CBT not enough?

I am sure this has been raised in other threads regarding what someone needs to do to use a motorbike on the road. But i went out with a guy this weekend who had just done a CBT. Despite him having a very very lucky off where he was not hurt and bike was fine. I found him a danger to himself and other road users.

looking back at it when i did my cbt I guess I cant really judge on what i was like when riding. But I felt unsafe following him, other cars clearly showed concern for him being on the road. (one lady in a car looked at me, then looked at him, then looked back at me while shaking her head with disapproval and concern as if saying why is he on the road).

But i thought to myself how he may improve his riding without spending money on a full test. The only thing i could think of was to ride more and get more confident with advice from the right people. But we were riding so I guess it was kind of helping him. Despite handing over a think bike leaflet, I couldn't help but worry about his riding and danger on the road. He going to use it to get to work so I guess he will get used to riding pretty quickly. He has a car licence but his riding really did not show he did.

Everytime I try give him advice I feel it is second hand advice from when i did my IAM test. But i know myself I could be putting it out wrong.


But since witnessing this kind of riding first hand I am starting to think maybe they should make CBT a bit tougher, and spell out the dangers more and types of injuries and crashes people have. Not to put them off but to bring them to reality.

[DJ123]

It doesn't matter about the test itself. It is about how you ride afterwards. It is the same as the car test-do A, B & C and ehre is your license. After that ride/drive how you want.
Seeking extra training will help him as will riding with experienced riders who can give him pointers. When giving pointers its important to put it across in a constructive way so they will take on board.

[Sir Trev]

Originally Posted by kiggles

I went out with a guy this weekend ...

It is possibly the amount of wine I've had this evening but I cannot get past this bit of the OP...

[Tomor]

Originally Posted by Sir Trev

It is possibly the amount of wine I've had this evening but I cannot get past this bit of the OP...

Deffo the amount of wine you have had Trev! Lay off otherwise you wont be coming out on the ride tomorrow!!

[rictus01]

for some of us we can remember when the test was much simpler, now whether you agree with all this cbt and what have you, it's had an effect on any pre-test tuition you may recieve, (if you took lessons) you used to learn how to ride and a bit about traffic but basic survival was the main thing; with the odd requirement thrown in, these days they focus on the test solely and nothing else.

Hence a new rider is wonderfully equipped to take a test, but perhaps not deal with day to day riding.
there is a definite gap from passing a test to being safe on the road, I've coached many new riders on basic survival skill they seam to be totally unaware of.

There are also those who rush into what is termed "advanced rider training" and believing that makes them a "complete" rider, whilst valuable lessons can be learnt; without suitable road experience they'll only learn "parrot fashion" and their ability to pass it on is limited, and of course some just aren't any good at giving advice or indeed reading who they're talking to.

the right advice/demonstration/ explination at the right time delivered in the right way can help dramatically, alas the same is true in reverse.....

My advice would be find a sensible mentor with experience you can trust and ask for advice from them, a word of caution though, as a new rider, better than you doesn't necessarily mean good.

Cheers Mark.

[Biker Biggles]

FWIW
First do a riding course and test.That way you spend several days out with an instructor and learn the "correct" way to ride on the road and pick up a lot of general riding tips.
Then get experience any way you can out on the road and look to do something like a Bikesafe day if it is available.
Then(most important of all)aquire some common sense.Sounds a bit like your mate is missing this vital ingredient.

CBT is exactly that, basic. The bare minimum you need to be on the road, some people will be at that level naturally, most won't d the CBT helps. You could mandate more training but to be honest it's the attitude that's usually the problem. If people passed their CBts and spent some time improving on quiet roads (which DO exist even in London) it would be fine, it's the odd person that dashes through their CBT, barely passes and jumps out into rush hour traffic/hectic main roads that's gonna hit trouble and to be fair I suspect no amount of training cures that, my 6 months of driving lessons didn't cure my car based insanity, only time did.

I agree with what the others have said, in that the CBT is purely that - basic training.

The only way to improve is through experience. I passed my test in 2006, but had a break from riding between 2010 and this year. Even though the basics are still there I still feel like a newbie in a lot of ways. Hours and miles on the bike are what gets you to a reasonable level.

[NTECUK]

Can you get another bike buddy and get him to ride in between you.
The guy infront will help keep him safe.
If hes ok and takes advice ok your help him out.
You can't beat experance,

although ive been driving a car for nearly 10 years when i did my cbt 3 years ago i dont even remember being asked if i knew what different road signs meant