South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

I have spent hours on this but still can't find one source which tells me everything. Never mind the sites which contradict each other (even gov.uk ones). The bits about how to get a full license at the various levels are fairly clear (but stupidly complex for no reason I can see) but how about before that.

This is my best guess about how my wife (over 24) could get on the road. Can you correct me?

1. her license is before 2001 so she can use a moped now
2. she can apply for A1, A2 or A provisional any time
3. after CBT she can ride a 125 on L plates (presumably A provisional implies A1 and A2)
4. she can only ride a bigger bike on an authorised training course
5. she would have to take her A2 or A test on the bigger bike despite not being able to have proper experience on it and would get A2 or A depending on the bike she used

This is what I have seen on various sites but does not explain the larger bikes I see around with L plates on. What's that about?

If it helps she'd be quite happy even long term with a 250-400 so she can keep up with me bimbling around Cornwall but it would be better if she was also covered for my zzr600 or whatever might replace it in a few years.

Hi There,

I think from my undersanding and I haven't looked into it for some time, you are right in the points you make, though I thought that you had to take the CBT test even if you past your driving licence before 2001 now.

Either way that doesn't matter too much, if your wife does the CBT she can as you say ride a 125cc to get experience, she could then do the A2 test which is normally carried out on a 125cc bike, when she passes she is restricted too 33bhp for 2 years which would allow a 250cc or restricted larger bike after the 2 years she is free to ride any size.

I took the A2 test and I would say as a new rider it was the best choice, the 2 years restricted gave me a chance to get used to 2 wheels and learn how to ride, I'm not knocking anyone who does the full test and goes onto a big sports bike, but for me if I had done that I would probably have killed myself.

Not sure if this helps at all.

Darren

I don't think your approach is allowed any more but I may be wrong. If you take the test on a 125 you only get an A1, then after two years (and another test on the bigger bike) you get A2 then after yet another two years you get another test (on yet another bike) and A.

So to save all those tests she would have to go straight for A (which you are right is not ideal) or settle for A2.

Hi,

Seems like it's changed then, as I said I haven't looked into it as I did mine about 2005,

sorry it was not usful Lol

It does seem mad that as you say yiou can't get experience unless you take a registered course.

Darren

I think it changed in 2013 with minor tweaks a bit after that.

Contact Dave Avery at Kernow Bike Training on 07891012500, he'll explain your options and give you all the training costs etc.

Tell him you're from SWB and Badger sent you, he was a regular poster some years ago before he got too busy!