Motorcycle Training (Or, Why Am I Craving 2 Wheels Again?!)

Hi All,

Well after 3 years of driving a car, once again I am feeling the pull of the
dark side . I did my CBT 5 years ago, and rode a 50cc for one year, and a
125cc for one year. I am now a bit bored with four wheels and am thinking of
going back to two. However my CBT expired 3 years ago, and I'm not entirely
sure of how to progress training-wise. I am 21 at the weekend and so I will
be able to do a Direct Access course. Beyond this I am unsure of how to
proceed. I have a full car license, but I assume I would need to take the
theory test again (along with this very pointless looking Hazard Perception
Test), and obviously the practical test. Can anyone here please tell me what
is involved with learning to ride a motorbike in my current situation, and
also if it is better (or indeed possible) to learn like I did with the car
(i.e. a few hours a week spread over a number of weeks), or to do an
'intensive' course. One further question, how much is this likely to cost me
(not that money is that much of an issue, just wanting a rough idea)

Many thanks in advance and apologies for the long-winded post
Dan Ricketts

E-Mail address in header is false, please address any replies to dan at
danricketts dot net

 

What I did was, take a CBT (free with sons moped, but he already
passed his CBT), almost crash on the CBT due to a faulty bike, ride
MZ125 for 12 months, when MZ breaks buy a GS550M, pass theory, book a
DAS course with Bill the biker, have a couple of short lessons, pass
test (try not to lose the instructor too much), then within a couple
of months buy an 1100cc sports tourer.

I highly recommend the last bit.

 

Do your CBT - One full day.
Pass you theory test
Do your Direct Access.- Probably 2-3 days based on the fact that you
have ridden before.
Buy a big bike.

You can do it one day at a time or speak to a training school, they may
be able to mornings or afternoons. Don't forget nearly all the training
schools work on the weekends.

--
Alan

http://www.ads-training.co.uk
"Kneesliders Sponsored by Cane"
GSX-R1000 , Triumph Thunderbird, ZXR750L2 Racer(gone), GHPOTHUF#27
TGF, UKRMFBC#7, Two#24, BOTAFOF#11, YTC#9, GYASB#1. SbS#23.
DFWAG#2, DS#2, DIAABTCOD#20. remove "thisbit" in the reply
http://sportsbike.org (our own endurance team) http://Team-ukrm.com
"Nemo repente fuit turpissimus"

 

You have to start again from scratch. CBT etc.

Either.
Personally I think intensives are best as you can focus on the course
until it is over. I took all my Licence groups (A, B & C+E as they are
now) on intensive courses, but, someone else was paying so I didn't
care.

As much as you want it to. It depends how good you are.

 

As a complete novice I did a five day DAS course spread over two
weeks, timetabled as follows:

Saturday - CBT on a 125cc
Sunday - On road on 125cc

Saturday - On road 500cc
Sunday - On road 500cc
Monday - test day

I actually ended up finishing the CBT on the Sunday morning because I
was truely ham-fisted with the clutch on the first day (didn't quite
get the concept of 'small' movements until someone actually showed me
on the Sunday morning). I took the theory test before the course
started.

Most of the other people on the course had some previous experience
and just did a three day course; CBT on day one, 500cc on day two,
test on day three. I needed the extra time to get my head around the
concept of a bike after too many years in a car! As for a pass rate,
three out of four passed, the only failure being due to an indicator
being left on for too long.

I found the intensive course physically painful on the wrists and
thighs initially, primarly due to riding for 7-8 hours a day and
gripping on far too tight.

For the five day's DAS (including bike hire and test fee) I paid
650ukp. I believe the three day course was around 200ukp cheaper.

 

We try to avoid intensive courses if possible as spreading it over a few
weeks takes some pressure off and allows things to sink in. A full das
course can be as little as £300 if you have some prior experience.

 

Spreading a DAS over several weeks was recommended to me, rather than a 5 to
8 day intensive course. Apparently, the accident rate is higher for those
who attend the intensive short course, but that's hearsay, I have no proof
either way. But, the "sinking in" already mentioned may be a factor.

My CBT cost £110, DAS a further £480, (plus extra test (damn!) at £48 each
plus bike hire).
Costs included all equipment & bikes etc, only travel to from center was
extra.
Take food for the CBT, it's a long day.

I did the theory first & got it out of the way.

There are quite a lot of training centers around, I've used two (one while
away on hols, to keep the bike time up). Both seemed very friendly &
helpful, and very good instruction, only a couple of bits of conflicting
advice from different instructors, but resolved after ride.

Niv. CB500S (for 3 days now).

 

If someone was to do it over a few weeks, would it be worth buying a
cheap 125 just to be able to keep practising?

 

I was told not to, as I would probably teach myself bad habits.
Better to take it slow & learn the right way from the start & theinstructors
don't have to make you "unlearn" anything.
Having said that, I could have done with a bike to get my U turn sorted
before my test(s)!

Niv.

 

I had never ridden before but booked a DAS course.
One day doing the CBT, booked the theory/hazard perception for the week
after. Passed that and then did 2 days on a 500cc before the test which was
the next morning. £420 which was a lot more reasonable than several other
riding schools who happened to be controlled by the same company.
Shop around and get advice from as many people as possible.
Ask new bikers from your area who they learned with and what the
schedule/price was.
There are many schools which take you through the CBT only to put you back
on a 125cc bike for a further 1 or 2 days. After the CBT you should be
straight on a 500 to learn how that handles.

 

I guess you need to strike a balance. The week off in the middle did
allow things to 'sink-in', but also for things to be forgotten and
doubt's to creep in. It may have been different if I had a bike to use
at my leisure in between formal sessions.

I certainly found the final 3 day push at the end (well more like 2
1/2 days given I had a lunch time test) useful, and when contrasted to
my hour long car lessons many years ago, much more constructive.

IMHO two to three weekends would probably be okay; short enough to
keep focus, long enough to bed in. I'm not sure I would have liked it
spread over any longer.

 

I passed my test this week (2nd attempt - I hate indicators) via Direct
Access. I'm no natural biker and found that spreading my training over a few
weekends allowed me to fit in an extra session to iron out one or two
persistant faults.
I think I'd have found it too much to do five days in a row. I went straight
from a CBT on a 125cc to a 500cc bike without any problems. In fact, I
found the 500cc Suzuki a better bike and easier to ride.
I too wondered about buying a 125 to practice on and don't think it would do
any harm once you'd got a couple of classes out the way and just needed to
practice what you'd been taught. However, I decided against it as an
unecessary expense. Probably easier and cheaper to have an extra session or
two with the school.

 

Andrew Harrison wrote

In truth it appears you failed. Mostly due to an excess of top posting,
not snipping, that sort of thing.

Before you continue with your habitual second attempt I suggest you ****
off and read the ukrm ffaq. There is a link or two in there to all
things to do with Netiquette. And a surprising amount about bike
related stuff.

and welcome to the dark side.

 

Where I come from, top posting is de rigeur and snipping is encouraged to
minimise server usage so. You make an assumption or two as to where I found
this NG. Until you pointed it out (all be it obliquely) I had no idea that
http://www.windfalls.net/ukrm/ etc existed. Thanks. Suggest you **** off and
remind yourself of the contents
'b) Clip any part of the quoted message that isn't relevant to your post,
(especially the sig unless you have some comment to make about it).'
Oh and try to be a little more polite next time.

.... and thanks.

 

Oh, dear!

 

May I respectfully refer you to

http://www.usenet.org.uk/ukpost.html

particularly Para 3.1.