Category Archives: Motorcycle Training

Motorcycle Training news, from 1st Class Rider Training – Cardiff.

Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles

CBT in Cardiff

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Our CBT courses are held at our training site at Maindy Stadium Road Safety Centre. We are allowed to train up to four students at a time on a CBT session but I restrict it to just two myself. We find that this gives closer supervision and better training. It means that any weaker students are not lost in a bigger group.
We find it is easier for the students and Instructors alike and we find we are getting better quality riders as an end result.

Our Training Site, seen in the background here, has lifesized junctions, bends, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and a roundabout. Perfect for preparing our students for the road before venturing out through the gates.

Pictured is our Instructor talking through the vehicle controls with two students (just one of the elements of the Compulsory Basic Training).

This really is ‘1st Class Rider Training’.

Advice, Cardiff, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News

July Motorcycle Monthly out now

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The July issue of Motorcycle Monthly is out now and available from us at 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff.

Completely free this is ‘Britain’s Biggest FREE Bike Newspaper.  In this issue read the review of Triumphs latest claim at a chunk of the Sports Tourer market with the introduction of their new Sprint GT.  At under 10k this is a lot of bike for your money.  More pillion friendly and more luggage space this is a real contenders for the Sports Tourer crown.

Also read how London Mayor Boris Johnson threatend a protesting biker group, angry at Westminster Bike Parking Charges, with their expulsion from London bus lanes unless they stopped protesting at the parking fees.  A fair and balanced viewpoint?  Have a read and see for yourself.

Also in this issue competitions, letters, advice and product reports and much more.

So grab yourself a copy, either with a visit to us at 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff where you can also get advice and guidance on Motorcycle Training in Cardiff or join us on a Ride Out. Just log on to our Newsletter Blog for free Ride Out information and updates.

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

CHOOSING a Cardiff Motorcycle School

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When it comes to choosing a Cardiff Motorcycle School there are some major factors to consider.

Don’t always make your decision on the face value of the prices alone. See how these prices are broken down and see what you actually get for your money.  Some Training Schools will give a cheap opening price but then add on a cost for bike hire etc.

1st Class Rider Training is a Cardiff Motorcycle School that gives ‘inclusive’ prices, with no hidden charges.

Prices for our Cardiff Direct Access Training cover training from 9.15am until approximately 4.30pm each day.  We believe that others may charge the same as us but will only give you a five hour training day.  This adds up over the duration of your course to a lot of training that you may be paying for (with others) and not getting!

Cardiff Motorcycle School for example train from 8am until 1pm OR from 1pm until 6pm But not both together,  (I know…I used to work for them)  And please don’t be mistaken but the proprietor of Cardiff Motorcycle School and I, are still good friends both personally and professionally. We just offer and operate different training packages.

Remember it is your money that you are spending so get the best value for it pound for pound.

Also ask what facilities each school utilise in their training sites.  1st Class Rider Training has a purpose built training site with a large dexterity area, and a full size ‘mock’ road system with traffic lights, junctions, bends and a full size roundabout.  All for your use before you get out on road.

Other training schools that I have previously worked at (Cardiff Motorcycle School, or  United Motorcycle Training to name just two) are the two closest in distance to 1st Class Rider Training.

Cardiff Motorcycle School are situated to the West of the City, United Motorcycle Training are situated to the North. 1st Class Rider Training is centrally located on the Main A470 North Road in the Maindy area of the City.

We believe that our purpose built site, with realistic road features, better prepares you for riding on the road.

So by all means shop around but if you want 1st Class Rider Training in the Cardiff area then give me a call.

If our lines are busy please call back, or leave a message and I will call you.  Become a 1st Class Rider today.

Cardiff, Direct Access, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News

Driving Test 75 years old in 2010

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The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) publication ‘Despatch’ carries an article celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Driving Test.

It states that introduction of the test in 1935 was radical at the time.  With an initial 250 examiners they met test candidates at Car Parks as Test Centres didn’t exist. Nowadays 2000 examiners conduct up to seven tests a day.

Now hold a moment.  let’s look at that comment from the DSA. In 1935 no test centres and testing in car parks…..

Let’s now look at the 2010 situation for Motorcycle Tests.  The DSA say they have met their targets but in 2010 Motorcycle Training Schools are left ‘with no test centres’ and where do we do the test…oh yes in a car park!  A very expensive car park no doubt.  Ah!  the Good Ole Days….

So whilst the DSA celebrate 75 years of ‘progress’ motorcycle schools continue to close down and for those that struggle on, are faced with travelling up to 200 miles round trip in some instances to find a test centre.

And as for getting a test at these non existent test centres!  I called the DSA Booking Centre today and I was told that there were no motorcycle tests available for as far ahead as the DSA system would allow the operator to check. Progress? Oh they said there was a full programme just come up for tomorrow!  How can you plan and prepare candidates for that kind of service.

So where have all the examiners gone.  For South West Wales in the ‘good ole days’ there were examiners working at Cardiff, Bridgend, Merthyr, Newport, Cwmbran, Monmouth and part time at Llandrindod Wells.  But now it is the norm to have just one conducting tests in Newport.  Add in the fact that training schools from as far afield as Hereford are also trying to get tests slots in Newport and the situation quickly becomes a joke.

Backlog…What backlog.

So my message to Rosemary Thew, DSA Chief Executive is this.  Happy Birthday to you and your test.  Have your party, and then pull your finger out and sort out the mess that you, as Chief Executive, are totally responsible for.

Advice, Cardiff, CBT, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles

How do I get the best Motorbike Lessons in Cardiff?

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This is a difficult decision for you to make because until you pay your money and take a chance with a training school you don’t know if you’ve made the right choice or not. So let us put your mind at ease.

You can get valuable information from the Company Reviews left by previous clients, and these reviews show up on the  ‘google’ search results.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) also carry out periodic assessments of Instructors at CBT sessions and then report back to the company.

One of our ‘1st Class’ Instructors was recently assessed and this is the summary of the DSA Examiner’s findings.

“This was a very well conducted CBT. Steve gave excellent demonstrations throughout and kept both trainees involved at all times.  Steve has a very pleasant manner and uses his own experiences well to explain things. Steve obviously has a lot of motorcycle experience and used this well both on and off road to warn of potential hazards and problems but still allowed the trainees plenty of opportunity to demonstrate their own abilities.  Steve’s use of Q & A made learning both easy and enjoyable for the trainees who both commented through the day how much they were learning and how enjoyable Steve made it for them”.

So spend your money wisely.  Give 1st Class Rider Training a call to book your training.

Call us now on 0845 467 0165.

If our lines are busy please leave a message and we will call you back.

Cardiff, CBT, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News

How many Motorbike Training Schools are there in South Wales?

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For a City the size of Cardiff there are surprisingly few Motorcycle Training Schools serving the population.

The longest running is Cardiff Motorcycle School who are based at Bevans Motorcycle Dealership at Hadfield Road in the West of the City, using the Cardiff City Stadium Car Park as their main CBT training site.

Centrally based, 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff have been running since 2003, originally linked to the Cardiff BMW Motorcycle Dealership, (Rydale BMW – who have since changed hands and no longer sell BMW Bikes).  1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff use Cardiff County Council Road Safety Centre at Maindy Stadium, just off North Road as the main training site.  There we have the use of a purpose built training site with Road junctions, Traffic Lights and a full sized roundabout.

Just Ride Away is a newly formed Training Body based at Willows High School in the South of the City.

United Motorcycle Training based at Llanishen Trading Estate to the North of the City also have branches at South Wales Superbikes in Newport and also make use of a training area at Llandow in the Vale of Glamorgan.

These are the main Authorised Training Bodies in the City but the surrounding area is served by Schools at Aberdare, Bridgend, Bedwas, Pontypridd, Merythyr Tydfil and Cwmbran.

A recent closure of a training school in the Vale of Glamorgan has seen a Bristol based company try and fill the Llantwit Major gap left by the closure.

So when it comes to spending your money you want the best value for your cash so it is worth shopping around….and after you’ve shopped around and spoken to the others 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff will be happy to book you in!

If our lines are busy, please call back.  Or leave a message and we will be happy to call you.

0845 467 0165