My Wife wants to Learn to Ride - Any Tips?

[David.Hicks]

We have decided to get my wife through her bike test before it gets any more difficult/expensive (changes looming in the next year or two I understand).

I gather that it involves things like CBT and Direct Access these days, but I don't really know the detail.

Is there anyone who has done it recently who can give my Mrs some tips or point us at good sources of info?

We live in Taunton, Somerset. She works full time and has held a full car license for 20-odd years.

Cheers

[nogaromill999]

My erstwhile better half is in the same position. She has now taken and passed her CBT, and now must take a theory test before her DAT.......you book that independantly via your local test centre. Then, because she has to fit the test in with trips back here from Oz, we're getting her on an intensive 5 day course, hopefully resulting in her passing !

[Bambam]

Originally Posted by nogaromill998

My erstwhile better half is in the same position. She has now taken and passed her CBT, and now must take a theory test before her DAT.......you book that independantly via your local test centre. Then, because she has to fit the test in with trips back here from Oz, we're getting her on an intensive 5 day course, hopefully resulting in her passing !

Wot he said :wink:

My missus did her CBT a year and a half ago, now she's preparing to do her DAT before her two years are up. The 5 day intensive course runs at around £600, but she's pretty eager to get it done around mid-summer.

[Gizmo]

Linzi my GF came in one day last year and told me she had booked her CBT :eek: she's ridden pillion for 15 years and never had any inclination to ride but had made her mind up. She did her CBT locally and really enjoyed being on a bike. We bought her an Aprilia RS125 and she spent about 2 months just going out at quiet times getting used to putting miles in, we live in the sticks so not really much practice in traffic. Whilst she was doing that she booked the BMW training school course for full licnece, we decided it was better to do this because of the lack of 33 HP bikes and dangers they pose with lack of power for overtakes. She did her theory test before going on the course, you need to do this even if you have a car licence.

Course was 4 days, all riding done on F650's, they have a lowered bike available which was handy if you are small. Lots of riding in town and around a training pad and some theory on an evening. we took a weeks holiday and booked a cottage and i went out riding around the Brecon Beacons most days whilst she did her training. She dropped the bike 7 times one day but all she bust was a clutch lever, the instructors weren't bothered, picked it up and away she went again. Last day was test day and she passed i think she'd say its was hard work but worthwhile.

When we got back she sold the RS and bought an F650 just because she knew she could handle it and wanted to spend time learning to ride. About 4 weeks later we did a trip almost up to John O Groats, cut back over to Cape Wrath then down the West Coast of Scotland, over 1000 miles in 4 days in rain and wind. She did almost 3000 miles on the BM from August through to November when she put the bike away

I'd recommend checking the BMW school out, the instructors were excellent, bikes well looked after and overall exactly what you'd expect from BM. We might take a few days this year and go back so she can do more training on real world riding, the DA course is aimed at getting you through your test not riding a bike.

[David.Hicks]

So is this the process in summary then...?

CBT first? (how many days? what cost)
Two years to p;asss your DAT (restricted to what size of bike?)
Do theory test? (what cost?)
Do DAT (best to get training? How many days? what cost)

Thanks!!

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by david.hicks

So is this the process in summary then...?

CBT first? (how many days? what cost)
Two years to p;asss your DAT (restricted to what size of bike?)
Do theory test? (what cost?)
Do DAT (best to get training? How many days? what cost)

Thanks!!

I am Currently doing My instructors course...TO teach CBT at first.

This is how it works

1st CBT, (everyone has to do this! EVERYONE!!), this is only Valid for 2 years

2nd, Everyone must take a Therory!

3rd a) If under 21 you can do your test for a Restricted licence, 33BHP, you can then either ride for 2 years on that and then take a full test so you can have any bike, so if done when 17 you could be on a Full power R1 when your 19!!

3rd b) if 21 or over You can do your DAS which will allow you to ride a Full power bike of your choice..

All DAS bikes are Full power so shouldnt have any problems there

Cheers

Ollie

[Gizmo]

Passing CBt is usually 1 day, you can then ride up to 125cc for up to 2 years. Price from World of BMW is £149

you have choices on which test to take

take it on an under 33bhp bike and restrict yourself to that for 2 years after passing

or

direct access which must be taken on over 33bhp cost will depend upon how many days practice bottom of this link but that includes bike and accomodation

[Timk]

david
what everyone else says really,I'd never been that interested in bikes before last year but woke up really wanting one at the beginning of last year.I booked a week off work and booked my theory for mon did the CBT on sunday before (1/2 day-a day),the same school who did my CBT assess how many days they think you'll need to pass the direct access and guarentee a pass if you have however many days they recommend (free lessons if you fail).I did 3 and took my test on the third day,so it can be done very quick if time is a problem like it was for me.
Sun CBT
MON THEORY
TUE DAY 1
WED DAY2
THURS DAY 3 /TEST
FRI RIDING A 748 LEGALLY

One thing I found to be of use even if youve had a car licence for a while was a £10 DVD on the theory test it had mock exams and also a helpfull section with practice questions of the hazard perception test which was new and unknown.The DVD was the best tenner I spent and i'd highly recommend it,they sell it in WHSmiths Woolwoths etc.

[Ollie]

Wher i Teach we cahrge £100 for the CBT, inclusive of bike and all

Personally i wouldnt do a 1 week crash course, i would string it out! as its alot to learn in the week, doing it over a period of time is alot better you can learn at your own pace and then you also you have a Test booked for say 5-6 weeks or sooner after the DAS assment then you Fit lessons in (normally 2hrs at a time)till your test Date, If the Instructor thinks you may need an extra week he will move the Date for you! My place dont mess about like some will, They are straight with you, already i have had 3 Students that i tought CBT to go on and Pass there DAS within 4 Weeks!

we also hjave a 95% pass rate

DONT TO CRASH COURSE, i honstly dont see the point

[David.Hicks]

Originally Posted by Gizmo

you have choices on which test to take

take it on an under 33bhp bike and restrict yourself to that for 2 years after passing

or

direct access which must be taken on over 33bhp

If you take it on an under 33bhp bike do you have to do another test to be able to ride an over 33bhp bike or is it just a time thing?

The reason I ask is that the chances are that my Mrs will take her test and then not ride at all for a couple of years, or maybe just occassionally on a Yamaha 250 Serow around the lanes. We just wsant to do it now before it gets more difficult.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by david.hicks

If you take it on an under 33bhp bike do you have to do another test to be able to ride an over 33bhp bike or is it just a time thing?

The reason I ask is that the chances are that my Mrs will take her test and then not ride at all for a couple of years, or maybe just occassionally on a Yamaha 250 Serow around the lanes. We just wsant to do it now before it gets more difficult.

David there is no Reson for her to take a Restricted licence, as it will cost the same regardles, so she may as well just to a Full licence.

And yes she will need a 2nd Test, so it will cost more too

[David.Hicks]

We'll thanks for all the info.

We've booked it up with this lot - http://www.advancedbiker.co.uk/

They have a pretty good reputation round here and were excellent when I spoke to them on the phone. She's never ridden a bike before so I have booked her a 1 hr taster session next Friday and her CBT on 6th May.

[Paivi]

Good to hear we've got another biker chick joining us! Has she decided on the bike yet? Something red & Italian perhaps...

[David.Hicks]

Originally Posted by Paivi

Good to hear we've got another biker chick joining us! Has she decided on the bike yet? Something red & Italian perhaps...

I don't know really. The main reason we are doing this now is because it is going to get a lot more difficult and expensive when the new law comes in.

We have two young kids so we won't be able to ride-out together ... I'm not sure she'll ride much, or even at all at the moment ... but it will be nice to have the license for the future

[Paivi]

Could still get her a little Monster, so that she can go out with you baby sitting the kids...

She should ride occasionally, otherwise she'll get rusty for when she wants to do it more often.