Michael McAleer answers your queries I'm weary about applying for my motorcycle riding test because I think I may have to hire a bike in order to take it. My nearest test centre is in Navan.
From Neil Branigan:
For the past five months I've owned a 125 cc scooter, I also have a Provisional A licence. I gave up the car (10-year-old full clean licence) to save on commuting time (to Dublin), road tax and fuel bills.
I have been told by a driving tester that the cc and KW output rating on my motorcycle are insufficient for sitting the A licence test. He told me that I need to sit the test on a bike of larger capacity than this, but still below the 11kw limit. Can you make sense of this for me please, or at least explain it?
Furthermore I'm told by the tax office that once I actually pass the A test I am restricted to 11 kw output machines for two years from the pass date. Surely she meant to tell me that the time restriction is from the date of receipt of the provisional licence itself?
According to our bike expert John Wheeler, to take the "A" licence test the bike must be over 150cc, and if your provisional licence has been taken out after November 17th 1999 the machine must also have a maximum power output of 25 kW or a power to weight ratio of less than 0.16kW per Kgm.
To take the "A1" test the bike must be a machine of 50cc to 125cc and a with a 11Kw/14.5bhp limit power limit. Note that some 125cc machine have a greater power output.
For two years after passing the "A" test one is restricted to riding a machine with a power output not exceeding 25 kW, or a machine with a power to weight ratio of less than 0.16kW per Kgm.
According to John, there are some heavy, low powered machine that fit this category. This restriction continues for two years after taking out a full licence in that category. However, for a nominal fee, virtually any bike can have its power reduced to come within these limits. If you held a class A provisional licence prior to November 1999, and have a motorcycle exceeding 25kW, you can continue to ride that motorcycle and present your self for the test on the larger bike.
So far as we are aware there are only two organisations at present which have "school bikes", and these are normally not available for hire save to people who have been trained by these organisations. There is no "bike hire" in Ireland similar to car hire due to the impossibility of getting insurance cover.
From Patrick Weston:
I own two cars - a 10-year-old VW Golf and a classic 1974 BMW. I have decided to get rid of the Golf since my girlfriend, who was its main driver, has just got a company car with her new job.
However, I currently insure the BMW on a limited mileage classic car policy and I understand that it is not possible to insure a classic as your only car. I really don't want to sell the BMW, particularly since I do a very low annual mileage, and insuring a 29-year-old car with a two-litre engine on an ordinary insurance policy has so far proven to be either impossible or prohibitively expensive.
Is there anything I can do? I am 30 years of age, with a two-years no-claims and full licence for 14 years.
Despite our best endeavours we have not come across an insurance firm that offers classic insurance if the car in question is your only vehicle.
You may encounter some insurance brokers who will "look the other way" and not ask about the second car issue in order to help you get cover. However, be warned that the same rules apply nonetheless and you could find yourself without any cover if you are involved in an accident. It is not the route to take.
Our best advice is to get yourself the cheapest second hand car you can - that will pass the NCT - and insure it at the lowest rate. Then drive your BMW (we guess it's a 2002) being mindful of the mileage restrictions.
From Evelyn Ward:
While working in Kiev last week, we actually passed the wooden car in the photograph on the front page of today's Motors. What made it stand out was its cleanliness - a dead give-away!
It's unlikely a similar situation would arise here. The typical markings on a Garda car these days are not only the logo and blue lights, but a cake of mud and numerous dents.
Further to a reader's query last week regarding an eight seater option, Damian Hession of Gowan Motors, has been in touch to inform us that the Peugeot 807 is available with eight seats as an option. Perhaps this will help solve Mr Egan's transport problem.
Send your queries to
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie