Whats harder, learning to ride a motorbike or car?

Question

Hey everyone,

I passed my driving test 2 years ago on my first attempt (including theory) and I have decided to take my bike test next month. I have had a scooter in the past and passed my CBT first time aswell, but, I have never ridden a bike with gears. Is it hard to learn? Can anyone give me some good riding advice?

Thanks

Answer 1

Bike is harder - you can fall off a bike but you don't fall out of a car.

Answer 2

It can depend on your riding experience and your confidence on the road on two wheel. I found it harder to pass my car test (4 attempts - 4 minors) than my motorcycle (1st time - clean sheet).

Many people can pass a CBT as it isn't a test but an assessment of your riding ability. About 97-98% of people pass a CBT first time but that doesn't mean they will pass their motorcycle test 1st time.

Have you passed your motorcycle theory yet? If not book this ASAP before booking anything else (Only if you are more than 100% sure you want to take a test). That will cost you £30. Then, if you haven't already, book and complete your CBT but ask to take it on a 125cc geared bike so you learn what you need to do with gears. It is quite simple but there are a few people who will struggle with gears. If you already have a CBT but no gear experience than ask your training school if they wouldn't mind you taking some gear lessons before you book your test.

Once you have done all that, you can book your test. If you are wanting to take it next month the be prepared to be disappointed as the majority of school are either fully booked upto when the test changes or they are very nearly fully booked. If you need to just ask if you can provisionally book in dates for your test so you are in their diary to have at least one chance at taking the test now. Trust me I know, Im working non-stop all the way up to end of September.

Answer 3

I took my CBT 3 months after passing my car test and its really difficult to compare because you've already learnt all the road awareness so bikes seem easier.

The place I went to offered taster lessons or refresher courses so it might be worthwhile paying for one of those and having a go on a geared bike before you book your full test. Just to get a feel for it. I never thought I'd pass first time but I had 3 days of excellent training and then went straight into my test and passed!!

Good luck and enjoy!!

Answer 4

a motorbike because when i was 6 i drove  a car around the bike

Answer 5

DO NOT PRETEND YOU ARE YOU ARE INVISIBLE! Better advice would be to assume that you are invisible so therefore have to make yourself as visible as possible, car drivers probably still won't see you but you give yourself a fighting chance.

Answer 6

i would say learnin to drive a car is harder

Answer 7

I never learned how to ride a car.

Answer 8

Getting used to how a bike handles the turns and what not is going to take some getting used to. You cant just go flying around a turn like you would in a car, and some of the tests in the motorcycle test might s***w you up if you've never ridden a bike.

Answer 9

truth be told i think the car was the harder of the two......

youll get the hang of a geard bike in no time...as you know how a clutch works on a car you just apply the same to a bike,but instead of using your foot for a clutch you use the left hand leaver[like brake leaver]....its a piece of cake...enjoy

Answer 10

Judging from the people in my town, I'd say driving a car is much harder to learn.

Shifting gears is a skill that can be learned, like typing.

It can't be that hard, I learned how to do it.

The best riding advice is to pretend like you and your bike are invisible to car drivers.

Answer 11

it was about the same as leaning to drive a stick shift

Answer 12

See provided source video and consider year-around usage.

2 million sold in 20 Nations.

Answer 13

I've had car licence for 26 years & a motorcycle licence for 22 years.although i rode on L plates for 9 years,as you could then!

riding a motorcycle is much more cerebal,than car driving.it's,on average 25 times more dangerous than car driving.but 50 times more fun.find your limits & your'll be safe!

Answer 14

Motorcycle is def. harder.  You have to coordinate all your hands and feet on all the levers, and keeping the bike upright is kind of a big deal.  With a car, you have have gas / brake, and point the car where you want to go.

Answer 15

the motorbike because you have to always make sure youre balenced. and you dont want to fall off do you?? thought so... :D

Answer 16

Not so hard, because car riding more hard then bike. start in open area first you will pick very soon.

Answer 17

I passed my bike CBT test on my 16th birthday (younges legal age) and passed my full bike test on my 17th birthday (youngest legal age).

I think that riding a bike is natural to me, so I'd say that's the easiest, although others say it's way harder

Answer 18

Just practice. Passing a bike test is as easy as passing a car test, staying safe when you've passed is a bit harder. Try and read as much as you can about riding, Bike Magazine has some good features for improved riding technique, I still read it now and I've been biking 20+ years. Also get a copy of Roadcraft, the police bike riding manual, it's a fantastic resource to make you safer and faster.

Answer 19

If you know how to ride a scooter & you know how to ride a stick shift car, then you can learn to ride a motorcycle easy.

Good Luck...

Answer 20

Motorbikes are a bit harder to learn that a car, but only because the gear number is not displayed.

Answer 21

Take a class!!!!

Answer 22

not a problem, you just have to get used to shifting...

no biggie, you should be able to pick it up pretty easily

Answer 23

Hello,

I think that a Car is more difficult, and any other category 'B' vehicles. There is much more involved, such as reversing etc.

On a Bike, you have much more observation, despite the vision that the helmet may prevent, and turning would be slightly easier etc.

I am currently learning to drive a car, and hope to progress on to LGVs and PCVs further on, then maybe possibly Planes and helicopters.

Gemini_DJ.