Right people, I'm getting hacked off at the WRONG replies some people are giving/being told regarding bike training, so as the only regular FULLY QUALIFIED instructor on here, I've decided to highlight & pin this post.

ANYONE with a question, if you want the definitive answer, post it up in here & I will answer it to the best of my not inconsiderable ability.

aye thankyou

Hi DP, thanks for setting up this thread.

I'm a complete novice hoping to get my A2 license somehow (I'm not yet 21). I was wondering whether it's possible (or wise) to take a 5 day course which includes cbt and the test at the end? I thought this would cut out the middle step of getting a separate cbt and possibly riding a 125 in between. Is it possible to learn that quickly or am I doomed to failure?

Thanks in advance!
J

how are you under pressure?
have you any riding experience?

most full car licence holders can have a cbt, then 4 ,2 hour sessions & pass the big bike test.
obviously this is not set in stone, but you get the picture.
taking a few more lessons if required is still not going to cost as much as buying a 125 you dont really want & will probably get bored with very soon.

that said i have taught a lot of people who bought a 125 & learnt their roadcraft, then took the test months or years later.

i have to say i generally discourage "intensive courses" but only because the pass rate is usually lower.

you only know how you will react under pressure, so choose the best option for you.
the "new" test isnt going to come in til 30th March 2009, so you have loads of time.

The main reason I was considering the intensive course route was to save money, but if most people only need four or so sessions (I have a full car license, but zero riding experience), the cost probably wouldn't work out much more expensive. Separate lessons would actually be more practical for me as well - it would have been hard to find a spare week knocking around!

Thanks very much for your help DP!

Now, first things first, I'd better go and revise my theory test questions...

I have one or two questions about the system as well

I have a A2 licence. Does this count as a full licence insurance wise? Is it just technicaly a restricted full licence for 2 years?

Also why is everyone so worried about this new test? Ive been up to the new test center in bristol and i thought it looked alright. The maneuvers are done at the center and everyone gets the same bit of road for the U turn. It sounds alot safer and easyer

your licence is a full licence-after all you passed the A2 test-but it is restricted for 2 years, or until you reach the age of 21.

the new test will now become a 2-part test, you will not be able to take both parts on the same day-not until the DSA have sorted the required number of test centres anyway. the 1st part will be done on the "off road section" at your nearest MMA equiped test centre, the 2nd part will be done at any of the "normal" test centres.

2 schools of thought with the new manouvres
1 level playing ground for all students = fairer test
2 if you have any difficulty with slow riding skills then you're fucked.

either way its going to be a monumental fuck up , the glorious DSA couldnt organise a piss up in a brewery, the only reason its now going to be a staggered 2-part test is most of the new super sites that should be ready for the 30th of March will propbably not be ready.rumours abound that sept 09 will probably when all the new MMA's are sorted

Another quick question if I may..
Is it compulsory to take the theory test before doing cbt? or just before the test?
Thanks!

no its not compulsory, you need to pass the theory before you apply for a practical test, but you dont need one if you're just going for a CBT

If you have a full uk bike licence but it only covers you for automatics then what do you need to take the DAS test for manual transmission bikes?

EG. will they need to do another theory test, also will they need to do another CBT?

Thanks.

There is no requirement to take a theory test as they have a full category A licence but need to take a practical test on a bike over 47bhp (its similar in principle to accelerated access)

what he said ^
Basically whoever they are need to do a das course on a geared bike(46BHP=generally a 500cc bike)

I did my CBT today, together with another guy (one instructor took us through the whole thing). Due to a couple of hold-ups and us not quite getting to the required standard, the instructor said we should book a couple more hours to complete the CBT. Am I right in thinking you only have to pay for the rent of the bike etc for any further training, or is that just the norm? Because we were told we'd have to pay £60 per day of extra training (plus £30 for bike hire)

Thanks!

it depends on the company i'm afraid,
up here in the friendly north east, the schools nearest us all do as we do, let you come back at no extra charge the 1st time.

it depend who you go with the guy i was with didnt charge us for another lesson, but some people do!

When my Brother did his CBT (in Bridgwater, Somerset) he was told to come back for another day, they did not charge him anything, including bike hire charges

hi dp, its good to know theres an instructer here.
my qeustion is this. im thinging of doing an advanced rider course, not for ego or insurence reductions. just
want pointers see what im doing wrong and hopefully see if im getting anything right.
the thing is ive only done a thousand or so miles since my test,, do you think it may be too soon to do a course like this. or do you know off any other tpyes of courses that might benifit somone like me. im keen to learn,read and try to understand roadcraft ect. thanks in advance

Spooky

Go back to your school and ask where you can improve, they know your riding better than anyone esle.

Aidan

Do a Bikesafe course with the police - that's exactly what they do - give you tips and observe you riding and tell you where you need to improve etc

chears just sent for bikesafe app form

spooky, most advanced clubs would expect you to have your bike for 3 months or so to "get to know it".
thats not set in stone, i for 1 think if you have had training then passed the DSA test, your mind is still at the "sponge" stage & taking in the advanced stuff will be easier. some clubs wouldnt entertain you for a year after the dsa test.
go along to the bikesafe meet, reps from the various advanced institutes should be there, have a chat & make your own mind up.

THANKS DP have provisonaly booked two day bikesafe, with mersyside police in july. only £50 how cheap is that , i thought youd have to pay hundreds to benifit from the experiance they have to offer. i know its not training , its assesment but still great value, chears

I'm not sure I understand the position re: restriction of your machine after passing the test.

If I pass my full test, being considerably older than 21 (47 in fact!), would I then be allowed to ride any machine of any bhp? Or would I still have a period of being restricted to 33bhp?

Drum, if you took your test on a "big bike" and being 21 or over, there's no reason why you shouldnt,you can ride anything.
if you took the test on a 125, then you would be restricted to a bike of 33bhp for 2 years.
acelerated access is designed for under 21 yr olds, they cannot use a "big bike" so must do their training on a 125,passing the test then allows them to ride any bike, of any cc as long as its restricted to 33bhp for 2 years ,or until they are 21.

Right, I have a question re cbt and das. I had my cbt on Sun on 125cc and got cbt certificat not stating any restrictions. Having theory test today and hopefully going to pass it. Now the question is - do I have to do/pass anything before I book practical test on big bike? I have been ridden one some time ago and now bought one and training off road. Is it compulsory for me to have cbt and something else before I can book my practical test on big bike or just cbt and theory?

Thanks


Edit:

Right, just found my highway code which says to obtain full A driving licence via das your required to have cbt, pass theory and practical test on bike with power output of at least 35kW. So can go and book my test straight away and do some more practise awaiting it.

Another question, I passed my automatic licence last year, restricted but quite happy on only a 400cc bike.

I want to get my manual licence also restricted as I dont really want to struggle with heavy bikes. I passed mod1 on manual. I have had to delay my mod2 for health reasons.

My CBT runs out in Feb 2011 If I need to take mod 2 after that time, do I have to retake the CBT? I already have an automatic motorcycle licence. Theory will also run out a in March 2011. I would prefer to take my Mod 2 in nice weather, and the next few months I wont be able so... advice please do I need to renew my CBT and retake the theory?

Hi,
struggling to get my head around the basics. I've been reading this official page: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTrans...code/DG_069867:
-> It says a CBT will allow me to ride a 125 for up to 2 years
-> It says if I have a full car licence and a CBT I can ride a 125 (no mention of 2 years max).
Having a full car driving licence (for the last 20 years), can I drive a 125cc for more than 2 years with a CBT or not ?
Thanks !!!

I have a question if I may ask.

My son is 16 in August and going on the local "Wheels to work" thing where for a small weekly fee they give him a moped so he can get himself to college and back.

Will the CBT he's doing on a ped stand him for getting a geared bike when he turns 17 or will he have to do another CBT?

Also, if he passes his bike test at 17, what's the largest cc of bike he can ride?

On passing his test, (which I'm assuming will be the A2), when he's 19 and past the 2 years wait as it were, would he be able to take out my 900cc bike or will he have to wait till he's 21 for that?

Taken from DVLA website.

You can only hold a provisional moped licence if you are at least 16 years old. It entitles you to ride a moped on the road as a learner with L-plates (D-plates in Wales) but you must not carry a pillion passenger or go on a motorway.

Your provisional licence is only valid when you have the DL 196 certificate issued on completion of compulsory basic training (CBT) by an approved training body (ATB).

A CBT certificate obtained on a moped is also valid for motorcycles once the rider has reached the age of 17 years and has the necessary licence.

If you want to ride a moped on the road without displaying L-plates you must take and pass a theory and practical driving test.


So as long as he gets another provisional licence he's fine.


Full motorcycle licence

The practical test must be taken on a bike of between 75 cc and 125 cc. There are two types of full motorcycle licence:

a light motorcycle licence (A1), which restricts riders to any bike up to 125 cc and a power output of 11 kW
a standard motorcycle licence (A), is obtained if the practical test is taken on a bike of over 120 cc but not more than 125 cc and capable of at least 100 kilometres per hour (km/h per hour)..

After passing the standard motorcycle practical test, you will be restricted for two years to riding a bike of up to 25 kW and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW/kg. After this you may ride any size of bike.

Basically any bike restricted to 33 BHP for 2 years then any bike although the insurance would be very high on a 900 at 19 years old

Sorry if I'm being thick here Moggy, but I don't get it???

Does this mean he's got to take another, (different), CBT to go from a ped to a geared bike like a 125?

Yeah I know the insurance for my 900 would be expensive for him, but I hope with 3 years worth of NCD it should bring that price down a bit.

Timb, all CBT's last for two years, you will have to renew every two years.


Krash, as above its a two year deal, at 17 your lad will be able to move up to a 125 on his exsiting CBT. he will only be allowed to train on a 125, unless he waits til he's 21-if he takes his test on the 125 its an A2 license, he's restricted to 33BHP,he could ride a restricted 600 for instance, but the ins co will still class it as a 600cc bike, so premiums will be weighted. however at 21 he can train on the full power bikes, typically 500/600cc, when he passes the "big bike" test he can ride anything he can afford to insure.

HTH

I'm more confused than ever now. I'm so glad I didn't have to go through this crap!

OK, clear question -

Understood his ped CBT will carry him over to a 125 no problems though that seems a bit daft to me since a ped is a twist and go and a 125 is a geared bike.

So, he's 17, passes his test on a 125 and gets himself an A2 licence.

So does this mean 2 years after passing his test he gets a full A1 licence and can ride anything or will he have to wait until he's 21 and do a "big bike" test?

Sorry if I'm being really thick here guys.

That seems well harsh to me, being restricted like that until you're 21. Back in my day you could ride the big bikes at 18+ so long as you'd passed the test.

It seems a bit unfair that with say 1 years CBT road experience and then another 2 years A2 licence road experience you still have to wait another year before getting on a bigger bike.

The 2 year restriction is just a 2 year restriction no minimum age is applied on top of that. So if your lad passes at 17 he can ride anything after 2 years he doesn't have to wait until he's 21.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Learn...peds/DG_4022568

apologies, it is as ian stated.
just checked with my mate at dsa-where i got the restriction till 21 from god only knows.

Maybe confusing it with the minimum age to do direct access?

Thanks. That's clear at least.
I love the logic of the policy though. You can ride for 2 years with just a CBT, and then you're suddenly too incompetent to be on the road without a full licence. So with 1 day's experience (after your CBT) you're fineto be on the roads on your own, but after 2 years experience you become a liability. How does that make sense...

It does make a kind of sense because if you haven't passed your test after 2 years, either you're not very good, or maybe you haven't kept up your riding.

There's nothing stopping you from taking the CBT again and staying on the road.

I know a few that have taken their CBT several times as they're quite happy to ride their 125's to work and back but they don't take the test as they don't want a bigger bike. It's not a mentality I understand to be honest, but they seem to see their bikes as a mode of transport rather than something to get out there and have fun on.

I think the theory about the 2 year CBT thing is if someone hasn't taken their test within the 2 years, then it's a good idea to either get them off the road or reassess their riding abilities.

nope, luckily it was three years when I did it - and I finally plucked the courage to take the test and passed with two weeks to go on the cbt

nodnod, and those who do CBT and ride a few times then stop, would be a sin to allow them to get back on a bike in five years time without more training imho

I know a few who just keep taking cbt until they get car training, scared of taking the test or just waiting till mummy lets them take driving lessons and drive the 4x4

In my experience as a bike Instructor, people who came back to do another CBT usually had a list of bad habits & a "lazy" attitude to their/other road users safety.

the first thing people forget is head checks/lifesavers in favour of a quick look in the mirrors. Its not uncommon for people to fail a second CBT-mostly because they think they have done it all before & dont need to do any work.
the system is not brilliant-i have had kids come in, do the bare minimum to scrape through, then happily bugger off with their mates to practise wheelies & stoppies.

as long as a student performs to the bare minimum, we could not "fail" them. many times they were asked to come back & complete another road ride & most did pass at that point.