Hi Everyone

After many years of thinking about it I’ve finally built up the courage to get a motorcycle and would appreciate some advice.

I have passed the theory test and applied for the provisional. I am a 32 year old male and can therefore directly apply for any category. However, I have no experience with a motorcycle, I am only 5 ft 5 and 10 stone.

For me category A is out as its too much power too soon. My ideal starter bike had been a 250cc cruiser in the category A2 bracket. This would have a low enough seat height for me to get both feet on the ground and adequate power to start with (not too little not too much).

However, although road legal a 250cc is not IBT or driving test legal. I must do both on a 395cc minimum machine. This would mean doing IBT on one bike, using another day to day and back to the IBT bike for the test.

Most of the driving schools are using bikes that are too large for me to be comfortable on (due to either seat height or weight of the machine) and I don’t want to have to buy a cruiser of more than 395cc at this time.

Beginning with A1 is an option but it just postpones the problem for 2 years until I want to move up to A2. It also means I’d need to sit the test again if I ever want to go from A2 to A.

So I’m wondering if anyone has hit this problem before and has any advice on how best to move forward?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.