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Motorcycle News & Local Weather
06/05/09
CBT
+plus Launched
Another first for Dexterity Motorcycle
Training.
Dexterity Motorcycle Training is aiming to fill the
gap between CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) and the full practical motorcycle
test. Launching an innovative new scheme called CBT+Plus that allows CBT
students (or their families) to purchase additional post-CBT training. The
two-hour sessions are designed to compliment and enhance the skills learnt on
the CBT course and are predominately road based. Commenting on the CBT+Plus
launch the firm said, "CBT+Plus will give students more training, more
experience and more confidence. We are proud to be innovators in this way,
further showing our commitment to road safety with the aim of creating even
safer riders"
Further information can be found at
http://www.dexteritytraining.co.uk/cbt.htm
14/04/09
Africa-bike-adventure
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28 Countries
- 40,000 km (25,000 miles)
- For Save The Children
We are proud to be a Sponsor of
africa-bike-adventure and Spencer Conway in his solo circumnavigation of Africa!
When Spencer Conway decided to use his considerable
off-road riding experience to raise money for Save The Children he had a number
of obstacles to overcome. These included sorting the bike, the kit and the
mental strength to tackle the daunting Sahara, Tenere, Nubian and Namib deserts
for a start.
Then he realised that he would need a UK motorcycle
licence (the journey begins in Biddenden, Kent, and overland through Europe, see
http://www.africa-bike-adventure.com/route.htm for details). That's when he
approached Dexterity Motorcycle Training for assistance. We were only too
pleased to help, especially for such a worthy cause. As Spencer puts it, 'ALL
children deserve proper healthcare, food, education and protection.'
We are pleased to report that, like so many of our
students, Spencer passed his motorcycle test first time, and can now concentrate
on his other preparations for the trip.
Go for it Spencer, we wish you good, safe and
enjoyable travels!
12/10/08
Dexterity Opens New Training Centre!
Hastings branch to build on the
success of Ashford - offering DAS and A2 (125cc) Training to an even wider
audience in East Sussex.
Dexterity Motorcycle Training has announced
that it is continuing its expansion by opening a second branch. Located near
the East Sussex town of Hastings the new site will offer Direct Access
Scheme (DAS) and A2 (125cc) training courses and means that Dexterity's
brand of high-quality, professional motorbike training is more easily
available to residents of East Sussex.
The new training centre is within easy reach of
Hastings, St Leonards-On-Sea, Bexhill, Battle, Heathfield, Hawkhurst,
Northiam, Broad Oak, Rye and surrounding areas. Initially Compulsory Basic
Training (CBT) will continue to be based from Dexterity's two Ashford
off-road training areas.
Commenting on the news a spokesman said,
'Building on our huge success in Ashford we are delighted to announce the
development of another training centre near Hastings. We feel this is great
news for the people of East Sussex giving them easier access to our high
quality training. We are very excited about the whole thing!'
Dexterity Motorcycle Training is a family-run firm
with a strong commitment to high-quality, professional and enjoyable training.
They work on providing a relaxed and informal environment where the
emphasis is on enjoying the whole experience.
Their offices are modern, comfortable and welcoming, and the bikes
are safe and
well maintained.
The firm's ethos is to provide top-quality, safe
and fun training, giving you value for money and the experience of a lifetime
with honest,
straightforward pricing without any hidden extras.
11/09/08
New Motorcycle Test Introduction
Deferred!
The DSA defers of the introduction of
the New Motorcycle Test with less than 3 weeks to go until it was due
to begin.
The New Motorcycle Test was due to come in
force on September 29th 2008 but will now not begin until 30th March 2009.
The DSA have cited the fact that 'significant areas of Great Britain' would
not have has access to the new test centres as the reason behind the
decision. Despite this they still claim to have hit the Secretary of State's
target for coverage of the country with the centres they have built. Only 38
new test centres are due to be operational by October 2008 against a total
of 65, with large areas of the country without any centres at all. The DSA
are still using the phrase 'good progress' in their latest correspondence to
describe the situation.
Chaos
The last minute nature of this decision
threatens to throw the DSA and the training industry into chaos as tests for
October and November that had been advanced booked by training schools at
the new 'Multi-Purpose Test Centres' (MPTCs) now have to be
re-allocated to existing test centres. Many are asking why this decision
could not have been made sooner as the preparation for the new test has been
underway for 7 years only to be delayed when there were just 18 days
to go!
More Problems
Whilst the extra 6 months to take the 'old'
test is good news for many would-be learner motorcyclists, alarm bells are
already ringing as the DSA admit that there will still be some fairly
major gaps in their 'national' coverage even in March 2009. Examples
include Croydon and Uxbridge (earliest possible date for MPTCs here is
December 2009), and Hastings/Eastbourne where no site has been found at all!
The message to those who still haven't taken their motorcycle test has got
to be 'make the most of the extra 6 months and beat the new
legislation, book your course now!'
Test Fees to Rise Again?
The Driving Standards Agency is considering a
further increase to the Practical Motorcycle Test Fee in the new year from
the current price of £60 to £80, raising the cost of being tested by a
third. Insiders in the industry are not surprised by this move as it has
been widely speculated that a series of test fee increases would be brought
in on the run up to the changes in the practical motorcycle test
coming in next October. The move is likely to lead to criticism that this
increase, and those before it, have been brought in to make any October 2008
increase seem less dramatic, rather than a reaction to any rising costs of
administering the current test.
Theory Test Changes
The Motorcycle (and Car) Theory Test has
changed. From 3rd September 2007 the number of multiple choice questions
has increased from 35 to 50. The pass mark increased from it's former
level, (30 out of 35) to 43 out of 50 (as a percentage this remains roughly
the same at 86%). The fee increased by £7 for tests taken on or
after 3rd September this year.
The hazard perception part of the test is
remains unchanged.
Click here
to find out more about the motorcycle theory test...
New Motorcycle Test
A new practical motorcycle test is to
be introduced in 2008.
The
new test will be in two parts. The set exercises will be tested on
off-road sites at new Multi Purpose Test Centres
(MPTC) to be built. Then the accompanied road riding element will
follow. The
new test includes some additional special manoeuvres for riders
including wheeling the machine backwards into a cone 'garage', a slalom and a figure of
eight, and two higher speed manoeuvres including an avoidance manoeuvre
and a higher speed
emergency stop.
Click
Here to read about it...
DSA 'We won't be ready'
Having already missed its Secretary of State target for multi purpose
test centres
there's more bad news from The Driving
Standards Agency.
The latest from the DSA is that they now
admit that they will fall short of the 65 centres they were hoping to have
opened by October 2008. The actual figure is likely to be nearer 45, or
less. This is due to difficulties and delays in obtaining planning
permission with many areas encountering strong local opposition to their
plans. To make matters worse they now seem to have shelved contingency plans
to bridge the gap in the short-term through hiring temporary sites. A lack
of suitable sites, and safety concerns over the quality of tarmac surfaces
needed for the higher-speed manoeuvres, have been given as reasons.
In order to provide off-road motorcycle test
facilities for the New Motorcycle
Test the DSA was aiming to have 20 of the new
multi
purpose test centres (MPTCs) operational by the end of March 2007, only
12 were operational by this date, (60% of target). The agency is aiming for
around 65 centres to be built in total. It is thought difficulties in
acquiring suitable sites due to pressure for new houses together with
planning problems may have contributed to the delays.
So far only 12 of these
new test
centres have been built, these include Gloucester, Ipswich, Newport, Shrewsbury,
Leicester, Rotherham, Gateshead, Exeter, Darlington, Hull and
Enfield.
Further centres are at various stages of building and commissioning
in Peterborough, St Helen's, Chester and, for our area, Herne Bay.
The final location of many of the planned sites is still
unknown, although the general areas which the DSA and their agents
Lambert Smith Hampton are searching have been published. In our area
we now know that an MPTC is under construction in Herne Bay whilst
the search continues in the Gillingham and Hastings areas.
Construction of the
Herne Bay MPTC was delayed recently after having to call in archaeologists
to check some interesting artefacts they began to uncover! It is now
back under-way but the delay means it may only just open in time for the new
test.
The DSA describes as 'good progress'
the acquisition of just 22 sites so far out of a total requirement of 65.
Less than 50% of the total with around a year until they are needed would
not count as a success by many people's reckoning!
Motorcycle training organisations are concerned
that in many areas sites have still yet to be identified, and delays in
getting the centres operational could cause those areas to be without motorcycle
test centres when the new bike test comes in force in October 2008 to comply
with EU requirements.
For more information about the new
motorcycle test in 2008 click here...
To check on current DSA progress in building
the new Multi Purpose Test Centres click
here...
Updated 02/12/07
You can view the Draft Consultation Document
here.
DEXTERITY MOTORCYCLE TRAINING APPOINTED AS SUZUKI
PARTNER
Dexterity Motorcycle Training have been appointed as
an official ‘Suzuki Selected’ training partner for the Ashford area.
A new initiative established by Suzuki GB, to help non licence holders
get a full motorcycle licence in an easy and safe manner, ‘Suzuki Selected’
training bodies work in conjunction with the local Suzuki dealer, offering a
complete training solution for customers.
Suzuki GB marketing manager, Paul de Lusignan commented, "We are
delighted to welcome Dexterity Motorcycle Training to our ‘Suzuki Select’
scheme. Aside from offering customers a simple solution to obtaining a
motorcycle licence, we are also able to offer successful participants fully
comprehensive insurance on selected brand-new Suzuki models for just £99".
For more information on obtaining your motorcycle licence before the new
test comes into force in March 2009, visit Dexterity
Motorcycle Training in Ashford, or your local authorised Suzuki dealer:
Alford Brothers
based in Folkestone, Kent.
Note: The £99 Insurance offer is available on
the SV650/S, GSF650/SA, DL650T/GT or GSR600/S, within 90 days of successful
completion of a DAS motorcycle test.
Insurance conditions apply.
This offer CAN be used in conjunction
with any other offer available at the time - making this a truly great deal.
Lee Street Gets that Winning Feeling!
Grasstrack racer Lee, sponsored by Dexterity Motorcycle
Training, had a great 2007 season!
Lee Street won all of
his 2007 races except one, however the one he failed to finish was in the
crucial final championship heats and so he finished an overall 9th. But you can
be sure this has fired him up and he'll be back in 2008 to compete again!
Dexterity Motorcycle Training are proud to continue their association with Lee
and will be continuing to sponsor him in his 2008 season.
If you've never
watched Grasstrack Racing be sure to try to get to at least one of the events in
2008. It's fast, furious and right in front of you! The riders and the paddock
are accessible so you can meet them afterwards, or just wander through the
paddock and see what goes on behind the scenes.
Find out more about Grasstrack racing
here.
Full results
here.
Dexterity Motorcycle Training
were pleased to sponsor Lee Street in 2007.
(And we were so
impressed we sponsored him again in 2008!)
Quote from
www.sidecarspeedway.com
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'250cc Solos went to the man of the class this season (2006), Lee Street.
Winning all his races and the final as he liked. Surely on this form he will be
hard to stop from winning this year's British Championship.'
 
250cc Solo
2006 Best Pairs Grass Track Championship
Lee Street (left)
Chris Still
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TICKET TO
RIDE FOR KENT
SINGER-SONGWRITER’S
AMERICA CHALLENGE
Kent
Businesses ‘Dexterity Motorcycle Training’ and
‘Robinsons Foundry’
Get Behind Julia’s 4000-mile America tour
Julia Jones had never climbed onto a motorcycle until she
was persuaded by some of her music fans in San Francisco during her 2006
tour. Jones says ‘I climbed onto the back of this amazing looking Harley
Davidson after our show and suddenly we were zipping through the streets of
San Francisco at 1.00am. From that moment I was hooked’.
Julia has been touring America with her band since 2005
with the support of UK brands including Virgin, Bass, and EMI promoting
British music using her pimped-out double-decker bus. The event is called
The BritBus Tour and was developed by Julia after she completed her MBA
degree at UKC in 2001. After hearing of her new-found passion for
motorbikes, Triumph motorcycles in the USA offered Julia a Triumph
Bonneville with a Union Jack gas tank to ride across America with the
double-decker bus during her 10-week 2007 tour.
Julia says,
‘It was fantastic news to hear the
offer from Triumph but without a licence and riding experience I felt that I
couldn’t accept’.
Fortunately local Kent businesses heard of the news and
offered a helping hand. Dexterity Motorcycle Training based in Ashford
stepped forward to sponsor Julia’s motorcycle training. In addition local
dealership
Robinsons
Foundry in Canterbury and their riders clubs contacted
Julia and offered to provide an identical Triumph Bonneville for Julia to
get used to riding on the roads of Kent before hitting the road in the USA.
 
The fantastic support from Dexterity and Robinson’s
Foundry will enable Julia to not only ride across America but also enable
her to use the motorcycle to attract more media attention during her 2007
tour. The motorcycle will be given away to a prize-winner in the USA when
she reaches her final destination in New York.
Kent bands can win the chance of joining Julia at her final show in New
York by visiting the
www.thebritbustour.com website. This years tour kicks off from Los
Angeles in April 2007.
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Photos
by Ben Jones.
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Read all about it! Dexterity Motorcycle Training in the newspapers. |
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The Mayor of Ashford officially opens our training school. |
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The Mayor tries out one of our bikes! |
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The Mayor & Mayoress and representatives from The Towers School at our official launch event. |
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©
2006, 2007,
2008
Dexterity Motorcycle Training LLP
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Ashford
(01233) 621 536 
