Advice on getting a motorbike license?

Arcan

I just passed my car test and am now interested in getting my A2 motorbike license (I am 22) and was looking for advice about how long it takes to learn, where is the cheapest and most effective company to learn with and if there's any other advice people might add?

Thanks!

tykesi

Which do you want, the cheapest company or the most effective because I doubt the two will be the same company! Also there are no national companies like there are with driving lessons (AFAIK) so you'd be better off looking in the yellow pages or googling local bike schools.

Most will do courses over a few days (up to a week) with your test at the end but again only the companies local to you will be able to tell you what is on offer.

OnanTheBarbarian

You are best doing a search for motorcycle training schools in your local area and speaking with them directly.

You will need to do your CBT and theory test before you can do the 2 components of the A2 licence.

Arcan

tykesi wrote: »

Which do you want, the cheapest company or the most effective because I doubt the two will be the same company! Also there are no national companies like there are with driving lessons (AFAIK) so you'd be better off looking in the yellow pages or googling local bike schools.

Most will do courses over a few days (up to a week) with your test at the end but again only the companies local to you will be able to tell you what is on offer.

Usually the cheapest is the most effective because you'd need fewer lessons and hopefully pass first time.

OnanTheBarbarian

Also, just to put things into perspective, as I did my A1 licence in February, the rough costings for the process were as follows

CBT fees £130
Theory Test - £30 (I think)

Mod 1 Test Fee - £17.50
Mod 2 Test Fee - £75.00

I had 1 day lesson at a cost of £130 to do the MOD 1 learning and had to pay £130 for a lesson in the morning and the use of the bike to do the MOD 1 test.

I had 1 day lesson at a cost of £130 in preparation for the MOD 2 test and again paid £130 on the day of the MOD 2 test to have a lesson in the morning and then for the use of the bike in the afternoon for the test.

So my adventure cost £772.50 to get my A1 licence starting from scratch.

Then you need to buy yourself the kit, boots, gloves, leathers or textiles and helmet ££££

Then you need a bike ££££

So worth it though

Richard53

OnanTheBarbarian wrote: »

So worth it though

You said it


I do feel rather guilty at passing my test in 1973, though. Honda Cub, Stadium jet helmet, thick gloves, and a couple of quid for the test fee. Now it seems you need a grand to pass the test, another grand for all the 'must-have' gear, and that's before you have thought about buying a bike!


Taking up motorcycling, totally against my parents' wishes, was one of my better decisions.

Geodark

OnanTheBarbarian wrote: »

You are best doing a search for motorcycle training schools in your local area and speaking with them directly.

You will need to do your CBT and theory test before you can do the 2 components of the A2 licence.

If they have just passed their driving test then they won't have to do their theory again, but yes, they will need CBT. a lot of place do a block book type of thing including the CBT and x amount of hours leading up to your test, with extra hours available if need be. the company I will be using later this year for mine do one for about £450 - but since I passed my driving test many moons ago I will unfortunately have to do the theory (never had to when I did my driving test way back in the 90s!)

silverwhistle

Richard53 wrote: »

I do feel rather guilty at passing my test in 1973, though. Honda Cub, Stadium jet helmet, thick gloves, and a couple of quid for the test fee. Now it seems you need a grand to pass the test, another grand for all the 'must-have' gear, and that's before you have thought about buying a bike!

Yep, I passed in the early 80s when biking was still a cheap form of transport.. A cheap engineer's jacket from our stores at cost, Derriboots, Shoei helmet and cheap gloves (silk liners as I was a skier) and a newspaper down the front for long, cold trips. A biker chick in leathers I was not! It was for cheap transport, and I passed 3rd time. Mind you, I only needed 4 lessons to pass my car test first time, and that was in my late 20s. Road sense gained from biking is highly valuable!

A PS: my bike broke down on the test, I nursed it home and I never rode again as I needed to get a car!

skivenov

Find your local bikers night, go up and have a chat to folks, they'll soon tell you who's good to learn with.

forgotmyname

Arcan wrote: »

Usually the cheapest is the most effective because you'd need fewer lessons and hopefully pass first time.

I think you got that backwards. The cheapest ones may say you need 50 lessons instead of 20 with someone who charges a bit more.

Stringing you out to extract more money from you. There again there is nothing to stop someone who charges more also doing the same.

airbus321

Personally, I'd try to get a recommendation from someone on a good individual instructor. Having been taught many practical skills over the years, the quality of instruction is usually the key to a quick and problem free course.

With regards to the comments above about kit, we didn't have much because it was so damn expensive in relation to what we earned. These days you can get a complete set of very reasonable kit from Aldi or Lidl for about £150, normally on offer in the Spring. Although, I might be inclined to spend a bit more on a good crash helmet!.

Hope you get on two wheels,OP, best fun you can have with your clothes on.:beer: