Motorbike license - any school recommendations
Discussion
Hi folks - can anybody recommend a training place to get your motorbike license? 
I'm keen to do a intensive course (do the whole thing from scratch, so CBT and full Direct Access, in several consecutive days if at all possible), preferably commutable distance relatively local to Windsor in the next few months.
I don't have a plastic-covered crotch-rocket at present so somewhere that provides the whole caboodle (i.e.: bike hire, lid, fuel etc.) would be magic
Cheers,
Neil.
I'm keen to do a intensive course (do the whole thing from scratch, so CBT and full Direct Access, in several consecutive days if at all possible), preferably commutable distance relatively local to Windsor in the next few months.
I don't have a plastic-covered crotch-rocket at present so somewhere that provides the whole caboodle (i.e.: bike hire, lid, fuel etc.) would be magic
Cheers,
Neil.
I've just passed the full licence with Lightning. They have a base in Reading (Rivermead) and Oxford (near Kazam stadium). The local test centres are in Oxford, Farnborough, Banbury, Swindon - anywhere but Reading basically!
I had never sat on a bike prior to doing the CBT. Did that then a few days later a 5-day intensive course (2 practice days on 125, 2 days on 500, final day test). Can't fault the instruction and I was certainly capable and confident of passing the test at the end.....but I didn't! Failed the Mod 1 (mickey mouse car park bit) which had the knock on of meaning I could not take the Mod 2 that day; £75 test fee wasted right there.
My advice is do not book the Mod 1 and Mod 2 for the same day as I did (time constraints ahead of starting a new job the following week led me to that). If you do pass the Mod 1 you stand a good chance of getting a Mod 2 cancellation that day anyway, avoiding risking the cash.
Lightning do not offer a 'guaranteed pass' style course where if you were to fail extra lessons and tests are at no extra cost, as I believe some other schools do. So the costs can soon start to add up. They don't have the newest or prettiest bikes either compared to others I saw, but they do the job.
Also Banbury seems an easier place to take the Mod 2 test than Oxford IME. Comes down to luck of the draw to some extent though.
I had never sat on a bike prior to doing the CBT. Did that then a few days later a 5-day intensive course (2 practice days on 125, 2 days on 500, final day test). Can't fault the instruction and I was certainly capable and confident of passing the test at the end.....but I didn't! Failed the Mod 1 (mickey mouse car park bit) which had the knock on of meaning I could not take the Mod 2 that day; £75 test fee wasted right there.
My advice is do not book the Mod 1 and Mod 2 for the same day as I did (time constraints ahead of starting a new job the following week led me to that). If you do pass the Mod 1 you stand a good chance of getting a Mod 2 cancellation that day anyway, avoiding risking the cash.
Lightning do not offer a 'guaranteed pass' style course where if you were to fail extra lessons and tests are at no extra cost, as I believe some other schools do. So the costs can soon start to add up. They don't have the newest or prettiest bikes either compared to others I saw, but they do the job.
Also Banbury seems an easier place to take the Mod 2 test than Oxford IME. Comes down to luck of the draw to some extent though.
John D. said:
I've just passed the full licence with Lightning. They have a base in Reading (Rivermead) and Oxford (near Kazam stadium). The local test centres are in Oxford, Farnborough, Banbury, Swindon - anywhere but Reading basically!
I had never sat on a bike prior to doing the CBT. Did that then a few days later a 5-day intensive course (2 practice days on 125, 2 days on 500, final day test). Can't fault the instruction and I was certainly capable and confident of passing the test at the end.....but I didn't! Failed the Mod 1 (mickey mouse car park bit) which had the knock on of meaning I could not take the Mod 2 that day; £75 test fee wasted right there.
My advice is do not book the Mod 1 and Mod 2 for the same day as I did (time constraints ahead of starting a new job the following week led me to that). If you do pass the Mod 1 you stand a good chance of getting a Mod 2 cancellation that day anyway, avoiding risking the cash.
Lightning do not offer a 'guaranteed pass' style course where if you were to fail extra lessons and tests are at no extra cost, as I believe some other schools do. So the costs can soon start to add up. They don't have the newest or prettiest bikes either compared to others I saw, but they do the job.
Also Banbury seems an easier place to take the Mod 2 test than Oxford IME. Comes down to luck of the draw to some extent though.
Thanks mate - I guess Farnborough would be the closest bet for me; I'll check them out.I had never sat on a bike prior to doing the CBT. Did that then a few days later a 5-day intensive course (2 practice days on 125, 2 days on 500, final day test). Can't fault the instruction and I was certainly capable and confident of passing the test at the end.....but I didn't! Failed the Mod 1 (mickey mouse car park bit) which had the knock on of meaning I could not take the Mod 2 that day; £75 test fee wasted right there.
My advice is do not book the Mod 1 and Mod 2 for the same day as I did (time constraints ahead of starting a new job the following week led me to that). If you do pass the Mod 1 you stand a good chance of getting a Mod 2 cancellation that day anyway, avoiding risking the cash.
Lightning do not offer a 'guaranteed pass' style course where if you were to fail extra lessons and tests are at no extra cost, as I believe some other schools do. So the costs can soon start to add up. They don't have the newest or prettiest bikes either compared to others I saw, but they do the job.
Also Banbury seems an easier place to take the Mod 2 test than Oxford IME. Comes down to luck of the draw to some extent though.
Can you give me any idea on how much it cost you please, and whether they provided everything? I've got my own helmet for trackdays, but not sure it's suitable for a bike really...
Chimaera001 said:
John D. said:
I've just passed the full licence with Lightning. They have a base in Reading (Rivermead) and Oxford (near Kazam stadium). The local test centres are in Oxford, Farnborough, Banbury, Swindon - anywhere but Reading basically!
I had never sat on a bike prior to doing the CBT. Did that then a few days later a 5-day intensive course (2 practice days on 125, 2 days on 500, final day test). Can't fault the instruction and I was certainly capable and confident of passing the test at the end.....but I didn't! Failed the Mod 1 (mickey mouse car park bit) which had the knock on of meaning I could not take the Mod 2 that day; £75 test fee wasted right there.
My advice is do not book the Mod 1 and Mod 2 for the same day as I did (time constraints ahead of starting a new job the following week led me to that). If you do pass the Mod 1 you stand a good chance of getting a Mod 2 cancellation that day anyway, avoiding risking the cash.
Lightning do not offer a 'guaranteed pass' style course where if you were to fail extra lessons and tests are at no extra cost, as I believe some other schools do. So the costs can soon start to add up. They don't have the newest or prettiest bikes either compared to others I saw, but they do the job.
Also Banbury seems an easier place to take the Mod 2 test than Oxford IME. Comes down to luck of the draw to some extent though.
Thanks mate - I guess Farnborough would be the closest bet for me; I'll check them out.I had never sat on a bike prior to doing the CBT. Did that then a few days later a 5-day intensive course (2 practice days on 125, 2 days on 500, final day test). Can't fault the instruction and I was certainly capable and confident of passing the test at the end.....but I didn't! Failed the Mod 1 (mickey mouse car park bit) which had the knock on of meaning I could not take the Mod 2 that day; £75 test fee wasted right there.
My advice is do not book the Mod 1 and Mod 2 for the same day as I did (time constraints ahead of starting a new job the following week led me to that). If you do pass the Mod 1 you stand a good chance of getting a Mod 2 cancellation that day anyway, avoiding risking the cash.
Lightning do not offer a 'guaranteed pass' style course where if you were to fail extra lessons and tests are at no extra cost, as I believe some other schools do. So the costs can soon start to add up. They don't have the newest or prettiest bikes either compared to others I saw, but they do the job.
Also Banbury seems an easier place to take the Mod 2 test than Oxford IME. Comes down to luck of the draw to some extent though.
Can you give me any idea on how much it cost you please, and whether they provided everything? I've got my own helmet for trackdays, but not sure it's suitable for a bike really...
Good point on the test..
Chimaera001 said:
Thanks mate - I guess Farnborough would be the closest bet for me...
I passed 1st time with tghis bunch a few years ago:http://www.1stgearmtc.co.uk/
I highly recommend Pinewood Motorcycles in Wokingham so nice and local to Windsor.
I did my CBT with them last Wednesday and have my DAS in a couple of weeks.
Costs for DAS -
3 Day - £550
4 Day - £650
5 Day - £750
That includes Mod 1 and Mod 2 but also account £130 for your CBT and £31 for your theory test.
I did my CBT with them last Wednesday and have my DAS in a couple of weeks.
Costs for DAS -
3 Day - £550
4 Day - £650
5 Day - £750
That includes Mod 1 and Mod 2 but also account £130 for your CBT and £31 for your theory test.
I used M&D in Guildford to do mine. Top guys and very reasonable rates...
http://www.m-dmotorcycle-training.co.uk/
http://www.m-dmotorcycle-training.co.uk/
I used this guy http://www.keyrider.co.uk/Home.html in April 08. Cost was about £600. Sunday morning never been on a bike ever to Friday afternoon having full licence.
Hi.
I did mine last August with these guys:
http://www.genesisyamaha.co.uk/
They're based in New Haw, near Byfleet / West Byfleet and are a top bunch of guys. I'd done my CBT a couple of years before, btu I did my DAS in one week, along with another guy who had only ridden a couple of weeks before to do his CBT.
We did the first morning on 125's, then the next 2 1/2 days on brand new 600's. Farnborough is abotu a 39 minute ride form them, and alot of the time was spent around that are gaining a bit of local knowledge.
Can't comment on the CBT side, but my 5 day DAS (days 4 and 5 were about 1 1/2 hours prior to each test for a "warm up") was around £550.
As others have said, don't book your Mod 1 and Mod 2 close together - if you fail the Mod 1, you'll lose your Mod 2 test fee. Leave a week between them.
I did mine last August with these guys:
http://www.genesisyamaha.co.uk/
They're based in New Haw, near Byfleet / West Byfleet and are a top bunch of guys. I'd done my CBT a couple of years before, btu I did my DAS in one week, along with another guy who had only ridden a couple of weeks before to do his CBT.
We did the first morning on 125's, then the next 2 1/2 days on brand new 600's. Farnborough is abotu a 39 minute ride form them, and alot of the time was spent around that are gaining a bit of local knowledge.
Can't comment on the CBT side, but my 5 day DAS (days 4 and 5 were about 1 1/2 hours prior to each test for a "warm up") was around £550.
As others have said, don't book your Mod 1 and Mod 2 close together - if you fail the Mod 1, you'll lose your Mod 2 test fee. Leave a week between them.
Chimaera001 said:
Can you give me any idea on how much it cost you please, and whether they provided everything? I've got my own helmet for trackdays, but not sure it's suitable for a bike really...
The course I did cost £815. See link for details http://www.lightningpass.com/jkcm/COURSE+INFORMATI...Certainly cost a pretty penny but I'm really enjoying riding and already starting to find my stride. Plus its saving me up to 40 min a day on my commute (112 mile round trip).
As long as your helmet is bike not car specific (they are designed differently) and without obvious damage/faults it'll be fine to use. Lightning will provide the bare minimum as part of the cost (helmet, gloves) except boots. They insist you wear something more than trainers to ride the 500cc bikes; boots ideally but don't have to be actual biker boots. The gloves they provide smell absolutely rancid though! I went out and bought all my own kit after the CBT for just under £500 (helmet, gloves, textile suit, boots).
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Second hand gear is not a bad idea. I would never buy a second hand helmet though. Risk of hidden damage just not worth it for me. I paid £50 for a pair of gortex boots that would have cost £250 new.
http://www.1stgearmtc.co.uk/
These guys are right by the test site in Farnborough and helped get my sister through the test really quickly. I did the test without any instruction so I can't tell you how they are but my sister certainly recommends them as did another person I know.
These guys are right by the test site in Farnborough and helped get my sister through the test really quickly. I did the test without any instruction so I can't tell you how they are but my sister certainly recommends them as did another person I know.
Sods Law said:
Well Ill be using Lightning once the 330 is sold, this will be my summer holiday
Hmmm CBR800 as a commuter bike......
Hey top man! Hmmm CBR800 as a commuter bike......
Was my summer holiday too. Blew my redundancy money on it instead of going to Thailand for a few weeks. Think I made the right choice.Drop me a line if you want the theory test book. Its a piece of piss anyway, I barely used it.
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