There are four motorcycle licence categories in Great Britain, and which one is open to you depends almost entirely on how old you are. That is the whole puzzle, and once you have it the rest of the decision is straightforward.
The four categories
AM — moped, from 16
Up to 50cc and limited to 28mph. A CBT plus theory and practical tests gets you the full AM licence; a CBT alone lets you ride one on L plates.
A1 — light motorcycle, from 17
Up to 125cc and 11kW. Pass the theory test and both practical modules on a bike in this class and you get a full A1 licence: no L plates, a pillion passenger allowed, motorways allowed.
A2 — medium motorcycle, from 19
Up to 35kW, and the bike must not be a restricted version of something more than twice that power. This is the category most riders in their twenties end up in, and the bike choice is far better than people expect.
A — unrestricted, from 24 (or 21 by progression)
No power limit. Two ways in: Direct Access at 24 or over, or progressive access at 21 if you have held an A2 licence for two years.
So which route is quickest?
If you are 24 or over, Direct Access. You take your CBT, pass the theory test, then train and test on a large bike, and you come out the other side with an unrestricted licence. There is no reason to take a smaller category first.
If you are 21, 22 or 23, the maths is worth doing. Direct Access at 24 is one set of tests; A2 now and progressive access later is two. If you are 23 and a half, waiting is usually cheaper. If you are 21 and want to ride now, A2 is the answer and the second test at 23 is the price of two years of riding.
If you are 19 or 20, A2 is your ceiling. Take it.
If you are 17 or 18, either ride on a CBT and L plates on a 125, or take the A1 test to lose the plates and be allowed a passenger. The A1 test is the same two modules as every other category, taken on a smaller bike.
What every route has in common
- A CBT first. There is no category you can test for without one.
- A theory test — multiple choice plus hazard perception — which stays valid for two years. Both practical modules have to be passed inside that window.
- Module 1, the off-road manoeuvres, before you can book Module 2.
- Module 2, the on-road ride.
The trap worth knowing about
Your licence is capped by the bike you tested on. Pass on a 125 and you hold A1, whatever your age — the test does not grant you more than the machine you rode. So if you are 24 and the plan is an unrestricted licence, make sure the school is training and testing you on a Direct Access bike, not the 125 that happened to be free.
Categories, ages and power limits here are the Great Britain rules. Northern Ireland differs in places. Check GOV.UK for the current detail before you book anything.