Modern Vespa

This almost went into the "what's pissing you off" thread.

I'm trying to work out whether my Elettrica L3 is okay to take a bike test on. It's too powerful to get away with the basic moped licence that I've already got. But it's not as powerful as a petrol 125.

DVSA website in the UK really isn't clear on which vehicles can be used for an A1 test (one up from a moped licence). It says "Subcategory AM mopeds and A1 motorcycles are not listed. You can use any AM or A1 'learner legal' mopeds or motorcycles, unless there's clear evidence it does not meet the rules." And in respect of electric vehicles, "You can use an electric motorcycle or moped if it has the same engine power as the petrol version and can keep that power for at least 30 minutes."

Customer services telling me to check with my local test centre! Can't get hold of them but I guarantee when I do they'll tell me to check with the central team.

Does anybody have an email address for the technical team at DVSA rather than the customer services team, or a phone number?

Thanks everyone.

no-reply@DVSA.gov.uk


On a serious note, would it be easier to do your test on a petrol bike? and do you go full motorbike test on a big bike so you aren't restricted on what you can ride going forwards. I think the test is the same regardless of size of bike - or it used to be anyway.

My local training centre have told me it will cost me twice as much to learn and pass on one of their full size bikes compared to on my own. Trying to avoid this if I can.

Trouble is once you get on a Motorcycle you won't want to go back to an Electric Scooter.

Go on, take the hit as you'll only have to do it once.

I agree, go for the top license and get it over with. I say
go for the smallest engine less weight bike that qualifies for the full license.

When I took my motorcycle license test, I was with four other
guys being tested (one after the other). The other four had huge
Harley Davidsons with out prior riding experience. They all flunked
the test. They could not negotiate the low speed maneuvering.

I passed the test that day. The instructor told the other four they
should borrow my 150 scarabeo for their next attempt to pass.

Bob Copeland

Love you Brits.

From post correspondences and photos, you wear a sign with the
letter "L" on your bike while learning to ride. It kind of reminds me
of having to wear "The Scarlet Letter" - "A" for being an
adulteress in Puritan New England. In elementary school, I had to
get and display a "Hall Pass" to leave my classroom and walk to
the water closet to take a piss.

No offense intended. Just one Yankees view from across the pond.
It seems you good folks well tolerate a lot of rules, regulations, and
certifications.

Total Disclosure: I would get that "Hall Pass" and run all over the
school goofing off.

Bob Copeland
Proud of my English descent.

The restrictions/laws are frustrating but I also think it is worth spending the money and getting the unrestricted license and have no regrets later.

This ^^^

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

To be able to take the A1 licence, the vehicle MUST have a top speed that exceeds 55mph.

So even a 125cc bike that can only reach 50mph would not be allowed for the A1 test.

https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-test/motorcycles-mopeds-you-can-use

I can't think of a 125cc bike that doesn't go faster than 55mph.

A Grom, Supercub or a Monkey at a stretch ?

But the A1 Elettrica tops out at 40ish mph, so although it's too quick for the Moped category (there's also a 28mph version), it's not quick enough to take the A1 test on - despite being in the A1 category.

It's one of the reasons I picked up my 125cc Sprint.

This is what I was afraid of.

Oh well. Vast expense and proper licence it is, then.

I'm having a go at the A1 myself in the New Year, without any lessons. The MOD 1 is £15 a go and the government website shows the exact cone dimensions. I'm going to set up some cones in an empty carpark for practice.

One option would be for you to pickup a cheap 125cc, have a go yourself and then sell it?

Another thing to consider is one school I spoke to, had an A2 automatic scooter. Doing a course on an automatic A2 would cover a 300cc Vespa if you ever wished to ride one in the future, but the test and course are identical.

Edit: Or just stay on L plates. Most scooters I see are running them constantly. My instructor on the CBT said the CBT renewal is very quick - you're just doing the left turn, right turn, stop, figure of 8 and then a bit of road work. Probably a couple of hours and then you've got another 2 years of riding.

That's interesting the A2 automatic scooter option. It would mean you could not ride gears without a new license. The only other issue is there would be the cost of hiring the bike and the cost of the instructor to the test centre. The government costs for the tests are not bad it is just those extras that get you.