Applying for a provisional License

You will need to fill out form (Form D.201)
You can order it here...it takes about 3 days.
http://test.oasis.gov.ie/utilities/form_request_dev.py?formid=D201

I have a car license so that information must be included.
If you are a current Full license holder this is all you need to present.

Get 2 passport photos and sign the back of both.

I took mine in person to the tax office.
You can find your local office here.
http://test.oasis.gov.ie/service_finder

The fee is 15 Euro

They will take it in there and you will have your license in 3 days.
Make sure you bring your Car License with you if you have it and if you don't bring other appropriate documentation as per application form.

wait my the post box.... :)

Driver theory test

I signed up for the Driver theory test online.
This test is mandatory for obtaining a provisional driving license now.

You can sign up here http://www.dtts.ie

Don't book one for next week give yourself time to prepare.
The questions are pretty easy but they can be tricky in a test environment.

The test costs 35.60

You can but the book with all the questions, alternatively you can take some of the mock tests online.

Here:http://www.soyouwanttodrive.com/theory_test.htm
and http://www.irishmotoring.ie/test/index_test_intro.php

Note that the test changed in October 2006 and these mock tests don't include the changes at time of writing this.

there are some questions on the driver theory test site itself that are up to date.
http://www.dtts.ie/eng/additional.htm

The changes are mainly around questions relating specifically to motorbikes, e.g. concerning road position etc...things you should really look into if you are serious about riding a bike!

I attended the test and passes 38/40 questions.
So on to the next step, applying for a provisional.

What Bike can I get??

After lots of searching I came across a list on magireland (Motorcycle action group)
It's a great list and fair play to whoever put it together.

http://www.magireland.org/33bhp.htm

This is a list of bikes that you can have that meet the restrictions.

I chose the Yamaha Dragstar 400

Now to get licensed....

Profile

I should state the point of view that I am researching from....

I am 27 I have a full Car License (B) for 6 Years and have been insured during that time.
I have never had a Bike license. The closest I have ever come to riding is a scooter on holidays.
I know very little about Bikes. I know of a few models and and engine sizes and I know that there is a 'Gray area' when it comes to deciding on your first bike.
I like coffee.

Hello World

I decided a bike was for me. I decided to track down some information on getting started in Ireland and soon found that riding the bike was going to be easier than getting it.

There are a lot of sources of information on bikes in Ireland and if you can manage to find them all and pull them all together, weed out the information you need to know, then and only then will you have everything you need to know.

So i decided to blog as I go through this process.
I will list my steps and any useful sources of information that i can find.

Hopefully this blog gets completed and hopefully I will be riding a bike by the end of it...