Getting your motorcycle licence can be a daunting and confusing experience, but RideTo are here to make the motorcycle training process as simple and as easy as possible. We have a number of recommended motorcycle training schools in and around the Bromley area that will help you get your full motorcycle licence in Orpington in no time.
Explaining the different motorcycle licences.
Passing your single car licence practical test is a little easier than getting your full motorcycle licence, and a lot of the complication has to do with age and the power of bike that you want to ride.
If you’re 24 years old or over then it’s a little simpler, because for these riders, from the moment you pass your theory exam and the one-and-only practical test, you will be able to ride any motorcycle you fancy. If you’re younger than 24, then it does get a little more complicated.
However, all is not lost for younger riders though because you can easily get on two wheels from the age of 16, by taking the CBT test. The CBT itself only takes a day, and despite often being referred to as a test it actually only involves a day of learning about riding on the road and getting to know your motorcycle or scooter. If you haven’t moved onto a larger capacity motorcycle of scooter after two years however, you will have to retake it or move onto a full motorcycle licence.
To start with - If you go down the CBT route - you’ll be restricted to either a 50cc machine with a top speed of no more than 28mph when you’re 16, or a 125cc bike (with potentially a faster top speed) if you are 17 or over. There are more restrictions too, because you will have to ride with L-plates, and you won’t be allowed to take a passenger or ride on motorways.
If you want to lose the supposed stigma of the L-plates and earn yourself a little more freedom you can take your AM licence and A1 licence at the ages of 16 and 17 respectively. You’ll need to pass the theory test first, but these will allow you to carry passengers and use motorways, although the machines you can ride will still be restricted depending on your age.
If you’re 19 or over though, you are eligible to take the test for the A2 licence, but you will need to have taken - and passed - your theory test within the last two years in order to qualify for taking your practical exam.
If you’re looking to take a motorcycle licence test in or around Orpington, then you’ll need to know that the A2 test itself is split into two parts; a practical test (usually in a closed, purpose built area) and an on-road test. For the off road test you will be asked to complete specific maneuvers and ride set courses marked out by cones; these are essentially here to check that you have mastered control of your motorcycle. Once you pass the off-road module, you will move onto the on-road section, where you will be assessed on your ability to ride along with other cars and vehicles. The entire period of the test takes place over multiple days, and despite there not being much riding involved - around 15 minutes and 50 minutes respectively - you can usually expect for the whole training and test period to take up 4 to 5 full days.
Motorcycle Test Preparation
Whether you’re based in Orpington itself, or the surrounding Bromley area, the thought of taking your motorcycle test around your local area can be a pretty daunting experience, so you might find it useful to prepare yourself in advance as much as possible. Even if you will take lessons with instructors from our training schools in Orpington to prepare you for your test, it doesn’t hurt to do some extracurricular research.
We have plenty of articles and guides to help you prepare, and YouTube is full of videos to help you with your practical and theory tests too!
