Calling all UK motorcyclists

[Stocking]

I honestly didn't ever think that I'd *actually* post in this forum, but here I am creating a thread... here goes.
As some of you know I am requiring some ID in this country to actually get started at stuff. Someone suggested I apply for a provisional drivers license. I had a look at what I have to do to get one and discovered that it was going to be just as easy to get a bike license. Are there any UK bikers out there who can help me with this? Any bikers in general with any other help? Thanx ;)

[dozer]

checkout motorcycle training courses, after sitting the prac and then doing the course and passing your prac test you will probably be looking around the 500 squid mark.

[Chrissy]

You need to apply for your provisional driving licence and then before you can do anything else you have to sit a written test which is designed to test your knowledge of the highway code.

After you have passed that you can apply to do your CBT test which tests your basic knowledge of riding a bike. (Driving forwards, turning without falling off etc) You have to pay someone to teach you how to do this, I have no idea how much it costs anymore though.

Once you have your CBT, you are qualified to ride certain engine sizes of bike as long as you use 'L' plates, without taking a full test (Scooters and bikes with up to 50cc engine capacity...I think!)

You don't really need to go any further and take the test to ride a larger engined bike for the purpose you want the licence for if you don't want. But if you do actually want a full licence, you'll need to take more lessons. You can do this one of two ways:

1. Book yourself onto an intensive course which usually lasts a week. At the end of it, you'll take your test, if you pass, you'll get a full bike licence.

2. Take lessons weekly, which some people say will take longer and cost more, it depends how quickly you learn.

Both ways you will be able to ride the school's bikes, so you don't need to worry about buying your own just to get a licence.

To be honest, it's probably cheaper and less hassle to get yourself a full car licence, especially if you can drive a car already. All you have to do then is sit your written test and pass it, you could then take a practical test without paying for lessons. (You might decide to have maybe one or two lessons just to get use to driving on the left hand side of the road...you crazy Aussies!)

One last tip: if you are going to take lessons to ride a bike, book now in the winter, the bike schools quite often do deals in the winter as business is slower!

Hope that helps, although I will have a think about how you can get some other forms of ID without shelling out quite so much cash.

[DrDivad]

(we drive on the left)