A2 to A wait time?

[asta1]

I have got my Mod 2 test on Monday and was wondering what the rules are on the 2 year wait before the upgrade to the full A.
Is it simply 2 years from the date of passing the A2 Mod 2 irrespective of what experience you gain over the time period, or do you actually have to be riding? If so, are there restrictions on bike types and how can you prove that you have been riding?
I only ask because I am unlikely to buy a bike for at least a month or so after passing the test (assuming I get it sorted come monday) and this doesn't seem to be clear in the guidance.
Cheers.

[bamt]

It's purely time. You needn't touch a bike again before going for your A test.

[pinkyfloyd]

[Holdawayt]

Just to clarify, you realise that the licence doesn't automatically upgrade to a full one after 2 years like it used to. You'll have to wait til you're 24 or 2 years after passing your A2 then you need to take both Mod 1 and Mod 2 again. (and your theory if it's run out).

[Rogerborg]

[asta1]

Thanks everyone,
yeah I thought that was the case, just seems silly that you can effectively get an A licence 2 years early despite having no real road experience beyond the A2 test. Still, at least that means that I can take my A tests a couple of months earlier.
I also kind of resent having to retake the Mod 1 and 2 again at great expense, but that is a different matter.

[M.C]

Used to be you could pass on a 125, you'd be restricted to 33bhp for 2 years, then you automatically got an unrestricted license.

There are restrictions on the bikes you can ride on an A2 license (not sure of you were asking that but anyway):
* Motorcycles not exceeding 35kW (46.6bhp)
* Power to weight not exceeding 0.2 kW/kg
* Not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power (so you can't restrict a bike that originally put out 100bhp for example).

Making people retake tests is utterly stupid, especially as cagers take one easy test in a 1.0L Corsa, and are never bothered again.

[stevo as b4]

You know the 33bhp restricted license limit for 2years for under 21's was never really a bad idea in hindsight, and it did work quite well too.

Won't solve born again deaths, but then what will?

The biggest downside to the old system was I guess it was reducing interest of younger riders to ever want to bother doing their test, when they could ride on a CBT for a year or so and then jump into a car at 21 instead?

I spose we didn't have that many deliberate 33bhp bikes back then, but it cant have been much worse than the poor selection of A2 bikes out there now either?

The next step under the current balls up system might well be forced A1, A2 and Unrestricted training and tests, for any rider, any age if you want to get a license to ride any bike.

[M.C]

[asta1]

Yeah, it just seems stupid to me that this monday I can take and (hopefully) pass my A2 on a Gladius, with the appropriate restriction obviously, but in 2 years I have to come back and do the whole bullshit process again on the same bike.
What does that achieve? For the purpose of the test, there is no difference at all in the behaviour of the restricted and unrestricted bike, as you are not going to exceed 70mph, nor are you going to accelerate hard, but I still have to repeat everything...completely illogical.

[Rogerborg]

[Copyhat]

I don't know if this applies to the UK, but some EU countries did implement a rule in the summer of 2014 that one can take a driver's licence for big trikes. This means that one does have to take the final test on a category A bike, while lessons are held with an A2 bike.

This means that the license holder automatically proceeds to category A after 2 years or the 24th birthday (whichever comes first.)
____________________
Past: '91 Honda NTV650, '93 Kawasaki GPZ 500S
Current: '91 Honda VFR750F, '83 Suzuki GSX400F