The CBT from Hell
Discussion
I had a torrid CBT experience earlier this year, and thought I'd pop it on here and see if anyone had any similar stories to share. I won't name and shame, as I understand this instructor no longer works there.
I got my car licence in 2005 (at the age of 18) but have zero biking experience. I always planned to get a bike, but my parents were dead set against it at the time. Recently, I found myself getting bored of cars, since I've had my fair share and owned all the ones I ever wanted. I now view them as nothing more than a way of getting from A-B.
Last April, me and an old friend (who I hadn't seen since college) decided to meet for a catch up over a pint. He pulled in to the car park on a 2018 Kawasaki Z1000SX, and what was supposed to be a casual drink, turned into a two-hour deep dive into the world of motorcycles. We spent more time stood around his bike than we did over a pint.
I knew the moment that we parted ways, that I was going to finally do what I should have done 20 years ago and work towards getting myself a full bike licence (and a tasty 650cc to have some fun on).
Theory Test & Booking my CBT
I looked up local schools with decent reviews and secured the earliest available CBT date. Most schools had a 8 week waiting list, but this one had spaces just two weeks away. I knew I wasn't going to stick with a 125cc, but I wasn't ready to invest over £600 for the complete DAS course without first evaluating the quality of the instructor.
In the end, I just paid a paltry £110 for a CBT with the DAS to be confirmed later (a choice that I extremely grateful I made).
I looked for some Theory Test dates and booked the first one available, which was 3 days away. £15 or so later, I had my theory test booked and spent the next 72 hours doing hundreds of mock-tests using an App called '2023 Bike Theory'.
This has been the best £5 I've spent on an App because all that practice paid off - I left the Test Centre with a 50/50 score on the multiple choice and an impressive 71/75 on the Hazard Perception (which was a significant improvement from my initial mock test where I failed both parts!).
I spent a small fortune getting all the kit required, but had to return the helmet a few days before the CBT as I had vastly overestimated my head size. I knew the school had loaner equipment, so I wasn't too worried and planned to sort it after I got my certificate.
The Late Start
My CBT was scheduled to run from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm. Initially, I had doubts I was in the right place - a blocked off public car park with a shipping container in one of the bays. Two other learners showed up so that put me at ease. I was the only one in full attire (minus the returned helmet). There was a lad, who I'd describe as a typical teenage 'yute', dressed in joggers and a hoodie, and a lass in jeans and a t-shirt... I felt a bit overdressed to say the least.
9.00am rolls around and there was no sign of an instructor. At around 9.10, I called the office who told me the instructor was held up in traffic. 35 minutes later, he eventually pulled up and made a half-arsed apology, telling us to give him 5 minutes while he got the bikes and materials out of the container. There wasn't anywhere to sit, so we all just watched him squeeze around the metal box trying to pull out what he needed, while things dropped around him.
We finally began the course at around 10 am, and I asked if we would finish at 3pm instead of 2pm due to the late start - an innocent question, as I needed to know if I had to make alternative arrangements for the school pick-up. The instructor immediately got defensive, and retorted that there isn't a set legal duration for Compulsory Basic Training (basically, wind your neck in Hazuki, we're finishing at 2pm as planned).
Regretting not bringing my own helmet
The initial 'classroom' bit went OK, albeit we did it standing outside. We were then told to get any required equipment from the inside the container, and since I was the only one who didn't have a helmet, I grabbed one that I thought might fit.
As I slid it over my head, I started to heave at the offensive odour that attacked my nostrils. I can only describe it as an overriding stench of sharp BO with an undercut of onions & wet dog. I took it off immediately and tried the only remaining one of that size, only to find that it had a similar pungent stench.
As the instructor came over to show me how to work the clasp, I couldn't help myself and blurted "this helmet stinks". He looked at me quite annoyed and replied "Shouldn't do, my Mrs removes and washes the liners once a week". I thought 'probably under a cold tap' but I bit my tongue as this was the best I was going to get.
The Bike
Me and and the yute were given 2007 YBRs, while the remaining lass was left with the only 125cc available... a Leximoto scooter that looked like it had been to hell and back. All the bikes looked and sounded tired... but I guess compared to a Z1000SX, that's to be expected!
The clutch on my YBR was extremely stiff, and the bite point was almost at my finger's full extension. It meant that they were in a constant state of over-reaching and started to fatigue after only a short while. The bike also wouldn't go in to Neutral unless the engine was switched off, so anytime we had to stop (i.e. to listen to instructions), I had to hold the clutch lever for the entire duration. Eventually, I would just let the bike stall in those situations to give myself some respite.
The Yute's YBR would struggle to hold idle until the engine had warmed up, and the lass's Scooter sounded like it had a blown exhaust to my untrained ear.
Perhaps a feature of all 125s, I noticed my bike had terrible brakes. The rear brake would squeal and grind with the lightest touch, but when you pressed down hard on the foot pedal, not a lot happened. The front brake was better, but I was surprised how far the bike travelled during the emergency stop, sailing past where I am used to on my mountain bike.
Finally, the front headlight was non-operational. The instructor told me that when we get on the road ride, to put the fog light on to stay visible... something I never got a chance to do.
On the Test Patch
We started by riding from one side of the car park to the other, turning the bike around (incorporating the u-turn manoeuvre), and coming back on ourselves. After driving for 20 years, it was strange getting used to having the controls for my left hand & foot reversed, but it didn't take long to acclimatise. We continued with the low speed manoeuvres, but I didn't have much confidence in my slalom and figure of 8.
We then moved on to changing gears. The car park was quite small, and there was just enough space to get in to 2nd gear before immediately having to slow down. Me and the yute were riding side by side, but as he had struggled with the U-Turn on multiple passes, we eventually ended up on opposite sides of the car park coming towards one another.
As we both started riding toward each another, he unexpectedly twisted the throttle in a panic and started heading toward me at some pace. Within seconds, the instructor darted towards him and clenched his front brake (almost causing the kid to go head over bars). He then proceeded to shout and belittle him for not being in control of his bike and almost causing a crash. Within seconds, he calmed and tried to justify his anger as not wanting anyone to get hurt, but it was uncalled for and you could tell this kid really got his back up.
By this time it was around 11am, and the instructor asked us all to dismount for a quick tea & fag break. Even as a beginner, I knew my slow speed stuff needed work and I didn't want to waste time watching everyone smoke. While they were all cutting minutes off their life, you could tell the instructor was trying to appease the yute with conversation (perhaps to prevent a complaint) which came off a bit cringe. The kid didn't really respond in any case, and the instructor's attempts to be hip fell on deaf ears.
He got out a Mod 1 diagram sheet showing us what we would be tested on when we went for our big bike licence... I couldn't see the relevance on how this would help us on our CBT so I asked if I could carry on working on my figure of 8 during this time - but he refused saying he can't be in two places at once.
The Fight
We got back on the bikes 10 minutes later, and we started practicing the slalom and figure of 8 again (took my comment too literally perhaps?). By this time, I was seriously questioning if we were even going to get the full 2 hours on the road ride since it was nearing 11.20 and he had already alluded to us having another break at 12pm for some food.
After a short while, a friend of the instructor pulls up on his bike, and they both seemed to be having a discussion about the session in progress. The yute (perhaps insecure/still annoyed from earlier) stalled multiple times while doing the slalom leading up to the figure of 8, and immediately took his helmet off and started gesturing toward the pair.
Before I had a chance to register what was going on, he started screaming at the instructor "Who the f
k you laughing at??". The lad was convinced that they were criticising his riding ability (I didn't hear, so can't say for sure) and repeated his question when they didn't reply. The events after this were almost like something out of a bad comedy drama.
The instructor walked swiftly over and tried to talk him down, but the yute decided he had enough and went to get off the bike. As he got his leg over, he neglected/forgot to put down the stand, threw the bike away from him in a rage and stormed over to the now raging instructor... all while the little YBR smashed into the tarmac. They had a shouting match there and then, and this kid called the instructor every name under the sun. The yute had his arms out and squared up to him, goading him for a physical confrontation.
The instructor then shouted out "Right, that's it. You're done, get off my fking premises before I call the Police" and tried to walk away while the 2nd instructor picked up the downed YBR. The yute ran up to him screaming in his face demanding a full refund, pushing his head against the instructors as some sort of dominance move. The instructor pushed him back and kept repeating 'back the fk off before I call the police'.
It was only when the instructor (whilst holding this kid back with his free arm) pulled out his phone and started dialling, did this kid retreated toward his car, still raging and shouting threats.
Sent Home
After the the yute had driven off, the instructor walked over to us and said "OK, get off the bikes, I've had enough - the session is over for everyone. I'm not going to allow being spoken to like that, and I am not prepared to carry this on. Call the office and tell them you want the free re-do for a failed CBT. I'm in no mood to finish this session."
With that he took the keys from our ignition and walked off without saying another word, or allowing us to reply. Me and the lass looked at each other in utter disbelief, while the 2nd instructor came over to collect our kit and apologise. Our CBT ended around 11.30am, and I drove home feeling dejected - itching for a shower since my nostrils were still being attacked by the smell that had now latched on to my face and hair.
Unhappy with the experience, I also tried to get a refund. I was refused by the office, and told that the only option available to me would be to attend the re-do (with the same instructor) as per the T&Cs.
fk. That.
I was determined to not let this put me off, and I started looking around for another school. I would mentally write off the cost of the CBT, and instead, use it as a £110 reminder to make sure I have my own helmet for the next one!
2nd CBT - The Pass & Moving Up
I went to a different school and the experience was 100x better. I found and booked at a school that had 400+ 5* reviews, and didn't let it put me off that the next available CBT wasn't for another 3 months.
It was more expensive at £185, but it had an actual classroom and some of the nicest and patient instructors we could have asked for. I was taught to look where I wanted to go, and not what was in front of me which made the slalom so much easier (although I still need to work on it) and the new instructor couldn't believe I wasn't taught this on my last one.
I actually had the chance to get on the road this time, and my god, what a rush... 20mph has never felt so fast! I had zero issues on the road ride and those 2.5 hours felt like they flew by in 20 minutes. I remember feeling gutted as we got closer to the training centre, as I knew I'd have to get off the bike soon. I got my CBT Cert in August and immediately booked lessons for a big bike, which is once a week to fit around my schedule. Unfortunately they couldn't fit me in for another 8 weeks (Oct 23) so I knew I'd have some rust to shake off.
So that brings us on to now: October 2023. I did my initial DAS assessment on a 125 last week, and as I still need to work on my slow speed manoeuvres, I have another session booked for Wednesday before I move up to the big bikes. Hopefully I will have a NEW BIKE DAY post to share with you guys sometime in the next few weeks.
EDIT: Spelling & Grammar
I got my car licence in 2005 (at the age of 18) but have zero biking experience. I always planned to get a bike, but my parents were dead set against it at the time. Recently, I found myself getting bored of cars, since I've had my fair share and owned all the ones I ever wanted. I now view them as nothing more than a way of getting from A-B.
Last April, me and an old friend (who I hadn't seen since college) decided to meet for a catch up over a pint. He pulled in to the car park on a 2018 Kawasaki Z1000SX, and what was supposed to be a casual drink, turned into a two-hour deep dive into the world of motorcycles. We spent more time stood around his bike than we did over a pint.
I knew the moment that we parted ways, that I was going to finally do what I should have done 20 years ago and work towards getting myself a full bike licence (and a tasty 650cc to have some fun on).
Theory Test & Booking my CBT
I looked up local schools with decent reviews and secured the earliest available CBT date. Most schools had a 8 week waiting list, but this one had spaces just two weeks away. I knew I wasn't going to stick with a 125cc, but I wasn't ready to invest over £600 for the complete DAS course without first evaluating the quality of the instructor.
In the end, I just paid a paltry £110 for a CBT with the DAS to be confirmed later (a choice that I extremely grateful I made).
I looked for some Theory Test dates and booked the first one available, which was 3 days away. £15 or so later, I had my theory test booked and spent the next 72 hours doing hundreds of mock-tests using an App called '2023 Bike Theory'.
This has been the best £5 I've spent on an App because all that practice paid off - I left the Test Centre with a 50/50 score on the multiple choice and an impressive 71/75 on the Hazard Perception (which was a significant improvement from my initial mock test where I failed both parts!).
I spent a small fortune getting all the kit required, but had to return the helmet a few days before the CBT as I had vastly overestimated my head size. I knew the school had loaner equipment, so I wasn't too worried and planned to sort it after I got my certificate.
The Late Start
My CBT was scheduled to run from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm. Initially, I had doubts I was in the right place - a blocked off public car park with a shipping container in one of the bays. Two other learners showed up so that put me at ease. I was the only one in full attire (minus the returned helmet). There was a lad, who I'd describe as a typical teenage 'yute', dressed in joggers and a hoodie, and a lass in jeans and a t-shirt... I felt a bit overdressed to say the least.
9.00am rolls around and there was no sign of an instructor. At around 9.10, I called the office who told me the instructor was held up in traffic. 35 minutes later, he eventually pulled up and made a half-arsed apology, telling us to give him 5 minutes while he got the bikes and materials out of the container. There wasn't anywhere to sit, so we all just watched him squeeze around the metal box trying to pull out what he needed, while things dropped around him.
We finally began the course at around 10 am, and I asked if we would finish at 3pm instead of 2pm due to the late start - an innocent question, as I needed to know if I had to make alternative arrangements for the school pick-up. The instructor immediately got defensive, and retorted that there isn't a set legal duration for Compulsory Basic Training (basically, wind your neck in Hazuki, we're finishing at 2pm as planned).
Regretting not bringing my own helmet
The initial 'classroom' bit went OK, albeit we did it standing outside. We were then told to get any required equipment from the inside the container, and since I was the only one who didn't have a helmet, I grabbed one that I thought might fit.
As I slid it over my head, I started to heave at the offensive odour that attacked my nostrils. I can only describe it as an overriding stench of sharp BO with an undercut of onions & wet dog. I took it off immediately and tried the only remaining one of that size, only to find that it had a similar pungent stench.
As the instructor came over to show me how to work the clasp, I couldn't help myself and blurted "this helmet stinks". He looked at me quite annoyed and replied "Shouldn't do, my Mrs removes and washes the liners once a week". I thought 'probably under a cold tap' but I bit my tongue as this was the best I was going to get.
The Bike
Me and and the yute were given 2007 YBRs, while the remaining lass was left with the only 125cc available... a Leximoto scooter that looked like it had been to hell and back. All the bikes looked and sounded tired... but I guess compared to a Z1000SX, that's to be expected!
The clutch on my YBR was extremely stiff, and the bite point was almost at my finger's full extension. It meant that they were in a constant state of over-reaching and started to fatigue after only a short while. The bike also wouldn't go in to Neutral unless the engine was switched off, so anytime we had to stop (i.e. to listen to instructions), I had to hold the clutch lever for the entire duration. Eventually, I would just let the bike stall in those situations to give myself some respite.
The Yute's YBR would struggle to hold idle until the engine had warmed up, and the lass's Scooter sounded like it had a blown exhaust to my untrained ear.
Perhaps a feature of all 125s, I noticed my bike had terrible brakes. The rear brake would squeal and grind with the lightest touch, but when you pressed down hard on the foot pedal, not a lot happened. The front brake was better, but I was surprised how far the bike travelled during the emergency stop, sailing past where I am used to on my mountain bike.
Finally, the front headlight was non-operational. The instructor told me that when we get on the road ride, to put the fog light on to stay visible... something I never got a chance to do.
On the Test Patch
We started by riding from one side of the car park to the other, turning the bike around (incorporating the u-turn manoeuvre), and coming back on ourselves. After driving for 20 years, it was strange getting used to having the controls for my left hand & foot reversed, but it didn't take long to acclimatise. We continued with the low speed manoeuvres, but I didn't have much confidence in my slalom and figure of 8.
We then moved on to changing gears. The car park was quite small, and there was just enough space to get in to 2nd gear before immediately having to slow down. Me and the yute were riding side by side, but as he had struggled with the U-Turn on multiple passes, we eventually ended up on opposite sides of the car park coming towards one another.
As we both started riding toward each another, he unexpectedly twisted the throttle in a panic and started heading toward me at some pace. Within seconds, the instructor darted towards him and clenched his front brake (almost causing the kid to go head over bars). He then proceeded to shout and belittle him for not being in control of his bike and almost causing a crash. Within seconds, he calmed and tried to justify his anger as not wanting anyone to get hurt, but it was uncalled for and you could tell this kid really got his back up.
By this time it was around 11am, and the instructor asked us all to dismount for a quick tea & fag break. Even as a beginner, I knew my slow speed stuff needed work and I didn't want to waste time watching everyone smoke. While they were all cutting minutes off their life, you could tell the instructor was trying to appease the yute with conversation (perhaps to prevent a complaint) which came off a bit cringe. The kid didn't really respond in any case, and the instructor's attempts to be hip fell on deaf ears.
He got out a Mod 1 diagram sheet showing us what we would be tested on when we went for our big bike licence... I couldn't see the relevance on how this would help us on our CBT so I asked if I could carry on working on my figure of 8 during this time - but he refused saying he can't be in two places at once.
The Fight
We got back on the bikes 10 minutes later, and we started practicing the slalom and figure of 8 again (took my comment too literally perhaps?). By this time, I was seriously questioning if we were even going to get the full 2 hours on the road ride since it was nearing 11.20 and he had already alluded to us having another break at 12pm for some food.
After a short while, a friend of the instructor pulls up on his bike, and they both seemed to be having a discussion about the session in progress. The yute (perhaps insecure/still annoyed from earlier) stalled multiple times while doing the slalom leading up to the figure of 8, and immediately took his helmet off and started gesturing toward the pair.
Before I had a chance to register what was going on, he started screaming at the instructor "Who the f
k you laughing at??". The lad was convinced that they were criticising his riding ability (I didn't hear, so can't say for sure) and repeated his question when they didn't reply. The events after this were almost like something out of a bad comedy drama.The instructor walked swiftly over and tried to talk him down, but the yute decided he had enough and went to get off the bike. As he got his leg over, he neglected/forgot to put down the stand, threw the bike away from him in a rage and stormed over to the now raging instructor... all while the little YBR smashed into the tarmac. They had a shouting match there and then, and this kid called the instructor every name under the sun. The yute had his arms out and squared up to him, goading him for a physical confrontation.
The instructor then shouted out "Right, that's it. You're done, get off my f
king premises before I call the Police" and tried to walk away while the 2nd instructor picked up the downed YBR. The yute ran up to him screaming in his face demanding a full refund, pushing his head against the instructors as some sort of dominance move. The instructor pushed him back and kept repeating 'back the fk off before I call the police'.It was only when the instructor (whilst holding this kid back with his free arm) pulled out his phone and started dialling, did this kid retreated toward his car, still raging and shouting threats.
Sent Home
After the the yute had driven off, the instructor walked over to us and said "OK, get off the bikes, I've had enough - the session is over for everyone. I'm not going to allow being spoken to like that, and I am not prepared to carry this on. Call the office and tell them you want the free re-do for a failed CBT. I'm in no mood to finish this session."
With that he took the keys from our ignition and walked off without saying another word, or allowing us to reply. Me and the lass looked at each other in utter disbelief, while the 2nd instructor came over to collect our kit and apologise. Our CBT ended around 11.30am, and I drove home feeling dejected - itching for a shower since my nostrils were still being attacked by the smell that had now latched on to my face and hair.
Unhappy with the experience, I also tried to get a refund. I was refused by the office, and told that the only option available to me would be to attend the re-do (with the same instructor) as per the T&Cs.
f
k. That.I was determined to not let this put me off, and I started looking around for another school. I would mentally write off the cost of the CBT, and instead, use it as a £110 reminder to make sure I have my own helmet for the next one!
2nd CBT - The Pass & Moving Up
I went to a different school and the experience was 100x better. I found and booked at a school that had 400+ 5* reviews, and didn't let it put me off that the next available CBT wasn't for another 3 months.
It was more expensive at £185, but it had an actual classroom and some of the nicest and patient instructors we could have asked for. I was taught to look where I wanted to go, and not what was in front of me which made the slalom so much easier (although I still need to work on it) and the new instructor couldn't believe I wasn't taught this on my last one.
I actually had the chance to get on the road this time, and my god, what a rush... 20mph has never felt so fast! I had zero issues on the road ride and those 2.5 hours felt like they flew by in 20 minutes. I remember feeling gutted as we got closer to the training centre, as I knew I'd have to get off the bike soon. I got my CBT Cert in August and immediately booked lessons for a big bike, which is once a week to fit around my schedule. Unfortunately they couldn't fit me in for another 8 weeks (Oct 23) so I knew I'd have some rust to shake off.
So that brings us on to now: October 2023. I did my initial DAS assessment on a 125 last week, and as I still need to work on my slow speed manoeuvres, I have another session booked for Wednesday before I move up to the big bikes. Hopefully I will have a NEW BIKE DAY post to share with you guys sometime in the next few weeks.
EDIT: Spelling & Grammar
Edited by Hazuki on Thursday 2nd November 16:48
That's shocking. My own experience was of a real professional set up. I.e. the bikes were already out ready even though I rocked up 45mins early and the instructors were also blue band/IAM trained.
There's no excuse for the helmet condition. But I'm guessing they were £40 jobbies with no removable liner...
There's no excuse for the helmet condition. But I'm guessing they were £40 jobbies with no removable liner...
If the one thing you do buy yourself is a helment, it's the most important one really. A: It wont stink and B: You know its history.
The rest (I would argue bar the boots) can be 2nd hand.
Chin up. I rode my bike into a wall at 90 degrees at the very start of the on road session of my CBT and fell off and was told that perhaps I shouldnt go out that day and to come back. Its all part of your exciting journey that is bikes
The rest (I would argue bar the boots) can be 2nd hand.
Chin up. I rode my bike into a wall at 90 degrees at the very start of the on road session of my CBT and fell off and was told that perhaps I shouldnt go out that day and to come back. Its all part of your exciting journey that is bikes
My first CBT was a poor experience but nothing close to that. I had longer in the cabin doing the theory because the 16 year old I was being trained with had zero road experience. She'd read the highway code though and was pretty decent after a few "helpful suggestions" by the instructor.
The bike riding started fine with the ride to the wall slowly and then riding in circles. Then the problems started. I had an instructor who I'd made it very clear to that I had zero experience on motorcycles and, aside from knowing which of the controls does what, I'm a total novice. That's when he berated me relentlessly for using the front brake on the bike during the riding round in circles bit. He asked why I grabbed it. I told him I'd had a wobble, felt like I needed to stop and panicked so grabbed what I knew was a stopping device so I could collect my thoughts and try again. Apparently all my 20 minutes of motorcycling had not brought me fully up to speed with emergency stops (you know, the ones where you grab the front brake). Then he yelled at me for looking at the clocks on the bike. I wasn't looking at them, it was the natural resting position for my head while I focussed on setting off (often up hill in the tiny slanted car park).
The hardest part was trying to get up to 3rd gear (apparently a requirement) in said tiny slanted car park measuring a good ~7 car park bays at the longest point while never letting fully off the clutch (I ignored that instruction), remembering the brakes fiasco from earlier, constantly stopping and starting while going up and down the gearbox of a very "well used" Lexmoto ZSF, trying not to get too close to the other girl who was having a much easier time of it on her moped and trying to listen to whatever he was barking out at either one of us. He was very good at telling me what I shouldn't be doing but gave me absolutely no guidance at all on what I should be doing instead.
I booked in with them again for my repeat CBT through lack of a better option and had a scouse instructor who was satisfied with my riding and inspired a lot of confidence. That CBT was orders of magnitude better. I also later discovered the useless chump that I had was let go by the school due to the number of complaints he had.
Glad you've passed and are on your way to full licence freedom!
The bike riding started fine with the ride to the wall slowly and then riding in circles. Then the problems started. I had an instructor who I'd made it very clear to that I had zero experience on motorcycles and, aside from knowing which of the controls does what, I'm a total novice. That's when he berated me relentlessly for using the front brake on the bike during the riding round in circles bit. He asked why I grabbed it. I told him I'd had a wobble, felt like I needed to stop and panicked so grabbed what I knew was a stopping device so I could collect my thoughts and try again. Apparently all my 20 minutes of motorcycling had not brought me fully up to speed with emergency stops (you know, the ones where you grab the front brake). Then he yelled at me for looking at the clocks on the bike. I wasn't looking at them, it was the natural resting position for my head while I focussed on setting off (often up hill in the tiny slanted car park).
The hardest part was trying to get up to 3rd gear (apparently a requirement) in said tiny slanted car park measuring a good ~7 car park bays at the longest point while never letting fully off the clutch (I ignored that instruction), remembering the brakes fiasco from earlier, constantly stopping and starting while going up and down the gearbox of a very "well used" Lexmoto ZSF, trying not to get too close to the other girl who was having a much easier time of it on her moped and trying to listen to whatever he was barking out at either one of us. He was very good at telling me what I shouldn't be doing but gave me absolutely no guidance at all on what I should be doing instead.
I booked in with them again for my repeat CBT through lack of a better option and had a scouse instructor who was satisfied with my riding and inspired a lot of confidence. That CBT was orders of magnitude better. I also later discovered the useless chump that I had was let go by the school due to the number of complaints he had.
Glad you've passed and are on your way to full licence freedom!
Hazuki said:
I did my initial DAS assessment on a 125 last week, and as I still need to work on my slow speed manoeuvres, I have another session booked for Wednesday before I move up to the big bikes.
Get ready for hopping onto a CB500, thinking it's rocket ship fast and wondering why anyone would want anything quicker!Sounds terrible, I'm surprised you lasted that long with that guy.
My experience was thankfully much better, times have changed I guess with theory tests etc but the basics of riding a bike remain unchanged. My CBT back in 1998 was a very sedate affair, there were a few of us, I had no gear, maybe some gloves and a pair of Doc Martens on, but the instructor was great, all done in a college car park without any drama. I'd been driving for 10 years at that point but even riding on the road was unnerving as I recall.
Anyway, the instructor said I'd need 3 days 1-2-1 with him to get my DAS done and that's exactly what it took, passed with flying colours and never looked back.
My experience was thankfully much better, times have changed I guess with theory tests etc but the basics of riding a bike remain unchanged. My CBT back in 1998 was a very sedate affair, there were a few of us, I had no gear, maybe some gloves and a pair of Doc Martens on, but the instructor was great, all done in a college car park without any drama. I'd been driving for 10 years at that point but even riding on the road was unnerving as I recall.
Anyway, the instructor said I'd need 3 days 1-2-1 with him to get my DAS done and that's exactly what it took, passed with flying colours and never looked back.
MesoForm said:
Hazuki said:
I did my initial DAS assessment on a 125 last week, and as I still need to work on my slow speed manoeuvres, I have another session booked for Wednesday before I move up to the big bikes.
Get ready for hopping onto a CB500, thinking it's rocket ship fast and wondering why anyone would want anything quicker!I'd been on a CG125 for 18 months so when I jumped on a CB500 for my proper test it felt huge and epically fast
. Then the next week I bought as Bandit 1200 and that felt out of this world, loved that bike.
That's an atrocious tale of incompetence on the part of the first school. Hindsight being 20/20, that's why I always try and pay for this sort of thing on a credit card and in that case would 100% have been doing a charge back when they refused the refund.
Glad you got on better at the next school, and welcome to the wonderful world of 2 wheels!
Glad you got on better at the next school, and welcome to the wonderful world of 2 wheels!
Sounds horrific OP !
Mine was a shambles, similarly late to start, the theory portions were held outside and then partially inside the trailer.
There was a 16 year old lad that knew one of the two instructors, a guy on his 3rd cbt, a young lass and myself. I had no previous experience on a bike, lined up behind the girl who immediately sent the front wheel into the sky, falling off backwards as the bike bounced to the floor. The instructors helped her up and we all paused for a moment, then it was my turn. In a bid to not copy her, I gently let the clutch out and....nothing. The instructor said give it some throttle, at which point I realised the throttle had about 1/4 turn play before doing anything.
The instructors attempted to fix the two bikes with no luck. They then grabbed a couple of scooters out the trailer and myself, the girl and the 16 year old used those for the rest of the day (note, day in this context was 30 minutes in the car park, then a further 30 minutes down the road and back).
Walked away frustrated, but with a certificate. Found another school and asked to just book an hour with an instructor to practice on a geared bike which they sorted out and the instructor was so good, I used them for my DAS.
Mine was a shambles, similarly late to start, the theory portions were held outside and then partially inside the trailer.
There was a 16 year old lad that knew one of the two instructors, a guy on his 3rd cbt, a young lass and myself. I had no previous experience on a bike, lined up behind the girl who immediately sent the front wheel into the sky, falling off backwards as the bike bounced to the floor. The instructors helped her up and we all paused for a moment, then it was my turn. In a bid to not copy her, I gently let the clutch out and....nothing. The instructor said give it some throttle, at which point I realised the throttle had about 1/4 turn play before doing anything.
The instructors attempted to fix the two bikes with no luck. They then grabbed a couple of scooters out the trailer and myself, the girl and the 16 year old used those for the rest of the day (note, day in this context was 30 minutes in the car park, then a further 30 minutes down the road and back).
Walked away frustrated, but with a certificate. Found another school and asked to just book an hour with an instructor to practice on a geared bike which they sorted out and the instructor was so good, I used them for my DAS.
Definitely not the worst one I've heard of but not good either.
I found my first training school was very good with cbts but utter ste at the proper test.
I went back to them at 17 (did my cbt at 16) and they had just completely turned tac (same guy). Belittling you, full on road rage arguments with multiple people at once and totally lost his st at me when i pulled forward into the crossroads to turn right (to allow cars to pass on the left as you're supposed to do). I then failed my A2 because of this reason alone - I did what he told me to do in the test.
Went elsewhere that was made up of ex and moonlighting SEG riders. Totally different scenario.
I found my first training school was very good with cbts but utter s
te at the proper test. I went back to them at 17 (did my cbt at 16) and they had just completely turned tac (same guy). Belittling you, full on road rage arguments with multiple people at once and totally lost his s
t at me when i pulled forward into the crossroads to turn right (to allow cars to pass on the left as you're supposed to do). I then failed my A2 because of this reason alone - I did what he told me to do in the test.Went elsewhere that was made up of ex and moonlighting SEG riders. Totally different scenario.
There seems to be no middle ground when it comes to training schools. They're either fantastic or terrible. I did my CBT and DAS earlier this year.
Your first guy was a bit of a weapon, as was the young lad. I'd imagine it is difficult sometimes though.
There were 4 of us all doing CBT, one of which was a girl with us who rocked up on the back of her boyfriends Kawasaki H2 and was the cockiest bh I've ever seen. Going on about the brand new Duke 125 she has waiting for her at home (125cc wouldn't have been enough to shift her arse), she shouldn't need any training because her boyfriend was basically Valentino Rossi and has taught her everything already "better than the instructors can" etc.
She couldn't put the little YBR125 on and off its' centre stand.
She couldn't pull away without stalling.
She couldn't do any manoeuvre without putting her foot down, and was effectively just wheeling the bike round using both feet with the clutch fully in, like a toddler would on those push-along bikes with no pedals.
Whenever the instructors tried to help her, she'd cut them off with "I know". I could see them getting frustrated with her and couldn't blame them.
Me and another guy had had 125's before when younger so took to it easy enough so another instructor cut short the carpark stuff and took us out for a ride. When we got back, the big beef-unit was sat in reception in tears on the phone to her boyfriend.
They'd taken the keys off of her because she was a danger to everyone. She was about to crash into the car park wall, so took both hands off the bars and put them out in front of her to protect herself, and then inevitably fell off before she got to the wall. Amused looks on the instructors faces
Your first guy was a bit of a weapon, as was the young lad. I'd imagine it is difficult sometimes though.
There were 4 of us all doing CBT, one of which was a girl with us who rocked up on the back of her boyfriends Kawasaki H2 and was the cockiest b
h I've ever seen. Going on about the brand new Duke 125 she has waiting for her at home (125cc wouldn't have been enough to shift her arse), she shouldn't need any training because her boyfriend was basically Valentino Rossi and has taught her everything already "better than the instructors can" etc. She couldn't put the little YBR125 on and off its' centre stand.
She couldn't pull away without stalling.
She couldn't do any manoeuvre without putting her foot down, and was effectively just wheeling the bike round using both feet with the clutch fully in, like a toddler would on those push-along bikes with no pedals.
Whenever the instructors tried to help her, she'd cut them off with "I know". I could see them getting frustrated with her and couldn't blame them.
Me and another guy had had 125's before when younger so took to it easy enough so another instructor cut short the carpark stuff and took us out for a ride. When we got back, the big beef-unit was sat in reception in tears on the phone to her boyfriend.
They'd taken the keys off of her because she was a danger to everyone. She was about to crash into the car park wall, so took both hands off the bars and put them out in front of her to protect herself, and then inevitably fell off before she got to the wall. Amused looks on the instructors faces
Having done 3 CBT's over the years due to starting and stopping the process of attaining my license I find all facilities are generally quite poor when it comes to the CBT element. Some are down right dreadful and dangerous and others are acceptable.
I'd glad to see it didn't put you off and you pushed through.
I'd glad to see it didn't put you off and you pushed through.
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