Going for licence Q's (which route to take)

[DaveB]

Guys

Firstly, hello been lurking for a few weeks and need a little advice on going for my licence. Past CBT last month, and have got myself a 125 which I'm really enjoying, so much so I want to go for my licence. Not ridden since I passed my driving test (car) in 1988 so been a fair while..

There are 2 training centre's local to me (Harlow, Essex) I have spoken to both and both recommend different styles of learning, not really sure which is the best one to go with.

RAKtrain, will only do a fast track course comprising of 4 days back to back which include both the test modules. These are full days. The site they instruct from has a road layout to practice on but seems limited for Mod 1 practice (setting up swerve test etc)

Camrider, recommends a 5 session course (split up to siuit myself) which also includes the tests. These won't be full days but 4 hour sessions. Site has no road but does state they can set up a full Mod 1 test for practice.

I'm in no hurry to pass but would rather take the option to give me my best chance (like to pass this year) whether it's fast track or weekly lesson's...Prices are identical.

Any opinions appreciated.

Cheers

Dave

[Dazbo666]

Did my CBT and DAS back in 2005, after a number of years on 4 wheels.

I was given the option of an intensive course, but due to work commitments I preferred to split it up into weekly sessions - a full day / half day once a week.
To be honest I'm glad I split them up because the concentration required was quite intense, and I felt exhausted towards the end of the day.

Obviously it's all down to personal preference, but the weekly sessions suited me best.

For the record, I passed first time
____________________
1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Daytona Paul]

If both courses are the same price surely there is something wrong somewhere?

4 full days training or 5 x 4 hr 'sessions'? I know what I think is the better deal

Why not go and have a chat with the Instructors, rather than the sales person on the phone, and see what they are like as well?
____________________
www.angliaroadtraining.com
CBT FROM ONLY £85
Back to Biking Refresher Day £99! Book with a friend and get 20% Discount!

[Daytona Paul]

Forgot to add:

Check what both companies charge for retest's should you fail

I was talking to a couple who both failed their Mod1 with a different Camrider branch and the company wanted to charge £140 each (mod2 would probably be around £200) for a 15 min test
____________________
www.angliaroadtraining.com
CBT FROM ONLY £85
Back to Biking Refresher Day £99! Book with a friend and get 20% Discount!

[Richy92]

I did my CBT with RAKtrain a year ago, I thought they were pretty good, I went back recently to ask about doing the full licence, they were pretty helpful and I would recommend them. Go down there and speak to them, they do have other options to the 4 day course.

Unfortunately for them, they advised me to have a go a Mod 1 on my 125, when I passed that I sat the Mod 2 on the same bike, so I never did spend any money on training there other than the CBT.

The Mod 1 is really easy, loads of info on the net about it, I spent a few hours in my local Tesco car park with a bunch of Sprite cans for cones. Just set them out as per the diagram and practice, make the distances a little shorter, then on the day it will be easy. Ignore the scare stories about the swerve test in Mod 1, it's rubbish, you barley even need to move if you line it up right out of the trap.

As for the Mod 2, if you drive a car then it shouldn't be that hard as you already have most of the required skills (and you can make 10 faults)
I took a chance on mine and got lucky, but I had done 2k on the 125 already.

As for booking, use the DSA site and book whatever it offers you even if it seems to far away, once you have a date you can go back on the web twice a day and keep looking for earlier appointments if you want to. I waitied 4 days to get my Mod 1 and 7 days for Mod 2 (although the first date offered was 4 weeks away).

Good luck

[Teflon-Mike]

If you have your own bike, I reccomend, weekly, sessional training.
Small chunks; you have more chance to absorb, take in, mull, ponder, consider and make sense of what you are tought, and can practice what you have been toght till your hearts content, between lessons till you have it nailed; review progress at next session, make sure you have it straight, move on.

Intensive courses, you tend to cram; rapid learning, means rapid forgetting, as you have less time to mull and make sense of give what you are tough meaning or relevance from experience.

Many DAS learners, particularly from a cold start, get a licence from DAS; but once on the road; on their own; no instructor giving them confidence through an ear-piece, feel completely at sea; struggling to remember what they were tought.

Depends on where you are at; and what you want to achieve, REALLY.... but I strongly adbvocate weekly sessional training.... BUT with self practice, and plenty of it between lessons, as the 'best' way to learn for 'most' riders... its simply less stressful and more reliable.
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Rogerborg]

You could always pass on your own 125, cost £90.50, get an "A <= 125kW" license. The tests aren't hard, and there's plenty of information available on them.

Buy a Big Boy bike, restrict it to 33bhp (or thereabouts), ride on that for a bit.

If you find that you want to upgrade to full A within two years, you can see about hiring a bike from a training school, or de-restrict yours for the test, or just turn up on it with L plates and see if the examiner cares what power it's generating.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[DaveB]

Thanks for the responses guys, few things to mull over...Did pop into Camrider yesterday for a chat, will probably do the same with RAKtrain and go with what suits me really. May struggle to get 4 days/week off so may do it around my days off (funny shifts) but we'll see.

Booked my theory (again cause of work I can't do it until 13th Sept) but can always book the DAS, in no rush

Cheers

Dave