Once you have your motorbike learners licence you will need to take your K53 licence before 18 months otherwise your learners will expie.. 

Budget on six months from the time you make your first booking to the time you actually take and pass your test! No jokes!!

Not all testing grounds have motorbike testing facilities and those that do, only test on a Friday - as long as the ground is dry as testing on a wet surface is not allowed. The equipment is also quite fragile and can be out of order for months.

Arrange to be at the testing grounds for 3 to 4 hours on the day of your test even although the test will probably take less than half an hour (the administration and queues take ages). Arrive on the day with the following items.

• Four black and white photos (or R25-00 and use one of the vendors at the grounds)
• Your ID document
• Your learners licence
• A certificate from your optician or be prepared to take another eye test
• About R100-00 cash pre test fee
• About R120-00 cash should you pass
• Your motorbike (must be roadworthy - lights will be tested) and helmet
• a pen to fill in the form which you will get before the test starts

Before you actually demonstrate your skills on the motorbike you may be asked to do the two K53 motorcycle pre-ride checks i.e. The 'Off the bike' list and the 'On the bike' list. These lists are to be found on the page called 'The Ride'  as they are part of everyday safe riding.

The Test Grounds. The entire test is done on a hard surface about quarter the size of a rugby field. It has painted lines on it which, should you ride over with either tyre, you will be failed. In this very confined space you have to quickly pull off, change into second gear, reach 25kph (15m from the starting point) and then start the task outlined e.g. stopping, swerving, changing lanes etc. Your speed is checked by a speed trap and if you are too slow you have to re-do the exercise (faster is OK) Guys with large, heavy motorcycles will find the exercises more difficult than those on a smaller bike as a result of the confined spaces.

During the test you will probably loose points for minor errors but that is OK, as long as you pass. More serious errors however will result in an immediate fail e.g. going over one of the 'fail' lines, rolling backward or falling off your motorbike!!

When doing the exercises you will be required to wear your helmet and have your headlamp on at all times.

NB!! Before each and every exercise you must check your blind spot before pulling off i.e. look over your left shoulder, look in your left mirror, look in your right mirror and look over your right shoulder. Make big, exaggerated head movements to clearly show what you are in fact doing. Also note that at all times during the test your bike is not allowed to roll forward or backwards (even when mounting or dismounting ) therefore get into the habit of using the brakes to keep the motorbike totally stationary until you open the throttle.

 The practical exercises you may be required to do will be similar to the ones outlined below.