Question about motorbike licence

eidolon

eidolon

eidolon

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From sticky

21 year old and above.

1. Apply for Licence.
2. Pass CBT (valid for 2 years).
3. Ride a 125cc with 'L' Plates.
4. Pass theory test (valid for 2 years).
5. Pass practical test on a machine with more than 46.6bhp via Direct Access route.
6. Ride any machine.

OR

5a. Pass Practical test on a 120-125cc machine capable of at least 62mph)
6a. Ride a machine with up to 33bhp for 2 years.
7. Ride any machine.

Car Licence holder, licence issued before 1st Feb 2001

1. Ride Moped
2. Pass CBT (valid for 2 years).
3. Ride a 125cc with 'L' Plates.
4. Pass theory test (valid for 2 years).
5. Pass practical test on a machine with more than 46.6bhp via Direct Access route.
6. Ride any machine.

OR

5a. Pass Practical test on a 120-125cc machine capable of at least 62mph)
6a. Ride a machine with up to 33bhp for 2 years.
7. Ride any machine.
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I've read the sticky but wanted some clarification.

I'm 32 and have had my car licence since 1992 so my understanding is that the easiest way for me to get going would be to

5a. Pass Practical test on a 120-125cc machine capable of at least 62mph) which means I will have to ride a bike with 33BHP for 2 years, then I can ride anything I want.

Is this correct? If so, what exactly is a 33BHP bike like? Is it painfully slow? Give me some examples of a 33BHP bike please so I can get an idea.

Would I be better off just passing practical test on a machine with more than 46.6bhp via Direct Access route which means I can ride anything I want straight away?
 
Definitely take the test on a big bike. At your age and with driving experience there's absolutely no point in restricting yourself to 33bhp for two years. The 33bhp limit either means riding slightly oddball, harder to find bikes, rubbish bikes, or restricting big bikes, all of which are a pain in the arse.

Do your DA and ride whatever you like :)

Power wise.. the Honda Bros 400 is a popular one, I think it juuuust scrapes under the limit. A lot of people go for VFR400s too, I'm not sure if they restrict them or they fit within the limit.

For scale, a 600 sportsbike will make well over 100 brake. My fazer's been dynoed at 131 at the wheel - so while 33 isn't slow, bikes are meant to go fast! Properly fast! That's what they're for!

Mostly though it's bike choice that would and did make me do the DA. The test and so on is just the same, there's no reason at all to take the restricted one instead imo.
 
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no

read the steps below this bit

"Car Licence holder, licence issued before 1st Feb 2001"

To ride a 125cc bike you only need a CBT, you dont need to pass a proper test to ride a 125.

If you take the theory and practical exam via the direct access course and you can ride what the hell you want straight away, asuming you're over 25 (which im pretty sure you are)
 
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MrLOL said:
no

read the steps below this bit

"Car Licence holder, licence issued before 1st Feb 2001"

To ride a 33bhp 125cc bike you only need a CBT, you dont need to pass a proper test to ride a 125.

If you take the theory and practical exam via the direct access course and you can ride what the hell you want straight away, asuming you're over 25 (which im pretty sure you are)
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125 on L plates is not 33bhp. It's limited to about 14brake. You can only ride a bike bigger than 125cc AND 14bhp with either a restricted or full bike license, not on L plates.
 
edited the post, had just come back to edit it actually, having read around a bit more, but you beat me to it

Aprilia RS125 i linked to is only 14bhp.
 
I've never quite figured the 'Ride a 33BHP Bike for 2 years' thing, do you have to ride it every day for 2 whole years, or can you simply say you had one for 2 years and grab a Full Licence, in effect just wait 2 years? How do they know you've done 2 years?

It's insane surely!? :p
 
I agree the 33bhp 2 year route will be a very dull 2 years... even the VFR400 mentioned will make about 55bhp so that would need to be restricted. (and stock you could not call a 400 a 'rocket' by a lot of standards, though up to supercar levels from standing start :))

Some people even restrict 600s, thats a crime imo, clamping a poor R6 at 33bhp would give it a top end of maybe 90-100mph at a guess and no top end rush at all compared with it's stock power and top end of about 160mph

From experience though there is a place for lower power bikes I find anything under 100bhp feels pretty lifeless.. especially if you've had rapid cars before.

Bikes are all about the rush of acceleration and being catapulted out of corners. Most of the newer 600s all put out over 100bhp at back wheel.. and even 100bhp starts to feel slow after a while (a year or so) at least when it comes to straight line dashes. I think the magic number comes at about 130+ rwbhp when things always feel quick however long you've owned the bike and the extra power means you can be lazy when you want to and stay in top gear at pretty much any speed and still have acceleration on tap...

Direct access is the way forward for a experienced road user for sure, and a 600cc bike the ideal stepping stone to practice your skills as the bike will be potentially as quick as is possible on twisty roads and still have power to live with bigger machines on straighter stuff. a lot of people find a 600 is all they need for their two wheel kicks and though they still command a lot of respect from the rider they are more forgiving at lower rpm's..making them ideal for newer riders.
 
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Only you can say whether you think 33bhp is enough. Personally I've never found my old Guzzi V50 lacking, and that 'only' produces 40bhp, but that's down to the way I ride and my attitude - I certainly don't agree that the point of having a bike is to go fast. To be honest though, since you're not restricted by age there's no reason not to go for the Direct Access, then you can ride whatever you want however you prefer.
 
Crowze said:
Only you can say whether you think 33bhp is enough. Personally I've never found my old Guzzi V50 lacking, and that 'only' produces 40bhp, but that's down to the way I ride and my attitude - I certainly don't agree that the point of having a bike is to go fast. To be honest though, since you're not restricted by age there's no reason not to go for the Direct Access, then you can ride whatever you want however you prefer.
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Agree there are different sorts of biker.. some people are not in it for the adrenelin rush but the experience of being in the open air and the freedom.

I ride bikes for both reasons but the rush is the main factor, nothing like going out for a ride and coming back home with heart beating fast and a big cheesy grin :)
 
Not ridden one but I'd imagine low geared supermoto's / big trails bikes are mental :)

Not sure I could live with one for a everyday ride though
 
doofer said:
I've never quite figured the 'Ride a 33BHP Bike for 2 years' thing, do you have to ride it every day for 2 whole years, or can you simply say you had one for 2 years and grab a Full Licence, in effect just wait 2 years? How do they know you've done 2 years?

It's insane surely!? :p
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You don't have to ride a bike at all in those two years, all it is is that you can't ride anything more powerful than 33 brake. Two years after you pass, your license becomes unrestricted :)
 
Skip the 125 and take yer das on a 500 .. Then look at the many options of 600's or 1000 v twins as yer new bike .

Cars will never seem fast again ;)

Persil
 
Still got one year left of my restriction :(. I still find my ~13bhp 2 stroke 125 quite a laugh though, though of course I respect it's *nothing* like a modern 600. Some part of me enjoys the build up I think, I enjoy hooning along on this little bike, having loads of fun, and still knowing there's loads to come ;)
 
Flukester said:
Agree there are different sorts of biker.. some people are not in it for the adrenelin rush but the experience of being in the open air and the freedom.

I ride bikes for both reasons but the rush is the main factor, nothing like going out for a ride and coming back home with heart beating fast and a big cheesy grin :)
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Exactly the same attitude I have.

Phil, if you want to save money then do the 2 year thing, if you want to go for it with your experience I reckon you should go and do the full on test. :)

33bhp isn't slow if you've never ridden a bike before, but if you've ridden bikes of 100bhp or more it will feel a bit snore worthy. Still does 60 faster than most cars ;) It's just top end speed you'll lack on and possible overtaking power.
 
Freefaller said:
Exactly the same attitude I have.

Phil, if you want to save money then do the 2 year thing, if you want to go for it with your experience I reckon you should go and do the full on test. :)

33bhp isn't slow if you've never ridden a bike before, but if you've ridden bikes of 100bhp or more it will feel a bit snore worthy. Still does 60 faster than most cars ;) It's just top end speed you'll lack on and possible overtaking power.
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33bhp gets old pretty quick, it's mainly the lack of grunt to overtake that becomes a problem, having to change down 2 gears every time is a pain in the ass!

Doing the test on a 125 isn't even that much cheaper, at most you would save £100 at a guess (so it would be £500 to get on ANY bike as opposed to £400 to be restricted for 2 years). Remember, theory is the same, test fee is the same, lessons cost the same.. just the bike hire might be a bit more depending on the trainer you use that's all.
 
doofer said:
I've never quite figured the 'Ride a 33BHP Bike for 2 years' thing, do you have to ride it every day for 2 whole years, or can you simply say you had one for 2 years and grab a Full Licence, in effect just wait 2 years? How do they know you've done 2 years?

It's insane surely!? :p
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Just hold the license for 2 years, nothing more.

It's only good for 17-21 year olds. Once your 21 you can just take direct access.
 
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