Motorcycle and 16 year old?

hm71_2

My son had his scooter for his 16th birthday last Oct he had also never sat on a scooter and had his cbt booked for the day after his birthday. we didn't let him "practice" on it as he would not be covered. The CBT trainers provided a bike and so insurance but you will have to get some sorted and they will require you to have a decent chain etc.. or they have lots of T&C's. we found that Rampdale were the best cost wise. They will insure pre-cbt but you must ring them when it is completed or the insurance is not valid. The training is not hard and certainly isn't a pass or fail situation unless you are completely reckless. 1 lad on my sons course kept overtaking the instructor!!!! you should ask the bike shop if they have registered the bike with 'Datatag' if not do it! it is a small cost and the bike is fitted with small sensors in it so if it is stolen it can be scanned and it will be registered as you being the owner. more detail on the website, most shop sellers offer it through.

serefina

can i just point out,you do not need insurance to take a cbt as the training school itself has insurance.only if you are using your own bike will insurance be neccessary,otherwise all you need is a valid licence.

bestpud

Thanks guys.

I imagine the insurance will be a bit cheaper if the bike has some sort of security, such as Datatag? Will check out Rampdale too.

hm71 - How did your son get on with his scooter? DS is sensible but I keep thinking about the lads next door to me who were always falling off or getting stopped for doing stupid things (such as carrying their mates on the back - 50cc and with no helmets either!) These lads are still idiots now they have cars though so I'm hoping it's just how they are!!!

Keith

hm71 wrote: »

they will require you to have a decent chain

They will require a chain however, if that chain is decent is up for debate. Most of the claimed 5 minute attack tested devices have been broken in under a minute. See this video video link

Even locking your bike up with the best chain money can buy makes absolutely no difference if it is not locked to something which cannot be cut.

hm71 wrote: »

1 lad on my sons course kept overtaking the instructor!!!!

I'd hope so too, during the CBT the trainee should be in front of the instructor at all times.

hm71_2

my son has got on fine with his scooter thanks, we know several people who have fallen off their's just down to the owner really.

Keith- thanks for your comments, I am aware that the instuctor is behind during the cbt- I was trying to put in simplistic terms without being long winded that this particular lad was riding recklessly without listing each of his indiscretions I summarised (whether correctly or not) that he was overtaking the instructor (which he did on occassions where the instructor was ahead for a small part of the cbt on private land). Also I am fully aware of the chain issue as was recently displayed on an itv progarmme regarding bike theft- I was merely illustrating what was said to us when we called rampdale for a quote- of course it should be chained to an imovable object but having seen the documentary on itv this doesn't seem to affect some bike thieves.
but again thank you.

bestpud

Glad you son got on ok. I hope mine will be too. I had one at 16 but even being a very careful rider, I came off a couple of times - once was on ice though so probably couldn't do a lot about that! I am worried about him though - I just hope he doesn't start trying to 'impress' people. Oh well, have to let 'em get on with it at some point I guess.

hm71_2

Thats the way I looked at it, he is now getting ready for his car- It has given him a lot of road use experience, he will have 1 yrs no claims and he is more aware of the dangers that the roads can have. Some people do feel they need to impress and your right about the road conditions I hate it when he goes out when it is teaming down but sometimes you have to give them a bit of independence. do try rampdale though, they don't give a discount for datatag. I got it for our peace of mind really. some insurers do give discount but the cost of the premiums were much higher overall.

cm233lh

bestpud wrote: »

He has access to off road areas where he can just get a feel for it iyswim.

If it's private land with no access to the general public then that's fine. Bear in mind that the road traffic act applies to all places where the public have free access, even if it is private land. e.g. supermarket car parks require licence, L-plates, insurance etc, even though they're private.

Incidentally, small bikes are nicked more often that big ones because they're easier to ride, so make sure it's a BIG THICK chain.

hm71_2

Hi, just wondered how your son was doing really, my son sadly had his moped stolen 2 weeks ago from a secure area at his work whilst chained up so it just shows you that if someone whats to steal something they will!!!!

Keith

hm71 - The problem is even the 5 minute attack tested Thatcham approved chains can be cut in less than 90 seconds, this has been a problem for over 2 years now! Argos even sell a chain where the lock can be opened using a ball point pen!

I hope your son isn't too down, I had a scooter stolen years ago and luckily the police recovered it, shame it was a write off