I want a motorbike what do i need to do

[dominatrix1]

basically i want to get a motorbike preferably one that i can give people lifts on aswell, mainly going to be for getting round town. what do i need to do to get one. i am 20 have a driving license but not a motobike one

 

[SKILL]

As a 20 year old you would need to:

Do your CBT (£100-140 ish, days riding on a 125 basically),
Do your theory test (just over £20)
Do your A2 Test,

Most people do the first and last parts as part of an intensive course, which depending on how many days tuition (4-6 usually) can cost anywhere from £450 to £600,

Once you have the A2 licence that is a full licence with the exception that you are restricted to 33bhp for the first two years, but you can carry pillion passengers and go on the motorway,

you'd then obviously need to get the gear which would be £500+ really, and the bike and insurance.

 

[Attu90]

Cant you ride a 50cc moped with a car licence and carry people as well ?
Over that I think you have to take your CBT which will let you ride up to 125cc but you wont be able to carry anyone and any thing over that its a full bike test.
Your best bet if you want to just get around town would be a 50cc moped so you could do every thing you want without any tests.

 

[moss]

Cant you ride a 50cc moped with a car licence and carry people as well ?

Your best bet if you want to just get around town would be a 50cc moped so you could do every thing you want without any tests.

Everyone needs to do a CBT now.

 

[Wyvern971]

to take passengers you will need a full license. A CBT allows you to ride with L plates but does not allow passengers. I have seen someone nicked for carrying a passenger with L plates.

You will need to take a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) - and by basic it is very basic.
Motorbike theory test (similar to the car one with a few bike specific questions)
Bike test

As you are 20 you can only take the A2 restricted test. This means you can ride any bike limited to 33bhp once passed. The restriction lasts 2 years.

The usual format for bike tests is anything from 1-4 days training and then to test.

You will need to budget for kit as well. NEVER use a second hand helmet.
A helmet is the only requirement for riding on the road, but I'd advise investing in protective gear, even a low speed spill can be painful.

With a passenger you'll find your accelleration is reduced significantly and your braking distance is also increased by quite a bit. Use the back brake more with a pillion as it makes it smoother.

EDIT:

Both the CBT and theory test are only valid for 2 years

 

[CocoPops]

Everyone needs to do a CBT now.

Are you sure?

Full Car Licence
If you have a full car licence, you are automatically entitled to ride a moped without L-Plates although if the licence relates to a car test passed on or after 1 February 2001 you must first complete a CBT course and obtain a DL196 Certificate to validate your entitlement.


Your full car licence also gives you provisional motorcycle entitlement for learner machines (up to 125cc) i.e. you may ride a motorcycle as a learner with L-Plates and NO pillion passengers or motorway use after completing CBT.

 

[Wyvern971]

Are you sure?

In this instance the OP is 20 which would mean he hasn't had his car license pre-2001 so he would need to do a CBT first.

 

[Bug One]

Are you sure?

That sounds rather out of date.

 

[CocoPops]

That sounds rather out of date.

You will need to complete CBT if:
you want to ride a moped (a moped has an engine not over 50 cc with maximum design speed not exceeding 50 kilometres per hour (km/h) which is approximately 31 miles per hour)
you want to ride a motorcycle
If you obtained your car licence before 1 February 2001 you do not need to complete a CBT to ride a moped.

--edit--
linky to sauce
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopeds/DG_4022430

 

[Bug One]

So you can ride a 50cc moped with an old style license. However anything more you need a CBT.

I dont think a 50cc moped could carry a pillion passenger. Would be quicker to walk