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I am guessing that some schools are different/better than others? Is there way to work out which one might suit you best, or just be the best choice? Seems a bit hit and miss just choosing from the locals ones ... or maybe I'm wrong and there isn't much to choose between them?
(Can imagine that some trainers have different training styles to others, but I guess that is just down to chance and who you get...)
Is there a good way to choose a school? Or just pick the closest one..?
Tricky. Even personal recommendations don't help as most people have only experienced one school.
If you know the motorcycle examiner at the local test centre they might tell you off the record.
When I was a motorcycle instructor, I didn't tell people how many lessons it would take, I didn't show people the test routes either. I did tell them that I wasn't going to teach them to pass the test, I was teaching them to ride a motorcycle and as a consequence, my method might take a bit longer. After which, they'd be capable of passing a test anywhere.
If they wanted to pass quicker/easier, there were other schools in town.
Personal recommendations are a good start- like, I went to CSM in Edinburgh and you get literally nothing but good word of mouth about them. I was a nightmare student for my CBT but they got me through.
Also there are different approaches. There's a school near me that is basically a CBT factory for kids and pizza guys All they want to do is push out passes onto the road. A mate of mine had his CBT expire and went back for a new one, he crashed partway through the day while still in the practice yard, and broke his hand, they passed him anyway because "you're obviously OK since you've been on the road for 2 years" Those guys also have great word of mouth, because pretty much everyone that goes there just wants to get their CBT and aren't too bothered about whether or not they can actually ride.
I used biketorque in Nottingham, and they were great for me. The try to work out how their learners learn and teach accordingly. They're another place who won't put you in for a test or take you on the road for your CBT if they don't think you're good enough, and they place real emphasis on the basics, slow speed handling and clutch control, as if you get those down then everything else flows.
They're slightly different to what Onzadog did insofar as while they won't teach you the test routes they will work 3-4 of the nasty sections (like Nottingham's infamous 'stop sign on the worlds most open junction') that can come up in a test route into each lesson, so that while you don't know the route, there shouldn't be any truly nasty bad road design/planning surprises in store for you while you're on it...
I'm assuming you are in Dorset.
I've been three different schools (CBT, lapsed. CBT and DAS, Failed, then passed). The second school was just rubbish. Badly organised, instructors late, bikes barely rideable*, couldn't care less as they had the cheque for the course and from that point onwards me turning up every morning was just an inconvenience for them (it's no wonder I failed TBH).
Third was great. Phoned them up, explained where I was at and they arranged lessons around that despite it not fitting with their usual structure (they usually did unlimited lessons until you passed whereas i just wanted 2 days on a bike with the test late on the second). Probably did more riding in that day and a half than in the supposed week at the second place (and the bikes controls actually worked smoothly.
I'd go on personal recommendations but ask around until you get bad reviews of ones to avoid or at least good reviews from people who didn't pass first time.
*Chain loose, front brake bite point had zero free stroke, clutch was basically on or off, rear brake did no more than put the light on, and the steering just felt 'wrong'.
I used the bikeschool in Devizes - - they worked through the different levels of ability amongst the folk doing Direct Access.
Not sure I got a recommendation at the time, google wasn't a thing back then - and Alta Vista/Netscape wasn't that much cop.
Bike school were awesome though
Thanks all. I'm in Wiltshire - I'll ask around.
I don't really have a network of motorcycling buddies to consult, is it worth asking in shops, or is that likely to lead be a bit biased in some way? (shops supplying schools .. ? dunno.)
Sounds like phoning up for a chat and going by gut instinct seems the way to go.
I can highly recommend one, they've got a great pass rate. But, It's in south wales. If you're prepared to travel let then let me know and i'll send you the details.