125cc Trials Bike in France on UK License ?
Discussion
Hi
I'm thinking of taking a 125cc trials bike out to France to use to pop down to the shops in and bumble around on. The bike I have is a US import old two stroke Yamaha.
I have a UK Car Driving License having never previously owned a bike in my 30 years driving experience.
I'll do my UK CBT and ride the thing over here on L plates for a while and sort it out...
Can I ride it in France ?
Do I bother re registering it in France ? (It will only do a few 100 miles a year over a few weeks when I'm out there ..)
Help from the panel appreciated ...
I'm thinking of taking a 125cc trials bike out to France to use to pop down to the shops in and bumble around on. The bike I have is a US import old two stroke Yamaha.
I have a UK Car Driving License having never previously owned a bike in my 30 years driving experience.
I'll do my UK CBT and ride the thing over here on L plates for a while and sort it out...
Can I ride it in France ?
Do I bother re registering it in France ? (It will only do a few 100 miles a year over a few weeks when I'm out there ..)
Help from the panel appreciated ...
Edited by Electron on Monday 2nd June 14:36
Its a very interesting question.
French law says that if you got your car licence before a certain date (mid 90s from memory) you can ride a 125 with no further formalities.
After that date, you can still ride a 125 if you can provide documentary proof you have ridden one regularly in the previous 5 years (or similar period of time).
For a UK licence, I'm not sure how those rules apply.
I shall investigate.
French law says that if you got your car licence before a certain date (mid 90s from memory) you can ride a 125 with no further formalities.
After that date, you can still ride a 125 if you can provide documentary proof you have ridden one regularly in the previous 5 years (or similar period of time).
For a UK licence, I'm not sure how those rules apply.
I shall investigate.
So my research seems to point to EU consistency for "Full Driving License" activities but less so for L plates (cars and bikes). My local friends are doing some digging but it does seem to be a very grey area.
It would seem my best option is to do the full UK bike test, get a full bike license and keep the bike on UK plates ....
I'd still be keen to hear if anyone gets any less vague answers to this one ...
Insurance is going to be the problem.
To keep it insured by a UK company, which they won't allow anyway if you tell them it's in France, then obviously it will need an MOT each year and that means taking it back, very tedious !
If you try to insure it in France then they will likely want to see evidence either of 5 years riding or the 7 hours compulsory training. I don't know but somehow I doubt you'd be able to do the training on a UK licence.
They may also insist that you French register it.
http://ukfrancebikers.com/2011/01/22/7-hours-compu...
To keep it insured by a UK company, which they won't allow anyway if you tell them it's in France, then obviously it will need an MOT each year and that means taking it back, very tedious !
If you try to insure it in France then they will likely want to see evidence either of 5 years riding or the 7 hours compulsory training. I don't know but somehow I doubt you'd be able to do the training on a UK licence.
They may also insist that you French register it.
http://ukfrancebikers.com/2011/01/22/7-hours-compu...
Gassing Station | France | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff