Cbt & DAS 4 you - AVOID these guys

[NuBiker2014]

Hi all,

I started a post for the benefit of everyone : Bike Training 'Schools' To Avoid: Share Your Experiences!'

First of all, sorry if a thread like this already exists. I thought I'd like to start a thread on bike 'schools' to avoid. So, please do all chip in.

I'd like to share my experience(s) of a school called CBT & DAS 4 You or Cbt4you which is based in 'many' places (yeah, now I've finally thought of how to start off).

Summary of below (if you don't want to read all): time wasters, not much guidance, not much riding, never made me confident and safe, always asking to fill the bike with petrol, false promises, 4 guys doing a CBT and sharing 1 bike, other student all say similar stories etc etc etc...

Yes, 'many' places as in 1 place which is in London E16. Their website indicates Basildon, Beckton, Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton and Southwark. However, they only operate in one area. I called the number and they picked me up from Chelmsford which is a good thing and took me to London E16 near City Airport.

These guys charge around £720 including DAS and CBT but I paid £640 just for the 3 day DAS. However, was told by the CEO, Steve, who runs the place and is on site always that I will put in about £15 of petrol to cover the whole 3 days.

By the way he's good at making you feel good and happy and giving promises like 'oh I'll take you out on a free ride on a 600cc after you do your theory test to get a feel'. Well, to be honest this hooked me in, but never happened. Other students i met there said the same thing and we LOL'd. So beware. I paid in advance a £200 deposit and he was 'booked out' on this free ride.

Anyways, Day 1 of 3 DAS 'course': Went out late, around 10:30 when asked to be there at 8:45. Was picked up at 9:15 and been told was being picked up from Chelmsford at 8. Waited in the early summer cold like a tree. Basically did 3 hours and 20 mins bike ride (yeah I'm paying over half a grand so I would naturally calculate) with no guidance at all. Just now and then he'd say something "follow me and copy me" etc, "remember your OSM and PSL in your CBT"
To be fair, he did tell us in details when we had a lunch break and explained a bit when I asked questioned, but I shouldn't be asking and this should be told on road. Put in £10 petrol to cover 3 days DAS

Day 2 of 3 DAS: I had this about 3 days after day 1. Told to put petrol in again! so I said noooo. Mod-1 test in the afternoon and about 2 hours training only. which wasn't enough as there were 4 of us training on some side road and had to take turns so not enough practice. I failed

MOD 1 retake: similar as Day 2 but passed.

DAY 3 of 3 DAS: 2 hour 15 min road ride (yes I'm watching the clock) and told to put in another £10. I just put it in. I passed my MOD 2

Most of the trainin I done was on my scooter at home which is how I passed. I really needed the guidance which they failed to deliver. I met a handful of guys on the 4 days there. Most had experience and didn't bother about their poor service even though they knew the school were taking us for a ride (hey, just made a joke!). They just wanted the test and be done with as they knew how to ride.

2 guys I met were fuming, they did 45 mind of Mod-1 training before going to the test on their day 2 of DAS!

There's 2 instructors there as well, sometimes its Steve and sometimes I'ts Rob. Rob wastes less time but still he does take us for a ride(!) I think hes pressured with time and man power.

This place is a joke, wasted my money and time. Hated every moment of it unfortunately. But once you get your licence, everything goes out the head and you don't care anymore and you feel you won a million. But I had to do something. Wasted a lot of money on these guys, just over £800 on training, 1 retake and petrol money. I had to write about these guys.

I met a chap from there who lived local to the school who was really distraught. We went out for a snack after our 'training' really do feel for him (failed mod 1 twice) but we're in touch and told him to write reviews of his experience also. And will send this link to him to let him know something is being started

I would love somebody to tell me the above, I would have saved my money. But couldn't find much info on them. This is why I'm here posting and letting you guys out there know. MOST IMPORTANT: I DID NOT FEEL SAFE ON THE ROAD WITH THEM, NO HELP IN MAKING ME CONFIDENT. If I sway 1 guy away from this school, I'll be happy.

Sorry, I tried to keep this brief but I had to let out so much off my chest on this Friday evening. So please do all share your experiences of your unfortunate encounters like the above of schools to avoid, and keep each other safe.
____________________
____________________
NuBiker2014

[blueglue]

i paid about £650 for my DAS (in the midlands though)

Guys were spot on and did and didnt get asked to fuel the bike i was on!. six of us did the CBT all on separate bikes. The amin trainig was on three year old bikes but the team did early starts and covered several hours a day.

Sounds like a weird/cheap skate setup but i thought the DSA do spot checks quite alot on motorcycle schools these days?