Bike licence, how easy are they to get?

DieselJake · Feb 8, 2015

Got a new job in the city centre but with the amount of traffic and lack of parking theirs no chance I'm driving, took two busses for the first few days but... well actually the bus isn't too bad (ratio of attractive girls has been very good during the times I've been traveling! True story) just wanted to hear some experiences of how ball breaking it is to get a full bike licence, I'll book in for my CBT soon but don't fancy looking like an L plate hoodlum for long.

From videos I've seen the full direct access test doesn't look too bad (although obviously I have no experience riding so it's hard to say) and I presume the theory test is similar or the same as the car test. Seems a heck of a lot of cash so I'm looking for thoughts and opinions before I shed out.

matt summers · Feb 8, 2015

the standard bike test is similar to the car test twenty minutes of being followed around either by bike or car driving safely not killing anyone or yourself and of course the u turn, life saver checks etc. this will allow you to ride upto 15kw machine I think or 33 bhp which doesn't sound massive but will be perfectly quick enough for commute around city center and if you pick the right machine gives you view over the top of some traffic for the more trail or super moto looking machines, they are also narrower for that filtering through traffic usefulness, I believe this test (not including lessons) is around the £100 mark or was anyway, the direct access however is the big boy bike test and takes a full intensive week or riding with the test at the end if you are ready, unless the law has changed in the last few years ( might have) then once you pass this you can pretty much ride anything you can insure...

for me do the normal level of bike test £100 option shall we say, get something nimble and quick and spend the next year learning how to ride for real, ie roadcraft, how to stay alive, how to drive for the people on the road who cant or don't see you

good luck, but its well worth it!

Andy1608 · Feb 8, 2015

Very easy if you can ride a bike lol
there even easier to lose once you think your rossi lol

cabbychris · Feb 8, 2015

Had mine for over 30years when i did mine it was ride round the block thats it test done,now there is a lot more involved wife is doing hers when weather gets a bit better and yes its not cheap,dont forget to factor in all you gear aswell you can easy do £500 in on that alone,remember what they say about helmets a 50pence helmet for a 50 pence head DO NOT SCRIMP ON A GOOD HELMET,YOU WANT TO BE LOOKING AT A MINIMUM OF £150 FOR A GOODISH 1 more the better.

hades- · Feb 8, 2015

as above its not easy unless you can ride

DieselJake · Feb 8, 2015

Maybe it's best for me to get all the gear and helmet now before I take the CBT, then ride a 125 on L plates for a couple months, then take the full test. Still can't believe the amount of cash a full licence costs, ****** licence to print money.

cabbychris · Feb 8, 2015

DieselJake said:
Maybe it's best for me to get all the gear and helmet now before I take the CBT, then ride a 125 on L plates for a couple months, then take the full test. Still can't believe the amount of cash a full licence costs, ****** licence to print money.

A 125 would be the best way to go, dont forget to factor in insurance too this also is not cheap have you had any quotes for any bike yet,then eventually when you got loads of no claims you can have 1 like mine

DieselJake · Feb 8, 2015

Cheers, got a couple of quotes but not from my current insurer who should hopefully be cheapest, no claims is already screwed unfortunately haha (2 my fault, 2 not my fault but to be expected as I was doing 100+ busy miles a day). Nice bike!

AlexGSi2000 · Feb 9, 2015

I passed my bike test last year. Should have done it a few years ago before they made it more of a process;
I did it this way;

1 - CBT
2 - Theory test (at test centre, done on a computer - questions and video based hazard perception)
3 - Mod 1 Test
4 - Mod 2 Test

1 - The CBT is straight forward, I had only ridden "rev & go" in the past and opted to do it on a geared 125cc bike - found it a little difficult at first as I had not ridden bikes much, by the end of the day I had become accustomed to it. The CBT I took lasted around 8 hours.

2 - Next I took the theory test, I decided to do this before I took any lessons.

3 - After 5x two hour lessons I went in for the MOD 1 test - this is carried out at the test centre and is focused around slow speed manouvres and control. MOD 1 needs to be passed before MOD 2 is taken.

4 - Another two hour lesson and I went in for the MOD 2 - this is a road ride with a route picked by the examiner, my test lasted one hour with the examiner giving instructions via radio and following in a car.

Thankfully I passed all tests first time, but they are easily failed - confidence is key.
Take time getting used to the slow speed stuff and it will help all the way through.

I purchased a CBR600FS1 shortly after and realised I should have done it years ago! - Im still a novice (4,000 miles) but loving it - nothing beats it really.

One tip I can give you is to purchase your kit before the MOD1 & 2 tests and wear it (helmet, jacket, boots.etc) - it shows the examiner that you are serious about riding.

If you need any advice - let me know.

Bbflex · Feb 9, 2015

It's good it costs a lot and is indepth as 600cc+ are killing machines, esp road bikes, get atleast a years riding under your belt on a 125cc or take the standard test and just keep learning for a few years till your ready for a full licence, I'd honestly say it takes a minimum of 3 years to get your eye in on riding properly, and a lifetime perfecting it, I gave up bikes after having an accident on my CBR, I spent 4 years riding 125's all year round before jumping to a 600, the roads have become a bit too busy to enjoy it now, still got all my gear though so never say never lol!

Ps if you buy an aprillia rs125 from the 00's then they are probably as much fun you'll be able to have on a 125, not the most reliable if not routinely looked after, but a lot of fun for such a small bike

hades- · Feb 9, 2015

when did the mod 1 mod 2 come in ?

AlexGSi2000 · Feb 9, 2015

January 2013 I think.

hendrix1963 · Feb 9, 2015

I agree with the advice to gain as much experience as possible on smaller bikes. Stay away from the powerful stuff until you have learned as much as possible and gained plenty of experience riding smaller bikes. The law was different when I started and you could ride a 250 that did 100mph on L plates. Im surprised I and any of my generation lived to give advice lol.

A4_MaJiK · Feb 10, 2015

AlexGSi2000 said:
January 2013 I think.

The modules came into effect as of 27th April 2009. 19th January 2013 was when the most recent changes came into effect (I know as I passed on 3rd January 2013) whereby anybody under the age of 24 can only ride up to a restriced power level when taking direct access. You basically have to resit the test twice except on a bigger bike essentially, if you want to ride unrestricted.

I'm glad I managed to get that out of the way!

Azeem

cabbychris · Feb 10, 2015

Anyone remember the sidewinder that you could attached to any cc bike so that you could have a large bike on a learner licence,god that shows my age

AlexGSi2000 · Feb 11, 2015

cabbychris said:
Anyone remember the sidewinder that you could attached to any cc bike so that you could have a large bike on a learner licence,god that shows my age

My old boss mentioned these a few years ago - his mate had one and was forever hitting things! Reckoned they were abit dangerous.

Darran · Feb 24, 2015

Sidewinder LMAO , that brings back some painful memories!

DieselJake · Feb 26, 2015

Got all my gear now (currently armoured jeans but may get something more heavy duty), just need to book a CBT then get a bike (CBR 125?), in a few months I'll get the other tests out the way in a and get something bigger.

Did want an RS125 as said but unfortunately can't see it being fesable/reliable as a commuter bike.

cabbychris · Feb 26, 2015

You are half way there now i have same jacket my helmet is a hjc rpha10 bet you cant wait now then

Bbflex · Feb 26, 2015

DieselJake said:
Got all my gear now (currently armoured jeans but may get something more heavy duty), just need to book a CBT then get a bike (CBR 125?), in a few months I'll get the other tests out the way in a and get something bigger.

Did want an RS125 as said but unfortunately can't see it being fesable/reliable as a commuter bike.

Hahaha! You look really uncomfortable in it for some reason, but too not be seen as a bad sport, I'd had a few drinks and sorting all my old clothes out at my parents and I was checking whether my bike gear still fitted lol!

This is the power ranger you never saw on TV

Hahahaha!
That's as big a bike as I'll be riding at the moment, I do keep reading these posts and think about getting back in the saddle.

Oh and my old trick for wearing jeans and riding was wear some jogging bottoms underneath but ones with a cotton lining, the jeans wear through and you've still got some protection off the joggers, the cotton stops the joggers from being melted onto your skin, when I was a yout they saved my skin a few times, and when I dropped the CBR for the last time on the way back from work the same method saved my skin then too.

AlexGSi2000 · Mar 17, 2015

Good stuff - which armoured jeans did you go for?
Im going to be looking at getting an armoured hoodie and jeans for the short rides from my house to the unit (2 miles) during the summer months - cant really justify getting the leathers on for a 5 minute ride.

I am getting closer to having mine back on the road again now, just got the wiring looms to sort, fairings to go back on - then im done. Got her started last week after the engine work;

DieselJake · Mar 17, 2015

AlexGSi2000 said:
Good stuff - which armoured jeans did you go for?
Im going to be looking at getting an armoured hoodie and jeans for the short rides from my house to the unit (2 miles) during the summer months - cant really justify getting the leathers on for a 5 minute ride.

I am getting closer to having mine back on the road again now, just got the wiring looms to sort, fairings to go back on - then im done. Got her started last week after the engine work;

Nice bike! Bet it goes as well as it sounds!

Cheap eBay pair http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131075378414?_trksid=p2057872.m2748.l2649&var=430269091798&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT not bad for the price but get what you pay for really and the material feels like Primark spec. Got the wrong size originally on this listing which I would recommend over the pair I ended up with as I didn't realise they didn't have lining http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131075378414?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=430246615583&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT (although presumably for summer riding the less lining/heat the better).

May get RST jeans or similar, would go Alpinestars but they start at £100+ without armour which seems daft for an item of clothing which will undoubtedly rip.

Bike licence, how easy are they to get?

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Staying Alive

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