The Practical Test

All practical motorcycle tests are conducted by a DSA examiner at a Driving Standards Agency test centre. There are two driving test centres in Edinburgh, one at Joppa and one at Parkhead.

Tests are only available on weekdays, so you will need to arrange at least a half day off to attend the test ( we are available for training at weekends and weekday evenings in the summer months).

At the start of the test your examiner will check your documents, so make sure that you take these with you; driving licence, CBT , theory test pass certificate, and proof of ID e.g. your passport. The examiner will ask you to sign the insurance declaration to be sure that you are insured while riding on the test.

The examiner will test your eyesight by asking you to read a car number plate, and will issue you with a radio. The radio will be used to give directions only, and in between directions the examiner will not speak, so you will not be distracted.

The test route should take about half an hour to complete, and will involve two set exercises the u-turn and the emergency stop. These will have been covered in your training so you will know what to expect. There are several routes, and some involve national speed limit dual carriageway roads. The examiner will expect you to make reasonable progress by getting up to the speed limit where it is safe to do so.

Apart from the compulsory execises the examiner may also include any of the following; hill start, angled start, slow riding or he may simply ask you to stop and then ride away again. Your instructor will cover these exercises with you. At the end of the test the examiner will ask you a simple question about carrying a passenger on a motorcycle, this will also be covered on your course.

For more information on the test visit www.driving-tests.co.uk or click the logo, then click on publications and document D1.