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Mopeds
and Motorcycles - Routes to your Licence
What
is a moped and what is a motorcycle?
A moped
is a motorcycle that has the following features:
- Maximum
design speed not exceeding 50 km/h (approx. 31 mph).
- Does
not have an engine over 50cc.
- Can
be moved by pedals, if the moped was first used before August
1977.
A learner
motorcycle has the following features:
- Engine
up to 125cc.
- Power
output not exceeding 11kW.
Provisional
Moped Licence
You
can only hold this if you are at least 16 years old. It entitles
you to ride a moped on the road as a learner with L-plates. You
MUST not carry pillion passengers or use motorways.
Your
provisional licence is only valid when you have the DL196 Certificate
issued on completion of the CBT by an approved training body.
Provisional
moped licences are not time limited.
A CBT
certificate obtained on a moped is also valid for motorcycles once
the rider has reached the age of 17 years and has the necessary
licence.
Full
Moped Licence
A full
moped licence automatically gives you provisional motorcycle entitlement.
However, you must be at least 17 years old to take up the provisional
entitlement.
Provisional
Motorcycle Licence
You
can only hold this licence if you are at least 17 years old. It
entitles you to ride a moped or a motorcycle as a learner with L-plates.
You may practice unaccompanied on a bike up to 125cc after a compulsory
basic training (CBT) course has been completed. For larger machines
the Direct Access accompanying rider rules apply. You MUST not carry
pillion passengers or use motorways.
Provisional
motorcycle licences issued before 1 February 2001 are valid for
two years from the date of issue. Provisional motorcycle licences
issued from 1 February 2001 will be valid until age 70. Persons
whose licences have lapsed under the pre-February 2001 rules, or
who fail to pass a test within the 2 year life of their current
licence, will be able to apply to have their provisional motorcycle
licence restored immediately.
Full
Car Licence
If
you passed a cat test before 1 February 2001, you are automatically
entitled to ride a moped without taking CBT (although it is recommended
that you do if you). If you passed a car test on or after that date,
you will still receive a moped riding course before riding on the
road.
Your
full car licence also gives you provisional motorcycle entitlement
- you may ride as a learner with L-plates.
You
MUST not carry pillion passengers or use motorways.
MOTORCYCLE
TRAINING
What
training do I need to take?
The
starting point for learners is the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT).
This is a course run by training bodies approved by the Driving
Standards Agency (DSA). Most DSA approved training bodies can hire
or loan both bikes and safety equipment, e.g. helmets.
Compulsory
Basic Training (CBT)
- All
learner riders must complete CBT before riding on the roads.
- CBT
pass certificates issued before 1 February 2001 will be valid
for three years from the date of issue. Those certificates issued
from 1 February 2001, will be valid for 2 years.
- CBT
will have to be re-taken if both theory and practical tests are
not passed within the Certificate life.
CBT
must be completed before riding on the road by all learners who
are resident on mainland Great Britain, islands that are connected
to the mainland by road, and the following islands:- Wight, North
Uist, Lewis, South Uist, Harris, Benbecula, mainland Orkney and
mainland Shetland. Residents of all other islands will be exempt
from the need to take CBT, but only if riding on roads which are
on an exempted island.
A CBT
certificate issued in respect of a course completed on a motorcycle
and sidecar combination or a moped with more than 2 wheels will
restrict the provisional riding entitlement (or full moped entitlement
on full car licence) to such vehicles.
Once
you have successfully completed CBT, and you have your Certificate
(DL 196), you can carry on to take additional training to pass your
test and qualify for a full motorcycle or moped licence.
What
test do I need to take?
There
are 3 categories of full lecence to aim for:
- Category
P - moped.
- Sub-Category
A1 - light motorcycle licence, which restricts riders to any bike
up to 125cc and a power output of 11kW.
- Category
A - standard motorcycle licence.
Moped
and Motorcycle tests normally consist of 2 separate parts - a theory
test and a practical test.
Theory
Test
You
will probably need to pass a Theory Test before taking a practical
test for a moped or a motorcycle.
You
do not need to take a theory test if you already hold a full licence
for another category of motorcycle or have passed a moped test since
1 July 1996.
The
Theory Test Pass Certificate is valid for 2 years. The practical
test must be passed within this period otherwise the Theory Test
will have to be taken again.
Practical
Test
- Category
P - the practical test can be taken on any moped.
- Sub-Category
A1 - the practical test must be taken on a bike of between 75cc
and 125cc.
- Category
A - the practical test is taken on a bike of between 121cc and
125cc and capable of at least 100 kph. After passing the standard
motorcycle practical test you will be restricted for 2 years to
riding a bike of up to 25kW and a power/weight ratio not exceeding
0.16kW/kg. After this you may ride any size of bike.
Riders
over the age of 21, or those who reach 21 before their 2-year restriction
ends, have further test options.
Direct
Access
Those
who do not already hold a full motorcycle licence may, after taking
CBT and Theory test, if necessary, take the practical test on a
motorcycle with a power output of at least 35kW. A pass will allow
you to ride any size of bike.
All
or part of the CBT course may be taken on either a learner bike
or a large bike.
You
may practise for the practical test on bikes larger than the learner
bike specification provided:
- You
are accompanied at all times by a qualified instructor on another
bike and in radio contact.
- You
wear fluorescent or reflective clothing and follow all other provisional
licence restrictions.
Accelerated
Access
Riders
who already hold a full licence and reach age 21 while still within
the 2 year restricted period and wish to ride bikes larger than
25kW, may practise and take a further test on a large bike.
The
same test and practise conditions for Direct Access will apply.
Although
you revert to learner status while practising, test failure will
not affect your existing motorcycle entitlement.
Sidecars
Learners
who wish to ride with a sidecar can practise on a combination with
a power/weight ration not exceeding 0.16kW/kg.
On
obtaining a standard licence (category A), you will be restricted
to a combination with the above power/weight ratio for two years.
At
age 21 learners may, only within Direct Access or Accelerated Access
provisions, practise on a larger combination. But the test must
be taken on a solo bike (physically disabled riders may take a test
on a sidecar combination, but their licence will limit them to riding
combinations).
Note
1 bhp
= 0.75kW
100 km/h = 62 mph (approx.)
1 kg = 2.2 lbs
Examples
11
kW = 14.6 bhp
25 kW = 33 bhp
35 kW = 46.6 bhp
bhp = brake horse power
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