At the moment, once you pass the standard motorbike test, you are restricted to riding a smaller motorbike for the first 2 years of your license.
There is a way round this however…
Direct Access Motorcycle Test
The direct access motorbike test is available to anyone aged 21 or over. With this test, after completing the cbt training successfully, you are trained to ride a larger motorcycle. – Usually a 500cc bike (minimum 35kw / 46.6 bhp)
Once you can safely ride this machine, you are put to the test on the road.
The motorbike test examiner can either:
- Pass you outright for the direct access, In which case you are licensed to ride any size motorbike
- Fail you outright (self explanatory!)
- Pass you, but only for a normal, restricted license.
As well as looking for the usual safety and control elements, the examiner is also looking to see that the rider is not afraid of the power that the larger machines have.
Various motorbike training centres offer direct access training, and costs vary, depending on both the test centre, and the speed at which you pick up the skills needed.
There is however a change planned for later this year. (2008)
These changes will include a swerve test at speed, amongst other new sections of the test.
To accommodate the changes to the direct access motorbike test, the government is building several new ‘Super Test Centres) – so that the manoeuvres can be carried out off the pubic highway, and in a safer environment.
Each super centre will need about two and a half acres of tarmac, and cost somewhere inthe region of £1.5 million each centre.
So far, it seems that there will be around 65 of these test centres, which is causing some concern about backlogs of people waiting to do their test, and also fears that the costs of the new centres being passed on to the test candidates.
If you have always wanted to take the full direct access motorcycle test, then call an approved training centre ASAP, before the law changes!
In the South West of England, Kickstart Motorcycle Training are a good starting point. They offer expert motorcycle training, and are very friendly and approachable.
Kickstart Motorcycle training can be contacted for free on: 0800 019 8919
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Tags: direct access course, direct access motorbike course, direct access motorbike training, direct access training, motorbike training