You may have been riding a bike since you were 3 years old or you may have been inspired by a friend to get on a bike - but forget all the advice and experience you have previously had - and get trained by a professional.
An good approved instructor will have more experience, more patience and more enthusiasm than your best friend.
Its like driving a car, if someone who isn't a trained instructor tries to teach you then you'll pick up bad habits. Your first step is a CBT. You'll have a full days training, initially you will learn about the bike and how to pull away and stop. You'll learn clutch control and have a sore neck the next day with all the bunny hops you seemed to like to do. You're unlikely to go over 10mph for the first few hours.
Don't expect to be good at it straight away, it will take time and practice. Don't be
embarrassed about fouling up - that's why you are there - to learn! Don't be intimidated by how well or how bad anyone else on your CBT is doing.
If you instructor is happy with your progress, they will take you out on the road.. this is where you'll first do over 30mph and its a great feeling if you've never ridden a bike over that before and you'll realise that all those times you stalled the bike in the playground were worth it.
Once you have your CBT you can ride a learner legal bike on the road whilst you are training for your motorcycle test.
Whether you are taking Direct Access or not, it can be worth your while to get some road riding done on a learner legal bike to get you road aware before riding anything else. Take regular riding
lessons and then go and practice what you have learnt somewhere quiet. If you have someone who has passed them test come along with you it can help give you a little more confidence if you follow them - but be careful not to pick up bad habits!
You will foul up, you will stall the bike, you may drop it, you may wobble a bit to much in slow moving traffic, but so long as you are learning from your mistakes then you'll have passed your test in no time.
Riding a bigger bike and Advanced training
If you are stepping up to a more powerful bike or returning to biking after several years of not riding, you would be wise to take a few refresher courses or to take an advanced training course. Most
motorcycle training companies offer these kind of courses. There is no shame in doing this - its common sense, and its your safety.
Advanced courses will make you more aware and teach you more riding skills than
you learnt in your Basic and Standard Training.
To find an instructor Click here
For UK Learner Licence Laws Click Here
