What's the law now Les?
Excuse my cut and paste, it's a friggin minefield.
Category A1 (small motorcycles up to 11kW - 125 cc)
Category A1 covers small bikes with:
a cylinder capacity not more than 125 cc
power output not more than 11 kW and a power to weight ratio not more than 0.1 kW per kg
motor tricycles with a power output not more than 15 kW
The minimum age limit for category A1 will still be 17 years.
You'll have to pass theory and practical driving tests to get this entitlement.
Category A2 (medium motorcycles up to 35 kW)
Category A2 covers medium sized bikes, with or without a sidecar, which have:
an engine power output not more than 35 kW
a power to weight ratio not more than 0.2 kW per kg - the bike must also not be derived from a vehicle of more than double its power
The minimum age for category A2 is 19 years.
There are two ways to get this entitlement.
Direct access
If you you're aged 19 or over, you can take a theory and a practical test.
Staged access
If you're aged 19 or over and you have two years' experience on an A1 motorcycle, you only need to take a further practical test.
Category A
Category A covers machines unlimited in size and power, with or without a sidecar, and motor tricycles with a power output of more than 15 kW. There are two ways to get this entitlement.
Direct access
If you don't have two years' experience, you'll have to be aged 24 years or over. You'll also need to pass the theory and practical tests.
Staged access
You can get this category from age 21 if you have two years' experience on an A2 motorcycle and you take a further practical test.
Add to that CBT, compulsory basic training which is done off-road before you are allowed on-road.
