New test categories

[Dogsbody]

Just read the requirements for A class licence changes. Believe it or not, a Harley 883 Sportster is not classed as powerful enough for the A category from December 31st! so no chance if you had say a BSA Super Rocket or T120 Bonnie to take your test on. Changes to category A from 31 December 2018

From 31 December 2018:

• the minimum engine power requirement for large motorcycles (category A) will increase from 40 Kilowatt (kW) to 50kW
• a minimum kerb weight of 180kg will be introduced

Full list here

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-motorcycles-that-can-be-used-for-riding-tests

It is so difficult now to get a full licence it is no wonder there are so few youngsters taking it up. Dogsbody

[John Wakefield]

Yep easier to get a LGV or PCV licence. 50 kw = 67 bhp. Would be easier and more straight forward to relate classes in cc, kilowatt output (or bhp) is subject to state of tune of engine for which proof is required if bike is not on approved list. It appears that the bikes are classified in both cc and power output.

You must bring proof if you’ve restricted a motorcycle to subcategory A2 - if you don’t your test will be cancelled.
The proof must:

• be on headed paper
• be from a main dealer, official importer or recognised specialist
• show the motorcycle’s number plate (registration number)
• You can’t use a dyno test certificate as proof of the restriction.

Presumably a 200 or 250 Greeves would not be acceptable as its over 125cc (class A1) but under 395cc class A2)

Licence category	AM	A1	A2	A
Minimum age of rider	16	17	19	24
Engine capacity	Up to 50cc	120 to 125cc	At least 395cc	At least 595cc
Maximum speed	Up to 28mph	55mph or above	-	-
Engine power	Up to 4kW	Up to 11kW	20 to 35kW	At least 40kW
Power to weight ratio	-	-	Up to 0.2 kW/kg	-
Power to weight ratio if you use a sidecar	-	Up to 0.16kW/kg	-	Up to 0.16kW/kg

[Colin Sparrow]

Are they changing the age requirement for full power licences then?

My grandson has a full licence and rides a GSX-R600, which is a Cat A bike. And he's not 24 until next year.

[Dogsbody]

If you hold an A2 licence for more than two years you can take the test for an A class licence 21-23 apparently according to DVLA list. So complicated now, was so easy in the 60s. Dogsbody

[Colin Sparrow]

Thanks Colin, that explains it.

Having seen the number of hurdles my grandson had to negotiate to get to a full power licence, I suspect that all this complication is a deliberate ploy to phase out motorcycling in the UK as we "three times round the block and answer a couple of questions and you can ride anything" types disappear by natural wastage.

Mind you, his own temperament and all the training has made him a skilled and responsible rider. Unlike some of his mates, though...

[John Wakefield]

"three times round the block and answer a couple of questions and you can ride anything"

Colin, I remember the test well, took mine in 1960 in Station Road Cambridge on a NSU Prima 3 scooter, the hilarious bit was when the examiner walked into the road and put his hand up for you to make an emergency stop. The whole test took less than an hour, no previous training, just bought your bike put L plates on it and taught yourself. There was the voluntary ACU training scheme run by local clubs, (the owner of my East Coaster Peter Shepherd was an instructor at Bognor Regis) but few riders did that. When you thought you were good enough and after studying the highway code for the answers to the 2 questions the examiner would ask, you just applied for a test date. Not sure how much it was now, but probably 12/6d the examiner gave you a pink slip if you passed and you sent that in to get a full licence, a little red book back then. Happy days.
These days I think few riders bother to go above A1 category, they buy a cheap Chinese 125 ride it for a couple of years and get a car. Back in the day a motorcycle was for your main form of transport until much later in life when you had got through you apprenticeship & onto 'real' wages and could afford a car. Of course like many of us lots of riders kept with bikes, then going on to competition riding. Happy Days

[PeterJGreig]

We decided that Dearly Beloved would like a bike so I built a D1 125 engine into a D7 Bantam frame for her and went to the RAC/ACU training course in Lewisham- instructions were to bring her & the bike & leave it to them. I came back later to be told she was having problems- they taught the "Hendon two step" police method (into gear, then hold the bike on the back brake) to pull away- "she keeps putting the brake on when she changes into second" says the instructor, so I rode alongside her on the back of another bike and that is what it looked like. Till she went to pull away again "Hang on down, for first" says I! They had told her to start off in second! No wonder it stopped when she changed! Went back again & no problems, then progressed later to a 60/6 BMW.
Then the kids came along...…… Peter.

[Colin Sparrow]

Aha! The dreaded Bantam wrong-way-up gear change strikes again, eh? Still at least she'd have had no problem graduating to a Triumph.

[PeterJGreig]

yes, couple of years later put a conrod through the c/cases of my T100- not giving it enough welly I suspect.