Step 1: Apply for your Driving Licence
The first step to riding a moped is to apply for a provisional driving licence. You can get an application form from any Post Office or even apply online if you are a British Resident and hold a valid UK passport. This will cost you £50.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Motoringtransactions/BeforeyouapplyD/DG_172559

Step 2: Take a CBT (Validate Your Licence)
CBT stands for Compulsory Basic Training. This is a training course designed to ensure that you are aware of the hazards on public roads and are reasonably capable of controlling the vehicle you intend to ride. The course also teaches basic maintenance checks and the difference between the various types of bike you might wish to ride. It usually takes around a day to complete and will cost you about £140.

Book your CBT at http://www.shires-motorcycle-training.co.uk

Step 3: Buy a Motorcycle Helmet and Accessories
You’ll notice this comes after step 2, the CBT. That’s because the CBT is designed to teach you some of the basics about choosing the correct equipment. Once you have completed it you should have a better idea about what you want and need.

Buy reasonably priced start-up equipment at http://www.shires-motorcycle-accessories.co.uk

Step 4: Choose your Bike and Buy It.
There’s a huge variety out there. In fact there’s so much choice it warrants its own article. Again this comes after step 2 on purpose because once the CBT is complete you will have a much better understanding of what suits *you* personally.

http://themopedspot.com/?p=9

Step 5: Ensure the Bike is Roadworthy
The British MOT is a fairly comprehensive test of many of the components of a bike to check their roadworthiness. This includes tyre tread, brake operation and suspension. It lasts for 12 months but is not an all-inclusive 12 month roadworthy test. In fact it is only really a valid test on the day in which it is taken. Bulbs can fail, tyres wear out and suspension breaks. Even if the bike you buy has a valid MOT it is still your personal responsibility to maintain it in a roadworthy condition at all times if you are using it on the public highway.

http://www.fasttrackmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycle_MOT.html

Step 6: Get Some Insurance Cover
Most companies offer immediate cover these days whether you’re dealing with them over the phone or on the internet. The minimum cover required is third party liability. This means that you are insured for other peoples losses if an accident is considered to be *your* fault. You can also get Third Party, Fire and Theft which also covers you if your bike is stolen or catches fire unexpectedly and Comprehensive which covers you for loss for any eventuality.

http://www.bennetts.co.uk/

Step 7: Road Tax
If your bike came with a valid tax disk skip to Step 8. Otherwise take all your documents from the previous steps to a Post Office and pay for the relevant Road Fund Licence. You will need:
• The green tear-off part of the Vehicle Registration Certificate.
• A valid MOT certificate for the vehicle.
• Proof of insurance.

Step 8: Buy Some L-Plates and Fit Them.
Unless you take your full motorcycle or moped test you must by law display full-size L-Plates to the front and rear of your bike at all times.

Step 9: Ride It!
That’s it. You’re done. But do consider taking your full test at some point. It may cost a little more to begin with but will make you a much better and safer rider as well as reducing your annual insurance payments significantly. It also means you won’t have to take a new CBT course every two years and you can lose the L-plates.

New two-part motorcycle test announced : Directgov – Newsroom

Let me draw your attention to the highlighted quote.

“A two-part test means we can provide more test locations”.

Um pardon?!!? More?!!? Forgive me while I fall off my chair. *More* places have off-road sites big enough for learner riders to reach speeds in excess of 30mph *safely* do they?

In a word, no. The number of motorcycle test centres in the UK has been reduced by over 50% since the new two part test was introduced. Some training schools now have to ride for as much as an hour just to reach their nearest one. That’s an additional two hour’s training (one hour each way) that someone has to pay for.
Instructors aren’t paid very much in the first place for such a responsible and in fact highly skilled job. So they’re not about to give 3 hours of their time for free are they? Which generally means the training schools suffer because they can’t go charging extra to customers when their competitors, who may be nearer, do not.

So what *is* that news article all about then, hmm? Propaganda? Government spin doctoring? Or just a bunch of lies?

Maybe all three. And sometimes I wonder why I never believe what I hear in the news any more…