The Motorcycle Test

The current motorcycle test is changing as most people know. It was originally due to change on the 29th of September 2008 but has recently been deferred till March 2009.

The Current Test
The current test lasts approximately 40 minutes, during that time you will be on the road for around 30 minutes. While on the road you will complete your ‘manoeuvres’ , which includes a push round in the road, a U-turn, an emergency stop, a hill start, a possible angled start and at least 3 compulsory stops. Also during your test you will be asked two maintenance questions and one pillion question.

New Test
The first part of the test is taken on one of the new Multi Purpose Test Centre large tarmac test area. There is a series of tests marked out with cones, each part of the test is explained as you go through.The first part of the test involves pushing your bike out of one parking bay and then backing it into another bay. Then onto your machine and you ride a slalom and finish at the top doing a figure of eight round the top two cones. There are no size restrictions on the figure of eight. After that you have a hazard avoidance exercise. You accelerate around the top end of the area and come down
through a speed trap where you must be doing at least 50kph/32mph and then swerve around some cones and stop in a marked box. You then ride a U-turn between two painted lines which is standard 7.5 mts for everyone. You then are asked to do a slow ride with the examiner walking along side you keeping you bike balanced at slow speed. You then have to accelerate around the top area again and come down through the speed trap at again 50kph/32mph and then he will raise his hand for the emergency stop as on the existing test. If on either of the two speed checks you have not attained the speed you will be now given another attempt. This ‘off road’ part of the test takes around 7 minutes. You will then be taken out on the road for again approximately 30 minutes and again your general riding will be assessed. You will again have to do a hill start, at least 3 compulsory stops and a possible angled start. You will also again be asked pillion and maintenance test. The test itself is no more difficult than the current one and the extra elements can be taught providing the school has a reasonably large training area. The main problem at the moment is that there is not enough of the test centres up and running, we presume that is the reason for the delay.

The common misconception at the moment is that 46.6bhp test is going to be scrapped with the new test. It is not, you can still take your test on a machine above 46.6 bhp and then ride any machine provided your are 21 years old or above.
There is also the 125cc test for 17 years and above which if you pass restricts, you to 33 bhp for two years and after that time you can then ride any machine.

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