CBT providers, London/Surrey border

[IndigoJo]

After a CBT that didn't go well last Saturday, I'm looking for another training provider somewhere near the SW London / Surrey border. I initially approached Ridesure, which is based at Dunsfold aerodrome south of Guildford, which has two-hour 'introductory' sessions, but they told me they couldn't do these later than 10am because their instructors have a timetable that's written in stone basically.

 

There are a couple of 'schools' in the Redhill/Reigate area which have CBT rates that are a bit more reasonable than the £180 I paid for last Saturday's attempt, which seem to be one-man shows, like AJH and RightWay. The latter in particular has a much lower cost than the place I went to last Saturday, and has a second go free of charge. Anyone dealt with either company? What are the instructors like? What's the training ground like, and how much space do you have to ride round in before you go out on the road? What's the gear like?

 

Last Saturday I got part way through element C (i.e. learning to actually ride rather than just talking about safety and looking at the controls). I was briefly able to ride round in a circle and change up from first to second and back, but the weather got warmer, I was baking in the gear (their gear is a rag-bag of old stuff and the instructor basically told us to pick out something that fits; I don't know if any of it was suitable for standing round on a hot day, though it was comfortable enough when in motion) and couldn't concentrate enough to practise the skills I'd learned, let alone extend them, and I left early. I wore my work boots (steel toe caps) which they didn't tell me weren't suitable until I got there.

[RideWithStyles]

The time table thing is real as it allows plenty of time to do the check and needs list that instructors need to do or try to teach, generally later in the day mistakes are easily made and retention lacks as learners tire quickly.

 

Work safety boots are not ideal (not designed) certainly feel, control and ankle support lacking id say but unsuitable? I’ve seen far worse of kids/scrotes where manky trainers or flip flops .

their old stuff is cheap and durable (to a point) as it’s expected a new rider that doesn’t have to respect the kit is very highly likely gonna get well worn, dropped and crashed in that doesnt have a long term owning for the learner so with that id wanna do the same.

 

biking gear is a compromise, yes hot when no air flow but you don’t want to be freezing when your planning of doing slow and tight manoeuvres or 50+mph in 0-15*c with a wind gust/chill that makes it even colder by 15*c or more.

 

if you want to know what a place/instructors or kit is like? might be good just research it yourself by turn up there for a hour or two just watching and asking while they teach others by looking from the outside before you commit to it? 

[daveinlim]

I did my DAS with phoenix who are based in crystal palace. They were very good over the few days. They were all friendly and knowledgeable and showed us more than just the test. Their kit wasn't an issue for me as I had my own by then so can't comment but they looked ok. 

[Dombo]

I did my CBT and DAS with AJH. Very good trainer, friendly, extremely patient and excellent bikes. For CBT we had Honda MSX which handled very well, and Yamaha MT07 for the DAS. Both times was just two of us trainees and the instructor. He has plenty of helmets and gloves and also provided waterproof overtrousers for the days on our DAS course when it rained. 
CBT training ground was a school playground marked out with cones and after safety briefing, full explanation of  the bikes and importance of always wearing proper kit we practised everything until he was happy we’d be safe on the road, then it was two hours riding on a full mix of high street, country lanes and suburban roads. The area has a few hills so we got to do hill starts naturally as part of the ride.

DAS was lots of riding and a great deal of Mod 1 practice (which I certainly needed). I did 5 days to get the most training, and passed both modules first time. The bikes are in very good condition and he is a very keen biker. Tests were at Mitcham and Burgess Hill so we got a real mix of roads, from busy South London to fast country, A roads with roundabouts and even a bit of 70mph dual carriageway.

I would definitely recommend AJH to anyone.

 

 

[Blackholesun]

Did mine with Twickenham motorcycle school based at kempton park. Really rated them 

[IndigoJo]

Does anyone know if Right Way Motorcycle Training in Redhill area is still in business? I've been trying to contact them by phone and email but it just goes to voice mail and my email hasn't been answered. Their website says "call Simon any time" but there's no answer.

[Dombo]

On 08/08/2024 at 15:28, IndigoJo said:

Does anyone know if Right Way Motorcycle Training in Redhill area is still in business? I've been trying to contact them by phone and email but it just goes to voice mail and my email hasn't been answered. Their website says "call Simon any time" but there's no answer.

I had exact same experience trying to contact them last year, just got voicemail and emails unanswered. Hence I went with AJH for CBT and DAS, as detailed above, and very pleased I did so.

[IndigoJo]

1 minute ago, Dombo said:

I had exact same experience trying to contact them last year, just got voicemail and emails unanswered. Hence I went with AJH for CBT and DAS, as detailed above, and very pleased I did so.

I contacted the accessories shop linked off RWMT's website and was told that this was the usual experience trying to contact them, and the guy I spoke to said he'd passed with AJH and recommended them instead. Apparently Simon's wife died a couple of years ago and she was his main admin person, and now there isn't one. RWMT looked like good value (lower cost than anyone else, free second go) and I suspected they'd gone under, as that deal might be too good to be true nowadays.