Learner/Newbie Sticky **All Learner/newbie/Starter Questions Go here!!****

Same as Hotblack says

Get the bike up on the centerstand and see if there are any tight spots

For my bike the actual adjustment should be done with the wheels on the ground and bike on the side stand ( no center stand on mine )

get your measuring tape in middle between sprockets push the chain up and measure from swing arm then pull chain down and measure

you can get cheap alignment tools on Ali or ebay that you clamp on to the rear sprocket and look down along the rod to see if the chain is aligned correctly as some times the alignment grooves on the bike are not that accurate

If you have a full Cat B licence, and the theory test from that is less than 2 years old do you need to do Cat A theory test to get a Cat A learner permit? I thought you did, being different categories, but reading the info my friend got from rsa or ndls website now I'm not so sure?

That make sense when progressing through the various motorcycle licences, but I never heard it in relation to a car licence >bike licence?

I was looking at that thinking

that cant be right :-)

@Chasm the car licence has no bearing on a motorbike

Needs new theory test + new learner permit for the bike then IBT

I applied for my learner license last week (arrived yesterday). Like yourself I wasn't sure if I needed to do the theory test (full B license since 2001) so logged in to MDLS and applied. Nothing in the process of that application mentioned theory test.

I did come across this thread which seems to explain why I didn't need to redo the theory test - https://www.boards.ie/discussion/133449/motorcycle-faq/p10 -

Found this on the NDLS/mygov page:

"I have not held a learner permit in the last 5 years, therefore why have I an option to apply for a learner permit in the motorbikes /cars ?

You will be given this option if you passed a driver theory test between April 2001 and October 2006 and hold a full licence in the motorbike or car as at that time the driver theory test covered both motorbikes and the car categories."

Have to laugh, I've a full A1 licence, driving since 2000, but as it was before the theory test came in, it actually involves more for me to progress to an A2 or go for an A than it does for a B licence holder who sat the theory during the quoted dates lol

Anyway, thanks for all the replies, I've sent the above info to my friend, who I'm assuming passed their theory test for a car during the above quoted dates.

It was daft to have a combined car and bike theory test.

Waited about 1 year and 3 months.

Mention that you are going to complain to your local TD on here, and you'll miraculously find a test date will show up for you.

The Dail! 😂

That is what i was getting when waiting for my test after I let the 10 day booking elapse

Every time I checked online it said no availability for every test center

I tried to add myself back on to the waiting list but it said i was already on it

I had to ring them and say that every test center said no availability and the Girl said she would add me back to the list and I got a new date within a week or so

You should give them a ring

The IBT situation seems to be getting out of hand. A mega lack of IBT schools and the RSA, in general, seem to be putting all the effort into the car tests and truck tests. Bikes are most likely at the bottom of the list. The bike community in Ireland is small enough with no great voice and that is very much that. The biggest problem I experience before I passed my test was the lack of schools and bike hire. Trying to get replies from the RSA is a different game all together. They do try that much people need to know, but they do not have the staff numbers to deal properly with the public.

Anyone know the test route in Tralee for Bikes?

Seen a few 4-5 doing their test the last 2 days out in Shannon and a few look like they are on practice runs ,its been a while since the last lot ,they seem to just do it in batches every now and again good luck to all !

Good morning everyone

So, being told different things from people and said I would ask here. as it stands, I have my learner permit, waiting on IBT (backlog), I’m 30 years old. I was looking at 250cc just to tip along on at the start just to get familiar with the bike etc. i have been told a few times now to get a 600cc and restrict it. Once I go for a full test I have a 600. Anyone have insight if this is a good or bad idea?

I was looking at Ninjas, and 600cc seems to be cheaper than 250cc. I guess that’s the usual DoneDeal pricing when one ups the price the rest follow suite.

Any info or opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks

If you only have an A2 learner permit you'd need to restrict a 600. But if you have class A and pass IBT on a class A bike, then you can ride any bike unrestricted.