Learner/Newbie Sticky **All Learner/newbie/Starter Questions Go here!!****

Banana Republic.

dubal2008 wrote: »

You will have to do the theory test ( download the NDLS app approx €12 which is great for practise) thend go and do the IBT after that pick your bike, nothing with an R at the end of it, simply pick something simple... I've just done the theory at the grand age of 56 and was just about to book an IBT when all this Virus stuff happened, I,ll be looking out for what I believe is a good starter bike for me Yamaha MT07 and having checked Insurance it will be approx €750
Hope that helps somewhat and yes you will have 2 licences in the wallet for the next while

Hi All, complete novice here and the start of the thread is massively helpful and great insight so cheers.

I can concur on the App, I had a free one but this one is way more comprehensive and I’ve only had it a few days so I went from 32/40 to 36/40 reading up on a good few questions but still hundreds left so well worth the 12.99 already. Hope this helps, I’m also a complete novice.

Banana Republic.

CJhaughey wrote: »

Van, Bike trailer?
As a bonus you will also learn the dark art of tying a motorcycle down.:D

dubal2008

For anybody else in the same position as me (looking to do an IBT Course) seems like they will not be back open for business until August, I guess I picked the wrong year to go back to a bike

ec18

dubal2008 wrote: »

For anybody else in the same position as me (looking to do an IBT Course) seems like they will not be back open for business until August, I guess I picked the wrong year to go back to a bike

airport driving school are doing them now as it's possible to maintain social distance with the bikes

dubal2008

That's interesting i,ll give them a call so

dubal2008

Thanks ec18 just booked in for a weekend course soon.....

ec18

General question about licenses and test. I'm over 24 so can go to the A license. My plan is to do the theory test and IBT then get bike, primarily for commuting but would also like to be able to have one that can be used on the motorway (after passing full test). So to the question if I buy say for example a 250cc bike for commuting/road time and do the test on that bike would the license still be A or do you need to do the test on a bike in that category?

dubal2008

you will need to do the test on an A category bike to have the full A license but you can hire a school bike to do the test on

Banana Republic.

Mjolnir wrote: »

If you did your theory test before a certain date, then usually no, but you have to phone the ndls when back open to confirm.
Still have to get the permit and do ibt if exempt from the theory test.

I’ll add to that, you can email them also I done it in the last two weeks , info@ndls.ie they were very helpful
They will ask you for these so send these with your email
In order to access your record in relation to your query please confirm the following:

* Driver number of PPS number.

* Date of birth.

* That you are the licence holder.

They were very good.

Banana Republic.

dubal2008 wrote: »

For anybody else in the same position as me (looking to do an IBT Course) seems like they will not be back open for business until August, I guess I picked the wrong year to go back to a bike

Where did you see that info? I did get a reschedule email as I had it booked for May 27th then could only get July for where I live, Yea I could be doing the IBT in the depths of winter

Banana Republic.

ec18 wrote: »

airport driving school are doing them now as it's possible to maintain social distance with the bikes

Is that Waterford?

ec18

Banana Republic. wrote: »

Is that Waterford?

Dublin

Banana Republic.

ec18 wrote: »

Dublin

You would think they’d be still operating country wide, I’m astonished that Theory Test Centres aren’t open, they could easily do segregation.

Acquiescence

Banana Republic. wrote: »

Where did you see that info? I did get a reschedule email as I had it booked for May 27th then could only get July for where I live, Yea I could be doing the IBT in the depths of winter

I did mine in November and it pissed rain for a decent portion of the road section on the big bike. Best thing that could have happened in hindsight.

Banana Republic.

Acquiescence wrote: »

I did mine in November and it pissed rain for a decent portion of the road section on the big big. Best thing that could have happened in hindsight.

Yea in at the deep end tends to bring the best out in alot of ppl, all your safety guards are up and I guess you are a better rider for it. I’ll do mine whenever I get there Theory Test passed so if it’s winter then I’ll go do it. How did you find IBT? Were you a full on beginner?

Acquiescence

Banana Republic. wrote: »

How did you find IBT? Were you a full on beginner?

I was.

To be honest with you for the first few hours in the compound I thought I was in real trouble.

I couldn't get a feel for it at all and was doing it with a young guy that had spent time on scramblers and he took to it very quickly.

I have a quad for the farm and to say I lacked finesse would be an understatement, I had been using the front brake as an on/off switch and never touched the rear brake, I think I would have gotten my head around it better had I not been used to the quad, maybe, I was chronically bad though!

I'd prefer not to admit how long it took me to successfully turn on an indicator.

The second we got onto the road I settled. I suppose I drive defensively in the car and would be used rev-matching and working through the gears so the principles carried over and I felt like I was in a more comfortable environment oddly enough.

The younger guy I was with was far more ropey on the road but I thought it was great.

I've done around 10 or 11 thousand km since November and sold my car. So I suppose it went well in the end!

I was spending a good few hours in empty car parks at the start doing loads of slow speed drills which definitely helped.

I still have absolutely no idea what I'm doing but I couldn't recommend it more. It's one of those things where the more you improve the more you realise how bad you are. I wish I'd gotten a bike 15 years ago.

BruteStock

Total newbie here. . What id like to know is , can I buy a bike and drive it with a learner permit? Can I take the bike to test centers and use it to complete the training?

IrishGrimReaper

You can ride it on public roads once you have a valid leaner permit for that class of motorcycle, a valid IBT competency cert and then Insurance + Tax.

I beleive you can use your own bike for the IBT modules but you can't actually ride it from your house to do the IBT.

A guy doing the IBT the same time as me rolled up to do his on a BMW 1200RT - he completed the IBT on that bike but if he was stopped on his way there by the guards they would have be within their rights to take it away as he didn't have his IBT completed and was a learner.

BruteStock

IrishGrimReaper wrote: »

You can ride it on public roads once you have a valid leaner permit for that class of motorcycle, a valid IBT competency cert and then Insurance + Tax.

I beleive you can use your own bike for the IBT modules but you can't actually ride it from your house to do the IBT.

A guy doing the IBT the same time as me rolled up to do his on a BMW 1200RT - he completed the IBT on that bike but if he was stopped on his way there by the guards they would have be within their rights to take it away as he didn't have his IBT completed and was a learner.

Thanks. Is the learner permit given out on completion of IBT training? How long does it take to complete a module? Must all modules be completed in order to get a learner permit. Those are my last questions!

Acquiescence

BruteStock wrote: »

Thanks. Is the learner permit given out on completion of IBT training? How long does it take to complete a module? Must all modules be completed in order to get a learner permit. Those are my last questions!

You can get your permit before you do the IBT, you can't do the road portion without it as far as I know.

Taylor365

Any idea when tests will be back on?

Peppa Cig

IrishGrimReaper wrote: »

You can ride it on public roads once you have a valid leaner permit for that class of motorcycle, a valid IBT competency cert and then Insurance + Tax.

I beleive you can use your own bike for the IBT modules but you can't actually ride it from your house to do the IBT.

A guy doing the IBT the same time as me rolled up to do his on a BMW 1200RT - he completed the IBT on that bike but if he was stopped on his way there by the guards they would have be within their rights to take it away as he didn't have his IBT completed and was a learner.

Do you not need to send copy of IBT to insurance company to get insurance?

Banana Republic.

Acquiescence wrote: »

I was.

To be honest with you for the first few hours in the compound I thought I was in real trouble.

I couldn't get a feel for it at all and was doing it with a young guy that had spent time on scramblers and he took to it very quickly.

I have a quad for the farm and to say I lacked finesse would be an understatement, I had been using the front brake as an on/off switch and never touched the rear brake, I think I would have gotten my head around it better had I not been used to the quad, maybe, I was chronically bad though!

I'd prefer not to admit how long it took me to successfully turn on an indicator.

The second we got onto the road I settled. I suppose I drive defensively in the car and would be used rev-matching and working through the gears so the principles carried over and I felt like I was in a more comfortable environment oddly enough.

The younger guy I was with was far more ropey on the road but I thought it was great.

I've done around 10 or 11 thousand km since November and sold my car. So I suppose it went well in the end!

I was spending a good few hours in empty car parks at the start doing loads of slow speed drills which definitely helped.

I still have absolutely no idea what I'm doing but I couldn't recommend it more. It's one of those things where the more you improve the more you realise how bad you are. I wish I'd gotten a bike 15 years ago.

That is class thanks so much for sharing your experience. Yea that’s my plan to use the car parks close to me to do the slow drills and practice practice practice. I drove in a dream does that count Yea I’ve always loved looking at bikes and I dunno why it’s taken me this long but it’s something I’m looking forward to immensely.

Banana Republic.

BruteStock wrote: »

Thanks. Is the learner permit given out on completion of IBT training? How long does it take to complete a module? Must all modules be completed in order to get a learner permit. Those are my last questions!

The learners permit is given once you pass The Theory Test and apply for it with the NDLS. The IBT I’m looking at is a 2 day intensive course. IBT cert is given once training completed and then you can insure the bike to be able to ride. IBT centres have bikes included in the price. The recommendations I have been given is to do the IBT on trainers bikes and then you can go buy your own one.
Ask as much as you like everyone is helpful here.

cantdecide

Peppa Cig wrote: »

Do you not need to send copy of IBT to insurance company to get insurance?

Very unlikely, but possible. For internal reasons they may do this but they are not forbidden from insuring you - you are permitted to ride under the care of an instructor and you need a valid learner permit and insurance to take to the road. There are poop-tons of insured drivers floating around on learner permits having never completed their EDT who renew their permit every 12mths - as long as they keep satisfying the NDLS they are entitled to hold the permit, no one can make them take the EDT.

Peppa Cig

Presumably insurance would be a lot higher if you declare you have no IBT certificate?

Lads are hardly saying they have done IBT to insurance company when the have not.....

Banana Republic.

Does anyone definitely know if you 100% have to have your IBT done to get insured? Do they all when you go to insure your bike? Cheers

BruteStock

Banana Republic. wrote: »

The learners permit is given once you pass The Theory Test and apply for it with the NDLS. The IBT I’m looking at is a 2 day intensive course. IBT cert is given once training completed and then you can insure the bike to be able to ride. IBT centres have bikes included in the price. The recommendations I have been given is to do the IBT on trainers bikes and then you can go buy your own one.
Ask as much as you like everyone is helpful here.

Thanks.. Will that 2 day course complete all 16 hours training for you? Will you then apply to sit the actual driving test?

Banana Republic.

BruteStock wrote: »

Thanks.. Will that 2 day course complete all 16 hours training for you? Will you then apply to sit the actual driving test?

As far as I’m aware that covers it all, Theory day 1 & Practical Day 2. Can’t apply until I’m 6 months riding my bike but I’ll definitely apply for it in that timeline as that’s how I passed my car driving test with little or no bad habits.

BruteStock

Banana Republic. wrote: »

As far as I’m aware that covers it all, Theory day 1 & Practical Day 2. Can’t apply until I’m 6 months riding my bike but I’ll definitely apply for it in that timeline as that’s how I passed my car driving test with little or no bad habits.

So after thats done you can kinda build up experience on your own if you wanted , opposed to paying instructors for lessons?

zubair

Peppa Cig wrote: »

Presumably insurance would be a lot higher if you declare you have no IBT certificate?

Lads are hardly saying they have done IBT to insurance company when the have not.....

Maybe they didn't contact the insurance companies. ;-)

Banana Republic. wrote: »

Does anyone definitely know if you 100% have to have your IBT done to get insured? Do they all when you go to insure your bike? Cheers

Yes, it's a question when going through the application process (or was when I was a learner) and some insurers won't provide cover until it's completed. But if you plan to do the IBT on your own bike and you'll want to have it insured for theft so speak to the insurance company and discuss it with them but on the road without an IBT you'd need to be with the instructor to be covered and as far as I know it's 6 penalty points and a fine for no IBT.

Banana Republic.

BruteStock wrote: »

So after thats done you can kinda build up experience on your own if you wanted , opposed to paying instructors for lessons?

Whichever works, for everyone is different but I’ll be doing practice practice practice then I’ll get lessons off I get on well with my IBT Trainer.

Banana Republic.

zubair wrote: »

Maybe they didn't contact the insurance companies. ;-)



Yes, it's a question when going through the application process (or was when I was a learner) and some insurers won't provide cover until it's completed. But if you plan to do the IBT on your own bike and you'll want to have it insured for theft so speak to the insurance company and discuss it with them but on the road without an IBT you'd need to be with the instructor to be covered and as far as I know it's 6 penalty points and a fine for no IBT.

Cheers that’s great info but I’m going there IBT way before even buying my bike, going to do it on the IBT bike and all through there. Going to get my own gear as the months go on which is handy now cause god knows when Test Centre opens and IBT gets back up and running.

dubal2008

you can book your IBT with Airport Driving School

BruteStock

Any centres in Cork open?

cantdecide

Banana Republic. wrote: »

Does anyone definitely know if you 100% have to have your IBT done to get insured? Do they all when you go to insure your bike? Cheers

Call them. I don't believe anyone here works for all the insurance companies.

It isn't mandated that you must take IBT on a school bike. How can you take IBT on your bike if you haven't got insurance?

EDIT: I asked my my housemate and they insured him about the first-time insurance he got in January and they insured him before he had taken IBT.

The QuietMan

Some insurers will insure you on the basis that you do IBT within 30 days. Also I know that Principal Insurance for example do ask for the IBT cert. I did my own IBT with Declan O’Donovan on one of his school bikes purely as my own fell just short of the KW output for category A. Did the same for the test.

Acquiescence

Principal insured me prior to getting my IBT as the bike was sitting outside my house. They also said I could do the IBT on mine if I wanted and could fire away once I had the cert without notifying them.

I did have to send in a copy at some point.

zubair

Banana Republic. wrote: »

Cheers that’s great info but I’m going there IBT way before even buying my bike, going to do it on the IBT bike and all through there. Going to get my own gear as the months go on which is handy now cause god knows when Test Centre opens and IBT gets back up and running.

That's the best way imo

Banana Republic.

cantdecide wrote: »

Call them. I don't believe anyone here works for all the insurance companies.

It isn't mandated that you must take IBT on a school bike. How can you take IBT on your bike if you haven't got insurance?

EDIT: I asked my my housemate and they insured him about the first-time insurance he got in January and they insured him before he had taken IBT.

That was my question really just to gather peoples experience not one answer to cover all insurers, good info though from your housemate cheers.

Banana Republic.

zubair wrote: »

That's the best way imo

I got my gloves recently from these on eBay
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/131383294982 Great quality and I’m looking at buying these boots from them also all CE approved too https://www.ebay.ie/itm/133175860138

zubair

Banana Republic. wrote: »

I got my gloves recently from these on eBay
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/131383294982 Great quality and I’m looking at buying these boots from them also all CE approved too https://www.ebay.ie/itm/133175860138

For 60 bucks I'd be spending a couple more euros on sports bike shop for a known brand.

Banana Republic.

zubair wrote: »

For 60 bucks I'd be spending a couple more euros on sports bike shop for a known brand.

They are CE approved that’s what counts. I’m not doing it on the cheap at all but they need to CE approved, any bikers I know have said that’s what matters.

Banana Republic.

Can you rent a bike from the IBT centres, say you won’t have your bike for a few weeks, would it be possible to rent one? Just a gentle wonderment

IrishGrimReaper

No you can't.

You'll need your own bike because you won't get one off a rental company either unless you have a full license.

I wouldn't be buying any gear off ebay unless I knew the brand - for not much more you could get these boots
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/95897

You can read the reviews from other riders.

Nerdlingr

Banana Republic. wrote: »

They are CE approved that’s what counts. I’m not doing it on the cheap at all but they need to CE approved, any bikers I know have said that’s what matters.

Sorry but just wondering where you are seeing the CE approved ? Had a look at the link and can't see anything.

Banana Republic.

IrishGrimReaper wrote: »

No you can't.

You'll need your own bike because you won't get one off a rental company either unless you have a full license.

I wouldn't be buying any gear off ebay unless I knew the brand - for not much more you could get these boots
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/95897

You can read the reviews from other riders.

Have bought from this site, what drew the sizing like?
Never thought you could just wondered is all I’ll be waiting till I buy my own bike I’ll check that site out Cheers

Banana Republic.

Nerdlingr wrote: »

Sorry but just wondering where you are seeing the CE approved ? Had a look at the link and can't see anything.

There’s the label I know it was in the description but can’t find it atm

Nerdlingr

Banana Republic. wrote: »

There’s the label I know it was in the description but can’t find it atm

Just be careful it's not a "Chinese Export" symbol instead of a "Certified European" one. Very slight differences between the two.

The fact it mentions nothing about conforming to European standards in the description is kinda dubious to be honest with ya.

Banana Republic.

Nerdlingr wrote: »

Just be careful it's not a "Chinese Export" symbol instead of a "Certified European" one. Very slight differences between the two.

The fact it mentions nothing about conforming to European standards in the description is kinda dubious to be honest with ya.

I did speak to someone who says they’ve those exact same gloves and verified it’s the correct tag but I will look out for it. I swore I seen it in the description but maybe just the CE through me. In the link you sent me I couldn’t find any CE approval on the boots either come to think of it.