Everyone from Glasgow to Livingston knows that Saltire Suzuki in Edinburgh is the place to go for rider training – but which licence option is best?
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Compulsory Basic Training (CBT): Whether you’re planning to ride a motorcycle or a moped you’ll need to complete CBT to achieve learner-legal status. It will allow you to ride a bike up to a maximum of 125cc (no greater than 11kw/14.6bhp) for two years from the date of completion. CBT holders must display L plates and are excluded from riding on motorways and from carrying pillion passengers. The completion certificate (DL196) must be current, valid and shown to the examiner at the beginning of any of the following practical tests:
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A1 Light Motorcycle License: This is for anyone over the age of 17. The test is conducted on a machine of between 75cc and 125cc and successful completion will allow you to ride up to a maximum 125cc (11kw) without L plates. You will be able to ride on motorways (if your motorcycle is 50cc or over) and carry pillion passengers.
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Standard Motorcycle License Over 17s: If the machine you use for test is between 120cc and 125cc and is capable of more than 100km/h, successful completion will allow you to ride any size of motorcycle with the restriction that it has a maximum power output of 25kw/33bhp. The restriction will be lifted automatically after a period of two years.
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Standard Motorcycle License Over 21s: Many riders over 21years, although eligible to train under the Direct Access Scheme (DAS), choose to obtain the Standard License (shown above) accepting the two year restriction on power output. This is often the best route for those who have no immediate use for a more powerful machine and perhaps want to benefit from savings in training fees, bike purchase, fuel and insurance costs. For others it may simply represent the safest way to progress (in stages) towards a more powerful machine.
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Accelerated Access Scheme Over 21s: If you have achieved the Standard license but later decide that you don’t want to wait out the two-year restriction, the Accelerated Access Scheme allows for re-testing on a bigger machine to remove the remaining period of restriction. This is popular with those who achieve the Standard License at around 20 years of age and want to progress to a more powerful machine on reaching 21.
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Note 1: With the exception of CBT, all of the above are categorized as Full Licenses and, as such, holders must remove L plates. They are permitted to carry pillion passengers and to use motorways.
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Note 2: Practical motorcycle tests (currently 2 parts) may be carried out on manual or automatic machines. Where manual machines are used for test, the resulting license is valid for both manual and automatic. Where automatic machines are used, the resulting license is valid for automatic only.
