There’s no denying that motorcycles have something romantic and edgy about them – sleek, fast, conjuring images of swooping round tight corners or cruising along some endless American highway, they’re the steeds of rebels and racers, the fast and the furious. But we’re British, so we have to start on a moped. In the rain.
Born to be mild
In the UK, you’re restricted to certain types of motorbikes and mopeds when you’re learning. This is for safety as much as anything – inexperienced riders won’t do well on the back of something that can reach 100mph in the time it takes you to think ‘uh-oh’. You can learn to ride on:
- a moped with an engine smaller than 50cc and a top speed of 31mph
- a motorbike with an engine smaller than 125cc
You’ll also be restricted to lower-powered bikes for two years after you pass your test before you’re allowed onto the big machines – again, this is so that you have the road and bike handling experience to be safe, and don’t find yourself inside a hedge (or worse).
The CBT
Everyone has to complete a Compulsory Basic Training course before they’re allowed to ride on the road without supervision (with L plates on). The CBT is there to make sure you have the essential bike control and road-reading skills you’ll need to be safe, and is split into five sections:
1. introduction
2. practical on-site training
3. practical on-site riding
4. practical on-road training
5. practical on-road riding
You complete each part in order, and only move on when your instructor is satisfied that you’re ready for the next level. The on-site parts will take place at an approved training centre – which usually provides the bikes and the safety gear – where you’ll be off the roads and safe to learn; the final part will include two hours of riding on the road with your instructor supervising you. (You stay in contact with radios in your helmets.)
Once you’ve passed, the CBT pass is valid for two years – you need to take the full motorbike practical and theory tests in that time, otherwise you’ll have to do it all again.
Your licence
To ride a moped or motorcycle, you first need to apply for a provisional licence (unless you already have a full driving licence). You can do this online – go to www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring for more info. You can also check out the last issue of etc., or go to www.etcmag.co.uk/articles/life/driving.
Once you have a provisional licence, you need to get it validated by taking the CBT. When you’ve done that, you’ll be given the snappily-named DL196 certificate, which will validate your licence – you can then ride on the road unaccompanied, with ‘L’ plates on. If you’ve already got a full driving licence, the DL196 certificate validates that instead. Ouch, that was complicated. Are our ears bleeding?
The motorbike test
CBT all done? Good. Now you’re ready for the full test, which is split into two parts:
Theory – even if you’ve taken a theory test for cars, you’ll need to take one for motorbikes. The setup is the same – computer, multiple choice questions, clickety-click.
Practical – as well as testing your general riding skills, observation in traffic, and so on – just like the driving test – the practical test contains some specific tasks. They are:
- emergency stop
- wheeling/stand (put the bike on its stand, take it off, turn it in the road)
- U-turn (ride the bike from one side of the road to the other)
- slow riding (to demonstrate your control of the machine)
- wheelies (not really, but wouldn’t it be fun?)
- safety questions, and questions about carrying a passenger
If you pass, you’ll be issued with your motorbike licence, and you’re free to ride (with the restrictions we mentioned earlier). If you fail – well, that happens. Don’t worry about it. You’ll be given feedback on where you went wrong, and can reapply for another test.
The art of motorcycle maintenance
Part of your practical test will be to show you know how to maintain your bike – check the oil, lights and tyres, for example. Bikes have more exposed moving parts to think about – chains, cables and so on – so you need to make sure you know how it all works. Don’t just ride the bike: be the bike. Or read the owners’ manual. (Saying ‘hit it with a hammer’ isn’t really good enough.)
Easy, rider!
Riding a motorbike is, let’s be clear, a right old hoot. But it can be risky, so here are a few tips for staying safe:
- Ride defensively, and assume cars can’t see you. Leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles, be very careful moving past cars, and watch them like a hawk as you approach T-junctions. Be prepared for them to pull out in front of you, and make sure you can stop if they do. Then you can curse them imaginatively, but unhurt.
- Be bright. Wear reflective gear (especially at night), bright clothes, and a big neon sign. OK, maybe not the sign.
- Wear a helmet. It’s a legal requirement, and could save your life if you crash. Your brain works better safely tucked away inside your skull – this situation will change if you land on your head at 60mph.
- Wear protective gear. Tough trousers, bike leathers, boots, gloves. All will save your skin of you come off.
- Ride to the conditions. If it’s raining so hard you can’t see, stop. Hide. Don’t ride in icy weather if you can avoid it (it’s cold, for one thing), and beware strong winds.
- Road sense. Watch for patches of oil or gravel on the road. Cars leak oil onto the middle of the road – which is where bikes tend to ride – so be wary.
More info
Etc. online: www.etcmag.co.uk/articles/life/driving
Directgov: www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring
Driving Standards Agency (DSA): www.dsa.gov.uk
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA): www.dvla.gov.uk
Highway code: www.highwaycode.gov.uk
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