Thinking of getting my bike license. What is involved nowadays?

Hades · 2 Oct 2014 at 09:38

I got my car license in 1988 if that is relevant to what I can ride while learning.

I am thinking of getting a motorbike license, mostly just for something to do and to tick it off the life experience list. Any advice on what is needed nowadays would be appreciated.

What it the biggest engine I am allowed while learning? Do I have to do a Compulsory Basic Training or whatever it is called nowadays before being allowed to ride on L plates? Any suggestions on a suitable second hand learner bike to look for would also be appreciated.

Recommended clothing?

I am just fact finding at this stage.

Thanks.

tom_e · 2 Oct 2014 at 09:41

You can ride up to a 125cc without doing your CBT as you passed before 2000 or 1999 one of the 2 I think, although if you've never ridden before I'd recommend doing it anyway.
You could also do your direct access, which will allow you to ride any size bike and involves doing your motorcycle theory, MOD 1 and MOD 2 tests.

Hades · 2 Oct 2014 at 09:46

Thanks. I will look at those.

One · 2 Oct 2014 at 10:57

There is a sticky in this sub forum just for this type of query.

Essentially though, find your nearest/best motorbike school. Tell them you'd like to book a CBT on a geared bike with the aim to go on and do a DAS. They should advise you of cost and everything else such as equipment hire.

CBT proves you're safe enough to ride a 125 on l plates by yourself.

To upgrade to a full license you need:
Theory test
Mod1 (carpark maneuvers test)
Mod2 (road ride test)

As you're over 24 you can do all your training and tests on a 600cc machine and get a full unrestricted license upon passing them all.

Some schools will bundle the whole lot into a DAS package (including a CBT).

You shouldn't expect to pay more than £400-£600, unless you fail any tests of course.

Hades · 2 Oct 2014 at 11:34

Thanks.

mgsdetail · 2 Oct 2014 at 11:39

Also the biggest cc you can ride without doing your cbt is 50cc. I think your only allowed pull and go, so no geared stuff.

I done my cbt about 3 months ago and have got a 125cc to use on the road to help me out a little before I get my test sorted. Having never rode a bike on the road (field only) I was keeping a spare pair under wear handy, but after about 50 miles it just clicked.
My main problem was thinking about it to much when out riding, it's hard to explain really.

I've had a couple of day's at the local test centre on a 600cc and find it a lot easier to ride than my 125cc due to my size. Not got the spare money at the moment to do my full test so waiting till the new year and for the cold weather to go as I will not be riding in the cold anyway for a couple of year till I'm sure of myself and the bigger bike.

One · 2 Oct 2014 at 11:53

Nah, this guy's been on the road since 88. He knows how roads work and he knows how to use a clutch. So long as he can also ride a pedal bike then he'll be absolutely fine.

The only advice I could have used is that you slip the clutch more on a bike than you do in a car.

ttaskmaster · 2 Oct 2014 at 14:58

One said:
Nah, this guy's been on the road since 88. He knows how roads work and he knows how to use a clutch. So long as he can also ride a pedal bike then he'll be absolutely fine.

That's what a lot of drivers like to think... Knowing how something works and having the natural ability to just do it, at a sufficient standard to operate a vehicle effectively are two very different things and many people have suffered nasty or even fatal accidents as a result of this thinking.

This is why they brought the CBT along in the first place.

Besides, having a pair of experienced eyes look over you as you learn is just good sense.

As for which 125 (or big bike, if you're doing DAS) to get - Try the ones at the riding school out first.
Then go try some at the various bike shops. See which ones feel best for you personally.
You may like Sporties, Cruisers, Trailies or something completely unexpected. They are so vastly different and it does matter!!

I never liked the idea of a chromed monstrosity, but ended up getting a Cruiser as my first ride because it fit me so well. Ended up having some stunning experiences on that bike!!

mgsdetail · 2 Oct 2014 at 15:21

One said:
Nah, this guy's been on the road since 88. He knows how roads work and he knows how to use a clutch. So long as he can also ride a pedal bike then he'll be absolutely fine.

The only advice I could have used is that you slip the clutch more on a bike than you do in a car.

What he said below. No way are you going to get on a bike and be "absolutely fine" from the first second.
I've not been riding long but have got mates which have been riding years and all gave me advice. Do your CBT and start from there.

ttaskmaster said:
That's what a lot of drivers like to think... Knowing how something works and having the natural ability to just do it, at a sufficient standard to operate a vehicle effectively are two very different things and many people have suffered nasty or even fatal accidents as a result of this thinking.

This is why they brought the CBT along in the first place.

Besides, having a pair of experienced eyes look over you as you learn is just good sense.

As for which 125 (or big bike, if you're doing DAS) to get - Try the ones at the riding school out first.
Then go try some at the various bike shops. See which ones feel best for you personally.
You may like Sporties, Cruisers, Trailies or something completely unexpected. They are so vastly different and it does matter!!

I never liked the idea of a chromed monstrosity, but ended up getting a Cruiser as my first ride because it fit me so well. Ended up having some stunning experiences on that bike!!

tom_e · 2 Oct 2014 at 15:23

I had a guy on my CBT a couple of weeks ago who apparently had done his CBT once before already and was just there to renew it and in the end he was taken off in an ambulance because he overcooked his emergency stop and ended up bouncing off the floor with the bike on top of him, being able to drive does not mean you can magically jump on a bike and be fine.

One · 2 Oct 2014 at 16:07

*shrug* It worked for me.

I did a CBT on a 125. Mornings training on a 600 before the mod 1, then an afternoon on the road on a 600, then took the mod 2 the next day at 11 having started that day at 9.

If it wasn't my experience the car that made very simple for me then I don't know what did.

I found a lot of bikers like to say it's much more complicated to ride a bike than a car but as long as you have two wheel balance then it's no harder.

Hades · 2 Oct 2014 at 16:25

Once again thanks. I have ridden a bike before. Back in about 1990(ish) I did an intensive one week course but failed it. I'd only taken it because I had a spare week off work and the course was incredibly cheap due to it being January. So I never bothered taking it again.

But honestly it taught me more about road awareness than years of driving a car, simply because you're so much more vulnerable. I think it made me a better car driver, or certainly a more cautious one.

So yes I think it's a good idea to take the CBT even if I don't need to.

leigh_boy · 2 Oct 2014 at 16:45

life savers all the time is all im gona asay

wazza300 · 2 Oct 2014 at 16:48

stick with the car,warm safer/don't get wet haha

ElliorR · 2 Oct 2014 at 16:50

You do need to take a CBT as no one is exempt, unless you fancy a 50cc moped which is ok for someone who passed their car test before 1st Feb 2001.

Don't get a 50cc moped as there's too many shell suits out there already.

Dogbreath · 2 Oct 2014 at 17:01

One said:
I found a lot of bikers like to say it's much more complicated to ride a bike than a car but as long as you have two wheel balance then it's no harder.

It no more complicated to operate a bike than a car, but it requires substantially more effort and concentration to stay alive.

mgsdetail · 2 Oct 2014 at 17:17

Dogbreath said:
It no more complicated to operate a bike than a car, but it requires substantially more effort and concentration to stay alive.

Nail on head.

TallPaul_S · 3 Oct 2014 at 08:43

Very true, I couldn't get my head around the gears/clutch and the co-ordiantion to do it, but it just clicked. Once you remember a couple of fundamentals (looking where you're going, and keeing the engine revs high/slipping the clutch at slow speed) and the rest is easy.

One · 3 Oct 2014 at 10:30

Dogbreath said:
It no more complicated to operate a bike than a car, but it requires substantially more effort and concentration to stay alive.

Well yes, but I was talking about him taking lessons and doing the CBT, test. In which I said he should be absolutely fine because of his experience in a car.

We all know being test passing standard is not enough for the road and you quickly learn to raise your standard. This is true of cars and bikes.

Fireskull · 3 Oct 2014 at 10:47

You could have 50 years experience in a car that isn't going to help you in the CBT, other than you know what the terms 'Clutch, brake and accelerator' are

On the actual road yes of course it is going to help as you know what to expect out there, but just because you can drive a car does not mean its going to help you ride a motorbike any quicker and visa versa, a lot of drivers who get on a bike after years of being a driver struggle with the clutch control of a motorbike, its just not natural to most people.