The CBT consists of five elements –

1. An introduction
2. Some on Site Training (Practical)
3. Some on Site Riding (Practical)
4. On Road Training (Practical)
5. On Road Riding (Practical)

These are not difficule steps and once you have your CBT the doors to riding your bike in Birmingham have opened. Of course, if you plan on getting a bigger bike then you will need to go on and take your test, CBT is the first step though.

Best of luck, we are sure you will enjoy the day!

This is an ideal place to own a motorcycle, so it is well worth getting some motorbike training in Berkshire. With beautiful surrounding countryside and plenty of towns to visit such as Windsor, Bracknell and Slough. Why not plan your first solo motorcycle ride to take in some of these historic places?

There are plenty of places to find motorbike training in Berkshire and a quick google search should reveal one which will suit your needs and budget.

Why not plan a few motorcycle rides with a google map of Berkshire. As you will see there is a great mix of town and country, so you should be able to hone your motorcycle riding skills as soon as you have had your motorbike training in Berkshire and got your CBT or test.

Slough really is a great are to own a motorbike too as there is such a lot of great countryside surrounding the built up areas. A ride from Slough bus garage to Burham Beeches will not take you longer than 20 minutes!

Once you have had some motorbike training in Slough, you will be able to stop off in the town center on your first solo ride and make use of the free motorcycle parking right in the center. See the Slough council website for more details.

Why not start plotting your first ride out after you have completed your motorbike training on googles map of Slough

Poyle is a great place to own a motorbike. Whether you are exploring the wonderful Berkshire country side, popping into Slough, or just cruising around the village itself.

While there are no motorbike taining centers in Poyle, there are still a good amount in the surrounding areas. You could use a directory such as CBT-Test-Training to find your local one.

Don’t forget to make the most of the free motorbike parking in the Slough area, more details can be found on the slough council website. You can also see a great map of Poyle on Google maps.

Very often you will find that the most expensive motorbike training school is not always the best one.  Having a rapport with the instructor or instructors can be the most important part of the whole training experience, so that first impression you get on the phone, or during a visit can tell you so much about how you are going to feel when you actually take your training.

Make sure that the instuctor who will be training you during your motorbike training is qualified and has passed either the IAM or ROSPA test.  Not only that, but that they listen to any questions you have and can connect with you.  99% of the time things will be fine.  I am yet to meet a motorbike training instructor that couldn’t connect with his pupils.

Ensure that the motorbike training center has been approved by the DSA and that you feel comfortable there.  Ask about any equipment that you may need to hire and ensure that you work that into your budget calculations.

Last but not least, make sure you are comfortable with the motorbike that they will train you on.  Most motorbike training schools will be happy to give you a short free lesson so that you can get comfortable with the controls before your actual motorbike training starts.

Pick a motorcycle that fits your lifestyle, experience and your ability and skills to ride it. If you are still a beginner, don’t purchase a motorcycle with too much power and that has an engine more than 600cc. You can upgrade later once you have more experience and more developed further skills in motorcycling.

A motorcycle should be within your budget and you obviously have to really like it. The price of the motorcycle should be reasonable and practical in terms of its power and its mechanical attributes. You can buy from a dealer or you can buy it privately. Dealers will help you from your financing options and can offer you used bikes too. For beginners, I would recommend you purchase a used bike than new ones. A used bike is better option for a beginner because it might be hitting some pavements and it might be scratched anyway. And besides, a used bike is more affordable and offers better values than a new one.

Consider the weight of the motorcycle and choose what fits your body structure. The weight of the motorcycle should be the one that you could push and be comfortable with when riding it. Try different types of motorcycles until you find the one that you are at ease with.

You might also want to set aside a budget for clothing and accessories. Your colours are like your personal statement. However, make sure that you buy quality protective gear for motorcycling.

Lastly, consider your needs. Think of the reason why you would buy a motorcycle. Identifying your needs will make it easier for you to buy the right motorcycle. You should also do your homework by researching the different kind of motorcycles that would best fit you and your riding needs.

You might also want to give some thought to some more motorbike training when you buy your bike.  A good trainer can help you become accustomed to your bike very quickly.

It is a common misconception that if you have passed your car theory test then you won’t need to sit your motorcycle theory test, however this is INCORRECT. You will have to sit and pass your motorcycle theory test before you can take your practical and go on to get your bike licence.

The motorcycle theory test is split into two seperate parts. Part 1 consists of 50 multiple choice questions which you answer on a touch screen. To pass you will need to correctly answer 43 questions.

Part 2 of the test is the hazard perception test. You will be shown fourteen short video clips and each time you see a hazard you must take action with your mouse to deal with that hazard. To pass you must score at least 44 out of 75.

The test is nothing to worry about as long as you take it seriously and prepare well. This pack – The Official DSA Biker Pack – Theory Test CD-ROM and Better Biking DVD (Valid until 2011) from Amazon can help.

This video from the DSA gives you an overview of what to expect when you take your motorcycle theory test.

While often called the CBT Test, it is not atually a test with a pass or fail. However you must meet a minimum standard or you may be required to take it again. Don’t worry too much about that though. If you can ride a bicycle and can follow instructions, then chances are you will be fine on your CBT.

The instructors are there to help you. They want safe riders on the road and want you to stay alive as much as you do.

The CBT is made up of five elements which are done in sequence –

A. Introduction.

B. On-site training

C. On-site Riding

D. On-road Training

E. On-road Riding

Parts B – E are all practical and the instructor will work with you to correct any mistakes and bad habbits. There is no writen element to the CBT .

Once the day is complete you will be issued with a DL196 which will last for two years. After two years if you have not got your bike licence, you can do the CBT again to stay on the road with a smaller machine.

If you are interested in taking your CBT then the best thing to do is contact motorbike training centers near to you and get a feel for which best suits your needs.

Remember, riding is more fun if you can stay safe.