A2 Motorcycle Licence

A2 Entitlement.

The training and testing for this entitlement are on a motorcycle of 120cc – 125cc, capable of reaching at least 100kph (62 mph) but not more than 14.6 bhp (11kw). Passing the practical test gets you a restricted Category A2 motorcycle licence, which lets you ride any motorcycle up to 33 bhp (25kw)*

You can carry a passenger and use the motorways, and don’t need L plates.

After 2 years your A2 licence becomes a full Category A licence and you can ride any size motorcycle, even if you are under 21.

The Practical Element

The practical part of the motorcycle test has changed slightly – this is due to European legislation since 27 April 2009.

It’s known as The Second European Driving Licence Directive (2DLD) and was put in place to make for safer riding.

It’s not a massive change, but it means you have to do the practical test in two stages module 1 and module 2.

Module 1

This eliment of the test has had lots of media coverage over the last 18 months and many horror stories published national. Don’t panic, its really not that bad! The swerve manouver seems to be the target for this bad publicity but once you’ve been trained by our instructors you’ll be left thinking “What swerve manouver”.

This part is conducted off road at a Multi Purpose Test Centre (MPTC) and will cover the following parts:

•    Getting your bike on and off the stand
•    Controlling the bike when pushing it
•    The slalom (riding through 5 cones in a row)
•    The figure of eight (riding around two cones)
•    Circuit rides
•    Hazard avoidance
•    Controlled stops
•    The U–turn
•    Control at low speed
•    The emergency stop

The two nearest Mod 1 test stations are located at:

Exeter MPTC Driving Test Centre

Thoverton Road
Marsh Barton
Devon
EX2 8FS

Taunton MPTC Driving Test Centre

Unit L2
Off Venture Way
Crown Industrial Estate
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 8RX

Immediately i can see you thinking “How am i going to get there?”, We here at Ireland’s offer you the choice. You can either ride and have one of our instructors escort you or we can transport you and your bike.

Don’t forget you must take with you all of the following valid documents:

• your driving licence with the correct provisional entitlement – both the photocard and counterpart document or a valid UK passport to support a paper licence
• your compulsory basic training (CBT) certificate (DL196)
• your motorcycle theory test certificate

You are free from having to give CBT and theory test certificates if you:

• hold a full moped licence gained by passing a moped test or accelerated access after 1 December 1990, and wish to upgrade to a full motorcycle licence
• already hold a full motorcycle licence and wish to upgrade it

Module 2

If you successfully get through your module 1 test its time for module 2. Module 2 is the practical road assessment, you will complete a pre–arranged road route, accompanied by your examiner. You’ll then be taken back to the test centre, where the examiner will give you your result – hopefully the good news that you’ve passed and now have a full motorcycle licence!

For module two you must produce your module one pass certificate, and all the documents that you had to present at the module one test. Module two is the on-road module and typically takes around 40 minutes.

This module includes the:

• eyesight test
• safety and balance questions
• road riding element that will cover a variety of road and traffic conditions
• independent riding

You’ll be asked to carry out:

• normal stops
• an angle start (pulling out from behind a parked vehicle)
• a hill start (where possible)

The examiner will normally follow you on a motorcycle but sometimes a car, he or she will be in contact using a radio to give you directions.

At the end of module 2 your heart will be in your mouth awaiting your results. The examiner will give you the result and feedback from your ride. If you pass, the examiner will explain to you how to change your provisional licence into a full licence and its time to go bike shopping!