New Motorcycle Test 2013 (3rd European Driving Licence Directive)

On January 19th 2013 the 3rd European Driving Licence Directive is due to be implemented in the U.K, this may or may not be delayed until later on the same year but one thing is certain IT WILL HAPPEN.

3 DLD will bring about a whole load of new issues to motorcycle training and testing, the main one being "staged access" to different sizes of bikes.
On this page we have headlined these changes and how they will affect anyone wishing to ride a motorcycle, the best advice we can give you is take your test NOW.
We may or may not have a training upgrade option between the new categories. At present you will have to take 3 separate Driving Standards Agency tests if starting to ride at 17 years old. The M.C.I.T.A. and various other industry bodies are campaigining now to hopefully make the training upgrade option a reality.

Here at Advanced Riding Techniques Ltd we can supply you with FULL safety gear and take you through the whole process from beginning to end, we would recommend taking the Motorcycle Theory Test first as without this you cannot book or take any FULL licence course. Motorcycle Theory Test

If you have never ridden a motorcycle with gears before or have very little experience we would strongly suggest that you complete a 2 hour One to One lesson first, this is a private lesson carried out in the safety of our secure off road training ground. NRC

Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) will still be required to obtain learner legal status before riding up to 125cc on L-Plates or taking further training on larger bikes. C.B.T

The New Staged Access Routes to Motorcycle Licence's

A1 (Standard)
This can be taken on a machine between 115 and 125cc. If you are aged between 17 and 19 this will be your only option.
Upon passing the A1 you will get a full licence to ride on motorways and take pillion passengers, but you will never be able to ride anything bigger than a 125cc machine that produces a maximum of 11 Kwh (14.6 Bhp) until you pass the next test (A2) when you reach a minimum age of 19 or two years after passing your A1 test.

A2 (Middleweight)
The test and training must be taken on a machine of a minimum of 395cc that produces a maximum of 35 Kwh (46.6 Bhp). This can only be taken when you are at least 19 years old or two years after passing your A1.
Upon passing you can ride any size of motorbike but the power is capped at 35 Kwh (46.6 Bhp) this will never increase!. The other "restriction" on this category, is the machine cannot be restricted to 35 Kwh if it produces more than 70 Kwh or 93.5 Bhp in standard trim.

A (D.A.S)
The Direct Access Scheme will still be available but the minimum age will rise from 21 to 24. The bike engine size of at least 595cc and must produce at least 40 Kwh (54 Bhp). You must be at least 24 years old or can be taken two years after passing your A2.
It is possible to obtain your A Licence at 21, ONLY IF you have already passed your A2 licence at 19.

Automatic Scooters and Motorcycles
If you take your training and test on an automatic machine, all of the categories of licence and size of bike are still relevant.