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Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 1:16 am
by mckeann
Question for all the new bikers.
Where did you take your training, and what style of course did you go for??
I'm looking to get somewhere accessible from central belt (bo'ness) and not sure wether to got for direct access in a week, direct access, with a days training per week, or buy a 125cc and muck about on it all summer.
Cheers
neil
Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 8:18 am
by Andy G
Jesus mate - are you sure you want to do this - Ape on a bike
Just be sure to take care

Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 8:51 am
by AJT
Jim Allan
http://www.jim-allan.com/index.php?targ ... d=training worth going and having a chat with them to discuss all the options.
Used them way back in 2000 when I did my Direct Access, were very good.
Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 10:00 am
by tut
Good idea Neil.
tut
Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 10:02 am
by mwmackenzie
Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 10:18 am
by douglasgdmw
My wife used Lothian Motorcyle Training
http://www.lothianmotorcycletraining.com/ and they were excellent.
As a biker myself it was nice to see that they had the attitude of preparing you for after you pasted your test and not just focussed on getting you through the test and left to find out about "real world" biking on your own.
If I was you I would ideally go for your direct access as you start on a little "put put"initially and then once you are competent on this they move you across to the larger bike, which is sometimes a little bit more forgiving, except when it comes down to weight.
Cheers
DMW
Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 10:37 am
by Corranga
Sometimes I wonder how I have a bike licence...
I spent the day doing CBT in August 07, was told I was a natural, picking it all up very quickly. I bought a 125 that needed some work in the following January, and didn't really do much with it til maybe March as it was raining / snowing / icy. I rode it to work maybe once or twice, and other than that, I maybe took it out for an hour 2 or 3 days.
I then won a direct access course. I had 2 x 1 1/2 hour lessons and my test. The 1st hour of my 1st lesson was spent riding an old ER-6 around in the yard (first time on a big bike and all) and I couldn't settle with it. The guy then brought out their other learner bike and I settled better with it. Another 30 mins in the small yard and maybe 20 on the road.
My next lesson was mostly on the road.
My pre-test lesson was spent worrying as the bike I was due to ride for my test was in Perth! My pre test lesson therefore consisted of basically riding up to the test centre
I passed with 1 or 2 minors.
Basically, other than CBT, I must have spent maybe < 10 hours on my own 125 and around an hour on an ER-6 in a yard, and maybe 3 hours on the GS650 X-Country I passed on.
Biking is easy
That all said, I passed last August, and still no bike here!
Chris
Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 11:03 am
by Mikie711
Direct access on a week course is probably the best idea. Gives you loads of time on the bike, in all weather, and by the end of the week you will just want to get the test out of the way. You should, by that point be quite comfortable on the bike and sail through your test. Less start stop than doing a couple of hours a week.
Gets it all out of the way and lets you get on with the job of learning to ride ......... IYSWIM.
Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 12:22 pm
by VXJON
Go for the intensive week long training, I really found the stop start lessons a pain

Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 12:34 pm
by ed
Have the new EU rules had much of a difference on the test itself?!

Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 1:36 pm
by DDtB
VXJON wrote:Go for the intensive week long training, I really found the stop start lessons a pain

I liked having a gap between lessons... gave me time to process the information.
Remind me again... you and Donkey both did intensive courses... and then passed first time .. yeah??
oh no wait... I remember.... you both failed your first tests and had to take more lessons... unlike me

Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 2:13 pm
by steve_weegie
DDtB wrote:VXJON wrote:
Remind me again... you and Donkey both did intensive courses... and then passed first time .. yeah??
oh no wait... I remember.... you both failed your first tests and had to take more lessons... unlike me

They also bought Vauxhalls instead of Loti.... Go figure...

Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 3:10 pm
by VXJON
DDtB wrote:VXJON wrote:Go for the intensive week long training, I really found the stop start lessons a pain

I liked having a gap between lessons... gave me time to process the information.
Remind me again... you and Donkey both did intensive courses... and then passed first time .. yeah??
oh no wait... I remember.... you both failed your first tests and had to take more lessons... unlike me

No I took the lessons with a week long gap between

Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 4:01 pm
by philthy
The week course is something I am considering if I sell the exige.
Re: Motorbike training/test
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 4:06 pm
by VXJON
c'mon the bikers
