Back  in the  70s and  early  80s  . The  RAC/ACU   over saw  100s if not  1000s  of voluntry motorcycle  training schools  in England Scotland and Wales.They  supplied  starter packs for  new riders .Badges showing   levels  of  training achieved  by  not  only  students but  for  instructors too  . They  supplied  certificates  to  training schools  to  hand out  to  students  once  they  have successfully  completed an 8 week training  course .. however  in  1981  the RAC/ACU  pulled  out  of  this  scheme . At  this  time   a huge  percentage  of  schools   packed there bags  and  called  it  a  day  . However  some  schools didnt  fade away  and decided  to  carry  on in the  spirit  of  offering  very low cost  training , but  under there  own  badge . Then in 1990  c.b.t  was  introduced by  law .. that  meant  all  the  ex RAC/ACU voluntry training schemes now  had  to pay to get  there instructors  officailly  qualified to  teach and  also  had  to  have there  training  areas  pass inspection by  the  government  . Hence  a  huge  percentage  once  again walked  away  . That  was the  introduction to  100s if not  1000,s  of  new schools  starting up because  they  wanted  to  make  money  out  of  this  new  law  . This  is  when the  "ride  to  learn a  bike  in a day" started and  pass your  test  in 4  days  arrived ..  not  to  mention the new  costs needed  to be  charged   to  make  this a viable  business.... anything  between  £600 and  £2000 .. depending  on riders ability .. Where  is  this going  your asking yourselves ??? . well  not  all  schools packed there bags and called it  a  day .I can  only  speak  for  essex  in the  SE  of  England in the  early  80s  essex  grouped together and formed  EAMTS , east anglian motorcyle training schemes . We were 6 voluntry schools  that merged  as a group , supporting  and  helping  each other out  . As the  years have  past  5 of these have called it a day for  variouse reasons .  Just  leaving  my  training school left . Now  im sure  there must  be  other training schools  just  like  mine left in the  country somewhere ?? . The reason i ask this  question is because  im too far away  for  most  of  the  members on here to  be  able  to  help  them . Emzed and i  tried our  best  to  make  it  work  on here last year  but  it  was a logistical nightmare .. so are you  or  do  you  know of anymore voluntry m/c training schools in your  area?? if  so  please post  your  reply  and  what  they  offer . so  other  bm'rs  can benefit .                                                                                                                                                                                

  Excellent thread Buzz                                                                                                                                                                                   

  I really really hope we get some "practical" response to this topic   Now that the new rules are coming into force   Finding "affordable" training is becoming impossible   If we as seasoned riders cant encourage new riders   Because motorcycle riding has been priced out of the ordinary pocket   Into the realms of expensive hobbies like skiing   Then biking as an "everyday" option will disappear   Well done Buzz, we should be proud to have you as a member                                                                                                                                                                                 

a friend told me a tale of her woe the other week , she had to do her first part , cbt , or whatever they call it nowadays four times , to pass the schoolly thing gave her no support at all supplied her with a bike to tall for the job ,and after the third attempt , tried to dissuade her from comtinuing on her quest to be on two wheels , 4 th time she passed , phew ,  ,, i assume this was a fee paying training school  and set up for profit only , anyway , shes on her way no thanks to these guys ,,, would name n shame , but not appropiate on this site ,, if anybody is looking for help , getting started , in shrops/ staffs/ chesh, area , by all means contact me through this site , will be glad to help where i can , ride safe , tc                                                                                                                                                                             

thanks  for  the  responses so  far  ....  dougie   cbt  stands for   compulsory  basic (training )  . this is not  a  test   and therefore  u can not  fail . it  just  takes some people longer than others to  complete the  syllabus . But alot of profit making schools  fail there students  just  to  get more money  out of them  to  re take it .. non profit making schools  dont  do  this  ..

Buzz think you may need to go mobile run courses at different places around the uk. Oh you cant the goverment wont let you I wonder if its something to do with TAX and VAT ? Good post though                                                                                                                                                                              

yee excellent thread. Bike training and laws are stopping thousands of folk taking to two wheels I sure.That doesnt mean I dont think at least some basic training required of course. I wonder just how much can be done via the internet (theory,defensive riding,anticipation) that sort of thing nowadays? A free to use site set up to do that would be popular I sure. Wish I had the know how to do it..                                                                                                                                                                             

Andy the DSA would block it by saying that you have no way of knowing who is at the key board. when thay really mean  where's our money                                                                                                                                                                              

I am a volunteer instructor, but sadly due to circumstances I have had to leave it for a while until things improve.   I am associated with the Hinckley Motorcycle training Scheme based in Hinckley Leicestershire.   At one point we were the largest volunteer school around, maybe still are?   We have around 20 or so instructors and about 30 bikes, our own training yard which we use for off road CBT training and Mod 1 training. The yard is not far off the size of the ones used by the DSA and are marked out the same. we have speed detectors so can recreate what you need to know to for Mod 1.   We do all courses from CBT through to DAS and have laptops for theory training.   We were very busy before the new test rules but managed to get a lot of trainees through so things not as hectic now.   Feel free to PM me if need any more info                                                                                                                                                                                 

Question - are Training schools getting new bikes for those that can only or who only want to do the A2 licence? More cost for the schools though!   Only reason I ask is cos the school near me uses CBR600's for the DAS, but they're still too tall for me (being a short arse) & I can't get me feet on the floor. They say it's been lowered, but they've only adjusted the seat height & it's still too tall. So the bikes that fall into the A2 licence category appear to be a bit smaller/lighter & I might have a fighting chance at taking me test ! lol Being able to get me feet on the floor means a lot to my confidence (along with the reach to the bars)..... Which has just made me think of another question...if I buy me own bike that falls into the A2 category - which obviously I can get modded to my own height/reach etc...would I be able to take lessons/me test on that? - Obviously I'd have to get someone to take me bike to the school/test centre for me.   Sorry of this has gone off topic                                                                                                                                                                              

hi  hfg .  yes we will be changing our  fleet to  accomodate the  new a2 class. however i wont be doing it  just  yet . im going to  wait untill easter to  see what  the  demand is 1st  .  yes you  can  buy and use your own bike  for the a2 test . aslong as you  can  get insured !!!!!  .
well there u  go people  . 2 voluntry schools  now  . 1 in essex  and 1 in leicestershire ..   ANYMORE ???                                                                                                                                                                              

Why don't the bike dealerships do cheap or free training if you by a bike from them. Would help them build their customer base.                                                                                                                                                                             

alot  do  , but  bump up  the  price of the  bike , then send them to  a school  that  do  a quick  cbt , so  little johnny  can get back  to  the  dealership  to  close the  deal ..