Motorcycle Driving Test

murphaph

Lookin for a bit of info,
I've held a B licence for a few years now and I'm wondering what sort of hoops I'd have to go through to get a bike licence. Is it hard to learn (never driven a motorbike in my life) etc.?

Pataman

Give it a go. You will need lessons, but they are not difficult to ride. Great the feeling of freedom when you are in a car all week. If you are the wrong side of 30 the insurance shouldnt be a problem.

jackofalltrades

For getting the licence:
http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/2706-0.pdf

How hard it is to learn depends on you.
If you've had a few near misses or crashes in a car then I wouldn't recommend biking for you. Otherwise contact ISM where they let you ride a 125cc bike around on a small gravely area, if you like this then take it further buy a bike and head out on the open road. But remember to buy proper gear and get further training. And if ever you think it isn't for you quit straight away, its better than being another statistic.

Thomond Pk

Phillip,


Presuming you have a full car licence that would present an interesting question, I presume you would have to apply for another/seperate provisional licence for a motorbike. The essential difference is that on a first provisional in a car you must have a qualified driver in the car with you, on a motorbike this isn't required so the only real issues are insurance and the size of the bike.

murphaph

Thanks for the replies so far guys,
Would it matter what cc the bike was that I eventually did my test on? I mean, if I do a test on a 125cc, would I be limited to that cc on my licence? (I'm asking cos there's a pic of 3 bikes on my car licence). I'd like to be able to ride any bike.

Victor

Moved from C/T to Motors

Hotblack Desiato

murphaph wrote:

Would it matter what cc the bike was that I eventually did my test on? I mean, if I do a test on a 125cc, would I be limited to that cc on my licence?

Yes it does.
To be able to ride bikes over 125cc you need a Class A provisional (NOT A1) and to get the full Class A licence you must do the test on a bike over 125cc. It'll also need to have manual gears and clutch, otherwise you'll only be able to ride automatic scooters.

On a provisional Class A, AND for 2 years after passing the test, a power restriction applies. (To be technical, the bike must EITHER put out less than 25Kw OR have a power to weight ratio under 0.16kW/kg. Any bike of any size can be restricted to comply. Some models are available factory restricted.)

Check out www.irishridertraining.com, www.magireland.org, www.oasis.gov.ie and www.soyouwanttodrive.com for more info.

Make sure you get and wear good safety gear and take a sufficient number of lessons from a properly qualified instructor. Especially if you live in Dublin, budget 10% of what you spend on the bike on security. Use GOOD quality heavy chains and always lock to something immovable and unbreakable. A disc lock on its own is useless, as is an alarm if you are out of earshot.

Also - many people new to biking buy cruiser-type bikes because they like the looks, but are disappointed with performance/handling/practicality. Equally, others are convinced they have to buy the latest greatest sports-missile but they can't handle it. Running costs on big bikes are high especially tyres. YMMV but it's best to get advice from riders (rather than dealers) before taking the plunge. Good luck!

murphaph

Damn,
Have to do that theory test. Has anyone done it? Is it tough like?

What would be the cheapest bike to insure on a provisional?

Thanks for the replies so far lads, keep em coming if ya can!

Funxy

Simple theory test, the same one you do for your drivers licence

drdre

i really want a motor bike full licence. i only got my provisional on friday.howlong do i have to wait until i go for a test. iz it possible to ride a 1200cc bike on a provisional.
thanks guys

causal

ninja900 wrote:

to get the full Class A licence you must do the test on a bike over 125cc.

For some bizarre reason it actually has to be over 150cc - Irish license laws :rolleyes:

Bikes are graded into different groups for insurance purposes - the lower the group the cheaper the insurance. Generally the lower the cc the lower the group - exceptions are the likes of RS125 that are screamers - small but fast.

What do you intend to use the bike for - commuting, touring, posing, etc.?
What type of roads will you be travellling on - suburbs, country backroads, dual carriageways, etc.?
What is your budget?
Any other relevant info?
- these will help determine which bike is best.

hth,
causal

causal

drdre wrote:

i really want a motor bike full licence. i only got my provisional on friday.howlong do i have to wait until i go for a test. iz it possible to ride a 1200cc bike on a provisional.
thanks guys

Look here: http://www.drivingtest.ie/drivingtest/HTMLContent/passrates.html

It is possible to ride any bike on a provisional provided it has either a max power 25kW or has a power/weight ratio of 0.16kW/kg

So you can get Hayabusa and restrict it.

You will still pay the full whack for insurance - even if the bike is restricted - there are a few exceptions to this where the bikes are restricted at manufacture time by the manufacturer.

tbh it's slightly worrying to hear someone say they want their full licence now. Take your time - learn the craft - get lessons. Even Rossi went from 125, 250, 500, 1000 - let that be lesson number 1

causal

causal

Here's a few recent threads on people asking about starting out on 2 wheels:

Motorcycle insurance
buying a bike-advice
New or 2nd hand bike?!

search and ye shall find,
hth,
causal

drdre

thanks guys.:D

murphaph

Funxy wrote:

Simple theory test, the same one you do for your drivers licence

Unfortunately when I did my test I didn't have to do a theory to get the provisional! Ah well, it won't kill me to have to swot up on it anyway.

Thanks a lot for he replies guys.

a_ominous

causal wrote:

Here's a few recent threads on people asking about starting out on 2 wheels:

Motorcycle insurance
buying a bike-advice
New or 2nd hand bike?!

search and ye shall find,
hth,
causal

And don't forget the FAQ
If there's anything on the other 4-5 forums you've posted the same Qs that isn't on the FAQ, maybe you can add to it. :rolleyes:

tk123

causal wrote:

Here's a few recent threads on people asking about starting out on 2 wheels:

Motorcycle insurance
buying a bike-advice
New or 2nd hand bike?!

search and ye shall find,
hth,
causal

Cooooooooooooooool you stuck in a link to MY post - i feel so important now!! My test is on friday week! woot!

Dub13

murphaph wrote:

Unfortunately when I did my test I didn't have to do a theory to get the provisional!

Another Fcukd up thing in the country is even if you had to do a theory test to get the car provisional you would have to do the same test again for the bike provisional.

murphaph

a_ominous wrote:

And don't forget the FAQ
If there's anything on the other 4-5 forums you've posted the same Qs that isn't on the FAQ, maybe you can add to it. :rolleyes:

Why the :rolleyes: ?
I want information on becoming a biker, so should I just post on one forum and hope that everybody in the biking world (a world which I know diddly-squat about) reads that one? I thought not. In any case I've asked similar questions on just 2 other bike forums and out of the 2 dozen or so responses I got yours was the only one to include a :rolleyes: , well done on that.

Thanks to everyone else for their courteousness.

murphaph

Dub13 wrote:

Another Fcukd up thing in the country is even if you had to do a theory test to get the car provisional you would have to do the same test again for the bike provisional.

No you wouldn't. There are 3 theory tests, the car and bike one, the truck one and the bus one. It's a sh!thole but somethimes, just sometimes it makes sense

tk123

Dub13 wrote:

Another Fcukd up thing in the country is even if you had to do a theory test to get the car provisional you would have to do the same test again for the bike provisional.

I think he means that when he got his car licence there was no law saying you had to do the TT whereas now that he's getting a new bike provisional there is?? When I got my first A1 provisional I didnt have to do the theory test but when I changed to A i did...

Dub13

What I mean is they are basically the same test....I had to do the bike theory test and I think there was one question pacific to driving a bike.So all in all its the same test with the odd bike question.

tk123

The theroy test for bikes and cars IS the same test..

seamus

Dub13 wrote:

What I mean is they are basically the same test....I had to do the bike theory test and I think there was one question pacific to driving a bike.So all in all its the same test with the odd bike question.

They're the same test. They don't add in biker questions for bikers.

Dub13

well I got a question about what way to lean/sit when going around a roundabout

seamus

Dub13 wrote:

well I got a question about what way to lean/sit when going around a roundabout

Yep. There are some bike questions but you could get them even if you're doing it for a car.

Dub13

Ok so its getting confusing.If sombody has done the theory test for a B (car) and a few years later they want to start driving a bike do they have to do the same test again in order to get a new bike provisional license...?

murphaph

Dub13 wrote:

Ok so its getting confusing.If sombody has done the theory test for a B (car) and a few years later they want to start driving a bike do they have to do the same test again in order to get a new bike provisional license...?

No.

causal

causal wrote:

ninja900 wrote:

to get the full Class A licence you must do the test on a bike over 125cc.

For some bizarre reason it actually has to be over 150cc - Irish license laws :rolleyes:

I must correct myself, and apolagies to ninja900
Apparently this bizarre feature was changed a couple of years ago.
Now you can do the A test on a bike > 125cc AND capable of over 100kmh.
http://www.drivingtest.ie/drivingtest/HTMLContent/VehicleChanges.html

causal

Hotblack Desiato

Makes very little difference in reality as there are hardly any bikes between 125 and 200cc, never mind 150. Yamaha did do an RXS135 years ago - God knows why as learners limited to 125cc (under the old licence rules) couldn't ride it for the sake of the extra 10cc!

causal

True. The rule change would have made a big difference IF it allowed say 120cc upwards (which would then include the huge crop of 125 bikes) that can easily do 100kph (60mph) - then you could do your test on e.g. rs125, nsr125, gn125, etc.
But if they're gong to have an A1 licence - I suppose they have to draw the line between it and the A licence somewhere :rolleyes:

I wonder if they'll ever bring in a B1 licence

causal

mountainman21

murphaph wrote: »

Damn,
Have to do that theory test. Has anyone done it? Is it tough like?

What would be the cheapest bike to insure on a provisional?

Thanks for the replies so far lads, keep em coming if ya can!

yes, you have to do the theory test and get 35 or more to pass, less than 35 answers wrong and u have to do it again.
i use a scooter 50cc and the insurance is 242 with a learner permit.

challengemaster

I think after 8 years he might have passed the theory test already :pac:

Alanstrainor

Please note the date of the original post before posting in a thread. Dragging up threads is not the best idea.