The Government’s planned changes to lower the minimum engine power of motorbikes allowed to be ridden for the A2 bike test have been delayed, even though the changes were supposed to come into effect from 19 January, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) announced.
The DSA added that potential test candidates have not been affected by the delay because motorcycles allowed under current regulations were not changed while the agency waited for the revision of the legislation to be passed.
Back in January 2013, when the planned changes were announced, it was expected that the minimum engine power of the motorcycles were to be reduced from 33bhp (25kW) to 26.8bhp (920kW). In lowering in minimum engine power, a wider range of motorcycles would be available for tests. However, the move has been delayed by two month so far while the final stage of the regulation approval is granted.
The A2 licencing move is part of forthcoming changes, with a second set of alterations expected to arrive in 2019, when the minimum engine power requirement for large bikes (category A) is proposed to increase from 53.6bhp (40kW) to 67bhp (50kW).
Even though the move was planned to start in January, the DSA believes that now the change will be introduced within the next few months.
An A2 bike test is for those who want to ride a vehicle with up to 35kW (47bhp) and who are over 19 years old.