From January 2013 getting your bike licence will be turned on its head. The size
of bike you can ride and the age you can ride them will be different. Only mopeds
will stay the same.
As it is now, from 17 years old you can pass your test on a 125cc bike, and then
ride any “cc” bike as long as the power is limited to 33bhp for 2 years from the
date you passed, then your licence matures and you can ride unlimited power – no
other tests, you just get a full licence.
If you’re 21 you can take lessons on a 500cc bike pass your test and ride any bike
you want with as much power as you can get your hands on.
Next year that all goes out of the window.
From 19th January 2013, at 17 pass your test on a 125cc bike and you’re stuck with
a 125 bike until you are 19 years old. Then you will have to pass another test on
a bigger bike to ride the new intermediate size bike with a maximum power
New EU licence legislation
output of 55bhp. After another 2 years riding this bike, you will have to pass yet another test on a 600cc bike before you can move up to unlimited power.
Start riding at 19 and you pass on the intermediate bike, and you’re restricted to the 55bhp for at least another 2 years, then take the big bike test on a 600cc bike to get the unlimited licence.
Direct access is moving to 24 years old, pass your test on a 600cc bike and you have unrestricted licence.
If you ride a 125cc or intermediate bike even at 24 years or over you will still have to take all the upgrade tests as listed above.
Why is all this happening you might ask? It’s down to EU legislation again, the same lot that gave us the two part test.
So if you’re thinking about learning to ride a bike, my advice is get it done this year, don’t put it off - it’s going to get a whole lot harder and the demand will get very high during summer.
Give me a ring and let’s get you on the road to biking before it gets turned on its head.