It has gotten harder in recent times. I think you can ride a moped on a car license, but to get an A license you must start form scratch - go through the hi-viz jacket, theory test etc.. The test used to be a joke - ride around the block 3 times do a u-turn and ride back while the tester tried to follow in a car, but I believe they now use radio to tell you where to go and what to do and it has become far more detailed. For good reasons too - Good training is a must these days with the volumes of traffic around.
Also there was some talk of a requirement for a certain number of hours training before doing the test but I'm not sure if that is in place yet.
Restricted power for two years after you get the license also.
As a direct answer to the question, being a full licensed car driver makes no difference to the procedures that you must go through to get a bike license.
@dbannon: Thanks for that, I'm hoping that having several years Driving behind me would make it easier to take to the road on a bike. I don't mind having to go through the training.
That all sounds quite negative, but I've been riding a motorbike now for 8 years and find it very rewarding - predictable low-stress commuting, touring over the summer, very friendly community. Sold the car last year and upgraded the bike.
@johnnypez Driving a car will have given you plenty of roadcraft experience but I was amazed that after 16-17 years of car-driving that I learnt so much from the bike training which, of course, is transferrable back to your car driving.
It requires a whole level of extra concentration to ride a bike safely, observing potential hazards as well handling the bike correctly.
I started on a 125cc scooter and moved up to 650cc and now have a 1200cc.
I'm happy to be taught the correct way to ride from the onset. I'm purely interested in riding for leisure/touring so I'm not in any rush really, it's just something I'd love to be able to do.
Exactly how I felt about it. I've never had a sportsbike, just the big traillie type so you can go pretty much anywhere you want without stopping at every petrol station on the way.
If you ever want some pointers on instructors, etc.. let me know.
Not sure how close Ireland is to UK, but one difference was that with a full car license, you could skip the theory part and do something called "Direct Access". It also meant you could train on "big bikes", and did not have to spend any time on 125's.
I did it as a 4 or 5 day course. You still need to get the CBT certificate, but that is done on the first day or so. I did it with Circuit Based Training
oh yeah, and as @dbannon says even if you just do the training it will make you a MUCH better & safer car driver.
In Sweden you generally take lessons and there's a handful of pretty tricky individual tests to pass in the exam. When I took my license, I had hardly ever driven a moped but driven a car for several years and I felt it took some effort to pass. If I had had someone to practice with in traffic, before getting the license I think it would have been a lot easier.
I've had a 750 and a 1200 but the last five years I've been on pedal-powered bikes only.
The funny thing, of course, is that I had a crash on my motorbike very soon after the post above. Left me ruptured ligament in my wrist, surgery, 4 months with a splint, restricted movement of my right hand, ... angry wife.
So I now ride a bicycle most places and am a good deal fitter than I was :)
My transition from motorcycle to bicycle was a lot easier on my body. I was moving to another continent and had to sell it. Also a good deal fitter than I was before ;)
Missed the motorbike initially but I've gotten back into the cycling now - 35-40kms a day as my commute and not much slower than the motorbike as I don't have to wear all the gear.
Not sure that it's a whole safer in Dublin city centre though.
22 comments so far
Sit the bike test?
1 year, 3 months ago by kenmcguire
You have to go through the motorcycle theory test and all the rest I take it?
1 year, 3 months ago by johnnypez
I'd imagine so... then get yourself a high-vis jacket with a giant L on the back (seriously). New legal requirement I think.
1 year, 3 months ago by kenmcguire
It has gotten harder in recent times. I think you can ride a moped on a car license, but to get an A license you must start form scratch - go through the hi-viz jacket, theory test etc.. The test used to be a joke - ride around the block 3 times do a u-turn and ride back while the tester tried to follow in a car, but I believe they now use radio to tell you where to go and what to do and it has become far more detailed. For good reasons too - Good training is a must these days with the volumes of traffic around.
Also there was some talk of a requirement for a certain number of hours training before doing the test but I'm not sure if that is in place yet. Restricted power for two years after you get the license also.
As a direct answer to the question, being a full licensed car driver makes no difference to the procedures that you must go through to get a bike license.
1 year, 3 months ago by dbannon
That's fair enough I suppose.
1 year, 3 months ago by johnnypez
@dbannon: Thanks for that, I'm hoping that having several years Driving behind me would make it easier to take to the road on a bike. I don't mind having to go through the training.
1 year, 3 months ago by johnnypez
That all sounds quite negative, but I've been riding a motorbike now for 8 years and find it very rewarding - predictable low-stress commuting, touring over the summer, very friendly community. Sold the car last year and upgraded the bike.
Can't stress the training bit enough though.
1 year, 3 months ago by dbannon
@johnnypez Driving a car will have given you plenty of roadcraft experience but I was amazed that after 16-17 years of car-driving that I learnt so much from the bike training which, of course, is transferrable back to your car driving.
It requires a whole level of extra concentration to ride a bike safely, observing potential hazards as well handling the bike correctly.
I started on a 125cc scooter and moved up to 650cc and now have a 1200cc.
1 year, 3 months ago by dbannon
I'm happy to be taught the correct way to ride from the onset. I'm purely interested in riding for leisure/touring so I'm not in any rush really, it's just something I'd love to be able to do.
1 year, 3 months ago by johnnypez
Exactly how I felt about it. I've never had a sportsbike, just the big traillie type so you can go pretty much anywhere you want without stopping at every petrol station on the way.
If you ever want some pointers on instructors, etc.. let me know.
1 year, 3 months ago by dbannon
@dbannon Thanks man, I'll get this theory test sorted first so and take it from there.
1 year, 3 months ago by johnnypez
You getting yourself a bike dude?
1 year, 3 months ago by kenmcguire
Well I'm entertaining the idea, Linda's not mad about it. I've been watching 'The Long Way Down' on Nat Geo and it's sparked up an intrest.
1 year, 3 months ago by johnnypez
I have the same bike that they used in Long Way Down. Great in Dublin traffic ;)
1 year, 3 months ago by dbannon
@dbannon I love those BMW bikes, absolutely gorgeous.
1 year, 3 months ago by johnnypez
Here's a pic of mine
1 year, 3 months ago by dbannon
Not sure how close Ireland is to UK, but one difference was that with a full car license, you could skip the theory part and do something called "Direct Access". It also meant you could train on "big bikes", and did not have to spend any time on 125's.
I did it as a 4 or 5 day course. You still need to get the CBT certificate, but that is done on the first day or so. I did it with Circuit Based Training
oh yeah, and as @dbannon says even if you just do the training it will make you a MUCH better & safer car driver.
1 month, 1 week ago by ymb
@ymb: Thread archeology :)
In Sweden you generally take lessons and there's a handful of pretty tricky individual tests to pass in the exam. When I took my license, I had hardly ever driven a moped but driven a car for several years and I felt it took some effort to pass. If I had had someone to practice with in traffic, before getting the license I think it would have been a lot easier.
I've had a 750 and a 1200 but the last five years I've been on pedal-powered bikes only.
1 month, 1 week ago by lemonad
The funny thing, of course, is that I had a crash on my motorbike very soon after the post above. Left me ruptured ligament in my wrist, surgery, 4 months with a splint, restricted movement of my right hand, ... angry wife.
So I now ride a bicycle most places and am a good deal fitter than I was :)
1 month, 1 week ago by dbannon
@dbannon: Oh no. Glad to hear you recovered!
My transition from motorcycle to bicycle was a lot easier on my body. I was moving to another continent and had to sell it. Also a good deal fitter than I was before ;)
1 month, 1 week ago by lemonad
Missed the motorbike initially but I've gotten back into the cycling now - 35-40kms a day as my commute and not much slower than the motorbike as I don't have to wear all the gear. Not sure that it's a whole safer in Dublin city centre though.
1 month, 1 week ago by dbannon
all these motorbike talk makes me wanna get a license and ride one too...
1 month, 1 week ago by cybette