UK License B*ll*cks

lewis94iify

lewis94iify

Wannabie Member
Sorry to bring up yet more gibberish about the license stuff, but I can't understand how these changes will effect anyone at all?

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle...ges-planned-for-a2-motorcycle-test/24293.html

Basically lowering the minimum power allowed to take the A2 test from 33bhp to 27bhp.
Raising the power for the A from 54bhp to 67bhp.
Also introducing a minimum weight (of the motorcycle :p) to 180kg for the A license. How many bikes weigh less than that wet, that are over 67bhp? (I'm assuming they mean wet weight anyway, who rides a bike with no fluid at all?)
 
It's a strange one. I'm just afraid that this whole process is becoming so convoluted it's going to put people off learning to ride a motorcycle. Not only does this 'multiple tests' route make it less affordable than the previous model, as you may have to pay for multiple tuitions and tests, but also the process is so mixed up that most people don't even know what their options are. Before you used to be able to get up to scratch on a CBT and take the test yourself if you felt it necessary. Now their isn't an option for that meaning that you have to pay for tuition. Not to mention that one of the biggest things that attracted people to riding a motorcycle, the cost, is getting comparable to learning to drive and getting a cheap car (depending on where you are).
 
lewis94iify said:
Also introducing a minimum weight (of the motorcycle :p) to 180kg for the A license. How many bikes weigh less than that wet, that are over 67bhp? (I'm assuming they mean wet weight anyway, who rides a bike with no fluid at all?)
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I think fireblade is about 180 :)
 
edge360 said:
It's a strange one. I'm just afraid that this whole process is becoming so convoluted it's going to put people off learning to ride a motorcycle. Not only does this 'multiple tests' route make it less affordable than the previous model, as you may have to pay for multiple tuitions and tests, but also the process is so mixed up that most people don't even know what their options are. Before you used to be able to get up to scratch on a CBT and take the test yourself if you felt it necessary. Now their isn't an option for that meaning that you have to pay for tuition. Not to mention that one of the biggest things that attracted people to riding a motorcycle, the cost, is getting comparable to learning to drive and getting a cheap car (depending on where you are).
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It's definitely less affordable! My local riding school couldn't book me in after 2 lessons as they had no bikes available and focus mainly on CBT's. Another riding school wanted me to have £240 worth of lessons before the test (I only needed to hire a bike for the test) even though I could ride perfectly fine! Eventually I found a place where I had one lesson getting used the different bike then did my test. The tests themselves are £30 theory, £15 Mod1 and something like £75 for Mod2. At least I failed Mod1 twice not Mod2.

dandoolittle said:
You've got a licence though ;)
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haha thankfully I have now. My mates are doing their tests this year, and they keep asking what they have to do to pass and what bikes they could ride. Even people into bikes don't understand it!! :P

BKarol said:
I think fireblade is about 180 :)
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Yeah might do actually :) Can't imagine many people take their tests on fireblades though :D
 
lewis94iify said:
It's definitely less affordable! My local riding school couldn't book me in after 2 lessons as they had no bikes available and focus mainly on CBT's. Another riding school wanted me to have £240 worth of lessons before the test (I only needed to hire a bike for the test) even though I could ride perfectly fine! Eventually I found a place where I had one lesson getting used the different bike then did my test. The tests themselves are £30 theory, £15 Mod1 and something like £75 for Mod2. At least I failed Mod1 twice not Mod2.



haha thankfully I have now. My mates are doing their tests this year, and they keep asking what they have to do to pass and what bikes they could ride. Even people into bikes don't understand it!! :p



Yeah might do actually :) Can't imagine many people take their tests on fireblades though :D
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This is exactly why I made sure that I passed my test before the license changes came in last year. I just knew it would end being more hassle then it was worth. Although I still maintain that the old licenses had their flaws as well.
 
as edge said, thank fuck I got my license before the change (21/12/12 to be precise) but this new laws seem twisted and unclear. Its also seeming to be very costly for the average joe.
 
All these complicated rules will just put people off from learning to ride unfortunately :(

Glad I'm old enough to have just got my full license straight off. I don't think I would have the patience to go A2, A1 etc if if were young enough to have to go down that route
 
I don't get why if you've held your licence for under 2yrs you need a valid theory test but don't if you've had it for 2+ years?!

It's just a way to get more cash out of you.
 
HOLY CRAP!!! seems in europe the loops for getting endorsed to ride the street are FAR more than here in the usa.... this is ALL i had to do to ride my 250 on any road i want to ride on here....
that is 100% all of the riding test...
 
TheDiabeticBiker said:
I don't get why if you've held your licence for under 2yrs you need a valid theory test but don't if you've had it for 2+ years?!

It's just a way to get more cash out of you.
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I believe anyone who got their driving licence either before 2002 or before 1996 (can't remember) automatically has their bike license and trailer license. Im sure one of the older folks on here can probably correct me if I'm wrong..
 
I think it's '96, I passed my driving test in '99 when I was 17 and the only thing I could ride on that was a moped (no thanks). I'm currently on a CBT and will be going DAS as soon as it gets a little warmer (I lnow, I know) but at least my route is easier than a new rider at 17 who'll need to take the same tests multiple times.
 
Abomin81on said:
I think it's '96, I passed my driving test in '99 when I was 17 and the only thing I could ride on that was a moped (no thanks). I'm currently on a CBT and will be going DAS as soon as it gets a little warmer (I lnow, I know) but at least my route is easier than a new rider at 17 who'll need to take the same tests multiple times.
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I think its better, it stops people from jumping on 1000cc after passing there test and crashing. From what you said it look like you don't have any riding experience and now you gone be able to have any bike you want/can afford...
 
If someone age 24 or over goes Direct Access then they can indeed ride anything they wish regardless of the wisdom of certain choices.

That said, I've been on two wheels since last July on a small bike, YZF R125, and I've clocked somewhere between 2500 and 3000 miles to get some recent experience before going bigger. I feel that was the sensible choice for me to get my eye back in so to speak.

I have previously owned a 2004 R6 which I sold in 2008. I learned to ride a few years before that on a couple of bikes belonging to a mate, an '88 GSXR 750 and then on his '92 Blade. I can honestly say although the R6 was quicker than the blade it was also easier to ride and if a rider were to avoid high RPM then it's remarkably docile.
 
monkeystrada said:
All these complicated rules will just put people off from learning to ride unfortunately :(

Glad I'm old enough to have just got my full license straight off. I don't think I would have the patience to go A2, A1 etc if if were young enough to have to go down that route
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I think you hit the nail squarely on the head. They are just trying to make it harder and harder for the moped boys to upgrade. Would not be surprised if the car industry was in on this.
 
thunderous71 said:
I think you hit the nail squarely on the head. They are just trying to make it harder and harder for the moped boys to upgrade. Would not be surprised if the car industry was in on this.
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Funny you should say that. It's the third (I think) EU Directive that suggest tiered access to your full licence, and there's every suggestion this will come in for cars too, bikes are the guinea pigs, mainly because too many kids without the brain-wrist connection were getting on 200hp bikes and dying. There's no quibbling that the CBT lowered the death toll on the roads for learners since the 90s, and it's proved that more training generally makes a better rider.

What the Directive does is allows each member state to implement this in the way they see fit, and it doesn't actually need to be multiple tests, it states further training, so technically, if the UK chose to, as long as you took one test on a motorcycle, you could then be trained, subject to age/time requirements and be awarded the upgrade by an approved instructor.
 
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