Aptas A2

A2 licences cover the UK's second tier — riders 19+ on bikes producing no more than 47 bhp (35 kW), with a power-to-weight ratio under 0.2 kW/kg. That's the regulation. The reality is a category that's evolved from 'compromised bikes for learners' into a genuinely serious slice of the market.

Modern A2 bikes aren't built down to a price; they're built up to a power cap. A KTM 390 Duke or a Honda CB500F isn't a watered-down version of a bigger bike — it's an engineering exercise in extracting the most fun from 47 horses. Plenty of riders pass their A licence and never feel the need to upgrade.