The Gay Biker Starter Course

Getting around London is getting a bit much these days; cramped buses, sweaty tubes, people rubbing against you in the carriages. QX’s very own Steve Gregory decided enough was enough; the only way forward was on two wheels.

 


As a lad I grew up with motorbikes. But even though my dad used to collect classic bikes and my brother-in-law races them, I always remember going to events and never being that bothered. I was a car man and although as kid I had a bike, one with my initials proudly inscribed on its frame, I was never really into it.

But back in January I realised I’d had enough of commuting to London on the tube. It’s too damn busy. Standing on a crowded tube with your armpit slowly melting into the side of the next person’s face is not how I want to start my days. Not anymore. I needed a new way of getting around London Town, one that’s more pleasurable and possibly more economical.

I began browsing online, looking at things like auction sites and pedal power. I started looking at Scooters; I already have my car license, so legally I could already ride up to a 125cc bike, so long as I completed a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training). Looking at offers, I saw you could grab a brand new scooter for less than £1500, or second hand one for a few hundred pounds, so I decided to go for it and booked my CBT, a one day course.

 

The day came and I had my chance to take to the road on two wheels for the first time.  The course teaches the basics of observations, signals, manoeuvres and road positioning in the morning. Real life road practice comes in the afternoon, all the while paired up with an instructor who provides instructions as you go. There is no pass or fail with your CBT, but you have to be seen as capable enough to ride and control your bike to make it through the full day.

I wasn’t prepared for the effect it would have on me. I felt Joyful, on the back of this little scooter. I couldn’t believe how something so easy and simple to ride could give me so much pleasure. I loved it. I’d started my engines and I was ready to go!

Spring turned into summer and as the headlines filled with ‘Tube Strike Torture’, I was able to sail past the queues and crowds on my scooter into central London. I was door to door in around 25 minutes. From Zone 3!

“The great thing about the training with Metropolis is the one to one time you get.”

I loved my Scooter and loved how easy it was to ride. But I already I’d grown bigger ambitions. I’d set my sights on a ‘Big Bike’. The thought of getting all the gear and having the convenience of a scooter but the look of something to turn heads was becoming more and more attractive. I had the bug.

I booked my course over at Metropolis Motorcycles in Vauxhall. I’d had enough of driving past there everyday, dreaming of a more powerful bike – I wanted one.

License rules can be confusing, but I wanted my full licence, so that I could ride any size motorbike. My course was split into 3 parts. First I had to take my Theory at the test centre in London Bridge. Once booked, I had about two weeks to revise. There are 50 test questions and you have to score at least 43 to pass. There is also a Hazard Perception test, where the pass mark is 44 out of 75. Luckily I passed and was able to progress to the next two stages.

Manoeuvres and observations are key in the practical test, so we spent the morning of my first day at Metropolis learning figure of 8’s, slaloms and emergency stops. I was training on one of the new Ducati Scramblers, a new model (and one that’s exclusively available at Metropolis). It was a beast. It looked the part and had plenty of grunt, was easy to ride and just made me want to pass even more.

After some more practice and some road time, day one was done and we were already into day two: the day of the test. The great thing about the training with Metropolis is the one to one time you get. All the guys there are advanced professionals and have trained some well-known celebrities like James McAvoy, Dominic Littlewood and Will Champion.

The test took place in a large area akin to a car park, where I demonstrated the manoeuvres learned, with it lasting around eight minutes. I passed and it was on to the second module.

Module two was scheduled the following week for another two days. I was taught all the things the examiner would be looking for as well as the best techniques for riding and being safe. The test consists of a ride with an examiner for around 40 minutes. It’s a test of observations more than anything, as the examiner will be looking for your observations as well as being able to recognise speed limit areas, as well as how you fare in a 15 minute independent ride where you’re asked to follow signs for an area.

You might think all of this is really hard, but its not. I had the best time and was made to feel at ease as soon as Metropolis took me under their wing. And most importantly: I passed! And with zero faults (not that I’m smug), which I can only say was because of the training at Metropolis. I couldn’t recommend them more.

 

• With a huge range of brand new bikes and Scooters, providing training from scooters and first time riders up to full licenses. Call the Training department today on 020 7793 9313 and start your motorcycle journey, you won’t regret it.

 

 


A Rough Guide to Licensing

CBT – allows anyone aged 17 or over to ride a 125cc machine with L plates or a 16 year old to ride a moped with L plates. A CBT is valid for two years and needs to be retaken once it expires.

If you want to ride a bigger bike, lose the L plates, take a pillion (passenger) and travel on motorways (unless you are on a moped) – then take a licence and you will never need to do a CBT again.  There are a few licence categories to choose from.

 

• If you only ever want to ride on a moped (restricted to 28mph) – take an AM licence.

• If you just want to stay on a 125cc bike (up to 11kW) – take an A1, for ages 17+

• If you want to ride a medium sized bike (up to 35kW) – take an A2, for ages 19+

• If you want to ride any bike of any size – take an A, suitable for anyone aged 24+ or 21+ for those who have held an A2 licence for two years or more.

 

For all licences you will need a valid CBT, a valid motorcycle theory test and then take two skills tests.  One is off road (Mod 1) and one is on the road (Mod 2). After that, there are a number of options.  There is a strong culture of post-test training among motorcyclists and there are several routes to gaining advanced skills.

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