MCI urge repeat CBT riders to plan for an A1 test

The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) is calling for those who are intending to repeat their CBTs (Compulsory Basic Training) to plan ahead and take an A1 licence instead.


 

A CBT qualifies a rider to ride a motorcycle, scooter or moped up to 125cc for a period of two years, after which the CBT must be renewed.

Taking an A1 licence will help riders who are happy riding a 125cc machine to improve their road skills and will be a one-off cost, which will never need to be renewed.  This means that if they leave motorcycling for a while, their licence will still be valid, should they wish to return.

There are other benefits too, including not having to ride with L plates and being able to take a passenger.

Karen Cole, Safety and Training Director for the MCI says riders should start planning a few months before their CBT is due for renewal:

“It would be best to start training for an A1 test around 4 to 6 months before the CBT needs renewing.  This should allow most riders enough time to choose a training school and be able to get a good choice of test dates at a centre which suits them.”

“Records of how many people are repeating CBTs are not kept by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), but we know that 190,000 CBT certificates are issued each year, a sizeable percentage of which are bound to be repeats.  Riders in this category should put the money they’d spend on another CBT (somewhere between £100 and £150) towards training and testing for a licence which will last a lifetime.”

For someone already holding a CBT the cost of taking the three parts of the motorcycle test (theory, Mod 1 and Mod 2) is from £121.50 plus any training costs.*

Even those who anticipate moving to an A2 as soon as age will allow them, will gain from taking an A1, as they will learn new skills earlier on in their riding and will be more prepared for their next test.

For those who do not want to do an A2 or A licence yet, or are restricted from doing so by age, it means they will be better trained, should they decide to progress to bigger bikes.

*Total cost of taking a test is slightly more if Mod 2 is taken at the weekend = £135.00   Training costs will vary according to need.

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Get On at Dirt Bike Show

 

Get on at the Dirt Bike Show

Get On is to run 20 minute taster sessions at this year’s Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh Park, 31 October - 3 November. The industry-funded scheme to get more new riders on to PTWs will provide a fleet of geared and automatic 125cc bikes and scooters for show visitors to ride. Get On’s operations manager, Chris Knowles, says that while many show goers will already be competent riders, he expects the feature to be popular with family members who have not ridden a bike or those who need a refresher to remind them of what they have been missing. Get On will run on all four days of the show and will be undercover in hall four.

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Tomos signs first dealer

 

Tomos: Once seen in Woolies' windows

Motoden has become the first dealer in the country to take on a Tomos franchise. The East London dealer, who has four showrooms selling the Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Piaggio brands at its Motoden and Scooterden showrooms, is the first in 30 years to retail the now classic retro moped, at one time sold by Woolworths and now distributed here by Hastings, Sussex based Tomos GB.

George Dennison, Motoden’s managing director, has put two demo bikes into the company’s Kingsland Road, London, E6, showroom and was awaiting delivery of UK spec bikes when BDN spoke to him. “Our two demo bikes have created a fair bit of interest,” said Dennison. “Retro is fashionable in London and the bikes offer a bit of fun for our customers. You could call it a niche market,” he added.

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New home for AJS

AJS- moving

Iconic British motorcycle brand AJS is moving to new premises. To facilitate this transfer, the business will be closed for five days from Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August inclusive.

The new address is AJS Motorcycles Ltd, Unit 3, Balksbury Estate, Balksbury Hill, Upper Clatford, Andover, Hants SP11 7LW.

Although the company’s email address remains the same, telephone and fax numbers will change. These new numbers will be notified on the AJS website by 5 August. During the closure week, recorded messages can be left on 01264 710074.

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BENNETTS TO SPONSOR CLASSIC TT

Leading motorcycle insurance broker Bennetts has agreed a multi-year deal to be title sponsor of the new Classic TT races run alongside the Manx Grand Prix in August.

Sponsor of the Classic TT

The event will be known as “The Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts” and promotes a recent enhancement of classic bike insurance cover by the company. The principal race will also be badged as the “Bennetts 500cc Classic TT”.

Bennetts began its association with the TT in 2007 as presenting sponsor of the centenary event. More recently it has been the official insurance partner, a role which included title sponsorship of the Lightweight TT in 2012 when leveraging support for BikerPetition.co.uk and in 2013 under the guise of BikeSocial.co.uk.

Bennetts marketing director Hannah Squirrell commented: “Bennetts has over 80 years of heritage and with our recent classic bike insurance developments we are delighted to extend our association with the Isle of Man. We believe that the event will have a great future and it has already generated significant interest and profile within the biking community.”

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THUNDERSPRINT TO MOVE TO DARLEY MOOR

After only a year at Anglesey Circuit, Thundersprint organiser Frank Melling is moving the event from North Wales to Darley Moor in the Derbyshire Dales.

Thundering across to Derbyshire

Billed as Europe’s biggest festival of motorcycling, Thundersprint had been the annual showcase event in Northwich town centre since 1997. Attendance at the free-to-visit event regularly topped 100,000 over its two-days.

When Melling and Chester District Council parted company in 2012, Thundersprint moved to Anglesey for this year’s April event, but extreme weather conditions and Anglesey’s off-centre location took their toll on attendance. Says Melling: “Visitors were pressing for a more central venue for next year’s Thundersprint and when the Darley Moor Motorcycle Road Race Club offered the use of their circuit, which is only 20 miles from the M1, it didn’t require much persuading.”

Melling says the Darley Moor circuit is the best kept secret in bike racing. “It’s a great track, set in stunning parkland and with a history going back over 50 years. The perfect venue for Thundersprint,” he added.

Dates for next year’s event are the weekend of 10-11 May. For more info tel 01928 740498.

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