Learning to drive after learning motorcycle first?

[Skudd]

As an ex ADI I found, as a general rule, that those who had ridden a bike properly for a number of years were better to teach than those who hadn't. The reading of the road was far better and didn't have to be taught as much. It does boil down to the person though.
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[Clanger]

Yes, I was on two wheels for a couple of years before I took up car driving; however, I'd been driving tractors and other vehicles off road for a very long time too. So had a lot more driving sense and was aware of the rules of the road. I can't remember how many driving lessons I had - but I remember being in direct competition with other kids in my village to have the least before test. I'm more than sure I had less than 13 lessons altogether...though two tests.
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[FretGrinder]

I did my car licence back in 2018, had about 10 lessons and passed with a couple of minors.

I found it generally easy and I put a lot of it down to having plenty of road experience from being on a bike as my only transport since 2010.

My instructor pretty much confirmed this by telling me that I had enough road experience and awareness and all I needed was just to learn how a car works.

Once I'd practiced the manoeuvres a few times, it all came together quite quickly for me.

The hardest one was probably the parallel park, there's a lot to take in, but once I'd got my points of reference sorted out I was fine.
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[TravisBickle]

I done my car licence when I was 17 and didn't do my motorcycle, HGV class 2, HGV class 1 and PSV licences until my mid 30s. I would say that for me personally driving a car (and even an articulated lorry for that fact) was at first WAY more intuitive than riding a bike. The width of the larger vehicles didn't bother me nor did the nuances of driving/reversing an artic with a trailer it all kinda came naturally to me. Obviously I was already at an advantage learning to ride a bike as I already had the road sense etc. so only had to learn as MarJay said the balance, counter steer, weight shifting, road positioning, just controlling the bike in general there's farm more to it than with a car, which to me was all brand spanking new. Learning to ride a bike for me gave me SO much more things to think about actively/consciously all at the same some whereas doing the HGVs and PSV I never felt I was learning anything new 'technically' or technique-wise as I was already competent at reverse a trailer on a car and larger vehicles didn't bother me was just like taking another car test as all the mechanics/muscle memory and dexterity was already there just had to be up-scaled to a larger vehicle. Learning to ride a bike was COMPLETELY different and in my opinion the harder of all the licences.

I've always said you could probably train a monkey to operate a car.
It's the road sense, hate to use the phrase but hazard perception and empathy/watching out for other road users and anticipating their next move that's the hard bit. You've already got that under your belt so yeah I would say any road sense you have already built up from being a bike ride so far can ONLY be a good thing and make things easier for you compared to having had no prior road experience whatsoever. I can imagine doing it your way round the only real thing would be as someone has already mentioned remembering you've got two to three foot of metal to the left of you as you're passing parked vehicles etc. I imagine going from a bike to a car it would be easy to forget this sometimes and pass objects very closely without realising.

Just go for it! You've already one step ahead and have an advantage so I'm sure you'll find it far easier than most going straight to a car with no bike experience. My son done AM and A1 licences before getting his car licence, his instructor said he could tell the difference in his road awareness etc. and my son reported it made things easier for him.

Definitely spend the money and do it with an instructor though. It'll be worth the money to know you're getting all the correct pointers, not picking up any bad habits and they will know when you're ready, will give you the best chance of passing sooner and first time.

A lot of people saying about getting whinged at by car instructors for doing lifesaver checks but feel it's sensible to do them anyway. Isn't the car-version of this just checking the wing mirror before indicating or manoeuvring? Which is mandatory anyway.

[BananaLover]

[TravisBickle]

[Eddie Hitler]

Depends on each person you ask. Passed my motorcycle test at 19, took my car test at 25 and passed with 1 minor (5 day intensive). Riding beforehand gave me all the road craft needed. The only thing I had to remember to do for the car test and sticks in my memory was to check the left mirror before exiting a roundabout.

[Rebel]

I rode for years before getting a car. I think it helped. Without wishing to imply any superior technique I found three lessons and a couple of hours practice provided the sufficiency of proficiency required.

[Blueberry]

[smokin joe]

[stevo as b4]

I think id rather starting from green horn ground zero learn to ride a bike before driving a car these days.

I know theres a difference between learning to drive/ride and being able to [pass a test and knowing the rules of the road etc, and really being able to drive or ride.

I've known far more people who could ride a bike pretty well or confidently and with good skill, than I've known car drivers. I've probably in 40years only known a hand full of people who could really drive a car well and make it look so easy and smooth etc.

I think the point being is that car driving doesn't promote enthusiasm and desire to do it really well. You jump in and a short while later you get out in a different place. There's not many people who are naturally good drivers or who aren't lazy and trying to do a dozen other things while driving.

Having done my IAM training, and had 25years of experience in cars and commercial vehicles is one thing, but I'd never class myself as a really good driver like the few people I can think of that could really drive well.

[jimster]

I passed my car test first (after a couple of attempts...the shame) and then later passed my bike test first attempt despite doing a very dangerous swoosh through amber traffic lights and going the opposite way to the way the instructor told me to go. The bike testers are a bit more chilled!
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[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Nute]

I think our roads would be a lot safer for bikes if every car driver had to do a CBT as part of thier car learning.

My youngest lad has / is learning to drive a car now. He’s had 10/12 lessons from an instructor and the rest just practice in our cars. He’s perfectly safe and I can’t see him failing but he’s too damn lazy to get off his backside and book the test. To be fair there is a massive waiting list in our area.

[TravisBickle]

I've heard bus drivers and lorry drivers say the same thing about the vehicles they drive.

"They should make 17 year olds sit behind the wheel of one of these things so they understand how difficult it is for us".

It's a nice idea, but it's never going to happen.
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2007 Yamaha FZ1 S Fazer
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2016 Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport

[Fullers1845]

The pass rate for mod2 nationally is currently over 70%, for car test it is less than 50%.

As far as physically operating the machine, I find bikes much easier and more intuitive than cars, I also have a piriformis issue (pain in hip/arse cheek) that doesn't hurt on the bikes, but does driving.

Of course the trade off is cars are a lot harder to tip over, waterproof and you have hugely more protection from zombie road users.

Biking definitely makes mea safer driver as you have to be so much more aware of what's going on around you.

[TravisBickle]

[JordinOdom]

My thoughts to update the thread. I know a few riders who made the switch and found it easier than starting from scratch. It might vary depending on your previous experience and how quickly you adapt to the different dynamics of driving a car.

[JordinOdom]

My thoughts to update the thread. I know a few riders who made the switch and found it easier than starting from scratch. It might vary depending on your previous experience and how quickly you adapt to the different dynamics of driving a car. Taking a few Don Performance Harley Mapping lessons to get the hang of it is a great idea, and don't stress too much about the average number of lessons. Everyone learns at their own pace. Just take it one step at a time and enjoy the process.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Holy fucking spam, Batman!
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[TravisBickle]

Would put myself at risk of getting a ribbing if I asked if this could potentially be a bot? And not a very good one?
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2007 Yamaha FZ1 S Fazer
2021 Honda CMX500 Rebel S
2016 Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport

[spnorm]

I started riding at 16 and passed my test a few weeks after my 17th birthday, but I didn’t pass my car test until I was 39.

I’d had a few lessons in my early 20’s, but found driving really boring, so lost interest. It was the offer of a new Mondeo Titanium X company car which incentivised me to get stuck in and pass my test in 2008. After 21 lessons I passed first time

I would class myself as a natural bike rider, but it took me a few years to feel at home in a car despite driving 20-30k miles per year.

[A100man]