September 2008 is a five months away, however the new test is starting to take effect already.  The waiting times at all test centres across the North East has risen to six weeks, in many test centres you are unable to get a test until the beginning of June.  Please don't leave it till June 2008 and try to book a test before September, you will be disapointed.  However, we will ensure that all test candidates who take the new test in September are well prepared through our unlimited training scheme

I've always had a keen interest in motorcycles as far back as I can remember certainly back to the first year at Dene House Secondary in Peterlee (the "Place To Be" as the advertising says). Anyway a soap-dodging mate of mine who should remain nameless managed to get his hand on a Triumph Tiger Cub 200.  This was a fine motorcycle in good running order, until we started shoving spanners and screwdrivers into the works.  We really didn't have a clue, we never got to ride the bike, we just started and stopped it, sometimes ran away from it when it would not stop when we turned the key off.  The biggest lesson learnt from this experience was these are fun to be around! 

In 1977 I bought my first bike a YAMAHA RD250E from Charlton's on Church Street in Hartlepool.  It was delivered to my home, and what you are about to read is a true account of my very first experience of riding a motorcycle on the road.  In 1977 there was no training available for learner riders and at this point I had not actually ridden a bike.  The bikes petrol tank was almost empty and the tap was on reserve so the first job was to go to the BP and fill it up, (a simple job for most).  So I put my new free KANGOL helmet on(it was cheap shite by the way!), my gloves and new leather jacket with the obligatory jeans and ADIDAS SAMBA trainers I went out and started my new pride and joy up.  Theoretically I knew the basics, I sat on the bike flicked the side stand up, turned the key on, made sure she was in neutral then kicked the kick start down.  She fired up first time, sounded great, that tinny two-stroke sound but not like a  KAWASAKI KH250.  I pulled the clutch in put her into 1st gear, let the clutch out to fast and stalled.  This happened a couple of times further then I managed to get her on the move.  I had decided to go the quiet way to the garage which is at the town centre, so I went to the end of my road where I had to turn right at a T-junction.  What a mistake, there was traffic coming from both directions so I had to stop, which I did.  When the road was clear again I tried to move off but I dumped the clutch with a handful of throttle on.  Needless to say the bike left the road with me on it and ended up on the grass verge with scratches and bent levers.  I could have given up at this point but Les James and Dave Lister taught me how to control the bike, notice I didn't say how to ride! The CBT Course I sat a few-years later in 1990 taught me how to do that, I'd actually been riding badly for years.

In 1992 I went to work for NISSAN Motors UK in the Press Shop, my god what a shock to the system! Doing the same thing four times per-minute making a floor panel for the PRIMERA called rear-floor-rear, where the spare wheel goes.  It really is hard to believe now that my Team-Leader enjoyed working there, if you're still there John Houghton email me.  In 1994 I was offered my redundancy which I gratefully accepted.  At this point I had started to work as a volunteer instructor for Peterlee Motorcycle Training, I'm not to proud of this as their bikes and equipment were in a shocking condition and I felt all of the learners complaints were aimed at myself. 

I decided to use my severance pay to start the new company North Eastern Motorcycle Training which is based in Peterlee.  In March 1994 I attended DSA Cardington and sat my CBT assessment course which I passed and then in April 1996 I passed my Direct Access assessment, making me the second instructor in the North of England to gain this qualification.  On completion of the CBT assessment I bought three new Honda CG125's to use as training machines from David Sykes Superbikes, these were replaced with new machines after two-years.  In 1996 I bought two additional bikes, Honda CB500's for DAS training, the company also employed four Instructors who were more friends than employees. All training was conducted on an unlimited training pay as you learn scheme. Between 1994 and 2001 North Eastern conducted almost one-thousand CBT courses and helped seven-hundred and fifty people to obtain a full motorcycle licence, with a 1st time passrate which always exceeded 90%.

In 1996 North Eastern Motorcycle Training received the East Durham Development Agency Small Business of the Year Award.

In 2001 I decided to take a break from training as I had completed a Computing Degree at Sunderland University.  I secured a job in Guernsey working for Guernsey Police Force and whilst I was there I became involved with Guernsey Motorcycle Training Scheme and enroled as one of their instructors (the only DSA Approved Instructor on Guernsey).

On my return to the UK in 2002 I worked in IT, but cannot say that it was ever going to be my true vocation in life. So in 2005 I reapplied for my Instructors Licence and am pleased to say am thoroughly enjoying myself training in Teesside and the Peterlee areas.

In September I arranged the first meeting of the "Learners 2 Burners" bike club at Billingham Rugby Club, this meets every 2nd Wednesday night at 7.30.

In February 2007 we moved into a 600sq/ft unit at Lagonda Court, Billingham. We intend to sell motorcycle accessories at grately reduced prices

In November we outgrew the unit at Lagonda Court and we decided to move into a 6000sq/ft factory unit at Bentley Avenue on Cowpen Lane Ind Est. This is a massive step for us and is a three-year project to create a motorcycle accessories superstore.  In February 2008 the DSA licenced the large are to the front of Bentley Avenue for CBT Training which now means we have everything one one site

We currently use SUZUKI 600 Bandit's for DAS training, YAMAHA YBR125's and YAMAHA SR125's for the Category "A2" Light Motorcycle Training and SYM Jet 50cc machines for moped training. John Spencer. Feb 2006

We're currently building up our clothing stock, which includes WEISE & PREXPORT jackets, trousers, gloves and boots.  Oxford Products BONE DRY clothing, all at discount prices if you're learning with us.

We're installing a cafe so that CBT candidates can grab a meal while they are on their much needed breaks, serving hot and cold food and snacks

I believe in providing quality training through quantity training.  You won't be at the test centre if you can't handle or control your motorcycle; it's as simple as that!  I will advise you when I think we should book your test; my aim is to get you through the Practical Motorcycle Test at the first attempt, this method of training works.  I won't let you have eight hours training then you go for the test on hour nine like the majority of trainers in the North East.

What learners don't realise is that Approved Training Bodies (ATB's) can block book tests, once these test are booked they have to be used they cannot be cancelled. This forces the ATB's to put candidates in for the test slots whether they are ready or not! This without doubt leads to disapointment and increased expense.

And this is me today going quite mad in my own little world with the help of Pauline, Steve, Simon, Abby, Martin and Carl and Michelle in the cafe

SITE UPDATED 30th April 2008