How much cost to get a bike license

whitecrook · 31 Oct 2013 at 13:35

Hi All

I'm thinking about getting a bike license. As far as I can tell I'm a car driver old enough to not need to bother with all the stuff so it will go like this:

Do CBT
Do theory test
Do 2 part practical test
I can now ride any size of bike

CBT is about £100? and 1 day
Theory test - how much does this cost, is this the same as the car theory (which i done when it was just pen and paper in late 90's,) is it computers now?
2 part practical test - do I not need to do lessons first? Like when I learned to drive a car? OR what. Are lessons about £20 an hour

After all this I would need to get a bike, leathers, gloves a helmet, etc. What sort of cost for all the gear would I be looking at? £200? £500? £1000?

cheers all

edit seems theory and practical costs are thus:
Theory test £31
Practical module 1 (off-road) test £15.50
Practical module 2 (on-road) test £88.50

That leaves the gear and the lessons? Is it conventionally done via lessons, or in a 3-day course type thing ?

Fireskull · 31 Oct 2013 at 14:28

Gear is generally best you can afford imo, You could spend £500 on a helmet alone

I would set yourself a budget and work around that, with emphasis on getting the best helmet you can afford.

Again lessons vs course is what you can afford, if you want the quick route go the 3 day course route, I know plenty who have and don't regret it, you already know how to drive so its just learning how to ride a bike.
Again cost varies massively for areas so best compare all your local courses.

Buchanan0204 · 31 Oct 2013 at 14:28

You can do lessons or an intensive course. Personal preference and most places offer both.

You will most definitely need lessons. You're not expected to pay for a basic training course and then sit a full test. Riding a bike isn't as easy as it looks... Especially in November in Scotland.

Look at the SHARP website. It rates helmets, it's the NCAP of helmets. Obviously it's wise to get a decent brand, cheap brands really are crap in my experience. Shoei and Arai are worth the premium. There's others too, look around. Don't buy second hand.

Get a 3 quid neck protector. You'll soon understand why. Buy this for lessons.

wazza300 · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:22

How much cost to get a bike license?

Too much cos this greedy government don't like it when you try to save money!!!!

best pay as you go,no idea on the total amount as its all changed now since I done mine,but as ever the longer you leave it the more expensive it will get

if you already hold a car license then you don't need to do the theory again

Bat · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:29

wazza300 said:
if you already hold a car license then you don't need to do the theory again

I'm afraid you do. The bike theory test is different.

whitecrook · 31 Oct 2013 at 16:20

Buchanan0204 said:
You can do lessons or an intensive course. Personal preference and most places offer both.

You will most definitely need lessons. You're not expected to pay for a basic training course and then sit a full test. Riding a bike isn't as easy as it looks... Especially in November in Scotland.

Are there good recommended places in Glasgow area for this kind of thing that you know of? Is it about £400 for a 3 day course ?

It's looking like probably about £1000 + cost of bike to do this?

Seems a 5-6 day course with CBT included and bike hire etc is probably my best option.

wazza300 · 31 Oct 2013 at 16:23

Bat said:
I'm afraid you do. The bike theory test is different.

have they changed that too? hadn't used to be like that

@ the op you can rent their bikes to take lessons/test on inc cbt

edd1e · 31 Oct 2013 at 17:43

It depends how old you and when you got your car licence i think? but the date is in the 90's iirc.

I paid about £800 for my 4 day intensive course, theory and cbt back in 2008.

TripleT · 1 Nov 2013 at 06:51

I've tried reading this but I'm confused as hell.

I've done my cat and love riding but if I wanted to ride my 125 without L plates and on motorways (A(M) roads actually but same thing). Do I just need to do the mod1 which is a carpark thing?

eidolon · 1 Nov 2013 at 07:57

You'd need a full license in order to ride without L plates so that would mean CBT, theory, mod 1 and mod 2.

whitecrook · 1 Nov 2013 at 10:37

TripleT said:
I've tried reading this but I'm confused as hell.

I've done my cat and love riding but if I wanted to ride my 125 without L plates and on motorways (A(M) roads actually but same thing). Do I just need to do the mod1 which is a carpark thing?

Have a look at this gov.uk pdf file

TripleT · 3 Nov 2013 at 15:40

Still not really made it much clearer. So I can do a two part test on my bike and then ride without L plates, on motorways and carry a pillion.

Is this test any easier / cheaper than the full test? Apart from doing it on a small bike?

Katoom · 3 Nov 2013 at 15:46

I've just passed my test.

CBT was £90
Theory £31 (i think)
Mod 1 £190. (bike and gear hire plus one lesson)
Mod 2 £290 (same as above)

Had the lesson on the Sat, test on Tue. Passed that then booked Mod 2 for the following week, lesson again on Sat and test on Tue.

Scythe · 3 Nov 2013 at 23:58

TripleT said:
Still not really made it much clearer. So I can do a two part test on my bike and then ride without L plates, on motorways and carry a pillion.

Is this test any easier / cheaper than the full test? Apart from doing it on a small bike?

It's the same test, but on a small bike. You may as well pay the extra money to hire a bigger bike and do your full bike licence. If you've been riding a 125 for a while you won't have any problem passing the bike test, I rode my 125 for 18 months, and 1 day of lessons and passed my mod 2 the next day. I took my test on my 125 as I was doing a 33bhp restricted licence, which doesn't exist any more. I recommend getting a few lessons to get familar with the size and power of a 500cc+ bike if you chose to do it.

agnes · 5 Nov 2013 at 20:49

I always allow £500 a item of gear, gloves are normally £150 for a fairly decent pair (from what I spend) which then gives you more towards a jacket and helmet.

Try as much on as possible, when you are riding more than 30 miles and your helmet has bad wind noise or is crushing your forehead. The entire experience is going to suck. Get decent boots.

I only wear Sidi boots, because they fit me best!

whitecrook · 6 Nov 2013 at 02:03

Scythe said:
It's the same test, but on a small bike. You may as well pay the extra money to hire a bigger bike and do your full bike licence. If you've been riding a 125 for a while you won't have any problem passing the bike test, I rode my 125 for 18 months, and 1 day of lessons and passed my mod 2 the next day. I took my test on my 125 as I was doing a 33bhp restricted licence, which doesn't exist any more. I recommend getting a few lessons to get familar with the size and power of a 500cc+ bike if you chose to do it.

yeah I agree. I don't know why the poster wouldnt just sit the 'fullest' test you could? It would be like passing your cat test in an auto -- unless there is some medical or good reason to you are just limiting your self for no good reason. There's no reason you can't pass on a bigger bike and get a full license and then ride a smaller bike.

eddie101 · 6 Nov 2013 at 21:46

Having recently done mine I can tell you it's not cheap!

CBT - £100
Theory - £35
5 day course - £550 (inc bike hire, tuition, insurance and MOD1/2 Test Fees)

The feeling when you pass - Priceless

In all seriousness, it's not cheap to do. Infact, it's very bloody expensive. That said, I wouldn't change it for the world. There's nothing like being able to get on a bike and 'go'. Once you've had a taste, that's it.

agnes · 7 Nov 2013 at 08:48

Couldn't echo the above any more.

I bought a Ducati 748E (bog standard one) which was yellow when I was 20, 8 months before I could legally ride. It was HELL not being able to just hop on it and go for a blast.

I cheekily rode it around my close a few times, but never anything silly. I did my test in 2009 2 days after my birthday. Failed due to foot down on the u-turn. Pleb. Re took it as soon as possible, passed no problem. Got out on that sexy 748 and have never regretted it.

In total, with a re test, bike hire, CBT and theory and all that. It cost just under £1,000.

Best money I've ever spent, bikes run through the family, and are a part of me. I've been without a bike for over a year now... And people notice, they notice I'm not happy as much as I used to be. I go out drinking on the weekends more. I'm simply bored. Whilst I have my PC and games, I'm still bored. I'm not able to just pop away for a few hours on the bike on a Sunday to clear my head. Which ultimately, if people are out on Friday, and I know the weather is good on Saturday, I will get an early kip instead of going out and go ride on Saturday

Biking is a very large part of me and the cost of a licence never once crossed my mind as a second thought.

Nameless_87 · 7 Nov 2013 at 10:48

whitecrook said:
yeah I agree. I don't know why the poster wouldnt just sit the 'fullest' test you could? It would be like passing your cat test in an auto -- unless there is some medical or good reason to you are just limiting your self for no good reason. There's no reason you can't pass on a bigger bike and get a full license and then ride a smaller bike.

+1

I am starting my driving lessons on Tuesday and will go for the full license, however I will only get a 300cc bike for 2-3 years

Woogie · 7 Nov 2013 at 15:31

I think all told mine cost me around £1800 including all my gear just over a year ago.

£1000 on gear (Approx) and the other £800 on passing my test. this included CBT, MOD1, MOD2, Bike hire for those and multiple lessons to ensure I was ready.