Are all lessons worth the money?

[polarman]

In 2wks time I am going to pay a riding school £200 for 2 days lessons (then £60 to the DSA for an A2 test).

Now, with that money at stake I could afford to take and fail my test 4 times.

The school tell me that they will show me the test routes Wakefield use but I'm not sure if that's a positive. I mean when you ride somewhere new I believe I am probably more careful in my riding than when I am familiar with an area.

The school tell me they will help me put right anything I am doing wrong. That's may be true as I have no one to ride out with / anyone able to check my riding

I have just checked the DSA website and the only available bike test within the nest 3-4 weeks is in Halifax on Friday 30th March at 11.20am. Shame I'll be at work otherwise I'd consider having a bash. I almost feel like throwing my first sicky and taking the test.

What do members think about paying out for lessons - Is it worth a gamble having a bash at a test you may fail? Does it help knowing one or more test routes?


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Gixer 750

[Itchy]

depends on your current skill level , but all in all instructors teach you how to pass the test , once you pass then the real riding/learning begins.

and you may have some bad habits that you don't realise you are doing , but people have spent more and failed and its gutting each time,

if you want to do it on the cheap maybe ask an experienced BCFer to come watch you ride maybe?
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[BanditBitch]

If you have been riding for a while, then the lessons will just tidy you up, and address any bad habits you have developed.

This is what is expected of you on your test

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=27360

If you think you can fulfil the criteria, then have a crack at it yourself....you might get lucky. If not, then book the lessons.

[SonicTheHedge...]

£200 is pretty cheap from what I've seen regarding other people's costs, I think. And you may well benefit as, as has been said, they'll tighten you up and slap you for bad habits.

Experience of the test routes is a good thing, as most areas will have little gotchas which might catch you out - unsigned doglegs, an oddly-lit junction, whatever, and those might prove problematic on your test. Plus when I got take to my test areas the instructor pointed out the usual emergency-stop/U-turn location and, lo and behold, that's exactly where it took place on the test...

Test experience is good, yes, but they can do that through your lessons - give you the equivalent of a few tests a day and solve any of the problems they see. Do the two days, in my opinion.

G'luck!
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Previous: '00 G2 Bandit 600 Naked. Now: '08 BMW GS Adventure.

[polarman]

I'm taking a 2-hour lesson on Thursday night with another Instructor. This guy owns his own school and will meet me near home on an evening, and the 2 hours lesson will cost £40. Initial lesson will comprise of him watching me for 20 - 30mins and assessing what I need before training.

Now this sounds miles better than 2 x 5 hour days on a weekend when I could be doing something with my family or out riding!. Although the cost would be £200 if I needed 5 x 2 hour lessons.

He also has some test dates around the end of April so if we click on Thursday and I'm not totally useless I might be happier with this approach.

Fingers crossed

Very Happy
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Gixer 750

[Itchy]

good idea , anyway I'd say there are some stupid things on the test which really shouldn't be there which you must know,

like the unpowered push U turn, well ok you might need to know how to do this IRL but its kind of pointless to examine it (remember to cover the front brake with 4 fingers and to check back and forth before any movement! , only cover the brake though don't use it as you may drop it)
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[polarman]

Right I'm penciled in for the 23rd April and I think it's an 8.40am test. That means loads of queuing traffic including clueless school run drivers!

So just 4 lessons including one before the test - next one Friday evening.

I know I have the ability to pass the test easily but my lack of confidence is my achilles ankle. I'll be winding myself up and losing sleep for the next 3 weeks.

I would so love to get ride of my L plates. As it is the things are cracked and I've had to superglue and tape the things together (the back one tonight) Laughing

I suppose I need to buy some gum and go into robotic mode for the test - Same as I did for my car test 20 years ago.
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Gixer 750