So I booked my CBT...

[andrewdodd13]

Long story short, my mate was like "you live in the city, sell the car, get a bike, I'll even re-take my CBT with you". So after driving for 5 years, selling my car in November, I'm now taking my CBT a week on Tuesday.

And suddenly I've realised I've no idea what I'm doing! To make matters worse, my mate booked his on the Monday and it was full when I tried to book mine. (Oops) As far as I'm aware I just turn up at the place with my two-part licence and they give me everything, but do I need to put anything special on, e.g. boots, or will I get given those at the time (or does it depend on where I go?)

Any other tips so I'm not a complete noob when I show up? I've had a gander at the clutch/gearbox, braking controls and they basically look the opposite from a car (everything that you do with your hand in a car is with your foot on bike, and vice-versa). I should be ok with this though.

Next up, once I've done my CBT I'll need a practise bike. I'll probably end up with a 125 CBR, quite like the look and I've heard they're good (plus my mate works at the Honda bike garage...) but what I'm worried about is it getting nicked. It'll need to be parked outside in a hidden-from-the-main-road parking area, so how easy are these things to steal?

Cheers!

 

[andrewdodd13]

Thanks for the advice guys. I got a letter from the place I'm doing the CBT (Two Wheels, if everyone knows Edinburgh) telling me that everything I'll need is provided - I've to just wear "not trainers" and wrap up warm. I have to admit I was getting a wee bit worried with the snow and whatnot, but it seems to have avoided Edinburgh almost entirely and it was actually kinda warm today.

Oh and don't stop there, get your full licence when you turn 24 (you need to be 24 to do the DA course to get a full unrestricted licence). Get yourself on a 600, you won't regret it

I had intended to do this straight away as I was under the impression that the age was 21 and not 25! In the meantime I'll no doubt do the full practical test in the "A" category as I will probably be living in Amsterdam from May-April.

One last thing, I gather from here that since I've already got my full driving licence I won't need to sit the theory test again, but am I still going to be required to produce the certificate number? If so... that's going to be a long search!

 

[andrewdodd13]

how did it go?
looking at booking mine for a couple of weeks time and have the choice of edinburgh or glasgow... interested in how you found it

Turns out I'm not so great with two wheels as I thought I would be; and I didn't really enjoy it much either...

I fell off and damaged the bike a bit, so whilst it was being repaired the usual 2pm Scottish darkness set in and there wasn't going to be enough time for the 2 hour compulsory on-road training, so I just gave up -- going back is free if I'd wanted to do it, but I don't have any off time between now and going to the Netherlands (where I've been for the past week...) to get the second part done.

I would still recommend Two Wheels where I went - the guy doing the training was really into bikes, was good at giving instructions; and they have a helmet/jacket/gloves/bike that you can borrow included in the cost.

Still, I would say do a taster session first if you've never ridden a bike! I really should've done this - I would've saved like £120, but ah well.