense, there is no reason why you cant just book a half day training, then mod 1, then a half day, then mod 2.

I did it this way and cost me sub £400. If you do it that way, make sure your Mod 1 and 2 are at least a week apart, that way if you fail Mod 1, you can rebook Mod 2 without being charged for it

[J.M.]

New rules aren't in effect until January 2013 I believe. So you can do direct access.

If you want to do it on the cheap then get a 125 and take lessons and get some real riding experience. Then hire a big bike for a little while to get used to it, then hire it again to take Mod 1 & Mod 2 on.

That way you get experience from riding a 125, but you take DAS so you don't have to have a restricted licence.

That will be more expensive than taking the tests on your own 125, obviously because you're having to add on the price of hiring a bike for the tests. It's up to you to decide whether it's worth paying more to not be restricted.

If you have a 2 year restriction when the new licences come in to play, it doesn't matter. 2 years after passing your test you will have the un-restricted licence regardless.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Kingstondavo]

Sounds like you already have plenty of road experience, I would go for a few days training and do your test on a big bike.

Might be more expensive than doing your tests on your 125 in the short term, but means you can buy anything you want, and don't have to worry about restrictions.

Depending on how confident you are, you could do a days training, and then get bike hire for a morning (~£160ish) and nail both tests one after the other. Many will try to talk you out of it, but it worked out fine for me.

Realistically, you will only fail Mod1 if you havent done enough practice, which you can do as much as you want on your 125 in a supermarket car park with some cheap cones from sports direct. Or the other common one is if you forget you need to do your checks and lifesavers as if you are on the road. You will need a days training on the school's 500/600 bike though to get used to the extra weight of the bike.

Mod 2, there are a lot more variables, but at least once Mod1 is done, the majority of the pressure of doing them both on the same day is gone, and passing one test gives you a lot of positive confidence to get on with the second, without giving you any time to get the nerves up.

Just my two cents..
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Current Ride - 2010 Hornet 600

[Teflon-Mike]

Tests are the same; Theory/Haz, Mod1 & Mod 2, regardless of the licence you get at the end. Only difference is what you take the tests on.

A1 'Lightweight' licence; you test on any 'motorcycle' under 120cc or 125 not on DSA approved 'Standard Bike' list.

Full A >25Kw 2 Year Restricted; you test on 120-125cc bike on DSA Approved 'Standard-Bike' list.

This will only be available until January 19th 2013. BUT, if you pass that is the catagory of licence you will get, and they CANNOT take it back or change the entitlement it offers. So it will remain what is printed on the licence (unless DVLA Fuck-Up so be sure to get a copy of your licence... hint; photo-copy of 'loose' original counterpart & apply for replacement!)

When NEW rules come into force, you will STILL have Full A entitlement and whatever remains of 2 year power probation, & when that lapses a full A without restriction.

From 19 January 2013, the A >25Kw licence will cease to be, and the new A2 come into force. That is what will have the permanent restriction on it, and the new test regime of a 45Kw Test bike to get it.

A >25 will NOT become A2, they are NOT issuing A2 licences, they are completely different things, even though so many currently call A>25 A2 erroniousely.

Full A Un-Restricted As now test on a 'big-bike' if you are over 21. Age limit merely goes up to 24 from next year.

As always, DAS only provision to 'train' on a big bike, under DAS instructors Supervision; & test on big bike. You do NOT have to do a course, less an 'intensive' one. But up to you to work out of the power probation is worth the hassle, either way.
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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?'