I need advice on the CBT, and buying a motorbike!?

Hey,

I'm 18 and fairly interested in getting a motorbike. Its much cheaper to run than a car, so I'm sort of thinking about having a bike for a few years and then getting a car when my insurance will be cheaper.

I realise to ride any scooter or bike, you need a CBT. My main questions are, what's the CBT like (does it need any preperation beforehand?) and what bikes are you limited to without a full licence?

Oh, also...if you've done the CBT and havent got a full licence, you need to have a learner plate, right?

Any answers or advice would be greeaaatttly appreciated,

Thank you, Mark

Hey,

I'm 18 and fairly interested in getting a motorbike. Its much cheaper to run than a car, so I'm sort of thinking about having a bike for a few years and then getting a car when my insurance will be cheaper.

I realise to ride any scooter or bike, you need a CBT. My main questions are, what's the CBT like (does it need any preperation beforehand?) and what bikes are you limited to without a full licence?

Oh, also...if you've done the CBT and havent got a full licence, you need to have a learner plate, right?

Any answers or advice would be greeaaatttly appreciated,

Thank you, Mark

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR GREAT ANSWERS SO FAR!

One more thing, you've said you can retake the CBT...can you keep retaking it once it runs out, or at a certain point, do you HAVE to take the DSA tests?

Hi!
Well done on deciding to get a bike! What with traffic jams everywhere and the huuge price of petrol..it makes sense!!

Your CBT will take about five to eight hours and cover a variety of things, including a Safety talk (what to wear etc) and about 2 hours of on the road practice with an instructor.
There is also a lot of off-road stuff, such as riding in and around cones (to practice control and slow riding) and emergency stops.
Its true that you will be fine on cbt even if you have never sat on a bike before as long as you are clued up on the highway code and have enough balance to work a pushbike!
The instructors will give clear direction, help and support throughout the day...once your nerves calm down its actually a really fun day!

As you are 18, a 125cc bike is the biggest you can get until you pass your full test. And yes, learner plates are a legal requirement!!
Some tips Id like to pass on are always make sure you arrive for cbt on time as they are not likely to wait and will start the day without you! And also wear sensible clothing!- no shorts or bare arms!!
Wishing you the best of luck and happy biking!

IN REPLY-
Your cbt lasts 2 years, in that time, if you dont take your test, it can simply be re-done over and over again...although its obviously the better idea to get your test done.
xx

CBT starts with theory lessons, then you ride off road then when you are ready you ride on road with an instructor in radio contact. The course can be done in one day or it can be spread over a number of shorter sessions. Once you have passed CBT you can ride a bike up to 125cc and subject to certain other restrictions with L plates until you pass a DSA test but the CBT certificate has a limited validity of three years after which you have to take it again unless you have passed the DSA test.

The CBT takes about one day to complete, with a certificate at the end of it. You can ride 125's on L plates after that, & the CBT os valid for 2 years, after which time it has to be re-taken.
On the CBT, the morning is spent learning basic bike controls, & riding around cones, doing figure of 8's on training centre grounds.
The afternoon takes you out on the roads, learning road positions, etc.

The rest of these answers are correct but just remember that the rules for taking a bike test are going through a big change at the moment and i have heard the CBT is also going to change to make it harder to pass so you get better tuition before you are allowed on the road.
In other words.....don't rely on being able to keep retaking your CBT every 2 years as this may well change very soon !

Take the bull by the horns and PASS YOUR TEST !

good luck Mark !

Well done mate, another biker ! CBT will take you through everything you need to know for the basics.Once you pass your CBT I advise that you find a mature rider to go out with you and follow you for a few hours every week until you feel confident.Treat every car like they are out to kill you, and don't be afraid to use your horn as a warning if you think someone is about to pull/step out in front of you.

As for buying a bike, try the local CBT training centre as there will be plenty of people looking to get rid of their 125's once they've passed their test. And remember if you get an automatic, make sure you do your test on a geared bike, otherwise you'll be stuck with an automatic.

Good luck, and stay safe.