OT: learning to ride a motorcycle

I'm thinking of taking my motorbike license. Don't think I'll be getting a bike any time soon, but it seems like a fun thing to learn. Personal challenge and all that.

Who on here has theirs? I heard it got a lot harder recently - what's that all about?

I rushed through mine to avoid the new super-hard test.

So I don't actually know if the new test is super hard.

Motorbikes are cool!

Also...there is a thread for this...

I got mine about 5 years ago. Absolutely loved it - but been through the phases of learning, group riding, trackdays, racing and just come out the other end :)

Go for it, you'll love it

Martin

I searched for motorbike license and came up blank. Hippy's going to merge me so hard for this if I'm wrong.

https://www.lfgss.com/thread35306.html

Did mine 12 years ago - seriously easy back then. There was a course called direct access where you turned up on the first day and did your CBT. You then set about working your way through to bigger bikes and by the time you got to the end of the week you were on your way to the test centre and, in my case, a pass.

Went out, bought a Fireblade and then proceeded to spend the summer giving it the large (wheelies outside the pub and racing money brokers in Ferrari's) before having an accident that shattered part of my patella and left me £15k worse off.

The acceleration is still the most incredible experience I've ever had.

Do it!

i got mine before the new test came in. my lil sis wasnt so lucky she couldnt get hers in time. it is harder.
main difference now is the part that they want you to do off road because it includes a swerve test at I think 50kph (31 mph hence not being able to do this bit on the road.) you still have to do your theory with hazard perception, then the off the road bit at a special centre (on of the main criticisms of these specialist centres were that there were few ready in time for the new switch over leading to people having to travel hundreds of miles and stay overnight to do their test in more remote places like scotland.) the off the road bit also includes some slow riding tests (figure of 8 turn in the road emergency stop e.t.c. and then you have to go out on the road for that bit of the test. all in all very involved now. I had a friend et a quote for 3 day direct access course and was quoted over £500 for the 'big' license (it was £500 when i did a 5 day course 3 years ago!)

hope that helps!

/it might all be wrong, I would check www.motorcyclenews.com that might have some links to the most up to date information or direct.gov.uk im sure they will have more info on there.

I was looking at this place, £500 for a direct access course.

http://www.camrider.com/prices/norwich.html

Thinking the website may be out of date now though, having heard that.

I did mine in 2007, in the few weeks I had before starting a new job. I had been riding a 125 for years and just renewing my cbt every 2 years. I took a 3 day course from a company called Kickstart. The training was terrific, and really focussed on staying safe. It made me a much better motorcyclist and a much better cyclist as well.

I did mine in 2007, in the few weeks I had before starting a new job. I had been riding a 125 for years and just renewing my cbt every 2 years. I took a 3 day course from a company called Kickstart. The training was terrific, and really focussed on staying safe. It made me a much better motorcyclist and a much better cyclist as well.

I was CBT'd for a year and riding my CG125 everyday before i did Direct Access in three days. The weather pissed it down all three days, i fell off for the first time when i lost the front in the wet, but i passed my test and it is amazing being to ride anything now. Its a completely different culture to everything i've experienced before. Bikers are so nice..to other bikers.

Sounds good. I think I'd like to take it. Just not sure if it's worth me devoting the time and money as I probably won't be getting a bike anytime soon. Could be a fun thing to have a go at though.

Got mine in 1991, by means of jumping on a 500cc trails bike around Darlington, of all places. And then, once passed, jumping onto a GXR750R. Simple and effective.

I gather than things are a little more "structured" now. God bless the EU!

I have taken my CBT twice and never got round to passing - failed it once - might have to do the Direct Access thing

a swerve test at I think 50kph ... figure of 8 turn in the road emergency stop e.t.c. and then you have to go out on the road for that bit of the test

sorry to be dull, but doesn't this seem very reasonable considering you're going on a fast-as-fuck machine as soon as you pass your test?

sucks they don't have enough test sites though

I haven't done it yet, but been looking in to doing my full test for a while, after doing my CBT and then it running out before I'd bought a bike!

I read an article in one of the bike mags about the new test. They've basically added an off road section where you have to demonstrate you can brake on a corner, swerve in and out of cones and corner at a minimum speed.

I think most of the fuss was around the fact that there were going to be far fewer test centres which were able to offer the new test, due to the off road space needed, so people would have to travel further for a test (especially if you're outside London) and it was going to put the price of learning up.

I've had Camrider recommended to me before, used to see them up at UEA when I was there too, always looked like they were having a laugh.

Whoops! Should have read this, yep what he said!

i got mine before the new test came in. my lil sis wasnt so lucky she couldnt get hers in time. it is harder.
main difference now is the part that they want you to do off road because it includes a swerve test at I think 50kph (31 mph hence not being able to do this bit on the road.) you still have to do your theory with hazard perception, then the off the road bit at a special centre (on of the main criticisms of these specialist centres were that there were few ready in time for the new switch over leading to people having to travel hundreds of miles and stay overnight to do their test in more remote places like scotland.) the off the road bit also includes some slow riding tests (figure of 8 turn in the road emergency stop e.t.c. and then you have to go out on the road for that bit of the test. all in all very involved now. I had a friend et a quote for 3 day direct access course and was quoted over £500 for the 'big' license (it was £500 when i did a 5 day course 3 years ago!)

hope that helps!

/it might all be wrong, I would check www.motorcyclenews.com that might have some links to the most up to date information or direct.gov.uk im sure they will have more info on there.

I did mine a few years back, great fun, get your cbt then theory done first and then book a direct access course as this will let you know if you're cut out to ride before spunking a load of cash.

Even the cbt is significantly harder than it was 6 years ago

Passed in '96, when it was dead easy.

I'd do the CBT then run around on a 125 for a bit and actually learn to ride it properly. I think a lot of problems these days arise from trying to cram a years learning on an unfamiliar bike into 8days, just to pass a test.

By the by, I had some of the best fun EVER on 125s, with L plates or otherwise.

I'd probably be looking at a 125, but I don't want L plates. Daft I know.

I'd probably be looking at a 125, but I don't want L plates. Daft I know.

you might want to consider the restricted test.. I think it limits you to 250 and is easier than the big boy test.. You'd have to look that up though

Is that the one where you can only ride little ones for two years, then you automatically graduate? That would suit me just fine.

Is that the one where you can only ride little ones for two years, then you automatically graduate? That would suit me just fine.

yes something like that, well it certainly used to be

Isn't it the same test just on a smaller bike?

Just get some L plates if you want a 125. A 250 might be cheaper mind, because there's less demand for them now.
You forget you have L plates after the first week.

50 at 16, 250 at 17, test and a big 'un. Those were the days...from what I remember...