Learn to ride: The best bike course for you

This thread is for discussion of the article Learn to ride with Visordown: The best bike course for you

Posted: 13/08/2007 at 14:30

Pretty sound advice generally and many people do rush to test when they are not quite ready!

Consider breaking an intensive 4 or 5 day course up in to 2 blocks with spare days in between - this allows you time to absorb what you have been taught, chance to recover physically as many people dont realise how tiring riding a bike every day for a week is especially when learning, and most importantly chance to slot in extra training if you feel you need an extra day!

Much cheaper and quicker than failing and having to rebook!

Andy (Probike Training - Billericay)

Posted: 15/08/2007 at 11:25

Having passed the CBT with flying (riding?) colours, am about to embark on the next stage of my DAS - Direct Access 5-day experience: 2 x Road Rider days.

In fact, in 1&1/2 hours from now I expect to be pottering around East London on one of the riding centre's Honda CG125s (electric start) wearing my brand new Arai lift-up-face helmet - bought as a 'thank you' to myself for the CBT.

Actually, the helmet was bought with consideration to of the fact that I need to correct my sight. With the ride-stop-talk-ride sequence during training, the glasses+gloves combo makes for a pain in the saddle. You need to be able to concentrate on LEARNING & RIDING, anything that gets in the way will jeopardise first time success.

I'm going to record a diary of events to help others... So will report back at some point over the weekend.

Daniel

Posted: 13/10/2007 at 06:42

Here's a copy of the CBT post, for those that missed it... Good Luck!

Got to the training centre nice & early, well prepared...
With: Driving Licence, Passport, cash for lunch/snacks, cough sweets & tissues (gotta cold)
Wearing: Light t-shirt, leather bike jacket, jeans, boots (waterproof walking-style, over the ankles), glasses (take them off to put on/take off your safety helmet!)

Sat down with a group of lads also taking CBT. Good banter helps you to relax & you're going to be with these guys all day so it's best to get along. Their experience ranged from none to one guy's 4th CBT - rode a moped to work. Seeing my jacket, a guy thought I was instructor!

The actual instructor introduced himself, checked our licences, eyesight, the documents & bike of one guy using his own machine for the test, and asked about past experience.

Then the day proceeded with:
Talk: Safety equipment, Parts of the bike / function, highway code
Ride: Start & stop; simple loops around cones; changing gear; loops around cones the other way; slow control; u-turn; slalom; figure-8; emergency stop; junctions - turning left / right.
And that was the morning! The instructor demonstrated some of the practical elements first & stopping distances when braking.
The instructor had then to decide who was ready to go out on the road. It was good that he asked everyone about how confident they felt.
The afternoon consisted of two road rides, connected by radio to the instructor. One learner in front of him, one behind.
First hour was simple-ish roads, junctions then it stepped up to major junctions & roundabouts. The rides were punctuated with rest stops(for a smoke) and more talk about highway code stuff & riding safety.

Do it as the instructor says / does = get the certificate at the end of the day!

Finally, the CBT experience will depend entirely on the instructor. Listen, follow, joke when they're joking, do as they do, be honest.

Hope this helps someone! Good luck.

Next stop 4 Direct access days, watch this space lol

Daniel

Posted: 13/10/2007 at 06:47

I did the 5 day direct access back in 1998 in Bristol

The first 2 days were the basics of how to actually ride the bike & going out on the country roads before the CBT was issued, then it was onto the Bandits for the rest of the week, Lots more riding around & doing the criteria that was required in the old days along with lots of Tea & Bacon doorstop sarnies from the plethora of burger vans.

On the Friday it was test day & around 6 of us set forth to Ashton Gate test centre, one by one we went out with the instructor & did the drive around, park up, get off get on, do a u-turn & back to the test centre.

Of the 6 that went up only one failed because he dropped the bike when he got off it Dohhhh.

Best & most knackering week I have had in years tbh. but was well worth the effort.

Posted: 01/07/2008 at 14:41

My personal view is to invest in a course that teches how to ride and not just pass a test.

I completed my training with circuit based training at mallory park, who started teaching countersteering and leaning from day 1.

Just my view though. 

Posted: 01/07/2008 at 22:37

bigdave, you are having a laugh. The bikes at CBT are death traps, the training is extremely poor, the track time is minimal and the price is huge.

My advice is stick with a less egotistical trainer and get some proper training. CBT's claims are not only rubbish but need investigating by Trading Standards. How on earth Mallory Park allow these cowboys to use their name confounds me.

Posted: 02/09/2011 at 22:28

Rich B reviewed recently Quality Excellent Circuit Based Training (Mallory) Ltd Church Road, Church Rd, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire LE9 7QE Rich B reviewed in the last week Quality Excellent Circuit Based Training (Mallory) Ltd Church Road, Church Rd, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire LE9 7QE Rich B reviewed in the last week Quality Excellent Rich B 11:30 AM - Public Circuit Based Training (Mallory) Ltd Church Road, Church Rd, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire LE9 7QE Rich B reviewed in the last week Quality Excellent Mallory Park Circuit Based Training has to be the place to go in the UK if you have never ridden a motorcycle before or want to take a Direct access course. Many other courses available. I have seen people pass in only 3, 4 and 5 days without a problem. What if you are unsure of your own ability to follow an intensive course? Well if like me your unsure and have some issues, a personal structured training package can be set up and easily followed to success, in a relatively short time frame. Yes the 5 day course is available but if you opt like me to have the unlimited training and 3 attempts at test as well ( Guaranteed Pass and insurance ), then you will take the time frame pressure off yourself allowing you to concentrate on learning the craft of riding properly. I split my 5 day course up into 4 visits of a couple of days at a time including the 3 month unlimited training, due to my spinal disability this worked brilliantly allowing myself to digest what I had learnt and calmly carry on. Yes you have to pay extra for the privilege, but that is life. A 2 hour visit from a plumber can set you back £250 these days and you learn nothing from him. Sean Hayes who owns Circuit Based Training is also joint author of Pass the Bike Test: and be a Great Rider Too! by Sean Hayes and Rupert Paul. A Great book for any biker not just newbies. I bought 8 other learner books, all the DSA ones and some others and Seans' is the most beneficial so far to real world riding and passing the test. At CBT (Mallory) Ltd they offer all bike training whether CBT or full DAS courses and once passed further training advanced etc is just a call away. You are NEVER rushed out onto the road until You and they are happy with your own ability. If you want the best tuition on staying alive on a motorbike for life in a safe relaxed fantastic environment, with Track time and tuition every day even on test day the cones are always available to practice then Mallory Park is without doubt the place to go. Learn Counter Steering around Gerards bend safely, emergency stops at real world speeds on the Kirkby straight etc no problem there. Even the tricky slow stuff around Stapleton and Charlies is fun. The paddock is huge for cone work and it's a relaxed atmosphere. When the time comes to get out onto the roads that is equally fun. The county roads and dual carriageways, even the towns around Kirkby Mallory are lovely. Not too congested and ugly like some parts of the UK. A relaxed slice of England! No I have no ties with them other than my personal recommendation and getting a full Bike License with them. The sad saps out there who have put down Mallory Park Circuit Based Training because they failed and didn't ask questions on what's included in the costs etc or over assumed that a 4 day course would be easy then realising that more training and money was needed because they were not up to the standard is bewildering, complete denial. Not me chief. them. What Rubbish.! Why blame them when your the one on the bike. Read, ask, listen, learn, follow and succeed. Easy and a great time to boots with some lovely people along the way. Great selection of bikes and yes they are not all brand new. Learners like myself drop them, repeatedly. Find me a school anywhere where they replace the scratched ones monthly? 125, 400, 650, 750 .1000, 1250 all great fun and easy

Posted: 17/10/2012 at 10:23

Mallory Park Circuit Based Training has to be the place to go in the UK if you have never ridden a motorcycle before or want to take a Direct access course. Many other courses available. I have seen people pass in only 3, 4 and 5 days without a problem. What if you are unsure of your own ability to follow an intensive course? Well if like me your unsure and have some issues, a personal structured training package can be set up and easily followed to success, in a relatively short time frame. Yes the 5 day course is available but if you opt like me to have the unlimited training and 3 attempts at test as well ( Guaranteed Pass and insurance ), then you will take the time frame pressure off yourself allowing you to concentrate on learning the craft of riding properly. I split my 5 day course up into 4 visits of a couple of days at a time including the 3 month unlimited training, due to my spinal disability this worked brilliantly allowing myself to digest what I had learnt and calmly carry on. Yes you have to pay extra for the privilege, but that is life. A 2 hour visit from a plumber can set you back £250 these days and you learn nothing from him. Sean Hayes who owns Circuit Based Training is also joint author of Pass the Bike Test: and be a Great Rider Too! by Sean Hayes and Rupert Paul. A Great book for any biker not just newbies. I bought 8 other learner books, all the DSA ones and some others and Seans' is the most beneficial so far to real world riding and passing the test. At CBT (Mallory) Ltd they offer all bike training whether CBT or full DAS courses and once passed further training advanced etc is just a call away. You are NEVER rushed out onto the road until You and they are happy with your own ability. If you want the best tuition on staying alive on a motorbike for life in a safe relaxed fantastic environment, with Track time and tuition every day even on test day the cones are always available to practice then Mallory Park is without doubt the place to go. Learn Counter Steering around Gerards bend safely, emergency stops at real world speeds on the Kirkby straight etc no problem there. Even the tricky slow stuff around Stapleton and Charlies is fun. The paddock is huge for cone work and it's a relaxed atmosphere. When the time comes to get out onto the roads that is equally fun. The county roads and dual carriageways, even the towns around Kirkby Mallory are lovely. Not too congested and ugly like some parts of the UK. A relaxed slice of England! No I have no ties with them other than my personal recommendation and getting a full Bike License with them. The sad saps out there who have put down Mallory Park Circuit Based Training because they failed and didn't ask questions on what's included in the costs etc or over assumed that a 4 day course would be easy then realising that more training and money was needed because they were not up to the standard is bewildering, complete denial. Not me chief. them. What Rubbish.! Why blame them when your the one on the bike. Read, ask, listen, learn, follow and succeed. Easy and a great time to boots with some lovely people along the way. Great selection of bikes and yes they are not all brand new. Learners like myself drop them, repeatedly. Find me a school anywhere where they replace the scratched ones monthly? 125, 400, 650, 750 .1000, 1250 all great fun and easy to use. Yes you have to pay for fuel, it is hiring after all. so what. Enjoy the fact that you learning a life skill and forget the initial monetary side, it's your life put a price on that, you choose. Be realistic to yourself. There are other cheaper places but I can't comment on their training as they hadn't the same facilities as Mallory Park, so I didn't choose them. Mallory had everything I was looking for and more. Use of the race track is vital for confidence building without other vehicles to put you off.

Posted: 17/10/2012 at 10:30

No I have no ties with them other than my personal recommendation and getting a full Bike License with them. The sad saps out there who have put down Mallory Park Circuit Based Training because they failed and didn't ask questions on what's included in the costs etc or over assumed that a 4 day course would be easy then realising that more training and money was needed because they were not up to the standard is bewildering, complete denial. Not me chief. them. What Rubbish.! Why blame them when your the one on the bike. Read, ask, listen, learn, follow and succeed. Easy and a great time to boots with some lovely people along the way. Great selection of bikes and yes they are not all brand new. Learners like myself drop them, repeatedly. Find me a school anywhere where they replace the scratched ones monthly? 125, 400, 650, 750 .1000, 1250 all great fun and easy to use. Yes you have to pay for fuel, it is hiring after all. so what. Enjoy the fact that you learning a life skill and forget the initial monetary side, it's your life put a price on that, you choose. Be realistic to yourself. There are other cheaper places but I can't comment on their training as they hadn't the same facilities as Mallory Park, so I didn't choose them. Mallory had everything I was looking for and more. Use of the race track is vital for confidence building without other vehicles to put you off. Yes this review is a little long but over my 4 visits I have seen clients pass after 3, 4, and 5 days and a few like myself who needed that little bit longer. Take the pressure of yourself and pay for the extras, even BMW in Wales has an extras list as long as your arm which soon adds up so read the small print and ask questions, then nothing will bite your rear in surprise. My total amount of days spent training including the test time was 10 Full days and I'm Disabled. Well, now Enabled, and that's it. Now on to continue learning and enjoy biking. So Many Many Thanks to Dave Russell and Sean Hayes for all their help, and to all the great Guys and Girls I met along the way, be safe out there. Simply A Brilliant Successful Time. Cheers Rich.

Posted: 17/10/2012 at 10:32

Bullshit you have no ties to them. They are the worst outfit I have ever seen in any training sector. Bikes that shouldn't pass MOTs, clothing you wouldn't let your dog sleep on, awful instruction by too few instructors (<2:1), crap radios, limited time on track, potholed practice area, too much time just left on your own, too expensive (plus paying for your own fuel too), too few passes, more money wanted by these cowboys for the guaranteed pass, etc., etc., etc.

Worst experience of my life - I passed but still left there with an extremely bitter taste in my mouth. They really should be investigated by TS and other legal bodies. Awful.

Posted: 14/04/2013 at 07:54