Hello,

I have a french B driving licence and I will have to exchange it before October (12 months).
I would like to drive a scooter with 125cc or less than 11kw. So I need to get an A1 licence. Can l buy the scooter and start learning here with the french driving licence? What are my chances to pass the test with a very bad german language knowledge?
The alternative for me would be to pass the A1 Licence in France (probably less expensive but I would like to avoid to come back to France.
Thanks for your help.

For A1 with an existing B you only need to do two simple 4h basic learner courses (Grundkurs Teil 1 and Teil2). No test. Around CHF 100 to 200 per course.

Best procedure: Check with your local SAN/StVA http://www.strassenverkehrsaemter.ch/ if you can get a learners permit with your French license and then, to save cost, swap it all at once.

You need to change your French license to a Swiss license first.

Then you can get the learner A1.

If you have already registered in Switzerland you cannot take a new motorcycle license in France. You must have done it 12 months before moving to Switzerland. In any case as was said by aSwiss above the A1 is easy and inexpensive to get.

Depending on your age, and how long you've had the license.

And, as MiniMia said, you first need to exchange for a Swiss license.

Tom

Hello,

I am 37 and gave up riding after the kids. I used to ride every day up until 10 years ago. I'd like to buy an Indian Scout from a dealership here in Basel. I need to take the course for the Class A license and take the test (never got my US motorcycle endorsement carried over). I don't mind taking the course, since it's been a few years and I think a refresher would be a good idea. I don't have a Class B Yet, I have to take the test for that to. I waited too long after moving here to switch over my license (My wife drives, but I just take the tram)

My questions are:
1. In Basel-stadt, can I ride off the dealership forecourt on a 1300 cc bike with the learners permit?

2. Can I attend the course on the Indian Scout? When I took my MSF back in the states they had these little Rebels and I'm wondering if a Scout would be too big a bike

I fully agree with new riders buying a small beater for their first bike. I did the same. It's just I'm not a new rider and I don't feel like buying or renting a bike just to take the course either. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, if you have the A learners permit you can drive it off the lot.

Buy or borrow a 600cc for the test (and perhaps also the courses).

When I had kids, I bought a second bike.

Tom

Thanks Tom. I'm really looking forward to getting back on the road. The routes here just look amazing. Now i just need to find someone to loan me a 600

I do not know for how long you have been in Switzerland. But if it is less than 5 years you can still swap your U.S. license into a Swiss one. Problem might be if it is expired (here bites the mind boggling stupidity to link driving license with the total unrelated I.D. card)

1. Yes, if you have a learners permit.

2. In theory you can take the course and pass the exam with any bike. In practice some bike are handier and may be better suited for the task. On the other hand in the end you must and are expected by law to master your Indian perfectly and have always full control over the vehicle in every day riding.

__________________
"Okay, I just hope we don't wake up on Mars or something surrounded by millions of little squashy guys."

For the test, you'll need a bike with a passenger seat/pillion. I don't think the scout has one...


Also needs to put out 35kw or more and, i thought, be 600cc or more but maybe i'm wrong.

|* Neu ab 8. Juni 2017:

Prüfungsfahrzeug:

Motorrad (ohne Seitenwagen) mit einer Motorleistung von mindestens 35 kW und zwei Sitzplätzen.

(Die bisherige Kubik-Mindestgrösse von 600 entfällt.)|

So, from June 8 2017, no minimum cc.

2 seats, no sidecar, and "a power of at least 35kW and a power / curb weight of more then 0,20kW / kg."

Tom

35 kW (?!). The min ccm is some Wish-Washi, Hü und Hott, non clear thing. At the moment there is no ccm limit anymore. Because of some strange inexplicable reason:
http://www.astra2.admin.ch/media/pdf...-01_2676_d.pdf
http://www.astra2.admin.ch/media/pdf...-01_2678_i.pdf

Anyway I recommend at least 600 ccm to be on the safe side and also for learning reason.

just what i saw here:

http://www.stva.zh.ch/internet/siche...tKatA35kW.html

Wrong page, this is the correct one:

http://www.stva.zh.ch/internet/siche...at/LFkatA.html

"Prüfungsfahrzeug

Ein Motorrad ohne Seitenwagen mit einer Motorleistung von mindestens 35 kW und zwei Sitzplätzen."

"Test motorcycle:

A motorcycle without sidecar with at least 35kW and two seats."

Tom

I was going to put on a passenger seat and some passenger pegs. Once I have the license, I was hope to ride two up with the Mrs. I was also thinking about some new pipes, but the scout has a pretty good sound already and with the laws here, it doesn't really seem worth adding it.

Could anyone recommend an insurance provider for someone with a learners permit?

Thank you.

Go with whoever your car is insured with.

Tom

Thanks again

If you pass the test for an A license with a DTC or CVT transmission, does that mean you only get a license for an automatic or semi-auto bike? Or is there any distinction given even though it would be easier than a manual

I am not aware, never read anything about it, or heard any rumors of such a distinction. Considering CVT for scooters have been around for decades I do not think they will change any thing in this regard.

There's no distinction, you can take the test on a Honda NC700X or 750X with DTC and still get a regular unrestricted license.

As referred to earlier on this page, the rules for 'A' tests also changed so there is no CC limit, and you only need 35KW instead of 40. This was done (supposedly) because people were buying A2 bikes and then having to sell them when they decided to do the full test.

The result of this, is there are a few bikes which are perfect for learners which used to be non-compatible but are now OK, including the Honda NC700 and CB500 ranges. They're still cheap compared to equivalent 40KW+ bikes so make a great buy.