Failed CBT. Where to go from here?

[Guest]

Hello, thanks for reading!

So yesterday I had my CBT. It was my first time even so much as touching a motorbike before, and it went terribly.

I had some teething problems getting used to the controls etc as you might expect and the instructor told me just before lunch time I wasn't ready for the road.

I have no problem going back on another day as I understand quite a few people do to complete the training, however I really had some issues with the trainer. He was extremely impatient with me which just caused me to panic more. I asked him on more than one occasion not to shout at me from across the car park while I was trying to concentrate but he ignored me, causing me to stop the bike.

When the bike was stopped he would constantly say things like:

"You're going to die if you do that"

"Do you have a death wish!?"

"I'll send you the bill for the bike"

"You have 20 minutes to get it or you're going home"

"I can't BELIEVE you drive a car! You drive a car!"

Bearing in mind the worst thing I was doing was having a little trouble with control. The worst thing I could have done was hit a tiny cone, which I didn't.

When the instructor told me to go home I agreed with his decision, however I said I'm unlikely to re-book because his instructions were unclear and I didn't find him helpful. He got very defensive with me and argued the point. I told him that it was my opinion and we can agree to disagree and walked away to collect my coat, at which point he followed me and continued arguing with me, which I ignored for the most part. Bearing in mind that I did not ask for a refund, but was offering my genuine honest feedback.

Now for obvious reasons I don't want to have to cough up even more money to take my CBT elsewhere, but I also don't want to spend any more time with this instructor.

Is there any other way I can practice in a less stressful environment before doing the rest of or retaking my CBT?

Any advice welcome, and thanks for reading

Edited March 30, 2014 by Anonymous

[iiisecondcreep]

Wow.

First thing I'd be doing is making a formal complaint!

You could have a look at the Get On scheme and see if there are any places nearby offering a free trial ride http://www.geton.co.uk/

[ForestRunner]

Where are you?

Perhaps we can recommend somewhere good.

My instructor was amazingly good.

Just about the polar opposite of yours

[fq-craigus]

Complain and find another instructor. I have never heard of an instructor like this they are usuallyvery patient and helpful with some typical biker humoir thrown in

[Guest]

I wasn't aware of the scheme mentioned above, thanks for the tip.

Unfortunately making a complaint won't do any good as he's a one man operation.

[iiisecondcreep]

Thats unfortunate.

Is the guy looking for more money for you to go back and complete the CBT another day? If not then maybe worth doing the GetOn scheme if possible and then returning when his bad attitude is less likely to knock your confidence. If he is looking for more money I'd cut your losses and go elsewhere.

[Lucifah]

An instructor who loses it and shouts at their trainees repeatedly needs to find a different job as much as you need to find a different instructor!

When you look for another one, tell them in advance (before committing/booking) that you have no experience with bikes at all and would appreciate a patient instructor who can deal with it.

[fullscreenaging]

I would go straight to the DSA and make a formal complaint about him.

DSA Customer Services: Stanley House 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG 1 5GU. Tel: 01159012500 or Email: [email protected].

Sorry to hear you had a bad instructor. Unfortunately this gives the good ones out there a bad name they are not all like this and he needs to be shut down ASAP

[banditjohn]

An instructor who loses it and shouts at their trainees repeatedly needs to find a different job as much as you need to find a different instructor!

When you look for another one, tell them in advance (before committing/booking) that you have no experience with bikes at all and would appreciate a patient instructor who can deal with it.

 

+1, I was under the impression that as bikers we were trying to encourage not discourage, you have been badly treated and even if he was having an off day he shouldn't have taken it out on a new rider or more to the point learner rider. The quote from above is spot on and do not let him put you off, there are plenty of people/company's that would be glad to have your money but in return would give you encouragement and tuition for which you deserve. I hope you find a decent tutor with a lot more understanding and gain the confidence to move on to be a seasoned rider

[DreamytimeEscorts]

What Deso said!

Complain!

I did my test when dinosaurs roamed the earth and didn't have to do CBT but that's out of order.

[eastanglianbiker]

sorry it went so bad for you as others have said where abouts in the country are you and maabe other members on here can advise you of better trainers

[Guest]

Thanks for all of your advice and kind words guys. I'm located in the Merseyside area if anyone knows any good trainers

[Guest]

Sadly this is not an isolated case, my partner had a similar experience. Ask around and get a recommendation from someone who's done it recently.

[cockercas]

He has a valid point. You will die.

When i did my cbt and left a indicator on he told me over the radio that will result in death if it continues, some one WILL pull out on you.

[littlecat]

that's not constructive, and no way to teach anyone anything.

if the worse thing you were doing was stopping when he shouted at you, then I think he was totally overreacting...which doesn't help you at all.

have you tried ringing him since to discuss how you feel about the day?

I would give that a shot...see how he responds( he may have just been having a really bad day, which still doesn't excuse his behaviour).

if he still has the same attitude then I would definitely cut your losses, maybe do a get on as has been suggested , to get a little more time to get a feel for the controls, and then ask around for reccomendations, or even ring a few places and explain the experience you've had....you will get a sense of which school will be right for you by their responses to what's happened .

good luck, and don't give up....we all learn in our own ways, and not getting something the first time is not a failure... it just means you need a little longer . plenty of people fail one ( or both ) mods first time... not being instantly perfect and needing more time for the cbt is no different