I have a friend who is about 35ish and he has taken up riding a 125 again. He doesnt have a full licence but does have a full car licence. He reckons that as he passed his car test nearly 20 years ago, he doesnt need to do a CBT. I think he does as he hasnt got a full bike licence. Who is right? Can anybody help?

He can ride a moped on his pre Feb 2001 car license - with L-plates and no passengers.

He'll have to take a CBT/DAS etc. if he wants to ride anything else. Even if he passes his CBT he'll still be on L's and will have to retake every two years. If he has already started riding a 125, he'd better not get caught...

Screwd.

This exact same thing happened to a chap who was on my CBT course. Fortunately for him, the old bill who pulled him on a routine check pointed out the error of his ways and let him off subject to said person proceeding immmediately in a northerly direction to his nearest training establishment.

Cheers
Kav

Wifes just done her CBT... you need to pass it b4 you can ride any L plated 125 or less ;)

Would be surprised you could get insurance without a certificate - did the guy have any either?

Jza

I have a friend who is about 35ish and he has taken up riding a 125 again. He doesnt have a full licence but does have a full car licence. He reckons that as he passed his car test nearly 20 years ago, he doesnt need to do a CBT. I think he does as he hasnt got a full bike licence. Who is right? Can anybody help?

From the DSA:

"If you have a full car licence, you are automatically entitled to ride a moped without L-plates (D-plates in Wales) if you obtained your full car licence before 1 February, 2001."

Source: http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=95

So he can ride a MOPED without plates - that means a restricted 50 though, max 31mph. Lots of 50s aren't mopeds as defined there, although it might be difficult to tell unless its speeding.

The 125 needs CBT and L plates without question.

From the DSA:

"If you have a full car licence, you are automatically entitled to ride a moped without L-plates (D-plates in Wales) if you obtained your full car licence before 1 February, 2001."

Source: http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=95

So he can ride a MOPED without plates - that means a restricted 50 though, max 31mph. Lots of 50s aren't mopeds as defined there, although it might be difficult to tell unless its speeding.

The 125 needs CBT and L plates without question.

This has confused me a little bit. Here's a bit taken from http://www.bikesafe-sheffield.co.uk/law.htm

Up to 31 January 2001

...

The requirement to complete CBT does not apply to those riders who are:
learning to ride a motorcycle and who have already obtained full moped entitlement as a result of passing a moped test on or after 1 December 1990, or
riding a moped with full entitlement given automatically with a full car licence.


So does this mean I have to do the CBT before I can do the DAS? BTW, I did the CBT 14 years ago before I was old enough to drive a car and I realise it has expired.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

The rules always cause debate and I'm not claiming to be an expert! I reckon the DSA site ought to be definitive though...

My understanding is that no CBT cert lasts for ever (other than for moped riding only). If you did CBT pre 2001, it lasted 3 years, and if after, two years.

SO yeah, I think you need a new CBT cert for DAS... but wherever you go for DAS will tell you I guess.

Thanks for the help guys, i am not sure about the insurance either. I am pretty sure he does have insurance but i dont know any details about it. As he has never taken a CBT i would assume that his insurance would be invalid. I will let him know next time i see him.

If he thought his car licence was valid cover, he probably ticked "full licence" on the proposal form. Might as well cancel it and save the cash!