Category Archives: CBT

Information regarding the Compulsory Basic Training motorcycle test.

Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Direct Access, Motorcycle Training, News

Booking your Motorcycle Test

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DSA Motorcycle Test Booking System is ‘Down’.

Another blow to the struggling Motorcycle Training Industry Testing System.  With only a small amount of  Motorcycle Testing Sites striving to serve the UK the DSA announced yesterday (31st of  March -at least it wasn’t an April Fools Day announcement) that due to a BT Fire the DSA payments system is ‘down’.

This means that you can not book motorcycle tests via the telephone system or online as the DSA can not process the payments for the tests.  The DSA recorded announcement states that it is unlikely to be rectified ‘within the week’.

This is a huge blow and a great inconvenience to clients and trainers alike.  With Motorcycle Training already hit by a reported 62% drop since the introduction of the New Motorcycle Test this is another major setback.

What does this mean for you if you are looking for Direct Access Training or CBT in Cardiff.  We are pleased to announce that CBT bookings are not affected and we can continue to serve you with the delivery of CBT courses.

Direct Access Training can still go ahead in preparation for your test but we are currently unable to book your test or fix a date.

The DSA booking centre staff can only advise us of any vacancies for tests but they can not be booked or even reserved.  They state that it would simply be a question of a free for all when the lines are repaired and the system is back up and running, as Training Schools fight to get available tests to clear their back log of waiting students.  That’s reassuring then!

This throws the whole system into disarray.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you but it is completely beyond our control.

CBTs are unaffected.

The DSA Booking line number is 0300 200 1122.   Our Direct Booking Line is; 0845 467 0165.

Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Direct Access, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News

Motorcycle Monthly. latest issue, April

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The latest issue of Motorcycle Monthly is out and is available free from 1st Class Rider Training.  The April issue contains news, views, reviews, offers, competitions and much more.

The new Ducati Multistrada is tested, Latest Oxford Products are reviewed.  Also a guide to buying your next bike from an Auction and a ‘road test’ of an ‘Off Road’ Training School, and that’s just from the front page!

So if you are doing your CBT or Direct Access Training in Cardiff make sure you get your copy from us at 1st Class Rider Training.

It’s out now!

Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Direct Access, Motorcycle Training, News

Direct Access Training. What’s the Cost?

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When booking a ‘Direct Access Course’ please remember that the CBT should be counted as a seperate element.  (The cost of the CBT with 1st Class Rider Training is £125)

After the CBT your Instructor will discuss with you how many days Direct Access Training you may need to take your tests. This further training for the Direct Access Course can be arranged in the run up to your test and costs £140 per day.  (this excludes any DSA tests fees)

So what do you get for your money.  Firstly with us, you will train from 9.15am until approximately 4.30pm each day.  Some training schools charge the same as us but will only give you an 8am -1pm training day- or similar.

Included in your £140 is the use of the bike, fuel, and insurance whilst you are training and we can loan you a helmet, jacket, gloves and waterproofs whilst you are training.  The equipment is loaned free of charge.

So there are no hidden charges.  When you breakdown the cost for the day it equates, approximately to just £18 per hour!

Excellant value for money for the service and quality of training that you will recieve.

So spend your money wisely, give 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff a call to book you Direct Access Course, now.

Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Direct Access, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles

Direct Access Instructor

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1st Class Rider Training prides itself on the quality of our Direct Access Instructors, (read the testimonial page to see the result).

But what should you look for when choosing an Instructor for your Direct Access Training.  If possible come along and meet us in advance of booking your course.  You can get a fair impression over the phone but we would welcome anyone thinking of booking a course to come and meet us to discuss your training needs and options face to face.

In order to become a Direct Access Instructor you must first complete the 2 day Cardington Assessment for CBT Instruction.  This assessment is carried out over 2 consecutive days at the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) assessment centre at Cardington in Bedford.

Once the CBT assessment has been successfully completed you may then undergo the further half day Direct Access Assessment.

This is where a great emphasis is placed on the step up from a 125 (CBT Bike) to the ‘Big Bike’.

You will be given a series of three instructional ‘on road’ exercises but first you will be given an exercise teaching the stooge ‘student’ the controls of his chosen bike and the differences in the response of the throttle and the effectiveness of the brakes, when compared to the 125s. You will be assessed not only on your instructional skills but also the control of the training situations and in particular the control over the student at higher speeds on National Speed Limit roads and country lanes.

The Direct Access Scheme stipulates a minimum power out put for the bike needed for training but does not stipulate any upper limits.  This effectively means that you can train on any size bike over and above the minimum power required.  But realistically training schools generally make use of 500 and 600cc bikes.   But if you want to take your test on your new Hyabusa, or your Harley Davidson Fat Boy- you can! But it is probably better to let us choose your training bike!

At 1st Class Rider Training we believe that if the CBT is carried out thoroughly and effectively then it makes the step up to the Big Bike training so much easier, and at 1st Clas Rider Training we carry out our own in house assessments and development of our Direct Access Instructors, over and above that required by the DSA.

So for your Direct Access Course if you choose 1st Class Rider Training you are getting a 1st Class Instructor.

Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Changes, Direct Access, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News

A.I.S Ace Instructor Services set to close?

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Unlucky 13th for some maybe.

A crisis meeting has been called for owners and staff of AIS, Ace Instructor Services, a motorcycle training school based in Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan.  At the meeting scheduled for the 13th of October, instructors will discover the fate of the company who apparently are feeling the effects of the recession.  My source says, it is believed that falling student numbers and the high cost of Insurance for the school, set for renewal in November, has found the school struggling to survive.  It is anticipated that the insurance will not be renewed unless a buyer can be found amongst its loyal staff.

The training school is based in Llantwit Major and shares a training site with United Motorcycle Training, Cardiff on the old Llandow Airfield.

This will be another sad loss to the Motorcycle Training Industry in recent times, as we all struggle to face up to the increasing andchanging demands of the training and testing system.

AIS has been responsible for putting many motorcyclists through their tests and many riding now owe their new found freedom to Ace Motorcycle Training School.

We wish their instructors well in finding new positions.

Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Changes, Events, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News

CBT Training Cardiff

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For CBT Training in Cardiff, 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff is based at the Cardiff County Council Road Safety Centre, Maindy Stadium, Cardiff. We are able to use a purpose built site that is designed with a large dexterity area, a mini road system with authentic road signs, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and a full sized roundabout.

You will be well able to practice on our site before venturing out onto the road with your instructor.  We find that using such a site fully prepares our students for riding on the road.  When examined and approved by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) Examiner he commented that it was a ‘perfect site for CBT’.

We can’t agree more!

The CBT is your first step towards becoming part of a breed of road user who is able to get the best from travel on today’s busy roads.

Compulsory Basic Training ( CBT ) is exactly that.  It is compulsory for all learners who wish to ride on public roads. Normally completed in one day, it equips you to ride safely on a bike of up to 125cc, with ‘L’ plates.  You are not allowed to carry passengers or use Motorways at this stage but it forms the basis of good riding to build upon for the future.

So don’t delay…. You can become a 1st Class Rider Today.  If you are looking for CBT training in Cardiff then give us a call.

Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Changes, Direct Access, Events, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News

Launch of our Site for Motorcycle Training in Cardiff

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1st Class Rider Training are pleased to announce the date for the official launch of our New Site for Motorcycle Training in Cardiff.

Thursday the 29th of October will see the Lord Mayor of Cardiff officially open the New Cardiff County Council Road Safety Centre at Maindy Stadium, Crown Way, Cardiff.

Since 1st Class Rider Training was established we have been fortunate to work closely with the staff at the Road Safety Centre and we have enjoyed their hospitality using Briardene Road Safety Centre as our Training Base in Cardiff.

The move to Maindy stadium will see the opening of a luxury suite of offices and training rooms with computer simulators and lecture facilities.  We are also able to make use of SID, the portable Speed Indicator to fully prepare our students for the speed related elements of the Part 1 Motorcycle Test.

The new training area is made up of a large ‘Dexterity Area, and mini road system with authentic signed junctions, bends and a full sized roundabout.

Secure on site storage for our motorcycles allows us immediate access to these new facilities and for when we have finished work……there is a swimming pool and a fully equipped Fitness Suite!

1st Class Rider Training on First Class Machines on a First Class Training Site…. 1st Class !

Advanced Training, Cardiff, CBT, Direct Access, Events, Motorcycle Training, News

Motorcycle Training Cardiff

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The face of Motorcycle Training in Cardiff is about to change.  1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff are pleased to announce our imminent move to our new training site.

Since 1st Class Rider was formed delivering high quality motorcycle training in Cardiff we have enjoyed a very special relationship with Cardiff County Council Road Safety team.  Our existing training site at The Road Safety Centre, Briardene, North Road, Cardiff is soon to move to our new home.

A new purpose built site is now open at the Road Safety Centre, which has relocated to Maindy Stadium.

The training areas, which has been described by the DSA Examining Officer, as a perfect CBT training site, has a dexterity area together with a private road system consisting of bends, junctions, pedestrian crossings and a roundabout.  All with authentic road markings and road signs.

Still enjoying on site toilet facilities and refreshment vending machines.

So you don’t have to train on some featureless industrial estate car park when you can train with the best n this purpose built training site.

The new face of Motorcycle Training in Cardiff is here and waiting for you.

Advanced Training, Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Changes, Direct Access, Events, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News, Police Class 1

1st Class Rider Tours

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1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff are pleased to announce the launch of their new web site.  www.1stclassridertours.co.uk

The launch recognises the success of our European and War Graves Tours so far this year.  The new web page is being constructed but will hold a full calendar of trips for 2010.  The Somme, Normandy, Battle of The Bulge, Bruges and Ypres to name but a few.

These are biking trips professionally lead by Police Class 1 Riders to points of interest along some of the best biking roads on offer in Northern Europe. Conveniently packaged into just a long weekend.

The web site will also hold links to our main training page and our popular Newsletter Blog where you can sign up for automatic updates on Advanced Training, Special Events and Monthly Social Ride Outs.

These are exciting times for us here at 1st Class Rider Training as we expand our successful training company.  We will still be offering ‘Learner’ & Advanced Training and we will still be available for the many corporate classroom training sessions that we currently present, but these tours are a natural progression as we look forward to changes in the biking industry in the UK.

Come and join us.  Watch out for news on the completion of www.1stclassridertours.co.uk

Advice, CBT, Events, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News

Thunderroad Motorcycles

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I have been asked recently to clarify an issue that has arisen from a recent radio advertising campaign by Thunderroad Motorcycles of Bridgend & Cwmbran.

They are advertising a new 125 cc bike and the radio ad claims “and it can be ridden on a car licence”.

In the ‘small print’ at the end of the ad it does say “CBT required”.  To say it can be ridden on a car licence is not strictly correct as a car licence alone is not sufficient and you must have a licence which shows Category A (Which is Motorcycles).  Most car licences do show Category A as a provisional entitlement, but not all do. Of course you would be riding this 125 (or any 125 for that matter) on a Bike Licence- which may be included on a Full Car licence.

But it’s a bit like saying I can drive a Bus on my Bike Licence.

So you need to check your licence to make sure it shows Category A, otherwise you will not be able to ride it at all, or you will be riding it without a licence, whether you’ve passed your car test or not!