How To Get Your Motorbike Licence
Whether you’re looking to get your licence for commuting or pleasure, navigating the motorcycle licence maze can be difficult. We’ve compiled a simple ‘to do’ list and included relevant links to steer you in the right direction...
Your provisional licence
First things first: apply for a provisional driving licence.
It costs £34 and you need to be at least 15 years and 9 months old. You can get your provisional licence online here.
Got it? Then let the learning begin.
Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course
The CBT course is intended to give you enough confidence on two wheels to practice for your test; you don’t pass or fail your CBT.
It’s worth noting, if you ride a moped or bike without a valid CBT you can be fined up to £1,000 and get up to 6 penalty points. Anyone with a provisional two-wheeled licence of any kind needs to take a CBT course to validate their motorcycle or moped licence.
You should also have a read of the DVLA Learning to Ride book before you go.
How much does a CBT course cost?
Expect about £110 - £140
How long does a CBT course take?
You'll need to allow a day for your CBT. Perhaps longer if your tutor believes you would benefit from it.
What does a CBT course involve?
CBT involves on-site training, on-bike training in a safe environment, on-road training and on-road riding.
What happens once I’ve completed my CBT course?
After you’ve completed your CBT course you’re officially a learner, proudly displaying your L plates, which means you can ride:
- A moped if you’re 16 or over
- A motorcycle up to 125cc and with a power output of up to 11kW if you’re 17 or over
You must pass your full moped or motorcycle test within two years. If you don’t, then you must either take another CBT test or stop riding.
Types of licence
To take a quick detour, let’s look at the licences you can achieve.
Depending on your age you might only be eligible for certain licences that restrict you to certain sizes of bike. Your age and the size of bike you take your test on will determine which licence you get.
What type of licence do I need?
There’s some detail to it but broadly it is:
- AM licence: up to 50cc scooters with a max speed of 28bhp from age 16
- A1 licence : max power output of up to 11kW (around 14.6bhp and 125cc) motorbikes from age 17
- A2 licence : max power output of up to 35kW (around 47bhp and 500cc) motorbikes from age 19
- Full A licence (or Direct Access): 650+cc from age 24 (or from age 21 if you’ve had your A2 for two years)
So can you get a motorcycle licence at 16?
Yes, you can ride a 50cc scooter with a top speed of 30mph: once you have a CBT certificate, have passed the theory test and passed the two-module practical test on a 50cc. In other words, when you have an AM licence.
Whichever licence you're eligible for, there are three tests that you will always need to pass: one theory and two practical. Let’s look at these in more detail.
Motorcycle theory test
If you have a car licence, you still need to pass the motorcycle theory test.
The motorcycle theory test comes in two sections:
- Firstly, 50 multiple-choice questions about The Highway Code, traffic signs and essential riding skills.
- Secondly, there’s the hazard perception test, where you identify potential hazards on a video being shown on-screen.
There are DVLA books and tests to help you prepare. You can find these available to buy online or at your local library.
How much does the theory test cost?
The motorcycle theory test costs £23. You can book it here - and do remember to take your licence with you. You'll likely see someone on the day who hasn’t remembered theirs and it’s not a good look; you won’t be able to sit the test without it.
Passed your theory test? Congratulations! Let’s get riding.
Practical riding tests
There are two separate tests that you need to pass, first up is:
Practical Test Module One
Sometimes known as Mod 1 or M1, this lasts about 20 minutes, costs £15.50 and takes place “off-road” i.e. in a safe training area not “muddy trails” off road.
It tests your basic riding and handling skills, including simple but essential skills like:
- Wheeling your bike and using its stand correctly
- Balancing a slow ride
- Completing a U-turn
- Cornering and a controlled stop
- Your ability to ride a figure of eight and to slalom
- Your cornering abilities
- Your hazard avoidance skills (at a minimum speed of 19mph for mopeds and 31mph for motorcycles)
- Completing an emergency stop (at a minimum speed of 19mph for mopeds and 31mph for motorcycles)
At the end of the test, you will be given feedback and told if you have passed.
Once you pass Mod 1 you are eligible to take the...
Practical Test Module Two
Sometimes referred to as Mod 2 or M2, this test lasts about 40 minutes and costs £75 or £88.50 depending on which day you choose.
It starts with an eyesight check and basic maintenance questions.
Then you will go out on the road with an examiner who will ask you to safely carry out manoeuvres including stopping, pulling out and starting on a hill.
The final part of the test is a 10-minute observed ride where you are given directions, and you have to safely follow them.
Again, at the end of the test you will be given feedback and told if you have passed, if you have you will be given your certificate.
Completed your practical tests? Congratulations! Now you can take those L plates off, and the real learning begins.
Which motorcycle can I ride?
For the A1 licence, you can play with up to 125cc, so how about choosing from any of the Honda first-bike classics? The Honda CB125R, Honda MSX125 – also known as a Grom - and the Honda Monkey.
If you’re ready for something at the A2-licence area of the motorcycle options, the BMW G310 is a great choice. In both R (Roadster) and GS guises, BMW have engineered the classy G310 to be easy to ride with e-throttle grip (Ride by Wire), automatic idling and a self-reinforcing slipper clutch to make starting off easy.
If you want to head further down the Honda route, there’s a whole selection to look at. Check out the CBR500R, the whole CB family - CB500F, CB500X, CB500 Rebel – and even the exciting new Honda NX500, an adventure bike with unique-for-its-category smooth, twin-cylinder performance.
Or how about a Ducati? From the ever popular and fun Ducati Monster to the sleek and sporty Ducati Panigale V2. Or perhaps the Multistrada V2, Hypermotard 698, Hypermotard 950 and Desert X range.
On a full A licence, well, the sky’s the limit. Take your pick from our range online and in your local Vertu Motorcycles dealership.
Riding with Vertu Motorcycles
If you need a good instructor to help you get through the bike licensing maze, all our Vertu dealerships can help you, either through the Honda School of Motorcycling or BMW Rider Training.
We love to get people on two wheels at Vertu Motorcycles, so if you do have any questions, please do get in touch.