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Training available at Shires

CBT

Compulsory Basic Training
As soon as you have your provisional licence the CBT is the first stage of any motorcycle training
A CBT certificate is valid for 2 years more

Category "A1"

Aged 17 or over. Training and tests on a motorcycle between 120cc and 125cc Once you have passed all the tests, you will be able to ride up to a 125cc motorcycle without L-Plates and can carry a pillion passenger. more

Category "A2"

Aged 19 or over. Training and tests on a motorcycle of at least 395cc. After 2 years or on reaching 24 years of age you can take a Full Category A Motorcycle Test which will enable you to ride any motorcycle. more

Category "A"

Training and tests on a motorcycle of at least 595cc.
Once you have passed all the tests, you will be able to ride any size motorcycle to full power. more

Advanced

Website under construction

Website under construction

Above is a brief overview of training available to you, you can click on "more" to see far more detail in any section that interest you.
This page is designed to hopefully simplify the new laws introduced to motorcycle licencing on the 19th January 2013.
The easiest way to do this is to give you a few examples :

Example 1 (Fred at 16)

  • Fred is just 16 years old
  • Takes his CBT on a moped (Valid for 2 years)
  • Fred turns 17,

Now Fred is 17 he can keep riding his moped for the duration of his current CBT certificate, or he can buy a 125cc motorcycle and ride that for the duration of his current CBT certificate. If he decides to go down the 125cc route he does not need to do any further training as his CBT certificate covers him. (Although we recommend some geared training)

  • Freds CBT expires in 1 month

Keep in mind in this example, Fred would now be nearly 18 years old, so now Fred has the option to just simply renew his CBT by retaking the course again, or he could take his Category 'A1' Test.
As long as the laws don't change Fred could just keep renewing his CBT every 2 years, but would always be bound by the CBT restrictions.

Example 2 (Fred at 17. But his goal is to ride a big bike)

  • Fred is just 17 years old
  • Takes his CBT on a 125cc motorcycle (Valid for 2 years)

So as Freds goal is to ride a big bike his quickest route to this is to take the Category 'A2' test at 19 years old, so in the mean time he can either carry on riding for the 2 years on his current CBT certificate, or he can take the Category 'A1' Test.

So whats the difference I here you ask?

If he takes the Category 'A1' test he is no longer bound by the CBT restrictions, which means he can ride on a motorway, he can carry a pillion (if he adds this option to his insurance) and he no longer needs to display 'L' plates.

Advantages of taking the Category 'A1' Test

  • Full motorcycle licence at age of 17
  • No more 'L' plates
  • Able to ride anywhere including motorways
  • Option to carry a pillion
  • Full licence will bring insurance premiums down
  • You only have to take the practical test when you upgrade to Cat 'A2' & 'A' (No CBT or Theory)

Ok, back to Fred, he is now just 19, firstly lets assume he chose to just stick with the CBT, he still wants to ride a big bike but now his CBT has just run out. Because he is 19 years old his best option now is to take the Category 'A2' test, but he is starting from scratch so he will have to do everything, CBT, Theory Test, Mod1 & Mod2.

If however Fred had chose the other option and taken his Category 'A1' Test from the start, as soon as he has held his Category 'A1' licence for 2 years, he can take his Category 'A2' practical test (Module 1 & 2).

Example 3 (Fred at 19)

This could apply to Fred being 20, 21 or 22.

  • Fred is just 19 years old
  • Takes his CBT (valid for 2 years)

As in the other examples Fred can continue to ride on a CBT renewing every 2 years for as long as he wishes.

  • Fred takes his Category 'A2' test

Fred can now ride any bike up to a maximum of 47bhp. some motorcycle manufactures are already producing motorcycles specifically aimed at the Category'A2' licence group (around 500cc) but if you want to buy motorcycles with a higher cc rating you would have to have them restricted to 47bhp. You would need to sort this out with your motorcycle dealer.

  • Fred is now 21 years old

This means Fred has held his Category 'A2' licence for 2 years which means he is now entitled to take his Category 'A' test.
For details on the Category'A' test click here.

Example 4 (Fred at 24)

  • Fred is 24 years old
  • Takes his CBT (valid for 2 years)
  • Takes his theory test (Valid for 2 yesrs)
  • Takes his Module 1 test on a motorcycle min 595cc
  • Takes his Module 2 test on a motorcycle min 595cc

Fred passes all the above test and is now able to ride any motorcycle

Please keep in mind as mention above this page is designed to give you a brief overview and a simple explanation of how to achieve your goal depending on which motorcycle you are aiming to ride, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to call us on the numbers at the top or bottom of the page.

At Shires our aim is to make safer riding a way of life.

Important Note

Please keep in mind if you pass any of these tests and this is your first full licence, you come under the new probationary period laws, this means if you get 6 points within 2 years you get your licence revoked and have to start all over again. Full delails can be found here