The CBT is the initial form of training you will receive and is what all motorcycle riders need to legally ride on the public highway. You must be over 16 years of age and hold a provisional/full UK driving license with the appropriate category listed on it to complete your CBT.

A CBT is designed to teach a complete novice everything they need to know about the bike and how to ride safely. This will include how to ride on the open road and you will therefore need a full understanding of the road system. In order to do so we ask that you read the entire highway code to help you prepare. You could additionally read DVSA learn to ride. You must present a correct driving license on your training day failure to do so will result in you forfeiting that days training and your deposit. 

A typical CBT training day:

• Introduction (eye sight check, license check, chat about the day)
• Helmet and clothing talk
• Practical off bike knowledge (controls, maintenance, physically manoeuvring the bike, how to use stands)
• Practical on bike yard training (clutch, gears, brakes, steering, observation's)
• Theory about the road system and riding (Meeting the legal requirements to ride, attitude, positioning, separation distances, speed, anticipating what other road users may do, and preparing for developing hazards)
• On road practical (a minimum of 2 hours on the open road, showing all the skills required to be safe while riding on the open road)

Our aim is help you complete your CBT in one day. However, if we determine that your riding does not meet the required standard or you feel you would benefit from an extra day to gain confidence, we will ask you to return on another day to complete your training at an additional cost. Riding on the open road can be a vulnerable and dangerous place to be if you are not in full control of your bike. We will never compromise your safety by rushing you through your CBT. 

During your training day we are looking for 3 main element's from you. 

• You demonstrate your learning and existing knowledge   
• You are in full control of the bike
• You have a good knowledge of the road system

On the day of your CBT you could be sharing the yard with another 3 trainees as the ratio of instructor to trainee on the yard is 4:1 and out on the road it is  2 trainees to 1 instructor. 

Once you have passed your CBT the DL196 certificate is valid for two years, after which you will need to complete another 1 day CBT in order to continue riding.

More info at: Compulsory basic training (CBT) syllabus and guidance notes - Guidance - GOV.UK

What you can ride when you pass a CBT

At 16 you can ride a 50cc bike that does not exceed 32mph with L plates. When you turn 17 you can ride a 125cc maximum 14bhp with L plates for the rest of the life of the CBT certificate. If you pass your driving test in your CBT's life span you are entitled to ride a 50cc moped without L plates and with a pillion but make sure you are covered to ride with a pillion on your insurance.

From 17 and above you can ride a 125cc motorbike not exceeding 14bhp with L plates. If you have a full driving license on completion of your CBT you are entitled to ride a 50cc bike max speed of 32mph only without L plates and with a pillion from the day you pass your CBT. Again check you are covered for a pillion on your insurance.

Standards Check

If you have passed your CBT elsewhere or it has been more then 2 months since you passed your CBT with us and you would like to complete your full license we will ask you to come in for a short assessment so that we are sure your ready to do your 5 day full license course successfully. 

Full  licence Training  for A1, A2, or A

Once you have completed your CBT and past a theory test you can go on to train for your full bike license of which there are 3 types:

 A1 license, up to 125cc motorbike with a maximum 14bhp from 17 years old and above 

 A2 license, up to 500cc motorbike with a maximum 47bhp from 19 years old and above

 A  license, an unlimited 500+cc motorbike 48bhp from 24 years old and above or if you have held your A2 licence for 2 years you can then do your A (in theory at  21years of age)

The test to complete your full license is in 2 parts, a Mod 1 test and a Mod 2 test. The Mod 1 consists of completing a short yard session and the Mod 2 is an on road assessment. These are arranged for you by us at DVLA test centres.

In order to get your riding up to scratch for your tests you will complete a 5 day course with us during which you may be with 1 other trainee. The 5 day course is usually taken over a Thursday ,Friday, Monday and Tuesday. On the Thursday and Friday we will be riding around the borders fine tuning all the skills you learnt during your CBT and extending your riding knowledge. On the Monday we will start off with some more on road training before heading to the test centre to have a practice session on the DVSA yard before your Mod 1 test on the Tuesday. Once you have passed your Mod 1 we will get you booked in to do your Mod 2 test which usually takes place in berwick-upon-tweed on a Wednesday. 

Road Rider 

For those who want a bit extra or we feel need more training.

• If you hold a CBT and want a bit more experience with a instructors guidance before moving on to use a more powerful bike.
• If you want to do your full licence and your instructor thinks you need more time on the less powerful bike before you start the 5 day course. This is non negotiable. As previously stated you need to come up to a certain standard before we will consider you ready to take on a more powerful bike. We want you to be confident and pass your test first time and not have to pay to take the test twice.
• If you've past your full test and want a bit more guidance from an instructor.

 

The road rider is as it sounds. We go out on road and ride, fine tuning your skills or we can focus on what you need to build confidence in or feel you need to work on. 

 

Rusty Rider