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21 Jul 2013
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getting a2 licence - good school/instructor needed
Hi
I'm looking at doing my A2 licence and would love to have recommendations of great motorbike schools in London/recommended instructors.
Not up for being rushed through 3 days and taking practical test at the end. Be great to have a taster day too. Would love to pass with confidence and then get into advance riding as i'm doing a big trip next year from UK to Mongolia (via Iran) and then Russia and the Road of Bones.
If anyone has good experiences can they let me know. So many schools to choose from.
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22 Jul 2013
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Why A2 and not the full A? I'm guessing it must be an age thing as there's no real reason to only do an A2 otherwise, you'd still need to hire a bike and I've not found any difference in price between a 400cc and a 600cc.
Now the killer. I live in West London and in all my ringing round I've not found any schools that will let you do lessons by the hour as you would if you were learning to drive. They're all fixated on selling package deals of 3 or more days at huge cost (£750 for a 3 day course including tests). I'm sure someone somewhere does lessons by the hour if they don't then maybe it's a market they're missing.
I think the problem is that increasingly biking is a hobby for middle aged men who come to it after the kids are gone and the divorce granted and who have tje cash to splash and the "need" to get on a big bike as soon as they can and who are used to the idea of a week's training course equipping them to do what they need to do.
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22 Jul 2013
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You could try and find one of the few not-for-profit riding schools manned by volunteers. Almost by definition they can only give lessons by the hour or two because they're all volunteer instructors giving their time outside of their normal work/life/family commitments.
I learned using one of them (not in London, I hasten to add) and they were brilliant. Best teaching environment I've ever been in, it was almost a shame when I passed my test as I had no need to keep attending. One day I might train to become a instructor and volunteer there myself.
As i said such places are like gold dust, but surely there must be at least one in London? They're usually set up by like-minded bike enthusiasts who want to spread the love, but who have no wish to do so as a business, and are usually based at technical colleges or the like.
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22 Jul 2013
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thanks for the info - which not for profit school did you use? I google not for profit riding school's and find some in hinckley and gloucester but the cost there and back wouldnt make sense.
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22 Jul 2013
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Thanks you so much for the message and information. Yep Im finding the same thing. I was really hoping for personal recommendations because most motorbike schools had the same spiel and it's great to hear when someone has found a good tutor. For me I really hate package days that rush you through learning and then allows you to take to the roads and wipe out with a stupid mistake. I was looking at a2 licence because i was looking at taking a 400cc to mongolia and love off roading (ajp 125cc and ktm 125cc) so it would do me fine.
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23 Jul 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hootchy_cootchy
thanks for the info - which not for profit school did you use? I google not for profit riding school's and find some in hinckley and gloucester but the cost there and back wouldnt make sense.
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I used the one in Hinckley, which was brilliant, but yes its too far for you. But I just assumed there'd be one at least in London. Amazing if there isn't. I didn't realise they were that rare. Sorry if I misled you. Good luck in finding somewhere suitable.
Meanwhile I really feel you should forget about a2 and just go for the full on A or whatever its called now. It can't cost much more, is not gonna be harder, and means you'll be licensed for any bike, any time
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23 Jul 2013
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Never having heard of a not for profit motorcycle school I googled and turned up one in Barnett and one in Harrow. Sadly they too seem to have gone down the package deal route, it seems that's the standard way to learn in these "biking as a hobby" days.
I'll keep looking and post if I find anything different.
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