Restriction and age?

[stuR]

Ive just turned 21, but i wont have had my full bike license for 2 years until august. I had always presumed id have to wait til august to get on a bike bigger that 33bhp, is that correct?

[DJ123]

Stu, what test did you do? If you did the test where you are on a 33BHP restriction for 2 years, and your restriction period ends in August, then yes you can get a bigger bike after the date it ends.

[stuR]

Yup did that, im on a 33bhp restriction. i just wondered if it was 2 years OR 21. But i doubt it :P

[DJ123]

2 years. I did mine just before my 18th, and so my restriction was off 2 years later. At 21 was when you can/could do your DA and go full power

[jambo]

As above it's 2 years, but you could always take the direct access test on your 21st birthday to shave that time down. However, with the new licencing rules brought in this year I've not yet got a handle on how that might now work...

Jambo
Sent from my thingie

[Kenzie]

I did my 33hp at 17 and was full power by 19. It's only three months so not long!

[Tomor]

As Jambo said, you can do your direct access, but it may hinder you more in terms of more restrictions. Best wait for 3 months!!

[Jammy]

You and your SRAD wil be crashing through hedges in no time :], patience.

[timwilky]

As Jambo said, you can do your direct access, but it may hinder you more in terms of more restrictions. Best wait for 3 months!!


From my understanding, you need to be 24 to do a direct access.

Under the new rules there is a 2 year exp min 21 stage progression allowed from A2 to full. But I would guess you need to have held the A1 for 2 years before you can stage upgrade to A2 etc. So that route would have you 2 tests and a further 2 year wait. so give it the 3 months and auto update.

I really do feel for the young uns today. Not like in my day of 4 times round the block

[Braindead101]

Your best bet is certainly going to be waiting until August when your 33hp restiction ends as the rules on licencing changed in January, but existing licence holders retain their current entitlements.
Under the new rules, you can't get a category A licence until you're 24 or have held a full A2 licence for 2 years. Even when you've had your A2 licence for the required amount of time, you then need to take another test before being allowed to ride unlimited capacity bikes.
So, in terms of the hoops you need to jump through in order to ride an unrestricted bike, there are fewer as you are at the moment.

[Sir Trev]

I really do feel for the young uns today. Not like in my day of 4 times round the block

Part 1 round some cones on a school playground then four times round the block while the examiner watches from the pavement (Part 2). Unless you had enough cash to buy a Sidewinder "sidecar", then you were exempt from Part 1 and could go straight to Part 2 on any bike you wanted. Those were the days. The rich kid from my year at high school bought a brand new VF500 and Sidewinder and was out on L-plates from his 17th birthday. Ended up in a few ditches in the first month or so but passed his test quickly and blew the thing up soon after...

Have a bit more patience Stu as the others have said.

[stuR]

Yup thought as much, i have patience dont worry but just wanted to check i wasnt being dim and missing out on 3 months of the gixxer. Not too long..

[otaylor38]

2 years from taking your test

I believe the age for direct access has moved up to 24 under the new licensing rules brought in at the start of this year?

[aesmith]

Yup thought as much, i have patience dont worry but just wanted to check i wasnt being dim and missing out on 3 months of the gixxer. Not too long..
Out of interest, what does your licence actually say? Does it give an end date for the restriction, or is it up to you to apply to get it removed?

[otaylor38]

It says 25kw on the back at the right handside. It doesnt have an end date however it automatically becomes unrestricted after 2 years. Its up to you whether you send off to get the '25kw' removed or not. It makes no difference really. :).

[stuR]

Yup as above, just has the test pass date and 25kw.