As Training Providers we understand that people have differing needs and abilities so we offer courses to suit the individual.
The school offers a variety of courses including CBT training, Direct Access and advanced riding courses such as the Enhanced Rider Scheme.
If you are new to riding a motorbike or scooter the first course you will need to complete is the CBT training. If you have already achieved your CBT training certificate, we are able to offer a more comprehensive test on your machine.
We are long established and highly experienced, please feel free to browse our site and contact us to make an enquiry. Whether you are a complete beginner, have returned to riding a bike and want refresh you skills or all you want to do is get about on your scooter – we have got the course for you!
Compulsory Basic Training (CBT)
We are an Approved Training Body registered by the Driving Standards Agency to conduct CBTs’ for riders.
A CBT must be taken by anyone who wishes to ride, who has or has not got a full car licence. Those who have a full car licence and passed a car test pre 1 Feb 2001 are able to ride a moped without ‘L’ plates, but any other combination of licence holder for any machine will have to take a CBT.
A CBT certificate will entitle you to ride up to 125cc and not having a power output of over 11kW on ‘L’ plates for two years.
if you are over 21 it will also entitle you to ride accompanied on a higher capacity machine again on ‘L’ plates, with a qualified instructor, under radio link, on what is called Direct Access training, in preparation for a full motorcycle test.
If you do not progress to a full motorcycle licence, in other words do not take and pass a motorcycle test within the two year period of your CBT certificate, you will have to retake your CBT in order to carry on riding up to 125cc on ‘L’ plates or undertake a 125 or Direct Access course.
The Motorcycle Test
To pass the motorcycle test you need to pass its two separate modules within two years of passing your motorcycle theory test. The first module will test you doing set manoeuvres on the motorcycle in a safe off-road area. The second module is the on-road test.
Module 1
Off road test
This is conducted local to us in Bangor at Llandegai Industrial Estate. The test itself lasts no longer than 15 minutes and will include various manoeuvres including a slalom, figure of eight, right or left hand bend at 30 kph (19mph) a hazard avoidance exercise at 50 kph (32 mph), a ‘U’ Ride and a slow ride in a straight line, following the examiner at normal walking pace, then finally an emergency stop exercise. (Please see the link opposite for videos of this test, these will help you get an idea of what to expect.)
The test will have to be taken on the type of machine you are going to be doing your final practical test on (Module 2) and will also need to be taken after the theory test has been passed.
You will have two years to pass practical tests (Modules 1 & 2) after passing your theory, you must pass the off road test first (Module 1) before taking the on road test (Module 2), they cannot be taken simultaneously, in theory you could take both tests on the same day, but if you fail Module 1, you will have to wait 3 working days before retaking it, therefore forfeiting the fee for Module 2.
You will need thorough preparation for both tests before attempting them. Our instructors have taken the Module 1 test on the multi-purpose Test Centre site and consider it straightforward with the correct amount of training.
Module 2
On road test
Module two is the on-road module and typically takes around 40 minutes. This module includes the eyesight test, the safety and balance questions and the road riding element that will cover a variety of road and traffic conditions.
You’ll be asked to carry out normal stops, an angle start (pulling out from behind a parked vehicle) and, where possible, a hill start. The examiner will normally follow you on a motorcycle, using a radio to give you directions.
Once you pass this test you will have your motorcycle licence.
Motorcycle Tests on different sizes of bike.
125 cc DSA two part test.
If you are under 21 or just wish to ride a smaller bike, you may take and pass a motorcycle test on a 125cc – 11kW machine. If you are successful, it will then entitle you to ride any capacity motorcycle which has a power output not exceeding 25 kW (33 bhp) for 2 years, after which you can ride any power output of machine.
Direct Access DSA two part test.
If you are over 21 and have a CBT certificate, successfully completing the Direct Access course means you can ride a higher capacity machine which is over 35 kW. Once you are trained and then successfully complete a test on this type of machine, you can discard your ‘L’ plates and ride any capacity machine with your full motorcycle licence.
Note regarding the Theory Test
All persons wishing to take a full motorcycle test apart from those that already have a full motorcycle licence for another category of motorcycle or have passed a moped test since 1 July 1996 will have to take and pass a theory test for a motorcycle before they can apply for a motorcycle test. However they do not need to have passed a theory test before undertaking a CBT.