Single Test Motorcycle Licence? Would That Really Be a Good Idea?

[@bolindow176]

I passed my test 50 years ago, and while a "big bike" in my youth had something like 40-50 hp the bikes today are a *lot* more powerful. You can't really compare then and now. My first bike had 16 hp and a top speed of around 70 miles/hour. Yeah, the times they are a-changing. It's fine with classes A1, A2, A with the bikes of today.

[@blacktemplar2377]

I'm happy with how the test itself is. I'm not happy that I'm restricted despite having passed my mod 1 and mod 2 no different to someone who is a little bit older. the restriction is more targeted towards offroad bikes and sports bikes. I think it's reasonable to let the A2 include cruisers unrestricted as they are easy bikes for beginners... Or just make everyone happy and scrap the A2 altogether.

[@BleachDemon99]

Love that Bob line…….I find myself humming that tune more and more

[@thecommentator6694]

I started on a Ninja 400 with an A2 licence and this summer upgraded to my A and got a ZX6R. Having to spend another £700-800 to get the full license is silly in my opinion, but I do agree with the tiered system - I wouldn't have wanted to start on a ZX6 or something even more powerful and I don't think that is a good idea for anyone of any age.

[@gallaghergibson8024]

How and why did you have to pay another £800? The tests themselves would be what, £100 or so? And hiring the bike for two tests, if you didn't already have one, that's another £200 say? Did you really get another £500 worth of lessons just to go get your license upgraded? Surely not?

[@thecommentator6694]

@@gallaghergibson8024 I agree it seems ridiculous, because it is. I was trying to find a way around it but you need to do the tests on a bike that is more powerful than an A2 bike so my Ninja 400 wasn't compliant, so I needed to use a school's. So at minimum you are paying for the bike for two separate days and the instructors time plus the tests so that could probably cost £300-400 all in. My school only offered the training course even for an A2 conversion so that's what I did. As much as I didn't need the training after two years of riding, you do need to get familiar with the bike in order to pass the tests realistically - for example how are you going to perform a good emergency stop on a bike you've never ridden - you would have no idea how good or bad the brakes are. Plus you need to remember and refresh on the manouevres to make sure you remember how to do them correctly to pass the test. Even for the mod 2 you have to be reminded what the examiner is looking for beyond just being able to ride. So as much as it seemed stupid, I thought it had to be done really.

[@gallaghergibson8024]

@@thecommentator6694 Fair enough. I asked because at the time I was shopping around and considering costs. I just passed my A license in December - had my Cat A CBT, followed by my Mod 1 with a two hour lesson prior, and bike hire for the test, then the same for my Mod 2. All in, that cost me £450 from the instructors, and £105 in test fees. Oh and whatever the theory test cost as well I guess. I think it really depends on your level of confidence. I ride a Zero, so my Cat A CBT was the first time I'd ever ridden a geared bike, and I was straight onto a 600+cc Kawasaki of some description or other. The only thing that wasn't muscle memory was the clutch/shifting. A few practice goes at all the maneuvres was enough to get my head round the differences between my bike and the test bike. The difference would be a lot smaller between a Ninja 400 and a Cat A bike - just a slight bit more power and weight really. But like I say, it's very much a confidence issue. If that's what you needed to do to get yourself the confidence necessary to pass the test, then that's what you had to do. Well done on passing in any case, at least you're done with the process now!

[@nowillnoway]

Having done my DAS this year, and got my first bike as a 660cc, I'm for all practical intents and purposes a 'single test' licence holder. That being said, I largely agree with the principal of the graduated licensing - but I think we really need to decide if we should be basing that on 'experience', or age. If we think people should be riding for 2 years before moving up a stage, that should apply irrespective of age IMO - or if we decide that 21 or 24 is the appropriate age for a full licence, then that's the age - none of this 'younger if you've done your a2 x years ago'. What I think is *far* more important though, is looking at the tests themselves. Seeing the standard of driving on country/rural roads (even from non-dual carriageway A roads down, but particularly when you start getting to narrower lanes) tells you that people are just not taught how to drive properly on them - current testing (and therefore learning) is focussed almost exclusively on urban environments, with the token dual carriageway section thrown in. This is massively exacerbated in the motorcycle community, where outside of commuting, I'd say most of us seek out those twistier rural roads. I'd say it's not only possible, but likely, that most people who have done a DAS have their first experience of a fast flowing country road after they've passed their test, having had no actual training on handling the bike in that environment (much less things like assessing speed for a given bend etc). Worse yet, there's a good chance it'll be on a group ride with their mates, being pushed beyond what they've had the opportunity to learn. I think overall I'd be far more in favour of a 'single test' with either a third module added, or the mod 2 extended, to allow examination on rural route riding - give examiners the opportunity to assess riders on the twisties where young hot-headed and/or inexperienced riders are *actually* getting themselves into trouble, which will in turn encourage/force schools to provide adequate training in those environments.

[@adiohead]

I went from a CG125 to an XSR900 and just rode slowly for a while in rain mode until I got more confident. Survival of the fittest, imo.

[@fenrir7969]

Sensible. Unfortunately maturity is not part of driving license requirements.

Yes. I did my test in Portugal and I did one test on a 650cc bike. You need at least 10 practical lessons and theory test completion. The thing is you have restrictions depending on your age and your license's age, similar to the UK, but you don't need to retake test after test. Now that I have a UK license, despite having had a Full A Portuguese one for over five years, I was given an A2 license and apparently I need to take a practical test again, which seem a bit ridiculous.

[@shutinyanks]

I think currently its a little silly the hoops you have to jump through if you want to step up to a bigger bike after 24 but we don't have the same kind of roads some others have we are heavily congested at the best of times. So whilst i think going from A1,A2 etc is a folly, its there to stop young riders just getting hold of a powerful bike and hurting themselves or others. The UK is a nanny state and that won't ever change.

[@junkie1128]

It’s over complicated and mega money to put young riders off It’s so easy to streamline it 1 have a scooter test for anyone to ride upto a 125cc but can’t ride a geared bike and have to take a proper test at 21 or can only ride upto the 125 scooter (rev and go only) Do away with L plates as everyone will do a test and do away with the cbt If a young person wants to ride a geared bike they do a proper test and can ride upto a 250 once passed 2 anyone under 21 does a full test on a 250 and at 21 they can upgrade to any bike as long as they have been riding for 2 years minimum without a break and can prove it with insurance over them 2 years then they can ride anything Anyone over 21 does same test but on a 600 and can ride anything

[@LickyDischarge]

A small mistake in a car, usually doesn’t mean serious injury. A minor mistake on a bike though, can easily mean sliding down the road on your face 😂. Impossible to compare mustard with Lego imo. Interesting video Spicy x

[@blacktemplar2377]

A small mistake in a car can also kill two people on a motorcycle.

[@LickyDischarge]

@@blacktemplar2377 very true, I was thinking along the lines of a single vehicle accident, but you’re spot on.

[@techtinkerin]

Yep the old concrete skydive 😂

[@mrparkuksmith1311]

I'm 51 and passed my DAS in June this year. Driven a car since I was 17. Did a CBT a couple of years back with zero experience. My friend paid for it as a birthday present / dare / joke. I loved it. Took the plunge and passed the theory / mod 1 and 2 first time. No issues. I think road experience helped me, theory and highway code experience and also a sense if just how dangerous motorcycling can be if things go wrong. I appreciated the training and after passing, bought a CB650r. I love it but am very aware of my limited riding experience and skills. I'm no speed freak but absolutely love the occasional squirt! I favour the tiered route. I'd also like to do a similar for car drivers. When I lived in Australia years back, new drivers had provisional 'p' plate for a year I think. They were limited to a lower top speed, bhp of the vehicle and motorway restrictions. As other say driving standards are poor for many.

[@gallaghergibson8024]

We have R-plates in Northern Ireland...I recently took my bike to England and nobody knew what they were for. New drivers, cars and A1/A2 bike riders, are restricted for one year to 45mph, and are not allowed on motorways. A license riders are not restricted but still must use R-plates. Quickly identifies newly qualified road users and gives someone a sense of staging with their journey - for a year, you're conscious that everyone around you knows you're a noob.

[@twist_of_the_wrist]

An older person who passed their test in the 60's but only rode for say 2 years then fast-forward to today can jump straight on a modern motorcycle with no issue so experience isn't really and argument.

[@Peter34736]

not every who passed their test wants to go out and get 200BPH bike same as not everyone who drivers a car wants a 500BHP BMW

[@SloboloboVFR]

B improved. Its power to weight/cost that really makes a difference. There's a 2 grand super blackbird for sale near me, if bought it with my 18 year old mind set with a fresh license I would be dead within a week. We used to take our cars to a place dubbed Liphook jumps and try and get some air, I honestly think some sort of staged restriction is a good idea. Maybe not the constant for tests though.

[@Palmit_]

i have no idea why this keeps going missing?? .. but the intro music is ♫ "Fuzz Townshend - Smash It"

[@sneekylinux]

All your points are valid spicy, when I passed my test in 82 on a suzi X7 as you say the roads were so much quieter then

[@deanroberts187]

I’ve been riding 18 months after passing. a DAS at 46. My 13yr old daughter loves pillion and is really excited about the possibility of rules changing. The current set of rules are a little archaic, but I get your point about not going too far the other way - 18yr old with 1000cc. Not sure where the happy medium should be but it’s good to see that the government are looking into changes to modernise the system.

[@grumpsrides42]

I passed both my bike and car tests over 30 years ago. I'm still riding every day. When I passed my bike test, you were on a 125, you did a 2 part test. Part 1 ride around cones in a school yard, part 2, around the block on road. No way was I 'safe' to ride a 1000cc bike!! I think ALL, licenses should be staggered. New Zealand do it, not sure of the exact details, but it works with a learners license and restricted license.

[@mikebest634]

Just trying to get back in to bikes after over 30 years of not riding one ,passed my theory two weeks ago ,but I think the bike test is better now even if it’s a pain to get through it all ,it’s definitely better and needs to be tough. Problem is you can be 16 and jump straight on a 50 cc bike or scooter with zero experience and not even know what any road sign is and go on the road ,this is the biggest problem ,it’s just ridiculous.Been driving cars for years but still happy to go through all the tests for a bike ,it just makes sense as cars and bikes are so different.

[@robinwells8879]

I have been driving cars for eleventy billion years and I have come back to biking and I think that it’s a lot easier to come to biking after a long driving career where you have mastered basic road craft. This said I wouldn’t want to get on a litre bike yet and I have been on a 125(ish) for a year and a half now. I am simply not ready or consistently skilled enough for more power yet. I am odd though because it’s nothing to do with speed for me but that seems to be the be all and end all for most other bikers I know. I have never been comfortable with people being allowed to drive super cars on a normal car licence frankly. I am not sure that a 16 year old will get the road craft required to survive from simply a CBT. They need experience to build their skills and that’s best done on smaller bikes. There is no yes/no answer to the dilemma. However, the average eighteen year old on a litre bike is a danger to everyone including themselves. Some fifty years olds are no better frankly. One size fits nobody legislation will always struggle to work. America seems to have few rules and I think that you can ride anything right from the get go having done merely an introductory course.

[@philbrotherton5720]

Due to a change in my circumstances (covid) I rode a 50cc moped on my car licence for 2 years (yes it was dire!) I then did a cbt & got a 125. I don't have a lot of money, so will probably do my A1 test this year, as that's the cheapest option. I'd love a little bit more power though, but the licence restrictions stop this. It's a crazy system in the UK & does need looking at.

[@eddiehawkins7049]

I've often said that I wish I'd done my bike test in the mid seventies, but nearly as often I've wondered if I'd still be here if I had. As it happens, I waited a little over 45 years before righting that wrong and passed my test earlier this year. I do think that progressing through the different classes is a good idea, but the system of progression needs to be looked at. I am also inclined toward a similar system of progression for car drivers. Haven't a clue how that would work though. When it comes to car driving experience being of benefit when learning to ride, it is possible for it to be of great benefit, but I think that is largely dependent on what kind of driver you are.

[@101steel4]

I got my first bike in 1988 aged 17. There was no cbt, no training, no nothing. You just sent off for your provisional and that was that. The 125cc bikes back then weren't slow 4 strokes, struggling to do 60mph, they were 2 strokes that everyone did as much to as possible to make it as fast as possible. The favourite back them was the TZR 125. Capable of over 100mph. I personally know 2 young lads that were killed, and heard about plenty more. It was crazy back then. Shortly after the CBT was brought in The full bike test was basically todays CBT, you turned up on your own 125, and once passed could ride everything.

[@dirtyberty3933]

A, If the rider is obeying all the rules of the road, it's fairly irrelevant what bhp the bike is, i.e 30mph with 15bhp is the same as 30mph on a 200bhp.

[@AW8UK]

Me.....Moped @ 16, Car test @ 17....Stayed away from bikes until more recently - then CBT @ Bike theory @ 53, DAS @ 54. Bikesafe, Biker Down, Track Skills & Advanced Bike test all within a year of DAS. Practiced (lots) on my 600cc them got a 1000cc naked (analogue except ABS) 18 months later...Fully comp just over £200. Every ride cam be a school day.... Some great bikers out there but some have been riding for decades & still need to paddle at slow speeds. At 17 my (late) father convinced me to buy a car instead, of a 125cc bike (possibly saved my life as I then lacked adequate restraint). I favour scraping Mod 1 & 2 for A2 licence holders. Instead of Mod 1 & 2 again I favour completion of Enhanced Rider Sceheme (ERS) or similar...Perhaps on an A licence bike. Thanks

[@ephphatha230]

700BHP Aldi - gets you down the aisles really fast 😆

[@StripleR_Boi_Ted]

Age restrict the power of the bike people can ride. I just straight on to a 675 street triple and have loved it but waited to do my full access. 1 test , auto upgrade the lisence/what power riders can use at the age. What is the point doing a restricted test, then unrestricted 2 years later doing the same thing?

[@mrwpg]

We need to do it the other way and change car test to be staged with max engine size and age restrictions applied at say up to 1.2 ltr age 17-21, up to 2.0ltr until 24, go wild after that, it would stop rich kids and trust fund babies getting hypercars at 17.

[@wantsomefries]

in my view motorcycle and car drivers should have to retake theory and hazard perception tests every 10 years

[@johnludmon7419]

I do not want to go back to how it was the 40 year's ago when I passed my test. The only modification I would make to our present system is to allow someone with a full A1 license to be able to ride a bike making up to 25 hp . This would possibly encourage more youngsters to take the training to pass the test rather than just do the CBT .

[@slorida]

With an A licence (and I think A2 licence) you can ride/drive 'light quadricycles' and 'motorised tricycles', however, a 'light quadricycle' on your licence is not the same category conditions as the vehicle standards categories. Prime example here is the Citroen Ami, which is a light quadricycle for vehicle standards, but is too heavy to be a light quadricycle on your licence.

[@stewartnorton6386]

As you said insurance would cripple a single test process. I'm in a FB group for new riders and some passing thier A1 or A2 are getting quotes of 2-3k a year. You go to a single test younger riders insurance would either be so restrictive is would be unless to most or insurance just won't insure you.

[@peterbrewer6104]

I passed my test nearly 50yrs ago…. The examiner stood on a corner and watched me from a distance while I rode a right circuit, a left circuit, then stood by the kerb and put his hand up for me to do my emergency stop, walked alongside me slow riding, asked a few Highway Code questions, handed my my certificate “well done Mr Brewer, you’ve passed.” Absolutely crazy, I could have moved from my 125cc slug, to the latest unlimited cc rocket around, nuts. The best license system was pass, then restricted to 500cc for two years. Oh if your still reading, to answer the question B

[@thomashornsby2833]

In theory I’d love to be able to jump on any bike after getting a license but I can tell you with 99% certainty that if that was the case I’d be a blood splat on a tree so I’m gonna have to sit firmly in option b

[@hotdoug1000]

If I was a teenager now I'd be unhappy with the current tier system compared to the likes of our American cousins but if I'd taken my bike test 36 yr ago I probably wouldn't be here. I'm all for protecting the inexperienced and learning. I'm glad I didn't splash out £££'s and do DAS. Instead I got myself a 125 to learn on. I will be glad to see the back of the L plate as drivers focus on that instead of my riding. All my years of driving stands for nothing on two wheels as you cannot concentrate in the same way when you are inexperienced. The many e-bike d!cks wheelie-ing around our city streets, on the wrong side of the road, no lights etc etc etc are the ones that prove exactly this.

[@5118fawcett]

Passed A2 license last year in Northern Ireland and was restricted to 45mph for about one year and displayed a “R” plate on my bike. Would this be the way to go on the mainland.

[@gallaghergibson8024]

My personal experience is that staying 45mph on national speed limit roads is super dangerous, so I basically am ignoring the speed restriction - my 125 is huge though, it passes for an A-class bike which isn't speed restricted on R-plates. I do favour the R-plates though, definitely think it's worth making newly qualified riders/drivers identifiable. Also gives insurance companies a different category of information to add into the mix.

[@clarkie005]

​@@gallaghergibson8024yep agreed that L platers on 125 sticking to 45mph is bollox and actually extremely unsafe. Also think having to display R plates after test completion is nonsense. Why we have to do it while GB don't is illogical

[@techtinkerin]

IMO the bike test stages are sensible. Now a brilliant idea would be to apply the same logic to cars to prevent inexperienced numpties having ridiculous power at their disposal. Now I have full car license, but it's absolutely undeniable that as a 20 odd year old when I passed my test I was an absolute clueless liability and likely would have crashed anything I was driving. Sadly though even small cars/bikes in inexperienced hands can cause disaster. I said this before, driving licences should only be given to people who have experienced what a real crash is like so they KNOW the sh they're dealing with. As a kid it never occurred to me that cars could actually crash because my parents were such careful drivers, that reality kicked in the seconds after I crashed when I felt like the seatbelt had smashed my chest in and these might be my last moments. Then an old lady who seconds earlier I could have run over is sitting with me asking if I'm okay whilst I see the third party I've just driven into staggering about feeling the same as me. In conclusion it's not the license that needs to change, it's the peoples attitude towards danger. 😎👍

[@rickconstant6106]

Although I think the obstacles put in the way of new riders are discouraging young people from getting bikes, I think winding back the clock to allow inexperienced riders to get on high performance machines too soon would be a mistake. I've been riding for 53 years, and passed my test in 1974, then bought a Norton 850 Commando. With 58 hp and a top speed of 120-ish, it was one of the faster bikes at the time, and to be honest, it could be quite scary when you had just upgraded from a CB160. Bear in mind that cars were also slower at that time, and traffic was lighter in general, but riders still got killed. By a combination of good fortune, and increasing caution as I've got older, I survived those days, but I have stuck with the bikes I knew from my youth and never upgraded to the high-powered projectiles of modern times. I still ride almost every day, and I fear for those who are having to learn from scratch in today's conditions, so I think some kind of progressive system is needed for safety, although maybe not as drawn out (and expensive) as at present.

[@soulforgetcg2909]

So I don’t ride yet but here is kind of my outside opinion because I have had a couple lessons and enjoyed it. If I was to hypothetically restructure it to cater to what those people say I think the current system is fine but if it was to be reformed I feel CBT can be kept as is however you need your theory and your age can depend what bike they teach you on so 17 your on a 125 at 19 they teach you a 400 and 21 they teach you a 600 I would restrict it to 600s and at 24 you need a extra test to handle a 1000cc sport bike. But since I’m not actually a rider that just what i feel like would be a good system to do.

[@davesmith4413]

A quad bike is classed as a B1 vehicle by the Government. This means that to drive a quad bike on public roads, you must hold a full car driving licence or a B1 licence

[@paulkanehughes]

I only just got my full license been riding about 4 years and although it was a pain in the rear I think the teirs are incredibly important if i had the option to get a 1500cc at 17 I probably wouldn't be typing this right now I remember in my first year having 3 near misses I doubt I wouldve recovered on a bigger bike

[@RICHDAVIES-o5y]

Option B, keep it as it is, my sons looking at doing his cbt after Xmas and will be able to ride a 125 capable of going at almost motorway speeds, that's fast enough! And in fact I think too fast with just a morning in a carpark and a few hours on the road, then he could pass his a2 test and get a 47 bhp bike capable of 115 mph ish with in a week of a cbt, now everyone who rides knows 95% of a2 bikes are faster then 95%of all cars you'll meet in the road, I think the staggering should include more tiers. In the world of big brother we live in now, are litre bikes dead? They are for me, I'd rather ride a slow bike fast then a big bike slow!

[@HippoDrones]

I'm still here after passing on a 100cc bike back in 1992.... I pretty much crashed every bike I owned from then up until 2008 (and that was a lot of bikes), so it is pretty much just luck that has kept me alive until I realised that not falling off is cheaper and less ouchy LOL 😀 I personally think we do need to adjust the licencing laws to make motorcycles more appealing and viable, but the A2 bikes are awesome, so I am good with not being allowed a bigger bike untill you pass a test and have some experience on an A2 bike before being allowed any bike... but I don't see value in taking another test. So I think I am good for there being just one test, just have it on an A2 bike and have a time constraint on when you can jump on bigger.

[@RansomeDavis]

I think doing a cbt and then a full access is wrong. End of the day no amount of money can better experience. That is something you cant buy . I personally think the Getting full access in stages working your way up to it is the best and safest way. Im now 50 and have always put off learning due to not having the confidence really. But dammit im going to get trained in the new year. For years i believed direct access is the way to go but now i believe ride a 125 for a year or 2 get some miles in on 2 wheels and then progress up to bigger access. I personally dont want 1000cc crotch rocket anyway. I think a 600 - 650 is all you gonna need on britains roads.

[@rhymez320]

To be honest with the way insurance is priced it should just be straight through. There's now way insurance would be anything close to affordable for an 19 year old rider if they could purchase a 1000cc bike anyway so their options will pretty much be just as limited as it is with an A2 license. Therefore they're just paying for 2 tests for the same result because as they get older their insurance will eventually get cheaper opening up their options (by which point they will have built riding experience). So when factoring insurance, it's literally the same process for both arguments when factoring costs, the only difference being you pay £600-1000 to do the same test twice a few years apart, the exception to all of this of course is people who could afford insane insurance would be able to get a litre bike at a young age but that would be a fraction % of the population of riders anyway. For reference I've exclusively got an A2 license i've been doing 10,000 miles on an sv650s since i was 19 (now 24), 2 years on a CBT prior, but the cost of another test is putting me off moving up to the full A, my insurance quotes range from £400-1500.

[@RussRyan7713]

I passed my test in 1991. It was a single test (no theory or cbt etc). Now I had been riding from 16 on a 50cc for year, then 4 months on a 125 at 17, I then got a TZR250 and a lot of fun :) Now if I had got a litre bike I would probably be dead TBH. However insurance costs stopped me. So the argument is if you put a 17 year old who passed their car test in an 800hp lambo who would they fair? Most would have crashed it at high speed. But again insurance will stop this mostly. I will say though that bike are a lot cheaper. 20k 1000RR on PCP is doable for a 17 year old in a good job. 250k Lambo not so much. I am ok with the restrictions just dont make it multiple tests. Once you pass your test you ride A2 bike for 2 years, after that you can ride what you want. no testing just time passing. I think thats a better option. They should also apply to new car drivers. Max HP 100 for 2 years and no passengers after 8pm. Would save a lot of lives.

[@fenrir7969]

Imagine you're 35 years old, have a significant other who doesn't drive, plus 5 kids and you want to get your car license and buy a large family car to cart everybody about in. Good luck finding a 7-seat car with less than 100hp. Also no passengers after 8pm? That's just ridiculous. 17 year old car drivers are usually crashing their shitboxes, old Saxo's, Polo's and the like. The timed auto-upgrade of the bike license doesn't work also. I didn't ride for 15 years after passing my bike test on a 125 but 2 years after passing I could legally ride anything. My first bike could of been a midlife crisis 'Busa and I would be just as likely to kill myself (and possibly others) as a 17 year old today.

[@RussRyan7713]

@@fenrir7969 fair point about the older person needing a car for lots of kids. However in Australia they have a P plate system and you cannot carry any passengers under 18 that are not your immediate family. So that would fix that part and seems to work in Australia. Also later in life if you are not mature enough to respect the machine then let nature take its course. I am returning to bikes after a 30 year break. Am I buying a busa? Nope. I am going to get training before I buy another bike. Yep a refresher course. Then I will buy a 400cc bike and get good again. Maybe a year after I go bigger. I am now older and wiser. At 17 I would have got a fire blade and died. That's just me. But does show age is a key factor. Also I now have more cash for better gear too. In case I crash. There are always exceptions to the rule but for the majority it's stop the young from being stupid and regretting their actions.

[@jeffy3964]

I don’t think they should have one test , if they past there test they should be restricted to a lower HP motorcycle until they get more experience on more powerful bikes.that’s the reason they brought the restrictions in the first place. Let’s keep new riders as safe as we can !!!

[@Para2normal]

I'm hoping to take my test soon and am an experienced car driver (I was a trainee Driving Instructor for a time), but I do have a question. I know from previous experience that I struggle like hell to do the hazard awareness part of the theory test, not in the real world I hasten to add, but on a computer screen. It's almost as if I have a version of image dyslexia that's limited to a computer screen. Does anyone have any suggestions about how I can overcome this?

[@gallaghergibson8024]

I've done three in the last few years - got my A1 license, then started the car, then had to redo the theory to get my A-license. I'm the same, hazard perception is a nightmare, my instincts on the bike serve me great but they don't click in on the screen. Best approach is to practice on an app and treat it like a videogame going for the high score. There's a technique to clicking a few times so you don't miss out if you spot the hazard too early. Best of luck!

[@melfzs]

yes I'm still riding ,I passed my test in 1971 and have never stopped riding since so I've moved with the times , and no I wouldn't agree with a newbie being let loose on a 180 horse power bike so B

[@brucegroom1929]

Why is this difficult? Take your 1'st test , whether A1, A2 . If then accident and point free after 2 years, take an advanced 1 day cbt and then be entitled to ride the next category. Keep Direct access for over 21 . Insurance companies will take care of financial incentives.

[@HMMA338]

I like how it is yes it’s annoying especially when you’re younger but we definitely are not mature enough to control all that power with no protection except helmet and leathers we don’t have air bags or a metal box to help so we need to be more sensible which an 18 year old on a 200hp bike won’t be

[@HomoKieran]

The comparison to cars being unrestricted doesn't work because a car that can do 0-60 in the 3 second range and well over 150 will cost what, 40, 50, 60 grand? Very few teens will be able to afford it and then if you slap 5 grand of insurance on top of that it's not unreasonable and makes it even more unattainable. But when you can literally get a Hayabusa for under 5 grand (and many bikes for less that will realistically be just as fast) and then even if you charged the same value as the bike for insurance you've then got someone going even faster than any of those cars on a machine that's even harder to control for a cost that even someone working in the lowest paying jobs will be able to afford.

[@steersy3420]

I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to das at 17. So it's a yes answer a from me. I think they the insurance of bikes would end up like it is with cars so most new riders would end up starting on smaller cc bikes as we did back in the 90's.

[@fonso1961]

You can ride a Peugeot Metropolis 400i on just a car licence, which is a loop hole. But giving a very powerful bike to a novice is madness.

[@gobrot6003]

There is only the 1 test in the Isle of Man no A1 etc..... the system works well not going to say it would work there but here it does.

[@mrwiggy25]

Yes, it should be staged. The comparison between different powered cars makes little difference you are still in a nice metal box with protection that won't fall over! At 53, I've just done my CBT and bought the Supoer Soco TC Max and even though I've been driving for years as a service engineer, going out on a bike for the first time scared the crap out of me at just how exposed you are. Having had a go on a larger bike the difference is incredible, the weight, handling and how much input you have as a rider is something else, unlike driving a car where you can become lazy and complacent! IMHO you need experience and maturity to ride a bike safely and carrying out staged license makes sense, basically to protect those who think they can but ultimately can't. When they can't it usually doesn't end well!

[@forevercomputing]

It just means that anyone with money can get a bike, insure it with little to no extra skill versus someone who has trackday experience or even an amateur racer who has the experience and skill of riding with that amount of power can not as the costs are too much. It's a double-edged sword. It should go back to what it was before. CBT up to a 250, A2 based on power and A - basically 75+ HP or something. Car licences should also be staged in a similar way. Buses and lorries are the same, C1, C, C1+E, C+E, D1, D, D1+E, D+E. The only difference being the trailer bit. The hazard perception for a bus is the same as for a car. Ask me how I know...

[@Palmit_]

A - let have what they want. idiots will quickly find experience, pain and regret by doing idiot things. their loss. Boo Hoo. We can't bubble wrap everything and everyone. Pricks will be pricks whatever they are doing or riding. Else the next step is the "Thought Police" (1984 reference) and frankly, thats the far worse option for many many reasons.

[@linopontes]

But are motorcycle crashes caused by the motorcyclist or because of other people?! Motorcycle accidents at junctions are notorious for a reason.

[@rhysoverthrow9623]

B but maybe a minimum tuition in hours to improve road awarness

[@richardcurtis114]

Answer is b. Standards have dropped in driving so the bike rider are thinking for so many car drivers. Human nature being what it is you have to look both ways before crossing a one way street. So have graded licences without a doubt ......i past my test in 1973😂...............

[@BeinginMotion]

Yes - ride whatever IMO. Self-determination above State control EVERYTIME.

[@spicy110]

As much as I would like to agree, say you are walking down the road and someone crashes into you at great injury to yourself. Then you find out they had nearly no training to be on said bike. What then?

[@Dragonborne223]

Staged licenses - > GOOD Staged licenses by age - > BAD I'm willing to bet there are 21 year olds that are better riders than me.

[@stoatsngroatsuk5012]

No, I don’t think any ‘quick access’ to a full licence is a good idea, outside of DAS. There should remain staged tests according to age & experience, and the current range is fine.

[@alanloades9774]

I believe in italy car drivers have to 1000cc for the first few years

[@linopontes]

I think that instead of doing the test on an MT-07 I should be allowed to ride a Yamaha X-Max.😂

[@Bigalref1]

i passed my test in 2004, i only did 1 test none of this mod 1 or mod 2 crap

[@chrisdavidson911]

Based on the title, i thought you meant one test, as opposed to mod 1 and mod 2, which means only needing to coordinate it with time off work for 1 day instead instead of 2. I'm in favour of that as it was a pain in the arse, being able to do mod 2 straight away if you pass mod 1 should be a thing! I've never felt like it realistically makes all that much difference, you can kill yourself on anything. Newly qualified rider can struggle to tip it in at speed, and an A2 bike doesn't fix that. Most of the crash videos i've seen have been observation, snatched brakes, and running wide; the bike doesn't matter when you can't guide the missile, counter steering should be taught. Didn't Italy have a staggered car power thing?

[@512460]

Staged licences should be on both cars and bikes as it feels like motorcyclist get pinalised. The cost of undertaking a motorcycle licence is very expensive in compassion to car license also... It's not to say the car drivers are any better drivers have you seen some of these drivers that apparently have licences.... All im really saying is it should go both ways.

[@ashleyclarke2891]

Option A, personally I think let everyone ride what they choose too, it will soon filter out the idiots of the country, the people with common sense will make the correct choices in what bike/power they buy/ride, not everyone in the world wants to go and jump on a 1000, I sat my A2 when I was 19 (almost 20 years ago) and I refuse to payout almost £1000 for me to upgrade to anything bigger, even though I could ride one. The licensing is a complete scam. It’s just another way of the government making money.

[@spicy110]

Couple of things here. Why would it be £1000? I went from cbt to full A for £550 all in over 3 days of training inc my tests. The tests cost is £25 for mod 1 and £75 for mod 2, you just need a bike for a couple of days and insurance. Re: it is the gov making money, There has been a pinned comment on this video for over a month that says. "Whenever anyone says "its to make money" I have to point this out. Of the say £700-800 people pay to do a licence, only £100 goes to the gov in test fees. I really do not think it is making anyone enough to make that argument, many pay more than that monthly in tax opposed to once in a lifetime. The people making the most money is the schools and the examiners being paid to do the tests. For this reason I do not buy in to their idea being to "make money" because it isn't making anyone but the schools money and they do not make the rules."

[@clarkie005]

​@@spicy110not correct spicy. You claim 100quid goes to the gov directly but in reality it's far more as that extra cash goes indirectly to the government through the instructors and training schools who have to pay a huge amount in accreditation and insurance which is levied through increased insurance taxes etc. it's all a massive money making racket for the government.

[@clangerbasher]

I think you need a CBT for 125cc three wheelers. But for bigger three wheelers say 300cc you can ride on a car licence. Staged licences all the way.

[@dansavage2725]

You can only ride a quid on a full uk licence

[@spicy110]

Yes I have one but the point was car or bike full licence. The answer is no I can not on a bike licence.

[@_zzpza]

Option B

[@frankspeakmore7104]

Motorcycling has transitioned from a cheap form of transport for the masses to an expensive form of transport for the rich. It is complicated to look at different licences and levels of experience. Looking at motorcycles themselves, Triumph make a 2.5 litre motorbike. Is it practical ? No. What is it's purpose? Not sure. You could look at every manufacturers bike range and at the high end there will be motorbikes that have no purpose on the road. Why are they made? These companies are in it for the money/profit and nothing more. Restrict the engine size to 500cc. Give it decent performance, 200 miles range, max speed 85 mph and straight away issues with the licence have gone. People buy the latest motorbike as if they are buying the latest iphone, but still only use the same four functions.

[@Dead_Assassin]

Hey spicy! No it shouldn't be a fully qualified single licence.. Because a powerful bike is too dangerous for a a young person..itll stay progressive qualified with maturity.age.

[@linopontes]

Just wait until you're 21 then do the 1 test.

[@godfather9253]

I think your opinion is wrong because its different than mine!!! lol

[@lakshdeepkamboj3732]

imagine if the 125 nutters of today had straight access to 400/600/1000s

[@walkinginthesun]

I would day it is ok as it is

[@drramtop1576]

The staged license system aims to reduce the numbers of bikers getting hurt through inexperience. But it does nothing to stop riders getting killed through complacency and/or degraded skills, which to my mind is a far bigger problem. I favour a single non age-gated license, but make everyone take a basic competency test (think a bit above CBT level) every 2/3/4 years or whatever, in order to keep their license. And, yes, this need doing for cars as well given the woeful standard of driving in the UK.

[@stephenmundane]

The DVLA can't cope with the number of people wanting to take their tests now, let alone if they add-in even more testing -- don't think this is ever going to happen, even if it is a good idea.

[@rickconstant6106]

Periodic re-assessment may be a good idea, and has been suggested many times over the years, but the current DVSA infrastructure can't cope with the demand for new driver/rider testing, let alone the additional work. Without a major (and costly) expansion of the system, it will never be a practical proposition. Not only that, it would probably be unwelcome amongst older people, who are regular voters, so politicians would not want to risk upsetting them.

[@drramtop1576]

For bikes the competency test could be done by bike schools rather than the DVSA, much as CBT is. As for cars, I've long been of the opinion that the DVSA needs to lose their responsibility for testing and this would be a good point to do that. DVSA is, as you say, not able to meet existing demand for tests and given the current state of public finances is unlikely to get any extra funding. So hand both initial and competency tests to private testing organisations, who will have the ability and incentive to invest the required sums.

[@steve00alt70]

They making it extra difficult to own a car now ULEZ, 20mph zones so myber there is going to be less cars in general now. It doesnt help the fact that Gen Z are scared of cars and manual motorbikes and prefer to do public transport, e scooters. Gen Alpha (age 10 year olds) will revolutionize transport forever mybe for the worst. So there really is no point in changing the test back since there be less young ins taking it up in the future. It will be all old millennials still biking which generally have more road sense and training by then. Car's need to be staged definetely since they do more damage and nobody can drive.

[@adiohead]

We really should not allow the ulez and 20mph stuff to happen. We should rise up

[@clangerbasher]

But if you do yourself a nasty and hurt nobody else there are still costs. So society is harmed in a way if only financially.

[@diedonrecord]

Then they should outlaw motorcycles altogether, because riders are more likely to sustain major injuries during a traffic collision. As far as that goes ban all private transportation hell make it all transportation. Society will save so much money and be so much safer. Not having to pave roads or maintain train tracks will also get us closer to zero emissions. Now you're saving the world.

[@clangerbasher]

@@diedonrecord You are deep thinker aren't you?

[@gallaghergibson8024]

Keep it staged. Let's say you pass your Mod One off-road, then, you go straight on to your Mod Two on-road and fail that section. Do you really want to have to pay for doing the off-road section again? You think the test centres would get clogged up even more? You think you'll have to wait a lot longer for your retake? That's not even getting into the question of how much better a rider you become when you have three stages of training and testing to prepare for.

[@ritedrivee]

My comment is from 1:16 - 1:24

[@spicy110]

what do you mean?

[@ritedrivee]

@@spicy110 by adding more exercises in the test to save bikers and people life's on the road, just my personal opinion 😊

[@spicy110]

Oh I get you

[@7777btkkk]

The tests are pointless and unnecessary if you ask me

[@spicy110]

So let people ride, drive or fly anything without any test at all?

[@7777btkkk]

@@spicy110 yes. Doesn’t change anything. These tests don’t test riding skills or sense, they’re just watching to see if you’re riding in a specific way on that day. I live in Jersey (Channel Islands) where there’s no DAS - you do CBT, then theory test, practical test, get your full 125 (A1) license and then you are forced to hold it for a year before you can apply for the A license (no A2 in Jersey). I’ve seen many people who just pass their tests, get the full A1 and just not ride till the one year is up then they apply for the full A. Mind you you will have to ride on a provisional A license till you pass your “big bike test” as we call it, which is essentially your CBT without advise and tips from the instructor. Pointless set of tests, doesn’t make motorcycling safer in the grand scheme of things. In Jersey it’s 3 license classes: P(50cc), A1(125cc),A (unrestricted)