All posts by Andy Smith

Where’s all the mileage gone? Today it was MOT time for my two Suzuki GS500s. The licensing laws changed in January 2013 and the Suzukis that were a ‘Direct Access’ bike now fit into the newly created A2 ‘Medium Bike’ licence group. Prior to the EU law changes, these bikes were doing about 6000 miles between MOTs. Today I discovered that one of them has only done 99 miles since the last MOT and the other has done just under 1000 miles. So this new EU Directive has been a runaway success!!! Showing that very few riders are opting for the A1 (125cc) or A2 category tests. And with figures showing that bike tests overall are seriously down on previous years, people are just not taking to two wheels as they have done in the past. They wanted to make biking safer and they’ve certainly done that, as all the potential new bikers are now taking a car or the bus instead. On a good note, both bikes passed the MOT with no problems.

Where’s all the mileage gone?

Today it was MOT time for my two Suzuki GS500s. The licensing laws changed in January 2013 and the Suzukis that were a ‘Direct Access’ bike now fit into the newly created A2 ‘Medium Bike’ licence group.

Prior to the EU law changes, these bikes were doing about 6000 miles between MOTs. Today I discovered that one of them has only done 99 miles since the last MOT and the other has done just under 1000 miles.

So this new EU Directive has been a runaway success!!! Showing that very few riders are opting for the A1 (125cc) or A2 category tests.

And with figures showing that bike tests overall are seriously down on previous years, people are just not taking to two wheels as they have done in the past.

They wanted to make biking safer and they’ve certainly done that, as all the potential new bikers are now taking a car or the bus instead.

On a good note, both bikes passed the MOT with no problems. From: http://ift.tt/1hd7ojD

New, New & New. Here are our new bibs, Polo Shirts & our 3 Countries Advanced Course Logo. All ready and waiting for the start of the course. Do you want one? There is just still space on the course to fit you in. So it’s not too late to get on the list. Come on… You know you want to!

New, New & New.

Here are our new bibs, Polo Shirts & our 3 Countries Advanced Course Logo.

All ready and waiting for the start of the course. Do you want one?

There is just still space on the course to fit you in. So it’s not too late to get on the list.

Come on… You know you want to! From: http://ift.tt/1hd7ojD

Police Motorcycle Training! For those of you who have signed up for our 3 Countries Advanced Training course, when we said it could be the closest thing to a Police Training Course available…….. It’s going to take a long time to get to Scotland on one of these!

Police Motorcycle Training!

For those of you who have signed up for our 3 Countries Advanced Training course, when we said it could be the closest thing to a Police Training Course available……..

It’s going to take a long time to get to Scotland on one of these! From: http://ift.tt/1hd7ojD

Mum said it was ok…. Rhiannon & Liam on their cbt today. Rhiannon’s Mum did her Direct Access with us not too long ago and sent Rhiannon along too. And with a few bikes waiting in the garage at home, Rhiannon is aiming for an A2 licence. Liam was looking at getting a scooter but after trying the geared 125, and found it so easy to ride he’s changed his mind. He’s shopping around for his first bike now. A great day for both. A couple more 1st Class Riders out on the road. Nice one.

Mum said it was ok….

Rhiannon & Liam on their cbt today. Rhiannon’s Mum did her Direct Access with us not too long ago and sent Rhiannon along too. And with a few bikes waiting in the garage at home, Rhiannon is aiming for an A2 licence.

Liam was looking at getting a scooter but after trying the geared 125, and found it so easy to ride he’s changed his mind. He’s shopping around for his first bike now.

A great day for both. A couple more 1st Class Riders out on the road.

Nice one. From: http://ift.tt/1hd7ojD

Stepping Up. Hannah & Colin on their step up day today. A dry start turned a bit damp later on but both were in great spirits throughout the day. Colin did his cbt yesterday and booked straight in for the next stage in the process. Hannah did her cbt a couple of weeks ago and has the theory test done and is ready to go. Well done both.

Stepping Up.

Hannah & Colin on their step up day today. A dry start turned a bit damp later on but both were in great spirits throughout the day.

Colin did his cbt yesterday and booked straight in for the next stage in the process. Hannah did her cbt a couple of weeks ago and has the theory test done and is ready to go.

Well done both. From: http://ift.tt/1hd7ojD

No Wind today! Biking couple Jaz & Rob had their original cbt cut short due to the high winds recently and didn’t manage to get out on to the road because of the severe weather. Both returning today to complete the road ride successfully & enjoying the sunshine too. Well done. Now get off my bike!!!

No Wind today!

Biking couple Jaz & Rob had their original cbt cut short due to the high winds recently and didn’t manage to get out on to the road because of the severe weather.

Both returning today to complete the road ride successfully & enjoying the sunshine too.

Well done. Now get off my bike!!! From: http://ift.tt/1hd7ojD

One Road Ride ends and another begins. Here is Cameron & Colin at the end of their road ride on the cbt today. In the background is Jaz, just preparing to go out. Cameron was bought the cbt for his birthday and he has a scooter waiting for him at home. Colin was going to get a 125 but liked it so much, he’s booked in for a step up day on to the big bike tomorrow! So no hanging about. Well done to both.

One Road Ride ends and another begins.

Here is Cameron & Colin at the end of their road ride on the cbt today. In the background is Jaz, just preparing to go out.

Cameron was bought the cbt for his birthday and he has a scooter waiting for him at home. Colin was going to get a 125 but liked it so much, he’s booked in for a step up day on to the big bike tomorrow! So no hanging about.

Well done to both. From: http://ift.tt/1hd7ojD

Every Lidl Helps… Lids in Lidl. Arrived in Lidl today. Flip front helmets for just under £40. Also open face helmets, gloves, base layers and motorcycle socks. I bought some of the motorcycle socks, but they wouldn’t fit my bike so I wear them! Bloody lovely… Aldi is having their biker kit in from the 9th of March. If you are on a tight budget but want some reasonable kit it’s certainly worth paying a visit.

Every Lidl Helps…

Lids in Lidl. Arrived in Lidl today. Flip front helmets for just under £40. Also open face helmets, gloves, base layers and motorcycle socks.

I bought some of the motorcycle socks, but they wouldn’t fit my bike so I wear them! Bloody lovely…

Aldi is having their biker kit in from the 9th of March.

If you are on a tight budget but want some reasonable kit it’s certainly worth paying a visit. From: http://ift.tt/1hd7ojD

“And so they came to pass”… Another two great first time passes for our students today on their Mod 1 tests. Pictured here is Richard who rode the big bike for the first time only yesterday. Well done also to Matthew who passed earlier in the day but couldn’t hang around for a photo. Well done both. Ready for the Mod 2 now.

“And so they came to pass”…

Another two great first time passes for our students today on their Mod 1 tests. Pictured here is Richard who rode the big bike for the first time only yesterday.

Well done also to Matthew who passed earlier in the day but couldn’t hang around for a photo. Well done both.

Ready for the Mod 2 now. From: http://ift.tt/1hd7ojD