CBTA Full License course

[MrMelon]

Anyone done this to get their full bike license early?

I spent all day doin it today.. got my full license exemption certificate.. just gotta send away the paperwork and wait for my full license in the mail

Spent a couple of hours this morning doing the defensive driving type stuff in the classroom, just common sense stuff saying not to try and ride outside your limits and to anticipate dangerous situations and ride appropriately for them.

Then had all afternoon riding around this massive carpark swerving in and out of cones (couldn't quite get my knee down :/) Practicing emergency countersteering (which had a nice bump to pop good wheelies off on the way) and emergency braking which pretty much involved caning down the carpark from one end and stopping with the rear only without lockin up, and then with the front only which ended up being rolling stoppie practice

There was also a bit of riding around the cones with pillions too.

We all went for a big ride around Whitemans Valley and upper hutt for the full license assessment stuff, and that was it!

I reckon it's pretty worthwhile if you wanna cut the time on your restricted license down to 9 months, or even go straight from your learners to your full if you're over 25.

[k14]

How much did it cost ya? Might do something like that if it isn't too expensive. Otherwise I will just have to wait till february. Then i can go and do some tyre kicking.

[StoneChucker]

Hey...

Yeah, I was really eager to get my full licence, so I did the Full CBTA, by the sounds of what you did, with the same people, RoadSafe. I only cut down 3 months of my restricted licence, but the $275 was well worth it (in terms of getting it 3 months earlier, and, of what they teach you). The following might be a little long, so read if you're interested, or if you're planning on doing the course.

It was a pretty long day in the end, as you say comprising of both classroom theory, and practical riding. When we got there in the morning, Andrew Templeton (Roadsafe) was showing us stunt videos, of some English guy. We then watched a few motorbike safety vids, and had some classroom discussion. The parking lot was really beneficial for me, since it was the first time I'd carried a pillion, and they taught us how to do it safely. On the normal LTSA full licence course, I doubt they show you that... The only thing we had to watch out for, was the parking lot we used wasn't in the best nick, in terms of surface condition, mostly a little loose gravel, and very slightly wet on the day (from the previous nights rain). I was the only one on the course with his/her own bike, so I could give it heaps more (on the emergency braking for example, got up to 100km/h once or twice), everyone else had borrowed bikes, or hired ones.

The Whitemans valley was awsome, I'd never been up there before, so it was not only educational (riding technique), it was also a good days ride. I haven't been back there yet, thanks for reminding me

Following all that, there is about a 30 - 60 min ride around Upper Hutt city, where I guess it's the formal part of the course. Andrew did say that he had been observing us all day, so it wasn't all the pass/fail was based on, but I still get really nervous with set tests. There was a set route (which ended up being the most tricky part, as we'd stop, and he'd give a relatively long route description, and we'd have to follow it. He was really good for those that didn't know the area, or who are just generally crap at following directions, so we, ugh, I mean those who needed to ( ), could follow those who did know the way. At times, everyone on the course needed to lead the group. That ride ended at the car park, and as I suspected, everyone on the course passed.

Just for those that are interested, you can get a cc exemption for the day of the course, which allows you to ride whatever bike you want, for the day only. I didn't know this at the time, not that it would have made a difference, but two ppl on the course had new bikes in the garage, and would have used them, had they known.

So, the course is $275, and your application fee, to a Mr D R Hebden at the LTSA is, from memory, $44.30. You need certain paperwork before starting the course (A CBTA course acceptance letter and obviously a restriced licence), and you need to make sure that you have no driving offences, at the time of application, during the course, or EVEN for the first 6 months after you get your licence. Andrew from roadsafe said they have been known to take away licences for people caught speeding, etc, within the first 6 months of passing the CBTA full.

I'm not sure if I'm for people over 25, going from no motorbike licence, to full licence in a couple of weeks, I truly believe that you need the graduated systems time frames to learn to ride, but the course is definitely beneficial for what it teaches. If your mature in your riding, I say go for it. (A disclaimer for Sat 31st July Ride - that was the first time I've ridden that fast, honest :P) Most of the time I stick to 100km/h, pretty boring really.

Ride safe

[MrMelon]

Yeah I did it with Roadsafe and it was $275. I only managed to get my LTSA approval done yesterday sicne they lost 3 faxes I sent them about it over the last week

Everyone there today had thier own 250/150's.

It was the first time i'd carriped a pillion too, but it was a pretty cool day.

[k14]

Hmmm, $275 is a little steep for me. Think ill just have to wait till february.

[Hitcher]

Mrs H and I did this course last November -- Andrew and Lynne Templeton (Roadsafe).

Brilliant course, especially the braking training. This shaved about 4 months off our go-to-whoa. By the time we had done the course we'd ridden over 15,000km on our 250s -- in about every condition imaginable, except snow and pissed! -- so we were getting impatient and eager to get astride something at ate highways with a bit less effort.

I'd now like to do another advanced skills course.

[sAsLEX]

we'd ridden over 15,000km on our 250s -- in about every condition imaginable, except snow and pissed!

I have managed that in about 6 months but gunna stay on the 2fiddy for about 12 months according to the license

[thehollowmen]

Congratulations! Another one through into the big machines
Sometimes I'm a lil jealous of you guys, we don't get that sort of thing down here in dunners (or not that I've seen)
I'm still a wee way off but it might pay for me to take a trip to welly to do this course...

I'd say even for the experiance it would be worth the $275

took a bit of googling, but if anybody else doesn't know Roadsafe is their website

About the exemptions... sometimes they can be really strange about giving exemptions. They might give it to you if you let your license lapse and have to start over again on your learners but have a monstor in storage (my uncle did this). But then again, they might not, it seems to depend on who flips the coin on the day I guess

[Ms Piggy]

Hmmm, $275 is a little steep for me. Think ill just have to wait till february.

Yeah ditto. I think I'll just wait the 6 months...once I get my restricted that is!

[Two Smoker]

IM keen as hell, but my problem is that i have had 2 speeding tickets..... will this effect the application?? if not, where do i get one???? otherwise i will have to wait AGES to get insurance when i get the gixxer

[MrMelon]

I think they check your driving offence history before giving you permission to go in the course, so I'm not too sure if they'd let you in or not after having a few speeding tickets.
The course is only going in wellington at the moment too, seems like they run it every 2 months.
It's a bit of a bitch that they can chuck you back on your restricted if you get speeding tickets in the year after doing it though.

[Zapf]

Ermm.. I am looking at doing a similar course in Auckland, Passrite is doing them. But apprently still in testing phase.

Had a big ticket doing 140km passing in my 250+ cage.. 2 years ago. So guess I'll find out what happen soon.

[V Twin Raver]

Does anybody have any contact details for an equivalent course held out of Auckland??

Thanks

[Zapf]

Ring passrite. I rang them yesterday about it and they should be sending out some info.

[moko]

Sounds the same as our "Direct Access" courses.You guys dont want to lay out $275?Well the training and test fee for direct access is more like $1800.There`s a minimum power output for riders taking the test,most riding schools use GS500`s or CB500`s as they`re easy to manouvre.I`m not convinced they`re a great idea though as in this country bike casualties have gone through the roof and the biggest category is either guys with full licences who come back to biking and think a GSXR Thou will be the same as their old GS1000 only with a fairing stuck on or guys who go straight from the riding school GS500 to an R1 and find out the hard way that experience is worth years sat in a classroom or riding slowly with an instructor advising you through a head-set.There`s a strong feeling "in the air" that Direct Acess will soon be scrapped,most accidents now are the result of inexperienced riders losing control on corners whereas before it used to be cars pulling out in front of bikes.No-one else to blame now and the GOVT have let it be known they`re determined to stop these guys trying to kill themselves.
I see from MRMelon`s comments that you can get back to restricted if you get done for speeding within a year.Here,car or bike,you`re basically on probation and it takes half the number of points to lose your licence within,I think,the first year.That`s not as in "back to restricted",that`s as in "banned completely",2 speeding offences is enough to do it.