Vehicle Safety, Maintenance and Legal Requirements
Pre-ride checks
Walk around the machine before every ride. Check tyre pressures when cold, look for cuts, bulges and embedded objects, and confirm tread depth. The legal minimum for a motorcycle tyre is 1 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread - not the 1.6 mm figure that applies to cars, which is a favourite trap. Check chain tension and lubrication, both brakes, all lights and indicators, the horn, mirrors, fluid levels and fuel. Check that the throttle returns freely and the steering turns without binding.
Rider equipment
A helmet is compulsory for rider and pillion passenger and must be the correct size and fastened. Add gloves, sturdy boots, an abrasion-resistant jacket and eye protection; high-visibility clothing helps but is not a legal requirement.
Legal requirements
You must hold the correct licence category - AM (moped), A1, A2 or A - and, as a learner, an IBT certificate and L plates. You must have at least third-party insurance and current motor tax. Motorcycles are currently exempt from the NCT, so a question implying a motorcycle test certificate is due is a trap. Any load must be secure and must not affect stability or obscure lights and the registration plate. A pillion passenger must have a proper seat and footrests, wear a helmet, and may not be carried by a learner permit holder.
Worked example
Your rear tyre shows 1.3 mm of tread in the centre. The car standard of 1.6 mm does not apply to you, so the tyre is legal - but tread that shallow still disperses water poorly, so plan a replacement.