What do you need to ride a motorcycle, and how does the licence work?

A staged licensing system based on age and power, which is deliberately structured so that access to more powerful machines is earned progressively — and the route you take depends heavily on what age you start.

Compulsory basic training (CBT). Not a test and not a licence — a training course covering theory, off-road riding and two hours of road riding with an instructor. Completing it lets you ride on a provisional licence with L-plates, no pillion passenger and no motorways. It expires after two years, and must be retaken unless you pass a full test.

The categories, by age and power:

AM — mopeds, from 16, restricted to 45 km/h.

A1 — light motorcycles up to 125 cc and 11 kW, from 17.

A2 — up to 35 kW, with a restriction on power-to-weight, from 19.

A — unrestricted, from 24 by direct access, or from 21 by progressive access having held A2 for two years.

The two routes to a full A licence, and the choice matters:

Direct access, available from 24, taking the test on a large machine.

Progressive access, moving up through A1 and A2 with two years' experience at each stage — which reaches unrestricted riding earlier for someone starting young.

The tests. A theory test including hazard perception, then a practical test in two modules: off-road manoeuvres including a controlled emergency stop and a swerve at a specified speed, and an on-road ride.

What else is required: insurance, which is expensive for young riders; road tax; an MOT after three years; and a helmet meeting an approved standard.

On protective clothing, which is the part the law barely addresses. Only a helmet is legally required in the UK — gloves, jacket, trousers and boots are not. The injury evidence is unambiguous, and abrasion and impact protection are worth buying properly.

Further training beyond the test is where most riders improve most.

General information, not legal advice.