Info on CBT

[philmcg56]

Hi guys and girls this is my first post and was wondering if you kind peeps could assist in giving some info to a total beginner. I have recently purchased a 56 plate varadero 125 as i was given a deal i couldn't refuse from a colleague (the mrs wasn't too happy though). What i was wondering is what knowledge or abilities should i have when i arrive to sit my cbt, i am a 31 year old total beginner and have only had a very little off road experience on a friends trail bike, any info would be greatly appreciated as i am looking forward to getting out there on the road. Thanks for any help

[winxp-master]

If you have already ridden a bike off-road (even just a daft run across a field) then you should be absolutely fine. All you have to do to pass a CBT is show that you can control the bike and ride in a safe manner on the roads, it's not advanced training by any means and is very basic.

I had only ever ridden my mates vara125 in a car park before doing my CBT and it's a doddle.

You will have an hour in the classroom and they will go over road safety just to gauge what you are like for corners and know what to do etc. Then you will be shown the bike (usually a Honda CG125) and they will go over gears, brakes etc. Then you will have a ride round in the compound and they will make sure you can pull away, stop, signal etc.

You will then have a ride round the roads with the instructor and you just have to show you can ride safely and so long as they think you won't kill yourself then you have passed

If not, you go back the following week (at no extra cost) and try again, but you should be fine.

Good luck and let us all know how you get on

[bandit]

I had never been on a bike when I went for my CBT and passed no bother.

I see you live in Troon I would recommend Pegasus bike training in Ayr did my direct acess with them good luck

[philmcg56]

Thanks guys that has put my mind at rest, i'm picking up bike at the end of the month and hope to be on road straight away cannae wait!!!

[YEN_POWELL]

When I taught CBT some people had never even sat on a bike, it was a start from scratch jobbie. Nothing wrong with that of course, but with 4 pupils of different abilities it makes it a bit difficult to keep them all occupied at the same time.

[davsato]

dont worry about it mate, its just another machine.(and the babydero is a honey, the best 125 out there for all purpose use)

at 31 i assume you have been driving for a while? thats 80% of the CBT, its designed around trying to teach 16/17 yr old halfwits a bit of road savvy, and rightly so. if you already have that, you can concentrate on controlling the bike and then you'll pee through it, its a blast. i dont remember any DAS lessons i took at all, but i remember every minute of my CBT 15 yrs ago.
i had never sat on a PTW before in my life, and you soon pick it up.

[RodYork]

As others have said- The secret is in the course title- C"Basic"T...it is also Training and not a TEST- so do not put yourself under any unwarrented pressure.

Just take in as much information as your instructor can give you. They should be familiar with students of differing abilities and pair off accordingly.

Take advantage of the Road Ride ( Part E) which should be an absolute min of 2 hours on the road and concentrate on putting into practice what has been taught in sections A>D

Ask at every opportunity if you are unsure of anything- a lot of the CBT instructors do this at the weekends and are bikers themselves primarily- they just like to help others learn to ride and for this they are paid a nominal sum. Ask ..Ask..Ask!- they will be delighted to offer their road stories!

Good luck & let us know how you get on.

Are you considering doing the Larger Bike training & test in the near future, (DAS)- a number of people are happy to get 125 cc training under their belt and only when they see they have to renew their CBT test certificate ( 2 years) decide to do the DAS.

Good luck!

[philmcg56]

Hi again and thanks for the replies i am now quite looking forward to doing this cbt where as before i was pretty nervous i'm particularly looking forward to the 2 hour ride on the road. I think i'm gonna stick with just the cbt for the time being and if i am still enjoying life away from the car 6 months down the line i will probably go for the test before the weather turns ****ty again although i'm unsure whether to go for the test on the 125 or try for something bigger. To be honest for all the distance i'll be covering getting to my work the 125 cc would probably do fine for me (its only 10 minutes down the road). Thanks again for the info you have been most helpful

[winxp-master]

Once you get used to riding around you wont be doing the test on a 125 you will want the big bike, just like me

After 6 months (and a wee shot on a m8`s bandit) i couldnt phone the test place up quick enough for my DAS. When you see all the big bikes going for a blast in the summer you will want some of the action

[davsato]

Once you get used to riding around you wont be doing the test on a 125 you will want the big bike, just like me

After 6 months (and a wee shot on a m8`s bandit) i couldnt phone the test place up quick enough for my DAS. When you see all the big bikes going for a blast in the summer you will want some of the action

i couldnt wait that long! the idea was i ditched one of the cars and got a 125 twist'n'go for work, to save some money. the CBT on a little honda CG125 was such fun i booked an intensive DAS course as soon as we got back to the depot.

one thing i will say, the CBT is one thing, DAS something else completely. i rushed into it and a few months on a 125 would have done me a lot of good i think. it took me three goes to get through the test, part nerves part bad weather and part because the tester in chichester was a pedantic git trying to follow a 500cc bike in a car! the old bloke with the pan euro in gosport was good as gold, i made more cockups third time round but passed, a biker to test bikes is a lot fairer, and having the test in a busy built up area was much easier than rural fast roads. theres nowhere to go when your stuck in traffic