To ride a motorcycle you first need the entitlement on your licence. At 16, you can apply for a provisional licence to ride a moped (cat P)
At 17, you can ride a 125cc on a provisional licence. (catA)
If you hold a full car licence you already have a provisional licence to ride a motorcycle ( Cat A ). When you have your provisional entitlement, you need a CBT Certificate,(DL196).
A CBT Certificate lasts for 2 years, after this time, if you have not passed your test you will be required to retake your CBT.Before you can take your test you need to take a THEORY test. From Feb 1st 2001 all motorcycle riders even if they have a full car licence need to take the motorcycle theory test.
If you are under 21, can only get a restricted licence (category A1 Light Motorcycle 33BHP). If you are over 21, you can do a Full licence course on a 500cc (Category A) .
If you hold a Category A1 licence, you are restricted to a bike of 33bhp.
Safty Helmets
you ride a motorbike or a moped in the UK you must wear a safety helmet. Really?.... you ask. But did you know there are also other requirements that tie in with this. Below is a few things you might not have known.
Legally:
1) The strap must be done up.
2) It must fit properly.
3) It must be an approved safety helmet. It'll either display a BS6658 sticker on the outside, or an EC approval mark somewhere inside. Only BS 6658 types A & B or EC Regulation 22 type 05 series are legal in the UK. |
Visor LawUnlike helmets wearing a visor or goggles isn't a legal requirment but as soon as you use one a whole new bunch of rules apply to you.
Legally
1) It must be an approved visor / goggle It'll either have a BS4110 mark or the new EC Regulation 22 type 05 mark.
2) A 50% tint is the darkest you're allowed by law and even then it will be marked "for daylight use only". Dark, mirrored etc. visors are illegal, wear sunglasses instead.
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Protective Clothing
Whilst there is no law about clothing, It's ideal to purchase some specialised motorcycle clothing, not only to keep you warm, but to keep you safe. The most popular attire is leather, it's warm and it's practical and strong in event of a crash, but it's not very waterproof. There is now a wide choice of alternative fabrics, which work as well which are waterproof.
Clothing, including motorcycle gloves, can be purchased with additional padding and armour.
Boots
Boots are best. They will protect your ankles in the event of an accident, and also will help to keep you warm.
Race cans
Race Cans are stamped with 'NOT FOR ROAD USE' - For anyone who has a problem with understanding that - They are illegal.
Race Cans and Full race Systems can be used on the Race Track if you are a racer - and on trackdays (subject to the organisers conditions or the tracks noise requirements)
If you use a race can on the road, expect to get a rectification order from a Police officer.
Black Visors
Wearing a Black, Tinted and Coloured Visor on your Crash Helmet is now illegal for road use in the UK Daytime use only. It doesn't matter that the boy racers in their cars have blacked out windows. We no longer get a say in the matter.
They can be worn on tracks, subject to organisers terms and conditions.
Motorcyclists
Direct access scheme
Direct access is a scheme which allows a person over the age of 21 to avoid the two year/25 kW restriction by taking a test on a machine of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp). A pass allows you to ride any size of bike. Any instruction given on a machine that exceeds the normal learner motorcycle specification must be supervised at all times by a certified motorcycle instructor who should be in radio contact. You should also wear fluorescent or reflective clothing and follow all other provisional licence restrictions.
Accelerated access
Riders who reach the age of 21, while still within the two year period where they are restricted to maximum 25 kW (33 bhp) machines, but who wish to ride larger bikes need to pass a further test on a motorcycle of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp). They may practise on bikes over 25 kW (33 bhp) under the same practice conditions for direct access riders. You will revert to learner status while practising (on a motorcycle greater than 25 kW (33 bhp)) although test failure will not affect your existing licence.
Mopeds and tractors
If you want to ride a moped you can take your theory test when you are 16, but again you must make sure you have a valid provisional licence.
If you are 16 and already have a provisional licence for an agricultural vehicle or a moped, this will give you provisional entitlement to drive a car when you are 17.
The facts
Motorcyclists are more likely to be injured in serious or fatal crashes than car drivers.
In 2006 599 motorcyclists died and 5,885 were seriously injured in road accidents.
Injuries to motorcyclists are far out of proportion to their presence on our roads. Motorcyclists are just 1 per cent of total road traffic, but account for 19 per cent of all Great Britain's road user deaths.
The five most common factors in road accidents that involve injury to motorcyclists are:
- failed to look properly
- loss of control
- failed to judge other person's path or speed
- careless, reckless or in a hurry
- poor turn or manoeuvre
Around 25 per cent of motorcycle fatalities were crashes that did not involve another vehicle. Of the remaining 75 per cent, almost half involve a car driver looking but failing to see.
The new test event will contain two elements. The higher speed exercises and other exercises will be tested on safe off-road sites and take about 10 minutes to complete. The accompanied on road element of the test will follow, consisting of a road ride covering a variety of road and traffic conditions and will also include normal stops, hill and angle starts. Candidates who have demonstrated riding skills of a dangerously incompetent level during the off-road part of the test will not be permitted to proceed to the on-road element.
These new exercises include:
- At least two exercises carried out at slow speed, including a slalom
- At least two exercises carried out at higher speed, of which one exercise should be in second or third gear, at a speed of at least 30 km/h (approx. 19 mph) and one exercise avoiding an obstacle at a minimum speed of 50 km/h (approx. 31 mph)
- At least two braking exercises, including an emergency brake at a minimum speed of 50 km/h (approx. 31 mph)
On the day of the test, candidates will be asked by the examiner to demonstrate their riding ability on either the left-hand or right-hand circuit. Please note that the standard off-road layout may change due to local conditions on the casual sites.