You can ride a 50cc moped from the age of 16 or from the age of 17, you can ride a 125cc motorcycle. However, Harley-Davidson does not have any motorcycles in these categories.

The minimum age that you can achieve your full A-category licence is 21, but you will need to have passed the A2 test at age 19 and have been riding for two years from the date of passing your A2 test.

The A2 licence is part of the ‘Progressive Access’ route to getting a full motorcycle licence. To get an A2 licence, you must be aged 19 or over and have an in-date CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) certificate.

To gain your licence you need to pass a theory test and a two-module practical test, which can only be taken on a 395+cc motorcycle with a power output of between 20 kW (27 bhp) and 35 kW (47 bhp).

The Theory Test is a two-part Q&A test. Part 1 has 50 multiple-choice questions within 57 minutes, while part 2 is a hazard perception test, where you watch a video and correctly identify potential safety hazards.

The Practical Test is also two parts. Mod 1 involves an on-site evaluation of your riding skills, such as completing a controlled U-turn, emergency stop and more, followed by a 40 minute on-road riding test and Q&A session on motorcycle safety for Mod 2.

With a full A2 licence, you can ride for two years before taking the A-category practical test at age 21 to get a full motorcycle licence or wait until you are 24.

You can ride an A2-category motorcycle that produces no more than 35 kW or 47 bhp. You can also ride some larger capacity motorcycles with a restrictor kit, which reduces the power-to-weight ratio. The Harley-Davidson Nightster can be made to be A2-compliant with a digital restrictor kit. When you’re ready to graduate to your full licence, just head to your local H-D^™ dealer and they’ll remove the restrictor for you.

If you’re 19 or older and already have a CBT certificate and A2-compliant motorcycle, you could get your licence in a matter of weeks, depending on test centre booking times. But, not everybody is ready to take the A2 licence tests straight away and you should take as long as you need to ensure you’re ready. Riding confidently comes with experience. This can be achieved with additional learner rider training and supervised time on the road.

The cost of an A2 test is  currently £113.50 – this cost is made up of the separate elements needed to achieve the A2 licence; £23 for the Theory Test, £15.50 for Mod 1 and £75 for Mod 2. Any rider training support that is needed will incur additional costs on top of the tests.

Motorcycle training at any level of your riding experience is a good thing. Training quickly identifies any possible areas of your riding that need to be improved, primarily for your own safety.

You’re free to ride on the open road once you’ve completed your CBT, but it is strongly recommended that you learn the Highway Code for road safety reasons.

If you enjoy the freedom of going wherever you want, whenever you want, you’ll enjoy riding a motorcycle. Plus, riding a Harley^® gives you access to a huge community of people who love riding.