As requested by Harryn I thought I'd explain what you have to do to get your MC licence here in Sweden.

To start with we have three different levels of MC-licence, A1 - Requires you to be at least age 16 and can't ride a bike of more than 125cc or a maximum of 11 kW. The A2-licence you are required to be atleast 18 years of age and can't ride a bike with higher power than 35kW. And lastly the A-licence which requires you to be atleast the age of 24 or 20 but had A2-licence for atleast 2 years, this licence used to require an age of 21 I believe it was, but was changed this year to 24.

The A-licence allowes you to ride a motorcycle of unlimited power. It's ofcourse this one that is the most common and the one I'm going to get.

We have quite hard tests before you are aproved for the licence. Many people but not all use a driving school that teaches you how to drive. But you can also do it with a private teacher, someone you know for example who you can ride together with. Either with them sitting behind you or riding on separate bikes. Some people who have grown up around motocross can probably do the tests right away except for the theory one.

So, except for learning to drive you also have two ''classes'' you have to do. The ''risk'' 1 and 2. The ''1'' one is just to sit and listen to a lecture for some 3 hours that tells you about the risks involved, drugs, alcohol, road conditions etc. This class is now also applied to your car licence.

The risk 2, requires you to drive a high/low speed, breaking, slalom through cones etc. It is educational and they will help/show you and you can't really fail it unless they deem you not ready.

When you have completed these two you are allowed to book your theory test. It involves 65 questions and you need atleast 52 correct to pass. It's questions about traficrules, enviroment, safety etc.

If you complete that one you are entitled to do the final one which requires you to show your skills in trafic. You have to show that you know how to check the engine, breaks, oil, lamps etc before you actually start the driving. Which again starts with a lesser version of the risk 2. You have to show you can handle the bike at high/low speed, breaking etc etc. Then you are taken out to trafic and hopefully they pass you.

And as that was not it, if you are unable to get a time for the final test within 2 months of your theory test. You will have to do that once more.

To do all of this is also quite expensive. Only the tests involved, if you don't fail any of them will cost about 700-750 USD.

I don't think I have left something out, but if I have some fellow Sweed can probably add some.

As a complete beginner with a somewhat limited budget this season I have managed to do 7 lessons and the risk 1 class. My MC-teacher said I'm ready for the risk 2 but that will have to wait for next year.

One would think that harmonized requirements would make it more or less the same in europe.

But since 1/1-2013 we also had the A1 license in Denmark. You just have to be 18 to get it ....

For the A2 license (35kW) you have now to be 20 years old. That was the one 18 years beginners would get here until the end of last year.

So that hat destroyed the market for typical beginners bikes with less than 35Kw.


An for an unrestricted A license you have to be 24 ....

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What a great post, perhaps others from other countries could explain their licence gaining explanations too.

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>-------<

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Our motorcycle licence here in Guernsey must possibly be the most streamlined and simple process in Europe I suspect.

Category P - 50cc/4kw two wheeled vehicle. No test, other than a multi guess theory, required but you do have to attend a CBT (compulsory basic training) which is a two day (one day on a car park and one day on the road) course. Most pass. You can then ride on L plates for up to two years or take test and ride with a full P category.

Category A1 - Light motorcycle, with or without sidecar up to 125cc not exceeding 11kw. 16 years old if you have had a full P licence for 12 months or 17 years old on L plates after a theory test and a CBT.

Category A - Any motorcycle. Must be 18 years old. If you have had a full A1 licence for 12 months then you do not need a CBT or theory. You can buy any bike you like and ride on L plates. If you are totally green you can do a CBT and theory with a borrowed 250cc or similar then go out and purchase a GS1200 if you wish and ride on L plates!

Total cost for a full A licence is under �100. You must ride on L plates for a minimum of one month or a maximum of two years before taking your test. If you do not take a test for whatever category you are choosing within two years then you must wait another year before applying for a new provisional licence. You cant ride off Guernsey with L plates. If you have a ful car licence then you get a P category thrown in gratis.

So if you want to come to Guernsey and work for the summer in some sort of seasonal/short term job and get a full bike licence . . . why not . . . except there are some really bad 14 year old scooter riders buzzing around like wasps riding 30 centimeters from the bumper of the car in front! In fairness with a 35 mph speed limit the accidents, whilst common for scooter riders, are fairly low consequence. But I am not a fan of 14 year old's on our reasonably busy roads. Especially when you see them off to school in the short skirts, bare legs and arms and school bags dangling from one side. Cor I sound old! Needless to say my 14 year old daughter hasn't got a scooter and whilst I let my son ride the trials bike off roads, he too is not having on.

There are 6,000 registered two wheeled vehicles in Guernsey. That's one bike for every ten people approximately. That is a lot of midlife crisis riders who only ride on sunny Sunday's. All the secondary schools have large scooter parking for students as well.

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DickyC

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Thanks mate, I'm glad to hear it!

Indeed, everyone feel free to add what is required in your region.

Well I'm sorry I asked I've read it twice and still I'm confused
I'm to embarrassed to say what happens here, suffice to say nothing like the above.
Perhaps this is why Sweden is known to have good drivers!!

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il dolce far niente

Haha, it is a bit confusing indeed. I too were confused the first time I read about it. However I think it sounds worse than it really is. But yes we are required to have mastered the art otherwise they will not pass you at the final test.

My friend failed the final test the first time he did it. Not that he was driving poorly or anything but they didn't feel he was confident enough.

I think it's good that the tests are hard because alot of people are injured and get killed in trafic. But at times they can fail you for nonsense reasons.