Learner/Newbie Sticky **All Learner/newbie/Starter Questions Go here!!****

Found this on the NDLS/mygov page:

"I have not held a learner permit in the last 5 years, therefore why have I an option to apply for a learner permit in the motorbikes /cars ?

You will be given this option if you passed a driver theory test between April 2001 and October 2006 and hold a full licence in the motorbike or car as at that time the driver theory test covered both motorbikes and the car categories."

Have to laugh, I've a full A1 licence, driving since 2000, but as it was before the theory test came in, it actually involves more for me to progress to an A2 or go for an A than it does for a B licence holder who sat the theory during the quoted dates lol

Anyway, thanks for all the replies, I've sent the above info to my friend, who I'm assuming passed their theory test for a car during the above quoted dates.

It was daft to have a combined car and bike theory test.

That is what i was getting when waiting for my test after I let the 10 day booking elapse

Every time I checked online it said no availability for every test center

I tried to add myself back on to the waiting list but it said i was already on it

I had to ring them and say that every test center said no availability and the Girl said she would add me back to the list and I got a new date within a week or so

You should give them a ring

The IBT situation seems to be getting out of hand. A mega lack of IBT schools and the RSA, in general, seem to be putting all the effort into the car tests and truck tests. Bikes are most likely at the bottom of the list. The bike community in Ireland is small enough with no great voice and that is very much that. The biggest problem I experience before I passed my test was the lack of schools and bike hire. Trying to get replies from the RSA is a different game all together. They do try that much people need to know, but they do not have the staff numbers to deal properly with the public.

Seen a few 4-5 doing their test the last 2 days out in Shannon and a few look like they are on practice runs ,its been a while since the last lot ,they seem to just do it in batches every now and again good luck to all !

If you only have an A2 learner permit you'd need to restrict a 600. But if you have class A and pass IBT on a class A bike, then you can ride any bike unrestricted.

Just make sure you do your IBT on an A class bike. Now that may seem obvious but somone on here said previously that on their IBT course the instructor kept them on a lower cc bike because another student was struggling.

Harley Davidson in Ballymount do the FatBob...

Dublin Loves bikes in Dun Laoghaire will be able to sort you out...

Hi guys, looking at getting back on two wheels after 20 year break, i had a provisional up to 125cc, licence before,in 98/99, when i stopped riding.

i never re added this category when i passed my car test in 2000.

last year when i upgraded my license to the new plastic type i noticed that i now have category A motorbike added (restriction7903).

my questions are,

what does this currently allow me to drive? (could i buy a bike and up to what cc,and obtain insurance.)

Do i still need to do a theory test, and then the ib course?

sorry for all the questions, its seem very complicated, compaired to when i was a young fella.

Was out again tonight with RoSPA Iart. Some value and well worthwhile

Hi all, advice needed for choosing a licence category (yes, like almost everyone else on this thread 🤣)

I drove a 50 CC 20 years ago for short commutes. I have an AM licence, but I want to go up a level to A1, and I now have the learners permit for A1.

I did CBT in the UK 20 years ago on a geared bike and wasn't mad on it. I'm happy to stay on scooters. I'll be using the bike for a 15km round trip to/from work, back roads mostly, and maybe 2 or three times a month doing a 40km round trip into Dublin city on N roads.

I'm reading the thread from the start and I see EVERYONE recommends going for the A licence. However, that means doing the test on an A level bike, which means practicing regularly on a geared, A level bike. I just can't see myself on a big, geared bike. FYI, I'm a 5 foot 4 female.

What should I do? If I changed my leaner to an A2, could I then do the test on a more powerful scooter or must it be a geared bike? I spotted a Suzuki Burgman 125 on Done Deal yesterday and thought it looked good, but checking the power on it, I see it's slightly above the A1 licence limits 😕

My main worry is at some point regretting not going for a higher level. However, I have enough things to stress about without putting myself through a test at a level I don't need LOL

If a bikes/scooters power is just above the A1 limit where you'd need a A2 license then the problem that it's probably too low to do the A2 test on even if it needs a A2 license.

Instructors might not have anything larger than an automatic AM scooters to learn on for doing the IBT, so either you'd be doing that on a manual or the hours won't count if going for A1/A2 (instructor might cheat and put them down as counting but unlikely).

For the IBT the modules differ a bit but most instructors will be flexible, and when you get to the on the bike part they can star you off on one and then move on if comfortable you might need a extra hour lesson or 2 to make up required time. A lot of people who start off on A bikes will get put on smaller bike for first bit by instructors before moving on, they're no so inflexible that they won't accommodate when you're unsure.

There's a lot of 300-450cc scooters (there's a 400 Burgman), and even if you've no intention of getting on a manual A2 bike after the test I'd say go for that. You're already ahead of a lot of people starting out, and worst that happens is during the IBT you make your mind up one way or the other.

Yes, that's my worry, that this slightly over A1 power bike won't be powerful enough for the A2 test. The RSA link on this thread doesnt seem to be working anymore, so I'll email them and ask them for the minimum spec for each of the test levels.

Also, it might be difficult to get an A2 scooter for the test...

Just passed my A license! Absolutely delighted. I owe a big credit to Eric Dalton, he was exceptional. I was a bag of nerves and he got me into a really good place to take the test. In fairness, the lesson and pretest I did with him were great value, he put in a huge amount of hours.

All done and free of the tabard.

Which test centre did you do it in?

Congratulations :-)

Its great to get it out of the way

Well Done

Naas has areas they regularly use, but I don't think there's any centre with an exact route (willing to be corrected on that). On my test I was directed to some roads I hadn't practiced on, but that didn't really bother me, once you know what they are looking for, the roads are less important.

Naas is a good town to do it... Residential roads are relatively quiet, there's a reasonable selection of 50 and 60 mph roads and the traffic doesn't get too complicated.

I had a 40 min ride to get there, but didn't mind it.

Did you persuade them to change their minds?