CBT not enough?

My son's 16 1/2 & wants a bike when he's 17. With the new licence laws he'll be restricted to a 125 until he's 19 so no real need to pass his test. I'll be happy if he just has his CBT. Getting experience is vital, and I'll be going out with him until I think he's good enough.
I've already started talking to him when we're in the car about how to view the road from a biker's perspective & that hasn't put him off! (Nothing worse than being lectured by your dad!)

Originally Posted by kiggles

should be made harder, with the encouragement further training where ever possible.

I don't think it should be made harder, but htere should definitely be more training available. Most training offered to new riders is on how to pass your test, not on how to ride well.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by kiggles

I kind of agree with tonyk. Too many people own cars/bikes who clearly have wrong mentality of using public roads. Although police are there to stop them, its only when they get caught they may get a slap on the wrist. the amount of people asked me at uni what they need to use a bike like mine, while staring at it imaging themselves on it looking cool. FACEPALM .

should be made harder, with the encouragement further training where ever possible.

What the hell is wrong with that?

Half of people on bikes have that "image" mentality or at least start on bikes due to image and then find out it is awesome.

So no it shouldn't be made harder. The EU c*nts are killing our way of life with their stupid stupid licensing laws and you're calling for it to be harder? Have you taken complete leave of your senses?

I think it's very much chicken and egg really.

One one hand the CBT is so easy you can't really 'fail' it (unless you are ridiculously dangerous), so there are a lot of 16-17 year old kids on the road with little or no experience and no road sense. But, the only way to get these skills and experience is through being out on the road. As one of the posters above said, some kids (and adults) on bikes seem to think that they are invincible, which makes you an accident waiting to happen. That soon changes once you have your first off.

There has to be a large degree of personal responsibility when you are on a bike, particularly when you are still learning (which lets face it, is forever really). Unfortunately, this is missing from a lot of the 50cc riders out there who end up learning the hard (and painful) way.

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

So no it shouldn't be made harder. The EU c*nts are killing our way of life with their stupid stupid licensing laws and you're calling for it to be harder? Have you taken complete leave of your senses?

I tend to agree, legislation and stricter criteria are good in princible, but most often they are mere political point scoring than any help to normal folks, once people have a licence they then tend to look at new riders not as "joining them", but more as "are they good enough", just remember you were crap once yourself (and still maybe to some with more experience).

[yorkie_chris]

Maybe worried they won't be the cool kid any more if any other people get bikes

It is darn scary to see some CBT qualified people on the road, to me it's just like getting your cycling proficiency test done but with the added bonus of a wee motor onboard!

Personally I would tell the friend he's got room for improvement and point him towards the police roadcraft book or (for lighter reading) the IAM's How to be a better rider. That way it's not your instruction that he's relying on and it comes down to whether he's sensible enough and open to continued learning.


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[timwilky]

From what I recall when my daughter did hers. It is training not a test. So long as they demonstrate competence at the maneuvers and road ride they get a ticket. Of course half a day cannot take you from never been on a bike to competent rider. It is designed to give you sufficient knowledge to stay upright whilst you learn to ride.

I think back to when I was a kid, you get a lid, 250, insurance and L plates all at the local dealers and ride out on your new pride and joy. Hopefully the dealer will point out the controls. A CBT is a big step forward from those days.

[rictus01]

whilst at it (not completely off topic), move all the sundays from mid April to the end of May, into one lump please, not so much new riders, but for this time the amount of "wobbly" riders returning to the road is just plain scary, and worse they do it in the bike lane big out in the middle of traffic.....

[yorkie_chris]

On a GSXR1000, and matching leathers obviously.

Please send an all-points bulletin out to these people and kindly point out that that dashed line down the middle of the cars is what I like to think of as "MINE" and if they want to use it would they kindly take an occasional glance in the mirror and see if they're holding anyone up, I'm quite happy to extend the same courtesy if anyone does want to be braver than me.
Oh and refraining from any incompetent, throttle happy overtakes in the urban areas does rather reduce the incidence of "you're all a bunch of idiots" the other 362 days of the year I'll probably be out on the road when you won't.