For many, booking your CBT test in Bootle is the first step to experiencing riding around the roads of the Bootle, the city of Liverpool and perhaps even some of the more open roads of the local Merseyside area.
If you are taking your CBT in Bootle - which stands for Compulsory Basic Training – you can expect the day to last up to 8 hours. All you need to complete it is a UK provisional licence and to be at least 16 years of age.
Although it is commonly referred to as the CBT test, you don’t have to worry about failing because the CBT is more like a day of instruction, with the end goal of making you a safe motorcycle or scooter rider. It’s motorcycle training, not theoretically a test.
Want to know more about the day itself? Here’s what a full CBT test entails.
Contrary to what most people think, there is no test involved with your CBT as there is with a full motorcycle licence - it’s literally just a day of training that is intended to help you get to grips with the basic skills and knowledge required for motorcycle or scooter riding.
The good news here is that you don’t need to worry about revising anything specific before the day, but it will may help to brush up on a few things. Luckily, we have plenty of handy guides and articles which will help prepare you for your CBT and there are plenty of resources online that will help you discover the answer to any specific questions that you might have.
During your CBT, the instructor will test you on your knowledge of the highway code, so it’s wise to spend a little bit of time studying this to make sure you know the basics. To do this, we really do recommend using YouTube. It’s easier than ever to prepare for your CBT, and there are plenty of YouTube videos detailing the CBT itself.
It would also be wise to brush up on the basic theory of riding a motorcycle or scooter, but make sure you know which type of machine you intend to ride first. There’s no point learning how to ride a motorcycle, if you end up riding a scooter. You can check out our more in-depth guide to prepare for your CBT here.
You don’t need to worry about buying your own motorcycle or scooter prior to your CBT in Bootle, or purchasing your own protective equipment - in fact we would highly recommend that you wait until you’ve had your CBT training session before considering any purchase.
The school will provide you with a bike, as well as a helmet and most, if not all, schools will provide you with gloves and a jacket too (we suggest that it’s worth some contact to find out exactly what the training school will supply before you attend the training session).
As for clothing on the day, you’ll want to wear some thick jeans and sturdy boots that cover your ankles.
We also, strongly recommend that you check the weather a day or two before you’re planning to take your motorcycle or scooter CBT, because wind chill can make it especially cold on two wheels. Even a light rain can make a dramatic difference regardless of whether you’re riding a motorcycle or scooter on your CBT training day, so pack extra layers or some waterproofs if you need to.
We really do recommend completing your CBT on whatever type of machine you are likely to be using once you have completed your CBT, because there are a few differences between the two kind of machines.
We would suggest that it’s always best to be comfortable road riding on the style of bike that you are used to.
If you are keen on a scooter however, in our opinion, these are the best scooters and motorcycles for commuting on the market today.
If, once you’ve completed your CBT course, you’re happy to stick to a bike no larger than 125cc you’ll have to refresh your CBT test every two years.