Before any training for the motorcycle test can take place you will need to hold a provisional licence. The provisional licence is the same for both a car and a motorbike. If you already have a full car licence then that will function as a provisional motorbike licence. For more on licences go to www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers.aspx
In the UK everyone learning to ride a motorbike must spend a day doing Compulsory Basic Training at an approved centre before being allowed to ride on the Queen’s highway. This is great fun in itself and can be used to see if you get bitten by the bike bug and want to take things further. It costs around £100-150 for a full day’s training. Use of a bike and the hire of essential kit are included in the price and it consists of a mixture of practical advice and hands-on riding. Novice motorcyclists start riding on a dedicated area away from traffic then later progress to riding on the public highway, accompanied by an instructor on another bike who communicates with the student through a radio link. New bikers are taught basic manoeuvres like stopping the machine quickly, doing a U-turn and negotiating junctions and roundabouts. There is no test involved though the instructor will assess you through the day and will provide feedback to you on your progress. On completion you can legally ride most 125cc machines with L plates and learner restrictions.
If you want to ride a bigger bike, chuck away your L plates, carry a pillion passenger and ride on motorways you will need to pass the test for a full motorcycle licence. Before you can do this you will need to sit the theory test at a theory test centre. This test is divided into two parts: a multiple choice quiz and a hazard perception test. The MCQ is based on the highway code and covers road signs, traffic law and so on. A good knowledge of the highway code will get you through although further aides are available in bookshops and on-line. The hazard perception test consists of a video that you watch on a computer screen in a booth in the test centre. It is a series of rider's eye views of traffic situations where a hazard is developing, such as a pedestrian about to step into the road. When you spot the hazard you click on a mouse button. As long as you click early, but not too early, you get a good enough mark to pass. Once you have the theory test under your belt you are ready to train for the practical test, which is, we believe, best done through four days of intensive training with a qualified instructor, known as Direct Access. This culminates with the test itself on the final day. NB The procedure for passing the motorbike test is due to change once the testing agencies can sort themselves out. It will be more involved and will only take place at certain locations - less than at present, so in more isolated locations more travelling to the testing centre will be required.
At some point after passing your test it is worth considering some further training to polish your skills. This is usually a day with an instructor who will give you tips on real world riding (there are some situations that are not covered by Direct Access, such as riding on motorways). This is often known as Advanced Training, which implies that you have to be an advanced rider to do it. You don’t, it’s aimed at intermediates. Most people say it is well worth the time and money involved and find it an is an enjoyable day on the bike which pays dividends in terms of better riding.
For more on polishing your skills, have a gander at www.bikesafe.co.uk and www.iam.org.uk.
You can find your local training centres by searching for Yell.com and looking under 'Motorcycle Training'.