Discussion
Hi
I've just come across this forum and thought you might be interested in my story.
I passed my bike test in 1976 but gave up biking shortly after.(Got married, kids,house etc) anyway, a couple of years ago i bought a 1952 Sunbeam S7 to potter around on at weekends. Just before Christmas,after my ancient and illegible license went through the washer i applied for a photocard type replacement. This came back with my bike entitlement missing.( a common occurance i've since discovered). Despite numerous phone calls and letters unless i could provide evidence of passing my test they would not reinstate it.
So at ripe old age of 52 i've had to sit my theory and hazard perception, do a CBT course,a couple of days training and take my test.
I passed my theory then enrolled at a local school to do a DAS course.
The day of my CBT arrived along with 2"of snow so as i could already ride a bike i spent 1/2 hour getting used to the gears and brake being on the opposite side to mine we went out onto road. All was going well till my instructor suggested i try an emergency stop. Now anyone who has ridden a 55 year old bike (which was criticised when new for having bad brakes) will appreciate the differance between that and a modern one. So at the given signal i grabbed a handfull and ended up on my ar*e. Lesson learnt!.
The two training days went well despite the weather and i passed with a couple of minor faults.
The instructors were excellent (2Wheel Skool,Bradford) and would recommend anyone returning to biking should take a couple of lessons. I was surprised how little i knew and now feel much more confident.
Barry.
I've just come across this forum and thought you might be interested in my story.
I passed my bike test in 1976 but gave up biking shortly after.(Got married, kids,house etc) anyway, a couple of years ago i bought a 1952 Sunbeam S7 to potter around on at weekends. Just before Christmas,after my ancient and illegible license went through the washer i applied for a photocard type replacement. This came back with my bike entitlement missing.( a common occurance i've since discovered). Despite numerous phone calls and letters unless i could provide evidence of passing my test they would not reinstate it.
So at ripe old age of 52 i've had to sit my theory and hazard perception, do a CBT course,a couple of days training and take my test.
I passed my theory then enrolled at a local school to do a DAS course.
The day of my CBT arrived along with 2"of snow so as i could already ride a bike i spent 1/2 hour getting used to the gears and brake being on the opposite side to mine we went out onto road. All was going well till my instructor suggested i try an emergency stop. Now anyone who has ridden a 55 year old bike (which was criticised when new for having bad brakes) will appreciate the differance between that and a modern one. So at the given signal i grabbed a handfull and ended up on my ar*e. Lesson learnt!.
The two training days went well despite the weather and i passed with a couple of minor faults.
The instructors were excellent (2Wheel Skool,Bradford) and would recommend anyone returning to biking should take a couple of lessons. I was surprised how little i knew and now feel much more confident.
Barry.
Biker's Nemesis said:
Hi Barry, interesting story, I still have the old style licence, so after reading your misfortune, I'll be photocopying mine.
I read about this 'regular occurrence' some years back and amongst those who 'lost' their entitlement due to DVLA cockups was a bike Cop - and they want us to trust them with even more data, you couldn't make it up... 
Welcome Barry
catso said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
Hi Barry, interesting story, I still have the old style licence, so after reading your misfortune, I'll be photocopying mine.
I read about this 'regular occurrence' some years back and amongst those who 'lost' their entitlement due to DVLA cockups was a bike Cop - and they want us to trust them with even more data, you couldn't make it up... Welcome Barry
Biker's Nemesis said:
catso said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
Hi Barry, interesting story, I still have the old style licence, so after reading your misfortune, I'll be photocopying mine.
I read about this 'regular occurrence' some years back and amongst those who 'lost' their entitlement due to DVLA cockups was a bike Cop - and they want us to trust them with even more data, you couldn't make it up... Welcome Barry
I was discussing the "copper on own bike and in uniform" story with a rozzer friend and it is a complete urban myth.
The police (like the fire service) have their own examiners, trained and approved by the DSA.
Any prospective bike cop without an existing bike license would be trained and tested by one of their own; they will be on a police bike and in uniform for their test as they are on duty anyway.
Never mind; still makes a good "down the pub" story.
Now the one about the mounted copper at the local pony-club gymkhana; that's true, I saw it with my own eyes...
The police (like the fire service) have their own examiners, trained and approved by the DSA.
Any prospective bike cop without an existing bike license would be trained and tested by one of their own; they will be on a police bike and in uniform for their test as they are on duty anyway.
Never mind; still makes a good "down the pub" story.
Now the one about the mounted copper at the local pony-club gymkhana; that's true, I saw it with my own eyes...
Craphouserat said:
Congrats and welcome.
Dunno if it's true, but I've heard all the best bikers are called Barry, apparently they are all quite talented and have the looks to match, as i said dunno if thats true.
Thanks for the welcome. I was a big fan of Barry Sheene. That guy had real guts. I was introduced to bikes at an early age, my late father used to ride the wall and globe of death in his younger days and always had a few differant bikes around the place including a Sunbeam S7 De-Luxe which is why i got one as thats the one i always remember.Dunno if it's true, but I've heard all the best bikers are called Barry, apparently they are all quite talented and have the looks to match, as i said dunno if thats true.
Barry
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