3. Preparing for your CBT course
Your trainer can stop your compulsory basic training (CBT) course if your basic knowledge of The Highway Code and traffic signs isn’t good enough for you to ride safely.
You need to know:
the main rules that apply to moped and motorcycle riders
what other road users are likely to do
You can be charged again to retake the course if your trainer stops your training because you aren’t prepared.
You can buy the guide to learning to ride to help you prepare. You can also buy it from high street and online book shops.
4. What to take to your course
Take your UK driving licence to your training course.
What you need to wear
You must wear:
a motorcycle helmet that meets British safety standards (unless you’re Sikh and wearing a turban) - check if the training school will provide one
motorcycle boots or other sturdy footwear that supports and protects your ankles
textile or leather motorcycle trousers or heavy denim trousers
a textile or leather motorcycle jacket or a heavy denim jacket with several layers underneath
motorcycle gloves
Your course can be stopped and you can be charged to take it again if you don’t wear suitable clothing.
https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-cbt/prepare-cbt-course
Mountains in Austria are mad
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/media/pdf/8/o/A_guide_to_taking_your_motorbike_abroad.pdf
Got a few different ideas.
1) we could potentially buy a bike in another country where it will be cheaper - obviously with the CBT first (which costs around £80 in White City) - Make sure we get a European bike / something where parts are easily accessible).
This could be bought and owned by one of us - maybe me. But we couldn't drive with two passengers in the UK. Which is a shame but also potentially fine. Could be like a European bike mainly. And out of UK, both of us could drive it probably. (Also would need European breakdown coverage so money money money...)
Also means we could look into going round Norway and just have this beautiful freedom.
2) Do the CBT and A1 - probably cost about £700 altogether but is for life so arguably a small price to pay to begin with... Again, this could be me and you could be my passenger in UK but able to drive out of UK (?) (would you need some form of licence other than driving - I don't know?)
Imagine... This could mean driving through Scotland, to Aldeburgh, just about everywhere. All those tickets to Bristol no longer expensive..........
3) cycle and take some trains. This would be great but also no small feat. But we will not bow to defeat. - Can imagine this actually being quite good. 10 days in one month inter-rail... £240
4) can we rent a bike in one place?
I really want a bike, but life is not cheap. If we get one though, we want a light bike - more dirt bike than anything. Because it's a bike to have adventures on - so lets put that tent somewhere and dance in the moonlight.