Which bikes can you ride on an A2 licence?
An A2 licence sets a power ceiling and a power-to-weight limit, and a bike can meet both as standard or after certified restriction.
Published 14/07/2026 · Updated 14/07/2026 · 7 min read
What does an A2 licence actually permit?
An A2 licence permits a motorcycle producing no more than 35kW, with a power-to-weight ratio no higher than 0.2kW per kilogram, according to DVSA licence categories. A machine derived from one making more than 70kW in standard form is not allowed, even after restriction. Both limits apply together, not separately.
The power ceiling is the figure most riders remember. The power-to-weight ratio catches people out far more often, because a very light bike can breach the ratio while sitting comfortably under 35kW.
The double-the-power rule is the third test. A bike making 71kW as standard cannot be brought into A2 by any restriction kit, however well fitted the kit is.
Aces Autos sells used motorcycles from Witney, Oxfordshire, and stock is small, so the A2 question comes up bike by bike rather than as a category on a search page.
Key facts
- DVSA caps A2 motorcycles at 35kW.
- DVSA caps A2 power-to-weight at 0.2kW per kilogram.
- A restricted bike must not derive from a machine above 70kW.
What is the difference between an A2 bike and a restricted bike?
An A2 bike leaves the factory inside the 35kW limit and needs no modification. A restricted bike makes more power in standard form and has been brought under the limit by a fitted kit. Both are legal on an A2 licence. The paperwork requirement differs sharply between the two.
A bike that is A2 legal as standard carries no restriction paperwork, because there is nothing to certify. The manufacturer's own figures do the work.
A restricted bike needs evidence that the restriction was fitted and that the resulting output complies. Insurers ask for that evidence, and so does any sensible buyer.
Every bike listed by Aces Autos is looked at in person before it goes up, which is when the difference between a standard A2 machine and a restricted one becomes obvious.
| Factor | A2 as standard | Restricted to comply |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase cost | Priced as a small bike | Priced as the larger bike it started as |
| Extra outlay | None | Kit and fitting on top of the purchase |
| Insurance | Declared as standard | Restriction must be declared with certification |
| Resale | Sells on to other A2 riders | Sells to A2 riders or to full licence riders after removal |
| Upgrade at full licence | Bike must be changed for more power | Restriction can be removed by a fitter |
Key facts
- Standard A2 bikes need no restriction certificate.
- Restricted bikes need certification for insurance.
- Restriction removal returns the bike to full output.
What does restricting a motorcycle involve?
Restricting a motorcycle means fitting a kit that limits output to 35kW or less, then obtaining a certificate stating the work was carried out and the bike now complies. A dealer or qualified fitter does the work. The certificate matters as much as the hardware, because insurers and police ask for it.
Kits vary by model. Some use a throttle stop, some use an inlet restrictor, and some use an electronic map supplied by the manufacturer.
A kit fitted without documentation leaves a rider technically unlicensed for the machine. Riding outside your licence category can invalidate insurance.
Aces Autos offers viewings by arrangement, which gives time to read the restriction certificate rather than take a verbal assurance about it.
Key facts
- A restriction kit lowers peak output to 35kW.
- A fitter issues the restriction certificate.
- Insurers treat undeclared restriction as a material fact.
What happens when the A2 period ends?
After two years on an A2 licence a rider can take the category A practical test by progressive access, according to DVSA rules. Passing category A removes the 35kW ceiling. A restricted bike can then have its restriction removed, and a bike that is A2 legal as standard stays exactly as it is.
Progressive access suits riders who want to keep the same machine. The restriction comes off and the bike returns to its original output.
Riders who bought an A2 machine as standard face a different decision. The bike cannot be uprated, so moving up means changing bikes.
Stock at Aces Autos changes as bikes sell, so riders coming off an A2 restriction tend to ask what has arrived rather than what was listed last month.
Key facts
- Progressive access requires two years on A2.
- Category A removes the power ceiling.
- Restriction removal restores standard output.
How do you check whether a specific bike qualifies?
Checking a specific bike means confirming its standard power output, calculating its power-to-weight ratio against kerb weight, and confirming that any restriction is certified in writing. Manufacturer figures settle the first two questions. Paperwork settles the third. A bike failing any one of the three tests is not A2 legal.
Sales listings quote power in different units. Converting brake horsepower to kilowatts before comparing avoids an expensive mistake.
Kerb weight, not dry weight, is the figure used for the ratio. Dry weight flatters the calculation and gives a false pass.
Two bikes currently in stock at Aces Autos sit in A2 territory, and a viewing is the point at which you check the paperwork rather than the spec sheet.
- Find the manufacturer's standard power figure in kilowatts.
- Confirm the standard figure does not exceed 70kW.
- Find the kerb weight in kilograms from the manufacturer's data.
- Divide power by kerb weight and check the result against 0.2kW per kilogram.
- Ask whether the bike is standard or restricted.
- Ask to see the restriction certificate if a kit is fitted.
- Check the V5C details match the bike in front of you.
- Tell your insurer the restriction status before you ride away.
Key facts
- Kerb weight drives the power-to-weight calculation.
- Brake horsepower converts to kilowatts before comparison.
- The V5C confirms the machine you are buying.
Common questions
Can any motorbike be restricted to A2?
No. DVSA rules block restriction on a machine producing more than 70kW in standard form. A bike below that threshold can usually be restricted if a kit exists for the model. Availability of a kit varies by manufacturer and model year, so check before buying the bike.
Does a restricted bike need a certificate?
Yes. A restricted motorcycle needs written evidence that the kit was fitted and that output now complies with the 35kW limit. Insurers ask for the certificate when the restriction is declared. Without documentation a rider cannot show the bike sits inside the A2 category.
Is a restricted 650 slower than an A2 bike as standard?
Both machines share the same 35kW ceiling, so peak power matches. A restricted 650 usually carries more weight and more mid-range torque delivery than a small standard A2 bike. Weight affects handling and running costs, so the choice is about character rather than outright power.
How old do you have to be for an A2 licence?
DVSA sets the minimum age for the A2 category at 19. A rider takes compulsory basic training, passes the theory test, then passes module one and module two practical tests on a machine meeting A2 requirements. Age rules and test requirements are published by DVSA.
Ring 07498 511201 to arrange a viewing