You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Can anyone shed some light?
Have just been checking my drivers licence and noticed the Provisional section.
As I am really old, it appears as if I can ride Category A bikes.
“Category A, You can drive:
motorbikes with a power output more than 35kW or a power to weight ratio more than 0.2kW/kg
motor tricycles with a power output more than 15kW
You can also drive motorbikes in categories A1 and A2”
Is this right? So a quick CBT, then I can get something bigger than a 125?
Dumb question #2: what capacity does a Cat-A bike equate to typically?
Is there a time limit (license states provisional from Jan 1985 to Sept 2037). Could I theoretically potter around on L plates until then or have I completely misunderstood?
The "grandad" rights are long gone. You sound a similar age to me, so your current licence will let you ride a 50cc and no more. You will need to complete a CBT which will allow you to ride a 125cc (and no more) for 2 years. During that time you can then upgrade via the direct access to a full licence - and you'll need to complete (like I did) a theory test and hazard perception. And then a MOD 1 test followed by a MOD 2. It's a bit of a faff but all needed. As a car driver, riding a bike has certainly improved my skills in the car as well.
Ah, that makes much more sense GQ, thanks
If you do the Mod 1 & 2 on a big bike 33whatsits or about 500cc in old money you can go straight to a big bike not an under 33whatsits bike.
Big bikes are easier to ride than the shit 125cc so its a win win.
PS my knowledge is about 10 years out of date so I could be wrong.
Yeah, go straight for your category A (not A2 which is power restricted if of a certain age).
Get that and you can ride anything - as above cat A is anything above about 33 bhp and there is no limit. So get yourself a Triumph Rocket 3.
If you already have category A on your license then surely you can ride anything you want?
You don't need to do anything other than place an order for a new Panigale V4 Corse 🙂
As I am really old, it appears as if I can ride Category A bikes.
As above, if you do have an A licence then you can ride anything. I wasn't aware there was such a thing as a provisional A licence but I've got a full one so can't tell with mine. When I did it you took your CBT, which allowed you out on the road alone on a 125 or on a 'big' (46hp rings a bell) bike with an instructor following.
I don't think this was ever automatic though was it? Not unless you remember having to get the servant to walk in front with a red flag.
I wasn’t aware there was such a thing as a provisional A licence
I think it's probably like when you get your first Provisional License, yeah you can ride a Cat A bike provisionally, but that means with a surly man shouting at you through a headset as he follows and tries to keep you alive. It's slightly moot because to even do that you need to complete a CBT course, doesn't matter if you want to ride a 50 or a 125, you need a CBT. Not that, that should be a barrier, the CBT is actually pretty interesting and even a bit of fun, doesn't cost much either.
As someone else said the restricted bikes are probably harder to ride than the non-restricted, the 500s I did my course and test on are probably the worse, not only are they battered and been dropped a few times, I weight an absolute ton, I was expecting my first 'proper' bike (600 CBR F4i) to be a monster, but it was the easiest bike I'd ever ridden.
Depends on how old you are if you got you license in the military years ago, they tended to basically add all categories.
If you have valid Category A on your license you are good to go.
Got my full licence when all you had to do was ride around the block without falling off...
Went straight out and bought a 350 lc followed by GPZ900r, managed to survive kind of...
Thanks all. P-Jay that sounds like the probable next steps.
Category A is listed, but it’s on my “Provisionally Drive” rather than my “Can drive”.
CBT I reckon and take it from there.
CBT, theory test, MOD1, MOD2 and then off to the Ducati dealership 🙂