Category Archives: Motorcycle Training

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

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

3rd EU Directive on Driving Licences

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Once again the Spectre of the 3rd EU Directive on Driving Licences has arisen.  As a member of the Federation of Small Businesses I attended, on behalf of 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff,  a recent ‘Curry & Questions’ event.  A ‘Question Time’ type of event, on the panel to answer member questions were, Clive Davenport (Federation of Small Businesses & Chair of the event), David Melding (Conservative Assembly Member for South Wales Central), Huw Lewis (Assembly Member for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney), and Neil McEvoy (Deputy Leader of Cardiff County Council).

I was able to put to them a question relating to the impact that the 3rd EU Directive on Driving Licences will have on the Motorcycle Industry. I highlighted that changes to the Training & Testing System had already put pressure on the industry and this would have a major knock on effect on Sales, Servicing, Accessories etc etc. I highlighted the concern over the lack of suitable motorcycle test centres in Wales.

I asked what could be done to minimise the impact.  The reply I got was both a little disappointing but also encouraging.

Disappointing in that none of the panel members were aware of the 3rd Eu Directive, or of it’s provisions and implications.

However I was given an invitation to attend the Welsh Assembly to discuss the matter further, and arrangements are being put in place to do this.  I have been contacted by the Office of David Melding to confirm a date for the meeting.

If anyone in the industry wishes to forward to me a question on the matter I will do my best to put it forward for discussion and hopefully get an answer.

If anyone is in any doubt about the effect that the recent changes to the training and testing systems is already having, figures just released show a fall of 25% in the number of registrations of new motorcycles in the last quarter.

The beginning of The End?  Lets hope not.

My thanks go to the Federation of Small Businesses for organising the event and to the panel members for giving up their time to answer FSB Member questions.

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.

Cardiff, Direct Access, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles

Direct Access Training

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I have had a few enquiries lately asking me exactly what the Direct Access Training Scheme is.

Direct Access Scheme, or more commonly called, DAS is part of the tiered testing system that exists in the UK.

The Direct Access Scheme enables candidates who are over 21 years of age to train on a ‘big bike’ to obtain a ‘Direct’ route to obtaining a full motorcycle licence.

The engine size of the bike is not the deciding factor, but it’s power output (measured in Brake Horse Power -BHP).  But this usually is carried out on bikes of 500cc and over.

1st Class Rider Training- Cardiff have a choice of 500cc and 600cc ‘Direct Access Bikes’.

For riders who are under 21 or for those who choose to train and take the test on a 125cc bike, certain restrictions will apply.

Motorcycle Training

Motorcycle Training in the Vale of Glamorgan

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As reported in an earlier post it is now confirmed that there will be a gap in Motorcycle Training in the Vale of Glamorgan.

ACE Instructor Services are to close.  At the meeting on the 13th it was confirmed that the owners didn’t have a buyer, with Training School Insurance costs set to be in the region of £2500 for the year, and with falling student numbers it was not a viable option to remain in business.

With the Insurance due for renewal on the 6th of November the decision has been made not to renew.

5th of November the school will close.  Fireworks night indeed.

As the Childrens Rhymes says…….’Please to remember the 5th of November’……

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.

Motorcycle Training

Classic British Bikes – Matchless

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The Matchless must be deeemed to be one of the true pioneers, being built by the Collier family, one of the first UK bike manufacturers.

Building bikes since the late 19th century but really established itself by winning the inaugural Isle of Man TT race in 1907.

The first motorcycle was little more than a bicycle frame with the engines bolted just beneath the down tube.  Still with the bicycle pedals in place.  The early machine produced a heady 2 3/4 horse power but sold well enough to warrant further development.

Even though they continued to develop thier designs in suspension and a dropped frame to lower the seat, by 1912 they had produced a V Twin which still resembled, in many ways their first 1890’s design.  Chunkier tyres a lowered seat and an engine centered in the frame were the main visual difference but vastly improved suspension and performance saw the Collier family have great success in the TT.

Representing Britain in an international race in France on one of these machines, Charlie Collier came third. Deisgning, building and riding your own bike must have given a great sense of achievement in these pioneering days.

The V Twin gave an engine capacity of 770cc with a top speed of around 60mph.  The events in Europe with the onset on World War I saw motorcycle production all but end for the Collier family but they continued to produce munitions for our troops and contributed to Britains well being in other ways.

Matchless is still today a name that rings in British Bike circles and if you have ever seen one in the ‘flesh’ it is remarkable to behold.

Next Post will be ;  a Triumph 3HP.

Motorcycle Training

Classic British Bikes The Humber Trike

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It is little more than 100 years since Man created machines that could take him faster than he could walk. It was with Motorcycles that some of the early pioneers achieved this.

No one can really say where the first motorcycle originated but one of the earliest is The Humber Trike.

The Humber company was formed in 1868 producing Pedal Bicycles in Nottinghamshire.  By way of an experiment Humber caused several prototypes of a powered machine to be produced.  Many of these came to nothing but one, The Humber Trike went into production.

It was a single cylinder side valve four stroke engine with a direct gear drive to the rear wheels.  With bicycle handlebars and brakes it was capable of a mind boggling 40mph. Large spoked wheels and a slim single sprung leather seat would have made this a buttock crunching ride.

The Humber company continued with powered transport and made Motorcycles until the 1930’s but will probably be better remembered for it’s Car production. Although in 1911 were succesful in winning the first Junior TT held over the Mountain Section with one of their early two wheelers.

The depression of the 30’s saw the production of Humber motorcycle come to an end and the bicycle bussiness was sold to Raleigh…. and the rest, as they say…..

Advice, Cardiff, Changes, Motorcycle Training, News, Police Class 1

M4 Motorway Safety Cardiff & South Wales

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1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff learnt today that the threatened withdrawal of Police Motorway patrols throughout the South Wales area on the M4 Motorway came into force today.

From today the Chief Constable of South Wales Police has disbanded her dedicated ‘Motorway Section’ of the South Wales Police Traffic Department due to budget constraints.

This means that the M4 in the Cardiff and South Wales area will no longer be Policed as a matter of course.

Police patrols may still use the motorway for their own travel purposes but the previously highly trained expert motorway patrol Traffic Officers will be given duties elsewhere.

The Chief Constable has determined that the Highways Agency will be responsible for ensuring the safe running of traffic on the M4 and dealing with routine breakdowns and minor calls.

One problem is that the Highways Agency do not have sufficient staff to take over the role at this time and have staff members in training anticipated to first be used (as rookies) in January.

What does this mean to members of the public, in particular motorcyclists using the M4 throughout Cardiff and Southy Wales?

Well speed enforcement will no longer be carried out by patrolling Traffic Cops and the Highways Agency staff have no enforcement powers for this.  Now this might sound like fun at first but when you consider the consequences of breaking down on the M4 on your bike.

It can be daunting enough to be sat on the hard shoulder as traffic roars past at 70mph but now you could be stood there, waiting for assistance with traffic speeding by at any speed.

With the onset now of Autumn and Winter with the darker evenings, you could find yourself on an unlit section with no protection, and little assistance to come.

If you find yourself in this position then get away from the bike. Motorways are deemed to be the safest roads in the UK, but the Hard Shoulder is the most dangerous part of that road.

Don’t lean against the back of your bike as you wait for a breakdown service to arrive as this will obscure your lights and other reflective parts of your bike to the approaching traffic, rendering you ‘invisible’.

Move ‘down stream’ away from your bike and if possible over the non-traffic side of the nearside barrier or up the embankment.

The Road side emergency telephones will still connect you to the control room for assistance but it may not result in a Police Patrol attending to assist.  It is better, where safety allows, for you to use the roadside telephones rather than your mobile phone to seek help as the roadside phones are a direct link to the Police Control room, where your mobile phone signal may be picked up by the strongest available signal.

So in an emergency you might find yourself speaking with an operator in the West Country rather than Bridgend. (Try Spelling Capel Llanilltern when you are in a panic)!!

Remember don’t put yourself at any risk and protect youself as you may be on your own for some time……aren’t the nights drawing in??

(Please note that 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff does not condone exceeding the Speed Limits).

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.