Advice Please - CBT - Full ?

Hi, my first post on this site and already I am asking for advice. Anyway a couple of months back I got myself a 50cc scooter for nipping into town and back to save petrol on the car. Now I want to move forward and go up the motorcycle ranks for a bigger bike.

I am 41yrs of age, past my driving test before 1st Jan 1999, so my question is, what is the quickest way for me to get on the road with a real bike ? Also without having to have L plates on, I know if I did my CBT I would have to have L plates on and that last for two years. But is there anyway or some kind of fast track, where I can do some test and ride a 125 without the L plates on ?
I am not wanting to jump into the big pool just yet and past my test and then go out and get a 600cc or something, I would be quite happy with riding a 125 for a while until I feel ready for something bigger. I just dont want to do my CBT and then wait 2yrs while riding round with L plates.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers

You cannot legally ride a 125 without L-plates unless you pass your bike test. You don't have to wait two years after getting your CBT before taking your test. You can take a test on a 125 which restricts you for two years to bikes of up to 33bhp ( without L-plates ), after which you can ride any size bike without having to take a further test.  Alternatively, you could take a test on a bike over 46.6bhp and immediately ride anything you want.

---

Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

Cheers, thanks for the advice. Any idea of the rules if I was to go down the road of just Twist & Pull ? I mean, how far could I take that route, would it be like a driving test for someone who passes their test in a automatic, that they are only allowed to drive automatic cars ? Or could I do my full test on a Twist & Pull and not have to wait the 2yrs if on a 125 etc etc ?

You would have exactly the same restrictions, so your twist and pull would have to be above 46.6 bhp to avoid the 33bhp restriction. I think you need to decide what you want. 33 gets you 100mph. I can understand you not wanting to ride on L-plates for two years but if you only want to be restricted for aweek or two you would be better off training and taking your test on the big bike in the first place. Having done so, apart from ego, there's nothing to stop you still riding a small bike until you want to buy a 'real bike'.

Hopefully, someone with experience of them will come along and advise you soon.  Meanwhile, you may find this website useful.

---

Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

Hi, thanks again for the reply, and also the link, I think I have decided to go down the road of twist & go, I am enjoying my little 50cc so far nipping around town and just taking it out for a ride.
Many Thanks

How are you getting on with your 50cc?