Making the Move from Four Wheels to Two Wheels
By: Andrew Regan
In 2008, the statistics for private transport sales certainly revealed a lot about events elsewhere in the world. Between October 2007 and October 2008, motorcycle sales increased by four percent, whilst car sales decreased by 23 percent. Indeed, it doesn’t take a genius to realise that this demonstrates people are ditching their cars and taking to the pavements, the buses and motorised two-wheeled transport.
Of course, it’s not difficult to understand why. A combination of rising fuel prices and the global economic downturn means that people are either unwilling or unable to pay to keep their car on the road. Furthermore, increasing road congestion has meant that cars are no longer a viable option for those who need to travel swiftly from A to B.
And these are the chief reasons why there has been an increase in people switching to motorcycles, mopeds and scooters; not only do they generally consume less fuel than cars and are cheaper to sustain, but they also allow people to maintain their freedom on the roads. After all, who really wants to rely on public transport?
But there are other things to consider when making the switch to two wheels. First of all, a car driving licence isn’t transferable over to a motorcycle. After applying for a provisional motorcycle licence, it is then necessary to take a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course before being allowed anywhere near a public road.
To pass the CBT course, the rider must demonstrate a basic level of competence, after which a certificate is issued which is valid for two years. And then, it is necessary to sit a theory test to gain the full motorcycle license, although it’s possible to do this whilst riding on the roads with ‘L’ plates. This is a two-part test which covers the Highway Code and general hazard awareness.
However, the journey towards a full, unrestricted motorcycle licence doesn’t end with the theory test, as the rider will still be limited to riding a machine that is no more than 33 brake horsepower (bhp) for the first two years after passing the CBT and theory test. Of course, this will be sufficient for many people, but to be allowed on faster and more powerful models, it is necessary to do a further ‘Direct Access Licence’ course, which can either be done in stages or as part of an intense course lasting a full week.
Indeed, it’s probably fair to say that becoming proficient on a motorcycle is a learning curve, and the chances are there will be a few spills and tumbles along the way. And just like cars, it is necessary to take out motorbike insurance, although the one important difference here is that bike insurance is usually cheaper.
And when making motorbike insurance claims, not only will there be cover for the replacement of a damaged or stolen motorcycle, but it can also cover the riding equipment too, such as crash helmet and clothing – gear that is essential for anybody taking to the road on two wheels.
So overall it would seem that there is good reason why people are switching from four wheels to two wheels. At a time when financial uncertainties are rife throughout society, people are looking for ways to save money without having to surrender their freedom on the roads.
