Completing your Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) is the first step to riding your motorcycle around Birmingham. With a CBT licence under your belt, you'll be equipped to weave through congested lanes, shaving off serious time on your commute and experiencing Birmingham from a whole new perspective.
Our training providers around Solihull, Selly Oak, King’s Heath, Sutton Coldfield and Acocks Green will give you the experience of riding on both urban and country roads.
Or if you’re further afield from Birmingham in areas such as Walsall, Wolverhampton or Bromsgrove then we have the perfect CBT training for you. Our Walsall location is just a 10-minute zip from Walsall Station, making it a breeze to reach by public transport. Plus, our Tipton partner site sits conveniently north of Dudley, also offering easy access for those relying on buses or trains.
CBT Training in Birmingham currently costs between £150 - £175 depending which RideTo location you choose. We offer a best price guarantee, so if you find the same course cheaper somewhere else, we'll match it.
When deciding the location for your CBT training, it's important to check what's included in the course price. All of our instructors provided motorcycle or scooter hire, but some require you to bring your own motorcycle helmet, jacket and gloves. For all motorcycle lessons and training, you must arrive before the stated start time, with your licence card, wearing thick unripped jeans and boots which protect your ankles.
Taking a CBT test in Birmingham typically takes between 6-8 hours, on one day. Despite often being referred to as a test, there is in fact no ‘test’ involved, just training and monitoring. At the end of the day if you have trained safely you will be issued with your CBT certificate by your qualified instructor.
The day itself will consist of 5 parts, 4 of these will be off-road. The final part of the day will be road riding where your instructor will monitor you riding safely.
The five parts of CBT training consist of the following parts, in sequence:
Once your trainer is satisfied that you’ve understood the theory and shown the needed practical skills for each section, you continue onto the next section. Then, having completed all five, you’ll receive your CBT certificate to safely and legally ride around Birmingham. If the instructor feels you were not at a satisfactory level for any of the 5 training sections, you’ll need to book further training on another day.
After receiving your certificate you’ll be able to legally ride UK roads on a 125cc motorcycle or less if you are above the age of 17. If you are 16 you will be limited to a 50cc moped until you turn 17. At the age of 17 you will not need to retake your CBT to ride a 125cc motorcycle or scooter.
Birmingham is a great city to get into motorcycling, with plenty of training courses available. Most riders will need to start off with a one-day Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course to learn the basics and gain a CBT certificate. This allows you to ride a motorcycle with L plates for two years, then you’ll need to renew your CBT with a refresher training course. If you crave more freedom, consider a full motorcycle license. The process is similar to a CBT, but is more advanced. It typically involves a 4-7 day training course (splittable over time) and qualifies you to ditch the L plates, carry passengers, and hit the motorways.