Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) is a mandatory course that all riders are required by law to successfully complete before riding unaccompanied on the public road.

At United Motorcycle Training we run CBT courses every Saturday and Sunday in the Cardiff Business Park, Llanishen, Cardiff (near the Tax Offices) and also every Sunday at the Royal Mail Car Park and every Monday at South Wales Superbikes, Queensway Meadow Industrial Estate, Newport. If this is not convenient, in exceptional circumstances there is a facility to offer CBT during the week at our alternative site in Llandow, near Cowbridge. In the summer evening courses can be arranged with prior appointment. Generally CBT can be achieved in one day. A CBT course will start at 9.00 a.m. and normally finish at 4.00 p.m. The course is broken down into five elements, a summary of each element is covered on page 2 of this section:

Element A - Driving Licence check & Eye sight test, discuss the aim of CBT and clothing and equipment.

Element B - Introduction to the controls, how they work, basic maintenance checks, use of stands, wheeling the machine around, starting and stopping the engine.

Element C - Practical riding on an approved site away from public access. You will be taught how to move off and stop, change gear, stop in an emergency, correct rear observation, U-Turns, ride in a figure of eight, side slowly and negotiate left & right turns.

Element D - Before leaving the CBT site and going out onto the public road you will have a theory lesson with your instructor who will cover a variety of points in relation to practical on road riding. Some of the points covered will include the highway code, legal requirements, defensive riding, vulnerability on a motorcycle and hazard perception.

Element E - This is the practical on road phase where you will go onto the public road for a minimum of two hours riding whilst under radio communication with your instructor. The instructor will explain and demonstrate the correct procedures to negotiate roundabouts, junctions, bends, pedestrian crossings, obstructions, traffic lights, U-Turns and emergency stops. There will be short breaks with discussion periods and ultimately the session will end with the instructor following the student to confirm the individual has learnt how to ride safely.

Car drivers who hold a full category B licence prior to the 1 February 2001 do not require a CBT certificate if they only wish to ride a machine up to 50cc as they automatically hold an unconditional full moped licence.

Car drivers who pass their test on or after 1 February 2001 must hold a CBT certificate to validate their full moped entitlement. In this instance provided the individual only rides a 50cc machine, the certificate will be valid for the life of the licence (normally until the 70th Birthday).

After completing the CBT you can then proceed onto your theory and practical test