Updated Starting Out Guide for Motorcyclists (20/10/2013)

27-03-2014 1:41pm

minidazzler wrote: »

You book the test online here http://www.theorytest.ie/english/driver-theory-test/index.php And you get to pick a date from available dates and times.

Thanks but my post was in response to the post about not having to do the theory test at all if you passed one before oct 2006 which i did.

Doing a bit of research its when they made the motorcycle theory test a separate test.

The only official information i could find was Wicklow cc website.

A theory test certificate issued prior to 21 October 2006 in respect of the category B entitled applicants to apply for first Learner Permit in respect of category B, A, A1, M and W provided the certificate is presented to the Motor Tax Office within two years of the date of issue i.e. passing the test in association with a learner permit application.

http://www.wicklow.ie/Apps/WicklowBeta/Motortax/TheoryTest.aspx

28-03-2014 4:04pm

So i rang up the RSA and i did indeed pass a theory test in 2005 and she confirmed that i do not have to do the theory test again. So I'll be heading into the NDLS center tomorrow to apply for my learner permit.

Thanks to the poster who pointed this out, i did not see this anywhere online. Saved my the hassle of going through it a second time and of course whatever the fee is for the privilege.

BeerSteakBirds · 29-03-2014 12:37am

so now I have my category A learner permit and also have my IBT completed for category A ,can I now ride any size of bike unrestricted ?? I plan to get no larger than 400 cc but it would be good to know if theres any restriction.

Roadcraft · 29-03-2014 9:28am

BeerSteakBirds wrote: »

so now I have my category A learner permit and also have my IBT completed for category A ,can I now ride any size of bike unrestricted ?? I plan to get no larger than 400 cc but it would be good to know if theres any restriction.

You should have covered all of this during your IBT, new plastic card learner permit is unrestricted, so if you have this & IBT complete you can ride any motorcycle that you can get insured on.

If you want to use your own bike for a driving test it must be min 595cc, 50kw, 175kgs, so something to think about when buying a bike.

unattendedbag · 30-03-2014 5:29pm

Is it worth doing IBT on the instructors bike or my own bike? I'm window shopping and Going for a category A licence but wouldn't feel comfortable riding anything over a 300cc at the moment, although eventual aim is to get a fjr1300 in the future.

minidazzler · 30-03-2014 6:55pm

unattendedbag wrote: »

Is it worth doing IBT on the instructors bike or my own bike? I'm window shopping and Going for a category A licence but wouldn't feel comfortable riding anything over a 300cc at the moment, although eventual aim is to get a fjr1300 in the future.

The instructors is a better shout I think.... He'll have you go on 2 different bikes and at that, if you drop it, you're only out the excess for the insurance and it won't effect your pocket by more than 250 euro.

Bluefoam · 05-04-2014 9:17pm

This sticky is very helpful, thanks. Am I right in thinking that I can apply for an A license, because I am over 24? Once I do the 18 hours of training...

I used to have provisional, but that's going back to about 2006...

As a fully licensed car river, can I still drive a 50cc ped?

Roadcraft · 06-04-2014 4:58pm

Bluefoam wrote: »

This sticky is very helpful, thanks. Am I right in thinking that I can apply for an A license, because I am over 24? Once I do the 18 hours of training...

I used to have provisional, but that's going back to about 2006...

As a fully licensed car river, can I still drive a 50cc ped?

Yes, theory test, apply for 'A' permit, IBT 1,3,5. (18-Hours).

If your full 'B' car licence was issued before 21/10/2006 & not expired by more than 10-years you can ride a moped on it.

Bluefoam · 06-04-2014 7:03pm

Thanks roadcraft, that's clear.

Paddy001 · 23-04-2014 1:31pm

Hi all,

I've a few queries on motorbike licencing relating to my father and myself.
Firstly, I have had a provisional A1 since around 2007, I then renewed this in early 2013 and obtained a provisional A2 (I was 23 at the time). I have done no lessons or IBT to date, however I have recently turned 24.
My father has a provisional A1 since 2009, he sat the theory test and has done nothing since. This expired late in 2013 and has yet to be renewed.
We are both looking at buying a bike and doing our tests over the summer. Could anyone confirm our best course of action? Realistically, the A2 licence would be more than sufficient for both of us. However, I understand we will both need to do 18 hours of IBT regardless of if we pursue the A2 or A route, so it would seem like it makes more sense for us both to do the A and leave our options open in the future.
Is there anything else which we should consider in relation to this? Would I be correct to assume we should both renew and get provisional A licences and go on from there? No bike or equipment is bought yet and we will probably hire the bike for the test, so that side of things shouldn't be an issue.
Thanks for any help.

Regards,
Patrick.

Roadcraft · 23-04-2014 3:39pm

Paddy001 wrote: »

Hi all,

I've a few queries on motorbike licencing relating to my father and myself.
Firstly, I have had a provisional A1 since around 2007, I then renewed this in early 2013 and obtained a provisional A2 (I was 23 at the time). I have done no lessons or IBT to date, however I have recently turned 24.
My father has a provisional A1 since 2009, he sat the theory test and has done nothing since. This expired late in 2013 and has yet to be renewed.
We are both looking at buying a bike and doing our tests over the summer. Could anyone confirm our best course of action? Realistically, the A2 licence would be more than sufficient for both of us. However, I understand we will both need to do 18 hours of IBT regardless of if we pursue the A2 or A route, so it would seem like it makes more sense for us both to do the A and leave our options open in the future.
Is there anything else which we should consider in relation to this? Would I be correct to assume we should both renew and get provisional A licences and go on from there? No bike or equipment is bought yet and we will probably hire the bike for the test, so that side of things shouldn't be an issue.
Thanks for any help.

Regards,
Patrick.

Hi Paddy,

Yes the IBT course is the same for category 'A2' or 'A' modules 1,3,5. (18-Hours).
You would be best to apply for an 'A' permit and complete IBT for category 'A' as then you are then unrestricted and would not have to cpmplete any more IBT training.

Paddy001 · 24-04-2014 1:11pm

Roadcraft wrote: »

Hi Paddy,

Yes the IBT course is the same for category 'A2' or 'A' modules 1,3,5. (18-Hours).
You would be best to apply for an 'A' permit and complete IBT for category 'A' as then you are then unrestricted and would not have to cpmplete any more IBT training.

Thanks for that. I assume the only other difference is if we both renew and get an A licence, we would have to wait 6 months to sit the test?

colinjp · 10-05-2014 9:31am

Hi is the 175kg min weight a wet or dry weight? ie: the weight of the bike with or without a tank of petrol ?
For example the triumph street triple is a 675cc with 79kw but has a dry weight of 168kg and wet weight of 183kg

Thanks

Roadcraft wrote: »

You should have covered all of this during your IBT, new plastic card learner permit is unrestricted, so if you have this & IBT complete you can ride any motorcycle that you can get insured on.

If you want to use your own bike for a driving test it must be min 595cc, 50kw, 175kgs, so something to think about when buying a bike.

Roadcraft · 10-05-2014 8:38pm

colinjp wrote: »

Hi is the 175kg min weight a wet or dry weight? ie: the weight of the bike with or without a tank of petrol ?
For example the triumph street triple is a 675cc with 79kw but has a dry weight of 168kg and wet weight of 183kg

Thanks

Triumph speed triple is o.k. for the 'A' test.
Have a look at the list of suitable bikes for the driving test on the RSA website.

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Learner-Drivers/Motorcyclists/Driving-Test-Vehicles---Motorcycles/

V.W.L 11 · 10-05-2014 8:49pm

Roadcraft wrote: »

Triumph speed triple is o.k. for the 'A' test.
Have a look at the list of suitable bikes for the driving test on the RSA website.

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Learner-Drivers/Motorcyclists/Driving-Test-Vehicles---Motorcycles/

looked at the list and a bit confused

can it be clarified for me here if I want to go on to get my full A on a Suzuki bandit 600 does the bike need to be a certain year???

I had the old paper licence and was of the impression that if I had a 600 bandit and done ibt 1,3 &5 i'd be on the pigs back,clearly not it seems

Roadcraft · 10-05-2014 9:03pm

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

looked at the list and a bit confused can it be clarified for me here if I want to go on to get my full A on a Suzuki bandit 600 does the bike need to be a certain year??? I had the old paper licence and was of the impression that if I had a 600 bandit and done ibt 1,3 &5 i'd be on the pigs back,clearly not it seems

For full 'A' you would have to have plastic card 'A', complete IBT 1,3,5. on a category 'A' Bike, them pass test on category 'A' bike.

Bandit 600 is ok for 'A2' test with restrictor & for 'A' test unrestricted.

V.W.L 11 · 10-05-2014 10:12pm

Roadcraft wrote: »

For full 'A' you would have to have plastic card 'A', complete IBT 1,3,5. on a category 'A' Bike, them pass test on category 'A' bike.

Bandit 600 is ok for 'A2' test with restrictor & for 'A' test unrestricted.

is there something about it not being permitted to be registered from 90-00???i'll need to get the licence renewed once ndls sort out their sh1te they are very disorganised

Roadcraft · 10-05-2014 11:41pm

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

is there something about it not being permitted to be registered from 90-00???i'll need to get the licence renewed once ndls sort out their sh1te they are very disorganised

No, any Bandit 600 unrestricted is ok for full 'A' test.

V.W.L 11 · 11-05-2014 10:05am

Roadcraft wrote: »

No, any Bandit 600 unrestricted is ok for full 'A' test.

Thanks for your reply,will look into that,unrestricted ones are also cheaper i think.

jo06555 · 28-05-2014 10:45pm

Hi , im going to start the long comeback to biking but even after reading lots of pages here im slighty confused to my situation , I had a provisional license for motorbikes up to 2004 then i went back to the car and did not keep renewing bike license

, so now im in my mid 30s and looking to get back on the bike , whats my best option for doing this ? Am i better off going straight for A learner permit and do if i get my ibt finished for A does the bike need to be restricted still for 2 years after a test? thanks in advance ..

Roadskill · 28-05-2014 11:00pm

jo06555 wrote: »

Hi , im going to start the long comeback to biking but even after reading lots of pages here im slighty confused to my situation , I had a provisional license for motorbikes up to 2004 then i went back to the car and did not keep renewing bike license , so now im in my mid 30s and looking to get back on the bike , whats my best option for doing this ? Am i better off going straight for A learner permit and do if i get my ibt finished for A does the bike need to be restricted still for 2 years after a test? thanks in advance ..

Category A is unrestricted. Once you have you ibt done you can ride whatever size bike you want as long as you can insure it.

jo06555 · 28-05-2014 11:17pm

Roadskill wrote: »

Category A is unrestricted. Once you have you ibt done you can ride whatever size bike you want as long as you can insure it.

Ok thanks so once I do my ibt do I not need to have bike restricted? Plus Will the ibt courses for A category have many people who have not rode for a few years as I would be slighty nervous if asked to jump on high power bike i never rode before and be expected to perform

SouthTippBass · 29-05-2014 3:54pm

Can anyone answer me this, I have a full A1 license since 2002, but haven't had a bike since 2004. Now I want to return to biking and get my full A. I also have a full car license since 2006. So do I need to do my theory test again? Do I need to do all modules of the IBT if I have a full A1?

Also, can I do the cat A test on a 650 Dragstar?

Any help is appreciated, thank you!

Roadskill · 29-05-2014 4:36pm

SouthTippBass wrote: »

Can anyone answer me this, I have a full A1 license since 2002, but haven't had a bike since 2004. Now I want to return to biking and get my full A. I also have a full car license since 2006. So do I need to do my theory test again? Do I need to do all modules of the IBT if I have a full A1?

Also, can I do the cat A test on a 650 Dragstar?

Any help is appreciated, thank you!

You will have to complete your full ibt for category A. You will need to get the learner permit for A then do ibt. This will allow you to ride unrestricted. The Dragstar 650 is not eligible for the A test as it must be over 595cc minimum 175kg and minimum 50 kW power.
Once your ibt is complete you should be able to get a full A2 without doing another test as you have held a full A1 for over 2 years. You will have to be tested again for the A.

SouthTippBass · 29-05-2014 9:11pm

Roadskill wrote: »

You will have to complete your full ibt for category A. You will need to get the learner permit for A then do ibt. This will allow you to ride unrestricted. The Dragstar 650 is not eligible for the A test as it must be over 595cc minimum 175kg and minimum 50 kW power.
Once your ibt is complete you should be able to get a full A2 without doing another test as you have held a full A1 for over 2 years. You will have to be tested again for the A.

Ah ok, thank you for that answer. So once I complete my IBT they will just give me A2? What modules do I need to complete in IBT? But what I really want to know about is this theory test, do I really need to do it again if I already have an A1 and a full car license? This would save me three weeks and €45. This stuff just isn't explained properly on the website. If anyone has experience with this I would appreciate it.

Roadskill · 29-05-2014 9:58pm

SouthTippBass wrote: »

Ah ok, thank you for that answer. So once I complete my IBT they will just give me A2? What modules do I need to complete in IBT? But what I really want to know about is this theory test, do I really need to do it again if I already have an A1 and a full car license? This would save me three weeks and €45. This stuff just isn't explained properly on the website. If anyone has experience with this I would appreciate it.

No you shouldn't need another theory test.

SouthTippBass · 29-05-2014 10:01pm

Roadskill wrote: »

No you shouldn't need another theory test.

Ok, that's great, thanks for your help Roadskill.

SouthTippBass · 30-05-2014 2:28pm

Roadskill wrote: »

No you shouldn't need another theory test.

No joy. Went down to the license centre this morning, they won't let me apply for my cat A learner without doing the theory test first. I explained I had full A1 and B but no good, have to do another theory test.

/money racket.

Roadskill · 30-05-2014 2:42pm

SouthTippBass wrote: »

No joy. Went down to the license centre this morning, they won't let me apply for my cat A learner without doing the theory test first. I explained I had full A1 and B but no good, have to do another theory test.

/money racket.

Get onto the RSA first and get them to check. You only need to do a theory test if you never did one before or you had to start over because your licence lapsed for too long.

SouthTippBass · 30-05-2014 2:59pm

Roadskill wrote: »

Get onto the RSA first and get them to check. You only need to do a theory test if you never did one before or you had to start over because your licence lapsed for too long.

Ok, I'l give them a shout, thanks for the help.

I went into Clonmel motorcycles this morning. Man, the smell of bikes when you walk in the door was a rush of nostalgia for me, just an awesome feeling. Had a look at the Dragstars and Shadows they had there, just wanted to jump on and drive off :pac:

Gotta make this happen!

SouthTippBass · 30-05-2014 3:14pm

Roadskill wrote: »

Get onto the RSA first and get them to check. You only need to do a theory test if you never did one before or you had to start over because your licence lapsed for too long.

Just rang the number from the RSA website there. The answer I got was, if the NDLS said I had to do the theory test again, then thats it I have to do another one. Just gonna have to suck it up and do it I guess.

SouthTippBass · 19-06-2014 4:35pm

Theory test passed today! Wooooo! :-)

HamSambo · 03-08-2014 8:04pm

Good man yourself. You're on your way now

Paco Rodriguez · 22-09-2014 7:53pm

My 3rd provisional licence is due to expire next June.
If I have taken but not passed a test by then will I have to start from scratch again? Ie theory test and it?

V.W.L 11 · 22-09-2014 8:04pm

Paco Rodriguez wrote: »

My 3rd provisional licence is due to expire next June.
If I have taken but not passed a test by then will I have to start from scratch again? Ie theory test and it?

nope just produce the test applicantion or your most recent test result for that category

dmeaney · 31-01-2015 2:46am

What is the story with eleictic bicycles and the Irish law do they need to be under a surten power the government was road tax off me what the laws with them?? I like to make or bike a ebike that goes well over 50mpr it be handily for going to college next year like to hear comments it help a lot

Bluefoam · 31-01-2015 4:48am

Electric bikes usually do about 12kph - 20kph... a 50xxx petrol scooter genarally does about 40 - 50kpk...

To get 50mph you would need a large capacity scooter or a motorcycle...

dmeaney · 01-02-2015 1:56am

See getting a scooter be to expensive and im tall 6.2 and 77kg I'm to big the bike be too slow and annoying the electronic bike I like to try it. It be only travelling 20.2km a day

job seeker · 04-02-2015 8:39pm

A friend of mine got the catagories of the notorbike, scooter etc. when he paid 35 euro for the trailer licence.. how did this work?

gerrowadat · 04-02-2015 9:02pm

job seeker wrote: »

A friend of mine got the catagories of the notorbike, scooter etc. when he paid 35 euro for the trailer licence.. how did this work?

When you're getting a learner permit you can just tick all the boxes you like and get learner for any A category and M.

cantdecide · 05-02-2015 1:27am

job seeker wrote: »

A friend of mine got the catagories of the notorbike, scooter etc. when he paid 35 euro for the trailer licence.. how did this work?

He must have a pre-2006 theory test on file and maintained those categories by either continuing to renew B and W or by passing the practical test (which he did, otherwise he wouldn't be applying for BE). Having the 'type A' DTT means he can add all the group 1 categories without the need for an AM DTT. The cost of adding categories is the same no matter how many new categories you add. If he had a post 2006 theory test on file he would have had to complete the AM DTT.

listermint · 24-02-2015 3:18pm

I know it may or may not have been answered but does anyone know how they landed on 50Kw for the A license ? Was it just an figure pulled out of the sky?

I see there is tolerances for thinks such as weight even tolerances for Cubic Capacity but nothing on the KW.

My bike has a 49Kw Power 645 CC and Weight of 220Kg. It is plenty powerful for Touring across the continent but 1kw under this random figure and its 'out' of for the A license. It makes no sense to me.

Does anyone know how they arrived at that figure with Zero Tolerance ? why not 45Kw for example ?

DL650 Vstrom FYI. Just interested to hear some view points on it.

Jayop · 25-06-2015 4:56pm

I'm transferring a UK car license over to a motorbike license. I'm trying to figure out if I need to sit the theory test given I did mine in the North back in 2004.

cantdecide · 27-06-2015 12:06am

Jayop wrote: »

I'm transferring a UK car license over to a motorbike license. I'm trying to figure out if I need to sit the theory test given I did mine in the North back in 2004.

If you have UK full entitlements for bikes they will be exchangeable. It may be be possible that you have A1 and AM. These are common on UK exchanges. If you don't or if you do and you want to get onto bigger bikes then you will have to complete and Irish theory test, an A learner permit and go for IBT etc.

However, you won't need to exchange your full UK entitlements in order to apply for an A learner permit in Ireland but you will have to register your full foreign licence on applying to the NDLS for your A learner permit. You can go as far as passing your A test and then applying for a foreign exchange for your car and add your new A entitlements at the same time.

Jayop · 27-06-2015 1:29am

Cheers mate.

Expensive carry on this biking isn't it.

gerrowadat · 30-11-2015 6:11pm

I did a wee video on some tips from insuring a motorbike in the last year or so. Hopefully folks going down that path find some of the tips useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcKWJAeWVX8

the galway secret · 08-02-2016 7:28pm

Is the IBT training for motorcycles only or does this include mopeds

Faith+1 · 09-02-2016 12:52pm

the galway secret wrote: »

Is the IBT training for motorcycles only or does this include mopeds

Mopeds too.

SCOL · 15-02-2016 3:17pm

I have a full licence AM and B

I am after getting a vintage Honda 50 working and does my AM licence cover me for
a Honda 50 ? looking at the website it's only up to 49cc

Roadcraft · 16-02-2016 9:36am

SCOL wrote: »

I have a full licence AM and B

I am after getting a vintage Honda 50 working and does my AM licence cover me for
a Honda 50 ? looking at the website it's only up to 49cc

No 'AM' does not cover a Honda 50 as it can exceed 45km.

AM = Max 50cc max speed 45km.

Updated Starting Out Guide for Motorcyclists (20/10/2013)

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