The first step to riding on the road. It costs £70-£100 depending on where you choose to go, and most centres throw in bike hire and equipment for your money. The training should last most of the day, and it'll be a mixture of classroom theory and on- and off-road practical tuition. Don't forget your provisional licence and some form of identification.

First up is a short talk on riding safety, then out to a coned car park to ride around in circles until you get the feel for the bike. After a few mock junctions, emergency stops and U-turns, you're taken out for an accompanied ride on the road to make sure you meet the required standard to go home with a CBT certificate. An instructor will follow you on his bike with full radio contact, but don't worry, it's no test - and few people fail to get the hang of it first time.

If you're booking all your training through one company, they may be able to book this for you. If not, check the Driving Standards Agency website for details of your nearest test centre or call the DSA on 0870 010 1372 between 8am and 6pm weekdays to book. Theory tests cost £15.50.

On the day, bring with you some identification (a passport is best), test booking details and your CBT certificate. Make sure you arrive in plenty of time - the bookings are fixed and if you arrive late you'll have less time to complete the test.

Once checked in, you'll be shown to a touch-sensitive computer screen to complete the examination. You have to answer 30 questions correctly out of 35 within a 45 minute period. There are books available to help with the revision - the DSA offer a publication with all the official questions and answers.

Once you are finished, your score is totalled up on the spot. If you have passed, you will be issued with a certificate immediately. If it's a fail, you'll need to rebook and try again.

As with the theory exam, you can either book the practical test with the DSA directly, or through your instructor. The test costs £45 on a normal weekday, or £55 for evenings and weekends.

The test should last 40 minutes, during which you will be followed by the examiner in either a car or on a motorcycle. He will be in constant radio contact with you, and will give clear directions on where to ride. Throughout the test you will be marked on motorcycle control and your reaction to day-to-day road conditions. In addition to this, the examiner will ask you to perform a turn in the road, emergency stop and most likely a hill start somewhere en route (it's the u-turn that catches most out).

Whatever you do, keep your cool - even if you're convinced you've failed, don't drop your concentration until you're back at the test centre. You never know...

Direct access was introduced recently to teach riders over 21 how to handle bigger machines. The route to the licence is the same as the restricted course but, mid-way through the training, you switch from a 125cc to a bigger bike with a power output of more than 47bhp. Passing the practical examination on a bike of this capacity allows you to legally ride a bike of any size without L-plates, take a pillion and use motorways.

Once you've got your licence, look after it. For the first two years after passing the test new rider's licences are restricted to just six penalty points instead of the usual 12. In other words, get caught speeding only twice, and you'll have to retake the exam to get your licence back - and this extended test costs between £90 and £110. And there's bound to be an insurance hike...