Grab some tools and a Haynes manual for your bike and go nuts, that's how I've done it.
*** How to obtain a bike license ***
- Thread starter Fireskull
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Grab some tools and a Haynes manual for your bike and go nuts, that's how I've done it.
Soldato
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Guys, I'm searching for a little advice, so if you could help that'd be great
I'm 24 and ever since I can remember have loved motorbikes. I've had ups and downs about getting things done in regards to my tests, but now I finally feel confident enough to take control of the situation. I could keep going, just dreaming about it. But if I don't take a stand, my dream will never become true.
So I'm completely new to everything. I've never ridden a motorbike before nor do I drive a car so everything to me is completely new. I have years ago rode a bicycle but never got to the stage of going on it enough and that was so long ago I was still a kid. I'm going to concentrate now on reading the highway code and a new book for motorcyclists (I've had these a few years). I will also be doing mock tests using the DVD.
1. Moved house around a year back and my provisional licence still contains my old address. I'm going to send off to fix this tomorrow. Do I need to get this corrected first before I can take anything? CBT, Theory?
2. Is this possible and have you done the same route? Ok I've decided I'm not going to jump straight into my DAS. My idea for this is that I would like to have the opportunity to do things a little easier with gaining experience first, like car learners do.
Before taking the CBT, do places allow you to take lessons beforehand to get used to the bike and handling before they feel you are ready for the CBT? I would then get a bike and ride a few months before hopefully moving on up with my tests. I know this route could potentially cost more but it would be worth it I think.
3. I haven't had an eye test for ages (last time I visited I was told my eyes was fine). Do you recommend getting these checked again before doing any tests?
I already own everything I need, from boots to the jacket, pants and even a helmet. All purchased maybe when I was around 21 (24 now). Never worn or used other than dressing myself up in my bedroom
Any help is greatly appreciated
Welcome to the dark side mate
CBT is Compulsary Basic Training - there's no need for any training prior to this.
If you want to go down the CBT, then 125c bike for a few months before doing your test, it's a good way to go. I've been driving for years but it's the way I did it, "time on a tiddler is never wasted" is a well know saying.
Get your CBT booked, forget about the Theory test for now, you don't need that until you do your full test, but you will need some basic highway code knowledge for the CBT as you've never driven before.
Gears will be your biggest area of difficulty, again having never driven, but the CBT covers all this. It will be overhwelming at first and on the off road bit, but once out on the road it all becomes fun!
I did my CBT back in March 2014 (been driving since 2001), bought a 125 on April 20th, then spent 6 months before doing a 3 day DAS course and passing my full test in October. I did 7000 miles in total on my 125cc bike between April and December, the lack of speed got annoying after a few months but it was good practice. I'm already starting to long for something with a bit more power than my CB400 aswell, it's a never ending thing, wanting more power... well until you ride a 200BHP bike
You could go straight for the DAS, but starting off slow isn't a bad thing. Just be aware to buy a decent 125cc bike you're still looking at £1k minimum, they hold their value becuase you can ride them with just a days training.
Good luck and have fun with it, it's one of the best things I decided to do, not only getting to work quicker, but just overall it's awesome riding in the summer. Hit me up on our forum if you need any further advice Harold
Wow, congrats mate.
I thought the CBT had to be taken before the DAS (Mod 1 & 2) anyway? Price shouldn't be too bad as I'm going to get saving. Insurance though
Soldato
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If you've had a recent eyesight check any time in the last few years you should be fine.
Bikes are very very unlike cars, in that pretty much all their mehcanical bits are exposed, not hidden away. Basic stuff like servicing, brake pads, bulbs, even replacing parks like chain and sprockets, shocks etc etc are a piece of cake, just bolt on/bolt off. Grab a decent tool set and lern as you go, it's not that hard really.
And yeah, CBT is the very very first step on the ladder of biking. Get that out the way ASAP, it lasts for 2 years and you'll have done your DAS before then, without a doubt. Waiting times at the moment might be a few weeks as every other person is also thinking about getting on a bike for the summer.
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So in regards to my CBT / Theory and my provisional. When I book, wouldn't I need to do two things? Bring along my provisional licence (with old address) and fill out some infomration which includes my home address? Just wondering why this wouldn't conflict with each other?
@One
That's reassuring. I know of two places in my area that are pretty active with learners. How much is CBT?
Thanks everyone for the help. I'm guessing I will be on a waiting list anyhow and it could be a couple of weeks before doing the CBT. I'm going to have a wonder to these two places tomorrow. Any questions I should ask them to make sure they are decent?
@One
That's reassuring. I know of two places in my area that are pretty active with learners. How much is CBT?
Thanks everyone for the help. I'm guessing I will be on a waiting list anyhow and it could be a couple of weeks before doing the CBT. I'm going to have a wonder to these two places tomorrow. Any questions I should ask them to make sure they are decent?
I still had my old home address on my provisional when I took my CBT then just fill the certificate in according to whatever is on your licence so it makes no difference.
CBT is normally around the £100 mark.
Wow, congrats mate.
I thought the CBT had to be taken before the DAS (Mod 1 & 2) anyway? Price shouldn't be too bad as I'm going to get saving. Insurance though
If someone goes straight toa DAS then the CBT is the first day.
One thing you HAVE to do before MOD 1 is your theory and hazard perception. The theory has a few questions regarding bikes that the car one doesn't even though it wouldn't hury that majority to have questions on bikes as well. Maybe they'll take better notice of us then.
Soldato
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To be honest, I'd get your licence address changed over - you can do it online, I did mine a week or 2 ago, only took a few days to come. Saves any hassle. They take your driving licence number etc for the CBT.
CBT should be around £120 max, including everything. All you need to wear are thick jeans, and walking boots or similar. If you've got some gear aready, then wear that, as the training places stuff will probably smell/not fit/be too cold or warm
Ask around for any local trainers that come reccomended, then just give them a call, they'll ask what you want to ride and make sure to answer a 125cc geared bike - some places might try and put you on a scooter as you've never driven - the CBT certificate you get covers both geared and auto bikes, but you really want to be learning gears from the start.
Essentially the road to a full licence goes:
CBT -> Theory inc. Hazard perception (it's a motorbike specific Theory with extra questions) -> training -> MOD1 -> MOD2
Module 1 and Module 2 are the 2 parts of the full test.
Mod 1 is the off road slow speed stuff: manaual handling, slalom and figure of 8, U turn, emergency stop, swerve and some others I've probably forgetten.
Mod 2 is the on road riding part, just like a car test. They get you to stop and pull away on a hill and behind parked cars, other than that it's normal road riding.
I decided to sort my provisional license first. That arrived a few days later, surprised it didn't take long as they say it takes 2 weeks.
Also I've been on the phone to a place today and I'm booked in for my CBT on 9th May costing 120 as this is Saturday.
Also I've been on the phone to a place today and I'm booked in for my CBT on 9th May
costing 120 as this is Saturday.
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Okay, so I headed for my CBT today and I wasn't able to complete it starting the bike and getting going I'm getting used to. Actually riding, I was a bit shakey. Sometimes I was holding the clutch in too much. Throttle control needs more work.
By the end, I felt better, was eventually fully releasing the clutch and keeping it steady sometimes. I seemed better going clockwise but then anticlockwise really threw me off and i wasn't as effective.
The other person who was on a scooter was ready to go on the road, so I'm going back in around 2 weeks.
While I'm sort of disappointed, it was okay and I don't care how long it takes me to learn. I will eventually learn all I need. Hoping in 2 weeks I have a better lesson. The instructors was really friendly and nice, they generally felt like they wanted to get me through it at my own pace. I shouldn't be disheartened as I sill got on the bike and was able to ride, but not progressing more was a bummer
starting the bike and getting going I'm getting used to. Actually riding, I was a bit shakey. Sometimes I was holding the clutch in too much. Throttle control needs more work. By the end, I felt better, was eventually fully releasing the clutch and keeping it steady sometimes. I seemed better going clockwise but then anticlockwise really threw me off and i wasn't as effective.
The other person who was on a scooter was ready to go on the road, so I'm going back in around 2 weeks.
While I'm sort of disappointed, it was okay and I don't care how long it takes me to learn. I will eventually learn all I need. Hoping in 2 weeks I have a better lesson. The instructors was really friendly and nice, they generally felt like they wanted to get me through it at my own pace. I shouldn't be disheartened as I sill got on the bike and was able to ride, but not progressing more was a bummer
Soldato
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Okay, so I headed for my CBT today and I wasn't able to complete it
By the end, I felt better, was eventually fully releasing the clutch and keeping it steady sometimes. I seemed better going clockwise but then anticlockwise really threw me off and i wasn't as effective.
The other person who was on a scooter was ready to go on the road, so I'm going back in around 2 weeks.
While I'm sort of disappointed, it was okay and I don't care how long it takes me to learn. I will eventually learn all I need. Hoping in 2 weeks I have a better lesson. The instructors was really friendly and nice, they generally felt like they wanted to get me through it at my own pace. I shouldn't be disheartened as I sill got on the bike and was able to ride, but not progressing more was a bummer
Don't worry about it - with you never having driven getting used to the clutch and gears as well as trying not to fall off, look where you're going and not kill the instructor it's a big ask! I found it all very overwhelming in the morning section, it's a lot you have to do in a short space of time.
Thing is, they won't let you out on the road without being happy you have control, if it was a dodgy place they would have sent you out, you might have gotten into trouble and it would have knocked your confidence. Go back in 2 weeks and you'll nail it
You'll look back in 6 months and wonder what all the fuss was about
You'll look back in 6 months and wonder what all the fuss was about
Haha, I really do hope so!
I understand everyone learns at different paces but you hear all these stories of people who take the CBT but just say it's a breeze. You even hear of people driving without proper control and they still complete the CBT in a day.
One of the instructors told me that they had a guy who drove the bike up the metal fence at the back and instead of holding clutch, he just added more throttle. I wasn't doing anything like that and one thing I was always doing, is if I felt like I getting into any trouble, I seemed to just automatically grab hold of the clutch. I did have times though where I forgot clutch only kills the engine and doesn't slow it down, so I would grab hold of the front brake when it wasn't stopping.
Throttle was definitely bad and good today. I had times where it would keep constant, then other I would seem to just want to throttle every 2 seconds. I was surprised at how little wrist movement it takes to get some revs going.
I did manage to start doing some figure of 8's which my right hand turn was my failure most of the time and I couldn't always bring it around.
I don't know why, but I have issue with sweating. Every time I removed my helmet, my head would just be hot and I'm sweating all over. Same for my jacket, I only had a single layer underneath and it is around as thin as a t-shirt. Yet my jacket was soaking when I took it off at the end. Same for the pants / boots. It's something I've had trouble with all my life but never could understand why.
I did drop the bike but that is due to inexperience and even the 125 feeling heavy!
I'm happy with them though, they really seem like they want to get me through this even if it takes more training.
Just adding that next time it should actually be easier. Usually they do the training at football stadium car park, so it's pretty big. On weekends though they don't use the car park so we only have limited space in the area behind the shop. So going back on a weekday will give me access to use the whole car park
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I take it they're not charging you for further sessions. If you were almost doing figure of eights then you're definitely on the right track and it'll just be a bit more practice you need. What will happen is that rather than having to really concentrate about what you're doing, your hands will start to do the right thing by themselves. It just takes practice and having everything all squashed into one day can be a big challenge, especially if you're then expected to put all you've learnt (barely learned) onto the public highway. So don't feel disheartened in anyway.
Soldato
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Haha the sweating thing is normal, you wait until you're in full leathers and its 30 degrees! When you're not moving or only going slow you bake, once you're over 20mph though the wind cools you down.
Well yes and no. Since I only got through half of the day today, I still have 4 hours left from my initial booking. I could have made it a full day again but he said I could skip the talk at the start. Because I walk everywhere, I'm going to meet to them at the stadium car park on my next lesson as it's only down the road from me compared to a 50 minute walk to the shop carrying all my gear.
After the next lesson though, he said they charge at half the price, so he said £15 p/h which doesn't sound too bad. On my next go, even if they feel confident in me, but I don't feel confident in myself. I will just tell them I'd like to carry on taking lessons until I'm comfortable in my own ability.
I'm hoping the extra space around me next time will give me a big boost.
To give you an idea of how much extra space I could potentially have to work with: going from this car park.
To somewhere within this carpark. Not sure if we will use all or even half until I go. Still a lot more space though.
I know that, but riding in an open area such as that will help me atleast gain confidence making turns smoothly. Then they will bring the cones closer together, then just keep doing that until I'm at a point where turning isn't an issue.
Also if we get to use the full area, I can maybe get a sense of speed before actually going onto the road. Not something easily done in the smaller area.
Also if we get to use the full area, I can maybe get a sense of speed before actually going onto the road. Not something easily done in the smaller area.