Getting your motorcycle licence: all the steps you need to know

Driver's license, ID, health certificate, first aid certificate: all the documents you need are in your pocket. All a budding motorcyclist has to do is cross the threshold of the test centre.

What is the procedure for obtaining a motorcycle license?

This nervous but expected moment is fun to look back on, but while it's still in the future, many people fear the unknown. The experts who advise future drivers tell you what you really need to know and how to accomplish the tasks of the motorcycle license test.

The theory to get the motorcycle license is the easy part

The Class A driving test, like all other driving tests, consists of two parts: theory and practice. However, the theory test does not seem so frightening for some young people if they already have a driving licence for other categories of vehicles. The theory tests for the different categories are quite similar.
30 of the 35 questions deal with general principles of conduct and only the others vary according to the category chosen.

The most difficult challenges for aspiring motorcyclists are on the track and in the city, where they have to ride the bike independently. All test centres provide motorcycles for the test, but some driving schools have more powerful motorcycles for those who want to get an unrestricted class A license immediately. In other cities, applicants must make their own arrangements for motorcycles - the most practical way is to ask your driving instructor to accompany you to the test and bring a more powerful motorcycle with you for the test. This also applies to people over 21 - if they want to take advantage of the unrestricted driving licence, they must take the test on a more powerful motorcycle. After taking the test on a regular motorcycle, newly trained riders, regardless of age, would receive a two-year restricted license.

How to pass the motorcycle driving test: figure eight

The driving tests on the stage are the same for all future riders, regardless of the power of the bike. On the track, you must be able to steer the motorcycle with the engine off, push backwards, drive slowly in a narrow lane, turn in a figure eight, snake around an obstacle, turn left in a small radius, accelerate quickly to 50 km/h and stop at the exact spot. The most difficult test for candidates is the figure eight, and this task is most often tackled by girls who find it too difficult to control a heavy vehicle.

Learn by practicing the practical exercises of the motorcycle license

The practical exercises are worth learning because they are not only necessary to pass the test, but are also applicable to real driving in traffic. The figure eight is an excellent exercise to learn to keep balance, so that the learner gets used to distributing the weight of his body when turning from one corner to another. Narrow lane riding is about learning to feel the width of the bike, as there will be many times in life when you will have to pass through a narrow space.

The most difficult task is the figure of eight, most students try to stand on their feet, which is not allowed. When they go out on the street, they have a lot of trouble changing lanes, putting on their blinker in time and looking around enough.

However, the number of new entrants to Category A tests is much higher than the number of new entrants to Category B licences. While 74 % of motorcyclists and 64 % of car drivers pass the theory test on the first try, the disparity is even greater for practical test results - 75 % versus 39 % for category B. This difference is due to the fact that many more people want to drive cars and not all of them take the test because they really want to drive. Motorcyclists are motivated in a very different way. Motorcycles are not like any other vehicle and the average age of those who take the test is much higher.

For those who want to drive a motorcycle, the cost is not only the test, but also the maintenance of the motorcycle, which is not a cheap pleasure. Therefore, those who are not convinced that they really want to drive a motorcycle are not wasting their time. Besides, it's easy to use a class B license even if you don't own a car - you may need it at work or occasionally borrow a car from relatives or friends.

Training in theory and practice is important for passing your motorcycle driving test

Many prospective motorcyclists put in a lot of effort themselves. They learn the theory of riding a motorcycle on their own from books and online riding theory training sites, and only come to school to take the written test and learn to ride.

However, he refuted the myth that it is mainly those who already have the right to drive who apply for a category A licence. About 80 % of the students who come to driving school do not know how to drive a vehicle and some have never even ridden a bike.

But even those who know how to drive a car find motorcycle lessons quite difficult. "The main difference between riding a motorcycle and driving a car is that you have to balance on two wheels and there is no bodywork to protect your body. So we advise all students to imagine that no one sees them when they are riding, as motorcyclists are often not really seen by other drivers and the best way to protect yourself is to be careful.

It is not uncommon for overconfident young people to show up at school saying they can ride a motorcycle and all they need is a signature that they have taken a riding course. These daredevils are offered the opportunity to get on a motorcycle and ride a figure eight. Their confidence usually evaporates after the first attempt. This is a common problem among car and motorcycle drivers. Once they learn to drive, young people imagine that they are doing it perfectly, much better than all the other slow drivers around them. That is why all training starts with road safety courses. A person who drives dangerously can never be a good driver.

There are several categories of motorcycle license, corresponding to different engine sizes and power ratings. The A license allows you to drive any motorcycle, while the A2 license is limited to motorcycles with a maximum power rating of 35 kW or less. As for the A1 license, it applies only to light motorcycles with a maximum cubic capacity of 125 cm³ and a maximum power rating of 11 kW. You should therefore choose the type of license best suited to your needs before starting the process of obtaining the precious sesame.