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Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:44 am
by poldark
charles1976 wrote:Does anyone have or know how to get hold of the a list of scooters applicable to ride on the a2 license after the 2 year restriction has ended..
Might be being dumb, but surely after your restriction is over the answer is any "scooter", which IIRC from previous postings is effectively anything that doesn't have a manual clutch lever fitted. So would include NC700 DCT, Integra, Mana & more specific Maxiscoot models.

Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:16 pm
by charles1976
Apparently mana, Integra etc...cannot he ridden as they have a semi auto clutch...it must be fully auto machine, according to my local riding school

Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:33 pm
by poldark
charles1976 wrote:Apparently mana, Integra etc...cannot he ridden as they have a semi auto clutch...it must be fully auto machine, according to my local riding school
I'm not the world's expert on this but pretty sure this questions been covered before and the defining factor in whether a machine is an automatic is the lack of a manual clutch lever capability.

I'm sure others will confirm or provide the definitive answer but maybe worth a site search too. Or just explore the DSA website or even call them!

Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:50 pm
by Beardy
Did mine on Honda PS 125. Do you not currently have a valid CBT, bike (and therefore one presume all the gear too)? How long have you been on a CBT? If so, why pay the training school for all this stuff. £600 is about right for a full DAS as far as I am aware - 500cc bike, days of training, and test prices. If all you want is an A2 on an automatic license, book the tests yourself through the directgov website and save yourself a fortune. You'll be surprised how quickly you can get a test booked if you are flexible on times. Even if your CBT has run out, it may still be cheaper to get a new CBT and then sort the rest out yourself.

Here's what I did last October, just before my CBT ran out in November, having ridden almost daily on an urban commute for 2 years on my L's:
-Got my theory out of the way in Sept (£31).
-Did a single lesson with the training school to go over the Mod1 - I think this is essential and worth the extra money as they teach you how to pass the test, I would not have passed without it. £45 for 2 hours. Plus you get a free road assessment as you travel to and from the practice ground (quiet industrial estate).
-Booked, took and passed my Mod1 in Oct on a pre 9am slot (£17.50). Got advised that training schools will typically block book day time sessions, so going for early slots is usually pretty easy. Its also worth pointing out that I am only a couple of miles from the Manchester test centre, so travel to and from was minimal. This is not always the case.
-Booked, took and passed my Mod2 road test in Oct (£75). Job done - L plates in bin. Don't book your Mod2 until you pass your mod1.

In all it cost just over £200, which given that I was looking at about £125 to get a new CBT seemed like money well spent.

Be aware that the rules are changing from next year I believe - you will no longer be able to ride a bigger bike after passing a test on a 125cc, effectively doing away with the A2 restriction. Instead you have to pass on a bike of equivalent capacity of what you want to ride - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Le ... /DG_201147. I bet it will be difficult when these rules kick in to do an auto test for larger scooters as few training schools will have a large scoot ready for you to use, forcing you to do a geared test, with all the training and additional hire costs. So get that test done now.

Still riding my Honda, but have looked at what you can get on the restricted A2 (auto). There appears to be no definitive list of machines that you can ride while restricted, i.e. with a BHP less than 33. The general rule of thumb appears to be anything with an engine capacity less than 400cc, which will get you a machine comfortably capable of motorway speeds. After two years, anything that does not have a manual clutch I believe.

Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:26 pm
by Lou
Beardy wrote:Did mine on Honda PS 125. Do you not currently have a valid CBT, bike (and therefore one presume all the gear too)? How long have you been on a CBT? If so, why pay the training school for all this stuff.
yeah that's why i said it should be cheaper if i'm providing all that myself and already have my CBT.

cheers for the info :kiss:

Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:32 pm
by gn2
charles1976 wrote:Apparently mana, Integra etc...cannot he ridden as they have a semi auto clutch...it must be fully auto machine, according to my local riding school
Well your local riding school don't know shit.
If there isn't a clutch lever its an auto.

Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:56 pm
by charles1976
The term I was given was...user operated clutch...as in paddle, or button...I think! For instance the Honda Integra has a user operated clutch so not valid, Burgman 400 doesn't.

Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:23 pm
by poldark
charles1976 wrote:The term I was given was...user operated clutch...as in paddle, or button...I think! For instance the Honda Integra has a user operated clutch so not valid, Burgman 400 doesn't.
Check with DSA to be sure, but positive others before have investigated and the "user operated clutch" means a clutch lever. If there's no lever then it's automatic, hence people on here riding Mana, Integra and others on auto licences.

Ignore the riding school and check with DSA.

Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:51 pm
by Earl
charles1976 wrote:The term I was given was...user operated clutch...as in paddle, or button...I think! For instance the Honda Integra has a user operated clutch so not valid, Burgman 400 doesn't.
Acording to DVLA when I rang them the Mana is an auto because of the absence of a clutch lever.

Re: A2 Licence

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:32 pm
by Deleted User 796
charles1976 wrote:The term I was given was...user operated clutch...as in paddle, or button...I think! For instance the Honda Integra has a user operated clutch so not valid, Burgman 400 doesn't.
The Integra has the option to change gears manually - it does not have a manual clutch, same as the nc700x dct, vfr1200 dct, crosstourer dct, fjr 1300ae, dn01, mana etc etc. As others have said your riding school is talking shit.

The auto licence refers only to the automatic clutch, not to automatic gears.