2009 Motorcycle Test


The new motorcycle test

Following a recent meeting between the Minister Jim Fitzpatrick, DSA officials and motorcycle interest groups, DSA has announced that the introduction of the new motorcycle test will be deferred by six months to Monday 30 March 2009. This deferment will allow DSA to deliver a wider range of locations to offer the new test.

To see details of how this affects trainer booking, please click on the link on the left-hand side.

The new motorcycle test aims to improve the standard of road safety for motorcycle and moped riders. This user group has been identified as having a high risk of injury or death, this is particularly the case for young and inexperienced riders.

The new test event will contain two elements. The higher speed exercises and other exercises will be tested on safe off-road sites and take about 10 minutes to complete. The accompanied on road element of the test will follow, consisting of a road ride covering a variety of road and traffic conditions and will also include normal stops, hill and angle starts. Candidates who have demonstrated riding skills of a dangerously incompetent level during the off-road part of the test will not be permitted to proceed to the on-road element.

These new exercises include:


  • At least two exercises carried out at slow speed, including a slalom
  • At least two exercises carried out at higher speed, of which one exercise should be in second or third gear, at a speed of at least 30 kph (approx. 19 mph) and one exercise avoiding an obstacle at a minimum speed of 50 kph (approx. 32 mph)
  • At least two braking exercises, including an emergency brake at a minimum speed of 50 kph (approx. 32 mph)


On the day of the test, candidates will be asked by the examiner to demonstrate their riding ability on either the left-hand or right-hand circuit. Please note that the standard off-road layout may change due to local conditions on the casual sites.

Click link below to see the standard layout of the left and right-hand circuits

MMA Dimensions

The practical moped riding test

The practical moped riding test (which does not include the high-speed requirements) will also be carried out from the new test centres, where both the obstacle avoidance and emergency braking exercises will be carried out at 30 kph (approx. 19 mph). A test for the drivers of motorcycle and side car combination is also under development.