Recently, the UK has changed their rules on how to obtain a full motorcycle license. Its a bit convoluted when you consider every site I've ever looked at regarding the rules muddies the waters by adding the element of age. There are restrictions to the type of license you can get depending on your age or how long you have been riding etc, and it took me ages to find and confirm information that was completely relevant and clear to me.
So, if you're reading this and you're old like me, here are the hoops you must jump through:
1. Take a CBT course.
2. Do your theory test.
3. Do your module 1 test.
4. Do your module 2 test.
If you do the last two things on your own bike (a max 125cc on a CBT certificate), then you will be limited to a maximum of 125cc.
Which is fine - if all you plan on doing is a bit of commuting or a bit of pleasure riding, no problem. If you want to ride a bigger bike, you have to do module 1 and module 2 on a bigger bike. The end.
The obvious hole in this scenario is that this: if you do mod 1 and 2 on a 125, you aren't legally allowed to ride anything bigger, so you cannot take a bigger bike to do the mod 1 and 2 test. I suppose you could trailer a bike there, or borrow a friend's bike, but good luck getting insured. The only way to get to ride a bigger bike is via the Direct Access Scheme (DAS). Which is fine; it would probably be good to have a bit of training before jumping on a 650 to do your testing. The problem is that the course costs £700+.
It would be great if there were a low-cost way of getting people to ride. I looked into a bit of training for the Mod 1 test, and I was quoted £99 plus the test fee (currently £15.50 I think). Not a lot of money, however I thought what the hell, I may as well just spend the £15.50 on the test and get my training that way - if I fail, at least I'll know what to expect next try. If I pass, then awesome.
So last week I went and did my Mod 1 test and I passed! Hooray! That's £99 saved!
A bit about the test. Mod 1 is off-road - basically you're in a big car park with a bunch of cones and someone gives you instructions. There are plenty of videos and websites showing you what to do, and provide tips on passing. I watched lots of them and I felt reasonably confident I could do what they wanted. So off I go, and I arrive at the test centre about 2 hours early. :/
I wander around the nearby town centre, and then come back. My name was called and a chap named Malcolm came over and gave me some briefing on what will happen. I asked if I was allowed to record the event; he said no as it was government property. I acquiesced, leaving my camera behind.
We went outside, he opened the gate for me, and gave me clear instructions on what to do. I won't give a blow-by-blow as its a bit boring and YouTube will give a far more realistic portrayal.
Before I knew it, I was done, and he directed me back into the office.
I figured I had passed; I think I did everything okay. There were two speed-timed manoeuvres I had to do. The rule is it has to be done at 50kph minimum. If you do it at 49, it counts as a minor error, and you don't get a second chance. If you do it at 48, it counts as a minor error, and you don't get a second chance. If you do it at less than 48, its a major error, but you get to try again. If on the second try you are still under 48kph, you fail the test. The first manoeuvre I did at 49kph - that's a minor. The second one is a bit more complicated as you have to do an emergency avoidance (swerving) at speed. I did that one at 49 as well. So that's two minors.
When we got back into the office, I said to him 'I know exactly what I did wrong.' He said 'Go on, then....'
I said 'When I completed my emergency avoidance, I forgot to do a shoulder check - I only looked in my mirrors.'
He looked at me, and then his notes. 'Well you got away with that one....'
I thought to myself 'I am an idiot!'
Anyway, he said I passed with only the two minors of going through the speed traps 1kph too slow each time.
I didn't want to say it, but I think it may have been because the bike just wasn't fast enough!
Anyway, I now have a dilemma. I could now go do my Mod 2 test - which is on-road, with a test guy following me as I go on public roads - on my own bike, and if I pass, I will have an 'A1' class license. It means I cannot ride a bigger bike.
Or, I could pay for DAS, do Mod 1 again (on a 650 or something), and then do Mod 2 (on a 650 as well).
If I did my A1, I can right away take the 'L' plates off, and the missus and I can ride down to the pub... at a lazy pace considering the sheer power of the 125. Or, I pay £700 and do the two tests on big-boys bikes. This would be in a few months as I don't have £700 lying around just yet.
I guess if that's the biggest scariest decision I have to make, I'll be okay in life....
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