Which Course?

[Maggs]

Hi,
I want to learn to ride (from scratch), and am wondering if anyone knows anything about rider training courses in UK. I have seen a BMW course which runs in wales on 650GS. Has anyone done this? Is it good? I am based in London at present.
Maggs

[Shells]

Hey Maggs! Very exciting decision.

Now, there are a few options open to you.
The BMW course, if it is the one I am thinking of, is an off-road riding course. That's a brilliant option and a pretty steep learning curve (but they're the best kind!).
Honda, Yamaha and KTM run similar courses. KTM does a womens only course a few times a year, if you think the boys tend to go too bananas

I found that the off-road course was something that I opted for to improve my riding and to prepare me for the rough stuff, after I had my license.
I got my license in a couple of months by first doing my CBT (compulsory basic training - I think that's what it is) and then doing my full license over 4 days, in London.
I had never riden before (I don't count the couple of goes on a boyfriends bike that amounted to covering about 100m). The guys teaching the course were very good - completely comfortable teaching women, and great with the basics for everyone (some of the blokes battled far more than I did!).
As soon as I had done the one day CBT, I contacted the DVLA to sit their multiple choice exam that you have to have before doing your license, and then put my name on the list for the very next Full License course.

There is a Direct Access option, which is a quick route to a full license, if you are over 25.

The instructors on my course had had a group of motorX riders on one course and had found it difficult to change their off-road (leg-out-around-corners)riding styles so that they could adopt the street riding behaviours that the examiners would pass.

Depending on how keen you are to be 'legal', it may be worth considering the CBT before an off-road course?
(if of course I have the right end of things with the BMW course in wales that you mentioned! And naturally, this is only a thought - try it on and see if it fits or not)

[BCK_973]

Trial bikes are very stabile and here you will lern how to handle the bike in very strange positions.I took such one in Germany many years ago and still use it every day in city traffic.
Remember that confidence in your own style is very important.
My 2 centavos
KH

[Bill Ryder]

Too bad you aren't in the states. Here in montana we have a two day course that gives you the driving part of the license. Then a simple written test and you get your motorcycle endorsement. I would still recomend somehow riding a dirt bike in the dirt to polish skills before any serious road riding. In 30 years of working in bike shops I have seen a fair number of bikes crashed, dented or just dropped on the pavement in the first week of ownership by new riders. But whatever it takes.....get on your bike and ride.

[Maggs]

Thanks
Shells - BMW course is not the off road one - It is direct access intensive course (i was going to build up to off road course later). BMW direct access course is new - only started in APril this year. It is quite expensive though (650 pounds) but the entire course is done on a 650GS. I am going to keep looking in London and see what other courses cost - i am sure must be able to get cheaper than this. ANd I want to save some cash to do the off road course.
Anyway I will keep looking and see what happens.
thanks for advice
Maggs

[Shells]

Aaaah, I share your passion for BMW, so completely understand considering travelling to Wales and forking out moochos cash to do the course on the F650!

I shopped around a fair bit for my course (not quite as technical as choosing a bike, but more around cost and appeal... at the time, any bike would do - I'm more picky now LOL)
I ended up going for a Direct Access course that was probably a good middle of the range option - the providers were friendly, antipodean and local, and very good teachers (at the end of the day sometimes it IS just how good the website is or how friendly the person is on the phone that makes the final decision easier). My CBT was about 120, if I remember correctly, and the 4 days of direct Access brought the total to around 550.

The CBT is very standard, so perhaps you could shop around for the cheapest local CBT option and then spend a bit more to do the balance with BMW?

Happy researching! Lots of fun ahead

[yuma simon]

I have no idea the route it takes to get licensed in Great Britain, but if you go on Ebay, you can find some very cheap, brand new, Chinese-made street legal enduros. In spite of the negative propaganda spouted by people who have never actually seen them or know anyone directly who owns one ("I heard it from my uncle's drinking buddy about his grandnephew who had one and it blew up the first time he started it up"), they are supposed to be excellent for learning on. Here in the US, most of the bikes are 200cc, but I know that the 125's are extensive on your side of the pond. The bikes look good, are street legal, and are reliable for the most part. (The engines made by Lifan are supposed to be the cream of the crop of the Chinese made bikes). Bill Ryder mentioned that he sees bikes all the time that have been crashed within the first week of ownership. With these bikes, you wouldn't really feel any guilt. Plus, you could practice off-road which would cushion both you and the bike to some extent in case of a crash, as compared to crashing on the pavement. The bikes have the standard "goods" such as 5 speed trans, (make sure the bike has the 1 down, 4 up gears), front and rear brakes in the proper place, clutch in the proper place, etc. If worse came to worse, the money you have into it would probably equal that BMW course, so if the bike became a total loss after you owned it for a while and learned everything you needed to learn, it wouldn't matter. On the other hand, it could become a good second bike once you get the hang of riding.

[maria41]

Hi Maggs,

I did my test 2 1/2 years ago in London with company called Girls Angels, they also have a sister company for the boys! The instructors are both male/female but I found the teaching very good.

Previously I did a CBT with another company and was given a horrible time by the instructor who looked down on me and humiliated me in front of others. After that I was put off for a loong time, then I found out about girls angels in a paper, itis female friendly and I had a great time. Teaching very good. They are located in West London and have a website http://www.girlsangels.com/

Also note that If you want to do the BMW off-road training you must hold a full driving licence (not a restricted one).

In term of costs, I did a 4 1/2 days course before taking my test, unfortunately I failed (twice!) so in the end it cost me nearly £1000 as I took further days training.

Good luck!

Maria

[jedi knight]

Yuma, I feel the force within you is driving the wheels of the chinese bike factory but not reading the question. Do you think you could get me a cheaper starfighter? Its looking a bit shabby these days as R2 has found a freind and run off. When Obe One set me on the path of adventurous demi god he gave me lessons, by having these lessons I could use the starfighter and not scratch it, this was good. Only when that bloody uncle of mine went to the dark side and creamed me with his black KTM "the death star" did the the paint begin to flake. May you have seven headlights and 9's on your number plate for you are as irrelevant as me. Oh I'd like it Red please.

[yuma simon]

Jedi, you are correct. I did not correctly read into the question, but "from scratch" was interrpreted as no license as well as "no bike."