Website feedback

[Mudskipper]

Could I get some feedback on a website I've co-created please?

It's my mate's bike training site but what I'm interested in is how it comes across, ease of use, continuity, speed of loading etc.

First time making a site so would appreciate all feedback including criticism so i can improve it.

Not spam btw, it's only a local business anyway.

www.yorkmotorcycletraining.com
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Villers]

I know nothing about making sites so I imagine I would be your average internet user. For a small company that does what I would expect, anything I thought I could hover over and click worked, it was to the point and simple enough. Seems good to me. Nothing too over the top and no gimmicks.
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Itchy]

Functional , however I semi expected to be able to click on profiles to oggle people some more.

Also the I think you should state that helmet / (gloves maybe?) is / or is not provided for use. Since the site does not make this clear at all.


Also how long the CBT will take , people who've done it will know it takes a day or so fresh meat won't.

EDIT

Nearly forgot what kind of payment methods (and conditions) do you accept , the site to me makes me think wads of cash.
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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.

[Mudskipper]

Thanks guys, Itchy I've made a couple of changes after your suggestions, thanks.

Yes, I'm trying to find a bleeding VISA/MCARD/SWITCH logo that contains the right cards!

I'll put some text in for now, cheers.
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Itchy]

meh steal them from else where

https://www.gemjewellery.co.uk/images/VisaMasterCardSwitchSolo.gif

https://www.beststuff.co.uk/images/buttons/payment_cards.gif

or photo shop the bottom one
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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.

[panrider_uk]

Looks fine to me. Its fast on my PC and I like the way the photos work in the shop.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[Burnside]

Good site

Would you consider changing the font or the spacing on the Home and CBT pages - its a bit too far apart. The News page font is just right
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I started out with nothing and I still got most of it left.

[Drew]

Do we have to give the kind of feedback where we have to say it is lovely even if it is not, or honest feedback on what we actually think? I didn't think the latter was allowed on here.....

[Drew]

On the CBT Info page, why does the title link to the news page? That's only fault I see (unless it is suppose to). Other than that I would whack the phone number on more pages so it is readily available, and not have to look for it.

[Albion]

Does the job I suppose.

However your html and css dosnt validate and you seem to be using tables. For a future proof and clean coded website you should use div tags and style the site in CSS.
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A2 Passed on 07/05/08, CG125 bought on 21/07/08.

[Mudskipper]

Thanks again

Holly - cheers for spotting that, have made some changes.

Drew - cheers yeah that is an error ( whoops) I'm on the case.

Albion - yeah I've heard of div but not exactly sure how to do it? Using tables for now til I learn.
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[G]

Quickly....
(And please don't be offended, this is my opinion, I test computer software for my job so do tend to pick out lots of picky stuff... as a first site it's not too bad and is way better than a lot I've seen)

'Amauter' look - not very 'shiny'

Home Page:
Too many pictures at the top - no body text is shown on my monitor
Body text is too small
Tell me why you're great here... why I want to carry on and read elsewhere on the site.
Don't tell me to phone you for more information at this point... I'll probably just go elsewhere.
Copyright 2003?
Less waffle generally.
The animated gif thingy at the bottom is annoying and distracting.
State more clearly what you do.

About us:
I was expecting more details about the company, how long going etc.
Then maybe some smaller pics with links to profiles to the side of that.
Some pictures of the instructors riding their own bikes etc too might be worth considering (so we can see they know what they're doing.)

News:
Would like to see some news about the company in there too.

CBT Info:
You start with 'What does CBT involve?', then go on to copy and paste some DVLA thing or something.
Tell me what YOUR CBT involves, do I get coffee and biscuits in the break? Will I get friendly instruction? Just looked further down, seems you do start to go into this a bit... but I hadn't bothered to look that far down because I stopped at the copy and paste of DVLA ino.

Gallery:
Definitely some pics of instructors riding their own bikes, as well as CBT etc people and some big smiles when students have passed, holding certificates, too.

Shop:
Give me a bigger link to your ebay shop.
Give me some rallies with details of ones you'll be at.

Contact Us:
Should be able to do an interactive map or at least a link to one.
Directions could be better laid out.
What about public transport?.. these people don't have bike licences, we can presume.

Could carry on, but reckon that'll be a decent start .

[bazza]

Have a look at (random googled examples) of other sites offering the same, like:

https://www.elitemotorcycletraining.com/

https://www.camrider.com/

https://www.phoenixtrainingonline.co.uk/

Then go about nicking being inspired by the elements you think are good; design, layout, overall "feel" etc.

Black backgrounds are soooo 1990s.

Pictures need to be sharp, in focus and convey information, likewise graphics - logos, etc. That "York Motorcycle Training" heading looks awful.

Test everything, get other people to test everything, spellcheck everything, check your links - regularly - and then test it all again.

EDIT:

I'm not a website designer by any means, but 30 mins with a free site editor, a free template and some "borrowed" content:

https://www.ochainn.ath.cx/pix/yorky1.png

Yes, I know it's beige and bland.
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"That's it. You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter

[steppen22]

I liked the clicky pictures (about us)
- however, one picture is duplicated.

I'd put together a detailed faq about the cbt - sorta questions you get on the new rider subforum. have this as a sublink, though.

I'd emphasise more that the cbt is for begiiners and that the instructors are used to working with newbies etc and will be patience and considerate, treat each person as an individual, tailer his approach to the customers needs, all of that malarky etc.
why? Becuase you have pictures of "greasy bikers" - (eg jo and alison) there's a danger of putting off nervous newbies. A newbie, whose never ridden before, might find it off putting if he thinks his trainers are going to be hardcore bikers (rather that staid but professional dsa-ers)

for this reason, I'd try to get "divided" the cbt, training info, from the bike meet/rally stuff. On the home page, for example you have a pic of puny learner bikes next to a pic of four "proper bikers" who I can't imagine would be too fond of riding those bike... on the about us page, you have a pic of the female/instructors looking attentive and professional, next to pics of alison/jo: who I imagine - purely from their image, which is all your customers will see online - haven't ridden a 125 for years.

You're creating mixed messages for newbies, who will be your primary customer base for the cbt. You're in danger of putting off newbies, because subconsciously you're encouraging them to think of big bikers in leather, when you should be encouraging them, subconsciously, to think of trainers being patient, attentive, etc.

- specify the bikes that are used
- have some profiles of customers. "Jane was really nervous on the day of the training. but our fully qualified instructors put her nerves at ease, and patientyly worked with her, until she had mastered the off road training. Then it was time for the road!" etc etc.
- more pictures of rachael please..A pretty female trainer is a definite selling point. Don't waste it.

It's a good design, I like the page. It's what I'd expect from a local training school/shop.
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no regrets, no retreat, no apology.
I've made mistakes in the past, and I apologise for FUCK ALL.

[steppen22]

Also - directions!!

I've seen the site, but I stil have no idea where you operate from!
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no regrets, no retreat, no apology.
I've made mistakes in the past, and I apologise for FUCK ALL.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Drew]

When I was reading up about SEO
(Search engine optimization) it said something like don't have a 'contact us' or 'about us' pages.

Instead have 'Contact York Motorcycle Training' or 'About York Motorcycle Training' etc etc

[MinhDinh]

the yellow hyperlinks at the top are very square. maybe test out a smoother edge and different colours?

the gallery pics are very small. if you made them bigger it would be more appealing to me.

there's something about the yellow that i don't personally like. i found it annoying in the training and prices bit too.

other than that, i think it's cool.
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Hit the G spot.

[Dischord]

anyone looking for training will find what they need -

contact numbers
location
courses available and prices

It's not the type of site that should look pretty or have the content to be browsed for hours. Saying that it's not even bad but no need to go ott IMO with flashy backgrounds and shiz. Just get it advertised properly and it'll be fine
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2012 KTM EXC 250

Check out my vids - https://www.youtube.com/user/KTMSparky/videos

[Kickstart]

Hi

Looks pretty decent style wise (not so sure on the yellow link buttons with black text) and gives the info required.

Change the copyright date to 2009 so it looks like it is up to date.

And I would be tempted to change the animated gif on the front page as it cycles too quickly to be pleasant.

Might also be worth setting up an icon to appears in the url bar for the site (makes it easier to find the site when you have 20~30 pages open at once).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[TheDonUK]

I quite like the look of it, and i think you have done a decent job if it is your first time

Just a couple of points, tell me to go away if they are not accurate, on the home page the yellow buttons at the top, to my eyes CBT Info, Gallery and Contact US buttons are all a weaker shade of yellow than the others, at first i thought it was an alternating colour but upon further throught that doesent make much sense. Or if you are going to keep it make the about us the same weak yellow too for reasons of symmetry.

Definately get those profiles up ASAP.

And i agree with whoever said that instead of copying verbatim the standard CBT procedure state what exactly it is you do, maybe even with a timeframe, so

8:30: Arrive
8:35: Tea + Biscuits followed by classroom session
etc etc...

Also, not really to do with the website, but why are the price differences between using your own bike and a hire bike so small?
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[Graprilia]

very good , nice work
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Piaggo liberty 125 SOLD - CBR 125 - SOLD Aprilia RS 125 - SOLD CBR 400 NC29 - SOLD ZX6R currently own https://bikepics.com/members/Graprilia/

[JonB]

Loads of little niggly things I've found already.

The font size is too small and isn't an easy to read font. Now i've got good eyesight, but i'm pretty sure a lot of people would be struggling to read it.

Simple things like forgetting to capitalise letters. On the Training and Prices page, the Compulsory Basic Training has not got capitals at the start of each word.

I'm not a fan of the black background at all really and the yellow makes it look even more garish. However that is just personal opinion.

It looks like a personal website, which, whilst isn't bad doesn't look especially professional.

Directions to the centre needs it's own dedicated web space. It is one of the most important things about your business. If I am looking for a motorcycle training centre near York, I don't care if you have a shop. I do however care where abouts you are based. I'd take it out of the "Contact Us" section and give it it's own section.

Also on this same page, isn't there an email address for general enquiries? It makes you more approachable, I for one am not a fan of phoning somebody unless I am making a booking / Or, like here I have no choice.

Other than that, no obvious problems. Of course, these are all personal opinions so use them as you so wish. I don't have experience of making websites, but I do use websites on a regular basis.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.