Learning Gears

[orangepeeleo]

Hey,

Spotted an offer on Groupon at the weekend for a CBT with (removed) @ £59, paid for the groupon and gave them a ring to book. The woman on the phone then told me that its on a 50cc auto scooter and all the details were in the groupon, fair enough I thought, my mistake, and booked up anyways.

The groupon doesn't state anything about doing the CBT on an automatic scooter (if it did I wouldn't have booked as I have no intention of riding one), the woman said that they do a free upgrade lesson for a geared bike though....provided I've signed up for extra training.

I've been driving a car for 12 years, going to look into refund policy at some point today, but is it worth going and then just teaching myself the gears? As long as its the same process in a car I can't see myself having too many problems, just ride up and down my street to practice for a while right?

EDIT: Have removed company name as this is now resolved, very quickly and professionally

[Alienfish360]

[ws4936]

Gears are alot easier on a bike than a car, however having said that...they are completely different. It may take you a while to adjust, others may find it easy. on a CBT you've generally mastered it by lunch time. If you are looking into getting a 125cc bike, it may be worth your while taking the auto 50cc as it'll cover you for a geared bike once completed. It all depends if you've had experience riding with gears...or have a friend that will 'loan' you his bike on private grounds to get used to them.
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.

[RhynoCZ]

Gears are actually way easier in a car. You always know what's there and you can go into neutral from any gear you want.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Alienfish360]

If you understand the principal of changing gear and the clutch, then you'll be fine.

Obviously you do since you drive a car. The only difference is in the method that you actually change the gear. So bit of practice like that and you will be fine, you won't be needing to re-learn how and when to change gear.

[orangepeeleo]

[wizzzard]

Obviously everyone is a little different but I chose to do my CBT on an auto scooter merely because I prefer learning on my own. I completed the CBT and went straight home and jumped on my geared bike and within the hour was a good few miles from home pootling about quite happily.
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And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[Rogerborg]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[pinkyfloyd]

I dont understand why the school wont give you the 125 CBT. Its the same day. It only takes an extra 10 minutes to do the gear element so I cant understand the big deal.

you went to the wrong school mate.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Alienfish360]

[pinkyfloyd]

Bloody cowboys!

We wouldnt do that. You get a choice. We have a deal with one of the local dealers, buy a bike from them and you get a voucher for a free CBT. Geard or ped is your choice.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Rogerborg]

[orangepeeleo]

[Rogerborg]

Or, just send them a written notice cancelling the contract, and book elsewhere while you wait for your refund?
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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

[orangepeeleo]

Have posted on their FB page and sent an email as the office is closed on a Monday so I can't phone, have said in the email if a course on a geared 125 can be offered instead then I will be happy to do that, otherwise please cancel.

Fingers crossed they just get me on a 125

[Richtea]

[pinkyfloyd]

[Richtea]

[pinkyfloyd]

Mr Tea. You missed the point I read into what Roger and others said.

You could do a CBT and not make the grade, its happened to me. I've had to say no to students. Its part of the job. But from reading into what has been said, you could do a CBT and be the best rider to ever grace the yard and still told you have not made the grade to force you to pay again or pay more.

Making the grade at the end of the road ride is down to what the instructor see's whilst out on the road. How would the student know the instructor was in the wrong?
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Richtea]

I haven't missed the point, I'm just saying that people are assuming that it must be a con because its cheap.

It may well be as Roger has said with loads of added 'extras' bumping up the price, but the OP has not mentioned this.

All I'm saying is give them a chance. He may be better off asking if any one has used that that particular school before and what the feed back is.

My Mrs has used groupon quite successfully to promote her business with reduced prices etc and they were genuine offers with the hope that it would result in repeat custom.

These guys MAY be doing the same, with people looking for further training in the future?
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2005 Honda Varadero 125xl > 2005 GS500F > 2007 DRZ400 SM > 600 Bandit & Yamaha YP250

[orangepeeleo]

I might cancel it because the discount was just a bonus, I'm not arsed about paying £100 instead for a days instructor led training on something I am actually going to ride on.

And there's always the looking cool factor to add in, no offense to any scooter riders on here, but holding up a queue of traffic while I scream down the road at 30mph is not something I want to be seen doing tbh

I've phoned groupon and they have said that as long as I get back to them within 7 days I can cancel, whether the school have used my code yet or not, so will wait to hear what the training school says about changing it to a geared bike, and then go from there

[Richtea]

[orangepeeleo]

[orangepeeleo]