After mucho discussion me and the missus are going to learn to ride and buy a couple of motorbikes, she's always wanted to do it and I thought what the hell, may as well do it too, something we can do together and all that.

 

My question is where the hell do we start? can anybody recommend a good school in hampshire? we can both kinda ride having both toyed around on bikes when we were kids. whats the deal with licenses/ages/size of bikes?

 

Cheers

CBT (Compulsory Bike Training) which is a one dayer, then theory test then most people do the Direct access route to passing the test. You will probably be given an idea of how many days training you need when you complete your CBT. So in my case it was 3 days and then Test on the fourth.

 

Although I did the theory I never took the direct access which my Bro did and now he's got a ZZR 600 Kwak! Tw@t! LOL

 

I will be doing mine asap as soon as I can be @rsed to send off for my license, oh and I would do it quick as the powers that be are trying to do away with Direct Access. Forcing newbies to ride around for a probabtion period on a cackish 33bhp bike before you can then move upto something more potent! I'm f\/cked if I'm riding around on a KMX125 for a year or two when I am quite capable of riding an R6 instead!

I've got a sweet Cagiva Mito for sale if anyones interested! S reg, full power (33bhp), red V. good nick, Ducati 916 replica, will top 100mph and handles like a dream. Can email pics if interested. Looking for £1500 - Chunk and Tarks can give recommendations (and those two really know they're bikes ;)).

I did my CBT (I was crap because I had never been on a bike before), did about five lessons on a 125, then about five on a 500, then did a Direct Access course, fell off, failed, lost my nerve, then did another few lessons, failed again and have stopped going for the winter. I WILL go back, and I WILL pass- I just think I am not a natural rider now I'm 34. Loads of people said why buy a 125, do you intend to ride that? if not, why buy one, just do direct access, but for me I think I need a lot more practice and so I'll probably get a 125. I failed on balance (and going 50 in a 30 the second time) and ****ing up my turn in the road the first time. The bloke who taught me said its an easy test to pass, but it's also easy to fail and now I know what he meant.

 

If you do everything like he tells you- no problem but for me it was getting my hands and feet to do what he told me. For me I think the way to go will be piss about on a 125 until I am so confident riding it I will pass, because I know all the road stuff, but probably for most (normal) people the Direct Access is easier. I was well surprised how many women do it, but my 'wide' experience of it would be more men than women pass first time. Most of the women failed. So did I. maybe the blokes had been on bikes since they were kids, maybe I'm talking rubbish.

I have taught people to ride since 87!!.used to do form CBT to advanced but for several reasons..gave up teaching this year.

My Wife unfortunately had a bit of a crash last year and luckily did'nt kill herself (although she came close and was quite badly injured).

 

Funny that people think they can hop on a bike and ride it whatever it is..

You wouldnt let your 17 year old son out in your 400bhp z after passing his test after 3 lessons afterall (or would you?)

The reason that Direct and accelerated access is being looked at by the driving standards agency is that the level of training is not entirely adequate and I have to agree as it takes little account of actual ability and like all tests, if you get the minimum you pass. (though it should be extended to car drivers too!)

 

I would say that if you want to learn to ride go for it, you wont believe the buzz you get from it but dont get ahead of yourself...blah blah blah...

 

Good luck anyway..

thanks for the advice chaps, now I know where to start and what to search for on t'internet, I defo wont be getting ahead of myself as far as size of bikes goes, will be sticking to something small for quite a while and even then wont move up to anything silly!! Some lessons and a couple of bikes will be our christmas pressie to ourselved this year :D

Not being big headed and not saying that I WILL pass first time but I've been riding bikes since I was about 8 years old. Started at Light Water Valley on monkey bikes! PMSLMFAO :D

 

Then at 15 bought a TS100 from a mate and used to ride that on dirt tracks when I lived in Kent, used to ride my mates Yam RD50 when he wasn't looking and various twist and go jobs abroad when I was in the Gravy. Hired a 250 trially in Zante and rode around all day with my ex-Mrs Turbo on the back.

 

When I did my CBT with my Bro a few years back I was the most experienced rider on the day and because one of the nasty 125's had a brake light out I got to do the ride out on a 500 commuter pile of crap. ;) Had no problems with that whatsoever.

 

Some people are natural bike riders and some are not evidently.

 

Let's not forget how many people have the option to take a Direct Access course to pass their car test if they so wish. ;)

Maybe don't learn in winter. Winter sucks on a bike.

Let's not forget how many people have the option to take a Direct Access course to pass their car test if they so wish. ;)

 

Eh?,

Eh?,

 

You can book a Fast Track course with most driving schools, BSM etc.

 

So in the same way you learn to ride a bike doing DA you can have 3 days intensive training in a car and then take your test. Pass and jump in a Porsche if you want, when you learn to drive a car or ride a bike you are not being groomed for a type of vehicle, you are being tested for competence so who the f\/ck should dictate what you ride or drive after passing?

Thats not direct access, its an intensive course which anyone over 17 can take. :slap:

Direct access is available to over 21 years only to get onto bigger bike without doing the 2 year 'probation' on a power restricted bike.

 

As you say, you are being tested for competence, trouble is, its a minimum standard and the rider might well reach the minimum standard or beyond. A test does not make a good rider/driver though (the tw@t with 'P' plates springs to mind!!)

Bloody glad I did all this years ago, costs a lot of money to get your licence nowadays. I rode around the block, did the emergency stop and answered a few questions :hyper:

nice one i love bikes and have done for years currantly riding a ducati 916 troy bayliss replica and have a fireblade 96 rr in urban tiger colours cant really give advise unless its on stunts and generally being a twat on a bike apart from kwaks are generally heavy bikes but last forever hondas practically start underwater and dukes dont insurance can be the biggest bugger tho good luck with your tests

Maybe don't learn in winter. Winter sucks on a bike.

 

Don't want to put you off though... bikes rule!

 

I've had about 25, currently have RMX250 enduro, XTZ660, written off CB1100 X-11 and Fazer 600 (all cheapies!) and I love them.

 

Hondas are probably the best things out there though.

I miss my bikes :cry:

After mucho discussion me and the missus are going to learn to ride and buy a couple of motorbikes, she's always wanted to do it and I thought what the hell, may as well do it too, something we can do together and all that.

 

My question is where the hell do we start? can anybody recommend a good school in hampshire? we can both kinda ride having both toyed around on bikes when we were kids. whats the deal with licenses/ages/size of bikes?

 

Cheers

 

Allo mate,

If you see a met. Blue, fugging loud Triumph Daytona hooning round Basingstoke, it's me!! I picked my new toy up on Friday.

:hyper: :hyper: :hyper:

DO IT!! You won't regret doing your test and getting on 2 wheels!!