CBT tomorrow, queries!

[vtgrrrs]

Hi, I'm a newbie (I'm betting you guessed that by the title right?) and I was due to do my CBT tomorrow. I booked it a couple of months back and was told to be there for 9.

I rang today to confirm the time only to be told that something had come up and could I come in at 12.30. I said I would and asked what time I should expect to finish and was told about 4ish. Does this seem like a reasonable amount of time to get through it? I've never been on a bike before and will want to use a bike with gears rather than an auto. I'm 34 and have been driving a car for a few years if that makes any difference.

Thanks for any help/advice, Tris

[P.addy]

No,

That is fucking stupid.

You need at least 3-4 hours training before they consider a road ride.

If you start then, ask to pay half price.

[noobRider]

Others know more than me, but I would say "No". You're not just paying for the piece of paper (which you might get in half a day), you're paying for a full days training and you're not going to get that starting at lunch-time.

I would go to somewhere more reputable if they are pulling this stunt.
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Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[vtgrrrs]

Thought that might be the case. The problem is I had to take holiday from work and won't have any left to take until April. Weekends are out for me too as they are when I see my kids. What a total pain! They are quite a reputable centre swell!

[daverave999]

The legal requirement is two hours on the road on CBT, so either you're being ripped off or being rushed through the first steps to get you on the road.
Either way I'd look elsewhere.

[Wonko The Sane]

I started at 9 and was finished by 2 including a lunch break.

Wasn't on the road for 2 hours, more like 1 hour.

not being big headed about it, but had I been the only one being put through it, I'd have had it done in half a day, perhaps other people have pulled out and you're the only one doing CBT?


I'd be trying to find out why it's only half a day and what happens if you don't make it through in the time they're giving you.

[noobRider]

I needed a full day, and I am an experienced car driver and had driven a bike for months, many years ago in another country. I was crap at bike control. I don't think you can tell how you're going to be until you start.
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Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[vtgrrrs]

They did say that I could do extra hours on a different day at no extra cost if I didn't reach the required standard but that isn't a lot of use as I'd find it difficult to find the time for an extra half day at the minute.

[P.addy]

[yen_powell]

I used to teach CBT and that is just a stupid amount of time, especially for someone who hasn't ridden before.

As stated, you are supposed to go out and ride for a minimum of two hours. As they will want you back before it gets dark, rides normally finish at 4ish. An hour and half (12:30 till 2pm) is not enough time just for the training.

They will have you wobbling round a car park then say you're not ready to go out on the road (which you won't be) and you'll be stuck trying to come back another day.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[mudcow007]

i had my CBT last week but could only do the wobbly car part bit as it was too windy to go out on the roads, i finished around 12 (9am start)

im going back on Saturday to do the road ride, on an ER5

[TheSmiler]

[vtgrrrs]

Does anyone in the know think that it's likely that other CBT centres will have spaces if I ring round early? I have no idea what demand is like for the course if I'm honest. I just hope I can get a refund OK. What was supposed to be an enjoyable day tomorrow morning is turning in to a bit of a stress tonight. Why can't everything be easy?

[BigDan1190]

I'd just do it tbh... you've driven a car, the CBT is piss easy anyway...

If you were 17 just starting out, i'd probably say wait another day.

Raise your concern over the phone with them, and basically say, if you fail me, I want a refund. If I pass, I'm happy to pay.

Thats what I'd do anyway.

[mudcow007]

[vtgrrrs]

Managed to get in somewhere else starting at 9.00 for a full day. Heading off there now. The original place I booked in at, the guy I spoke to said he wasn't at the office to sort refund out but if I rang back tomorrow he'd sort it. I'm a bit dubious after their messing about but here's hoping. If not it'll be a phone call to the bank to sort it I guess!

[Clive L]

It's not possible to do a full CBT with a new rider in 3.5 hours.
Element A done properly is about half an hour, element B another half hour, and element D at least 45 minutes. As has been said, a legal minimum of 2 hours for element E, that would leave a total of minus 15 minutes for element C, which is when you actually learn to ride.

Our CBTs with new riders rarely take less than 7.5 hours, starting at 8.30am, usually finishing between 4 and 5pm (including lunch break)

If a student needs to come back, we do not charge extra, and no school should if it was due to the weather.

A CBT with experienced riders will finish earlier, but still not less than 5.5 hours.

[Rogerborg]

Strictly speaking, Brussels demands that you shouldn't be issued any category A license if you've had fewer than 7 hours of training.
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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

[vtgrrrs]

I have passed my CBT today! It was quite an enjoyable, if cold, day. I did it with another young lad but we were both put on scooters as we didn't master the gears fast enough.

I 'passed' but the young lad didn't (poor observation/highway code knowledge). Anyway I can officially ride a 125cc bike now (geared or not) and they said I can pop down and do a bit of training on the geared bike for an hour or so free of charge when I get the time.

I'm pleased I listened to the advice on here as there is no way on earth I would have done it if I had started at 12.30. However, that guy says he can't sort my refund out until Sunday as he won't be in the office where the card machine is until then which is a pain.

[thepuma]

[jackelliott07]

Congrats buddy! Bet you're well happy, i know i was when i passed my CBT... i too hadn't ridden a bike before but it was such a great feeling!

So what's your plans next, you gonna get a full license? Since you're old enough you can go straight onto direct access.

I'd definitely recommend jumping on those few hours you've been offered to learn on a geared bike as i imagine the difference is quite big (never ridden an automatic myself)

But good job anyway! such a buzz!
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'98 YZF 600R Thundercat

[angryjonny]

[J.M.]

Depends on how confident you feel, but make sure you get the next day free if you need it.

I started my CBT at about 11am and passed it first time. Finished at 4, maybe 4:30?
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[vtgrrrs]

Yeah, it's free. He said that he got us on the scooters as he just wanted to make sure we got the 2 hours on the road in the afternoon. It was a pretty comprehensive day otherwise. Personally I think I could have got used to the gears but I only had about 5 mins/4 attempts to get used to the clutch before I was put on the scooter but he was the instructor and I obviously trusted his judgement.

[jackelliott07]