Moped
From 16You may ride: A moped: under 50cc, not exceeding 45 km/h (about 28 mph), and no more than 250 kg.
Gained by passing a moped test. Also automatically given to those who pass their car test. But you must still complete C.B.T.
Taunton · Somerset · Since 1996
Learn to ride a motorcycle
well.
But you want to learn to ride a motorcycle well & to pass your test, well, that’s where we come in!
1996Training since
5CBT elements, in order
2:1On the road ride
All-inTest fees included
Which licence?
Your age decides what you can ride
The categories, the ages and the machines are the law’s, not ours — these are the rules exactly as we set them out on our information pages.
How old are you?
Everyone starts with C.B.T. — and at 16 that is all you can do until your 17th birthday.
Ask about this course →Moped
From 16You may ride: A moped: under 50cc, not exceeding 45 km/h (about 28 mph), and no more than 250 kg.
Gained by passing a moped test. Also automatically given to those who pass their car test. But you must still complete C.B.T.
Small motorcycle
From 17You may ride: Up to 125 cc, with a power output not exceeding 14.6 bhp / 11 kw.
Gained by passing the practical tests on a motorcycle with an engine size of 120–125 cc (not exceeding 11 kw).
C.B.T. first, then a 125 on L plates. A full licence course starts at 19.
Ask about this course →Moped
From 16You may ride: A moped: under 50cc, not exceeding 45 km/h (about 28 mph), and no more than 250 kg.
Gained by passing a moped test. Also automatically given to those who pass their car test. But you must still complete C.B.T.
Small motorcycle
From 17You may ride: Up to 125 cc, with a power output not exceeding 14.6 bhp / 11 kw.
Gained by passing the practical tests on a motorcycle with an engine size of 120–125 cc (not exceeding 11 kw).
Medium motorcycle
From 19You may ride: Up to 46.6 bhp (35 kw). A restricted machine must not be derived from a vehicle more than twice its power.
Gained by passing the practical tests on a motorcycle with an engine size of at least 395 cc & between 25–35 kw.
An A2 full-licence course is open to you now. The A licence opens at 24 — or at 21 by staged access, if you have held A2 for two years.
Ask about this course →Moped
From 16You may ride: A moped: under 50cc, not exceeding 45 km/h (about 28 mph), and no more than 250 kg.
Gained by passing a moped test. Also automatically given to those who pass their car test. But you must still complete C.B.T.
Small motorcycle
From 17You may ride: Up to 125 cc, with a power output not exceeding 14.6 bhp / 11 kw.
Gained by passing the practical tests on a motorcycle with an engine size of 120–125 cc (not exceeding 11 kw).
Medium motorcycle
From 19You may ride: Up to 46.6 bhp (35 kw). A restricted machine must not be derived from a vehicle more than twice its power.
Gained by passing the practical tests on a motorcycle with an engine size of at least 395 cc & between 25–35 kw.
Large motorcycle
From 24You may ride: Any size and power.
Gained by passing the practical tests on a motorcycle with an engine size of at least 595 cc & 40 kw.
Every category is open to you, including the A licence on any size and power.
Ask about this course →The power ladder
MopedUnder 50cc28 mph
SmallUp to 125cc14.6 bhp
MediumAt least 395cc46.6 bhp
LargeAt least 595ccAny power
A motorcycle must have fewer than 4 wheels & weigh no more than 410 kgs. If it doesn’t fit this then it’s a car. This explains why you see ‘trike’ riders (or technically, drivers!) with no helmets!
Staged access — the route that saves a course
If you have held the ‘previous’ licence category for two years or more you can re-take the practical tests on a motorcycle of the next category to gain that licence. You do not need to re-take CBT or the Theory / Hazard Perception tests!
Gain your A1 at 17 and at 19 you can take just the practical tests on a medium bike for your A2; gain your A2 at 19 and at 21 you can take the practical tests on a large bike for your A.
Courses
Each course is a full motorbike licence, except the CBT
Full-licence courses include Module 1 and Module 2, and both tests sit on the days after your training, not instead of a day of it.
CBTCompulsory Basic Training
Allows you to ride up to a 125cc motorbike with L plates on the road
£170£75 deposit
See what it costs →
A2A2 licence — 19 or over
A licence which allows you to ride a motorcycle up to 46.6BHP or 35KW.
£610–£1,0004, 5 or 6 days
See what it costs →
AA licence — 24 or over
A licence which allows you to ride a motorcycle of any size and power.
£610–£1,0004, 5 or 6 days
See what it costs →C.B.T. is not just for those youngsters wanting to ride ‘peds! It is also a pre-requisite for those seeking their full bike licence; if you don’t already hold a current C.B.T. certificate then day 1 of your course will be just that!
What it costs
Our prices, answered
Every figure here is straight off our price list. Choose the course and we will show you what it costs, what secures the booking and what is left to pay.
Course
Days
Bike
£170one day
Deposit to secure the booking£75
Balance£95
Allows you to ride up to a 125cc motorbike with L plates on the road
£8004 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£650
Up to 46.6 bhp / 35 kw.
Includes Module 1 & Module 2, bike hire and your test fees.
£6104 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£460
Up to 46.6 bhp / 35 kw.
This means that you will need to bring your own motorbike to do the course on. Instructor fees will apply to taking the test on your own bike.
£9005 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£750
Up to 46.6 bhp / 35 kw.
Includes Module 1 & Module 2, bike hire and your test fees.
£6505 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£500
Up to 46.6 bhp / 35 kw.
This means that you will need to bring your own motorbike to do the course on. Instructor fees will apply to taking the test on your own bike.
£10006 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£850
Up to 46.6 bhp / 35 kw.
Includes Module 1 & Module 2, bike hire and your test fees.
£6906 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£540
Up to 46.6 bhp / 35 kw.
This means that you will need to bring your own motorbike to do the course on. Instructor fees will apply to taking the test on your own bike.
£8004 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£650
Any size and power.
Includes Module 1 & Module 2, bike hire and your test fees.
£6104 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£460
Any size and power.
This means that you will need to bring your own motorbike to do the course on. Instructor fees will apply to taking the test on your own bike.
£9005 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£750
Any size and power.
Includes Module 1 & Module 2, bike hire and your test fees.
£6505 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£500
Any size and power.
This means that you will need to bring your own motorbike to do the course on. Instructor fees will apply to taking the test on your own bike.
£10006 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£850
Any size and power.
Includes Module 1 & Module 2, bike hire and your test fees.
£6906 days
Deposit to secure the booking£150
Balance£540
Any size and power.
This means that you will need to bring your own motorbike to do the course on. Instructor fees will apply to taking the test on your own bike.
A non-refundable deposit is due to complete any booking. This deposit is included in the full price.
Book this course →What “all-inclusive” actually means
The price you pay includes everything, including your test fees. Also, your tests will be on subsequent days to those you book. In other words, if you buy a 6 day course, you get 6 full days training and then your tests, not 5 days training & your test(s) on day 6, therefore actually losing a days training you’ve potentially paid for!
Extra charges
Instructor fees will apply to taking the test on your own bike.
| Type of course | Bike option | Extra charge |
|---|---|---|
| Module 1 | Bike hire | £95 |
| Module 2 | Bike hire | £155 |
| Module 1 | Own bike | £55 |
| Module 2 | Own bike | £155 |
For full-licence courses you must have passed your theory & hazard perception tests, even if you hold a full car licence.
The CBT day
The C.B.T. day begins at 08:00
It finishes when it finishes.
It is a series of elements, designed & monitored by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, each of which must be completed, in order, before a C.B.T. certificate will be issued.
Element A
Introduction
During which you learn what C.B.T. includes & why, undergo a basic eyesight check & discuss clothing, helmets etc.
Element B
Practical on-site training
Where you learn about the bikes controls, basic maintenance & how to stop / start it.
Element C
Practical on-site riding
Every aspect of moving the bike!
Element D
Practical on-road training
All the things you need to know about being a motorcycling road user.
Element E
Practical on-road riding
Linked to your instructor by radio, you receive direct instruction on what you should be doing & then get the chance to prove you can do it for yourself!
Not a ‘gimme’
C.B.T. with T.S.M. is not a ‘gimme’; in other words, it isn’t just a case of turn up, pay your pennies, ride around for a bit & go home with a certificate!
Element E, the road ride
Element ‘E’ of CBT is more commonly referred to as “the road ride”. There must be only 2 trainees to 1 instructor & it must be a minimum of 2 hours.
Valid for two years
A C.B.T. certificate is valid for 2 years. If you want to continue riding & don’t pass a D.V.S.A. test within that 2 years then you must re-take your C.B.T.
Because we utilise Taunton Town Football Club to conduct the off-road elements, occasionally CBT’s on Saturdays during the football season commence at 08:00.
About the school
Quality training, and we mean it plainly
You will hear us mention ‘Quality training’ often, as T.S.M. has never needed to offer anything other than this, because we believe that what people want is to learn to ride a motorcycle well.
For example, if you want track days then there are companies with staff specifically trained & equipped at the tracks to offer you this. If you want advanced training, then organisations such as I.A.M or R.o.S.P.A. can provide reputable, quality-assured training & testing with nationally recognised, insurance-reducing qualifications at extremely competitive prices.
But you want to learn to ride a motorcycle well & to pass your test, well, that’s where we come in!
Taunton School of Motorcycling commenced training in 1996 and thanks to its reputation has continued to thrive in its core business: quality training in riding a motorcycle. A family run business, with the emphasis on quality riding tuition, more than just training to pass the test.
In their words
What riders say
I can only think of one word to sum up my experience with TSM – Faultless. Not a word I’d use to describe my riding before Tracey got hold of me.
Personally I feel that T.S.M. don’t just teach how to ride a motorcycle but how to ride one skillfully and most importantly safely.
Having experienced taster days at other motorcycling schools, I arrived at TSM expecting a similar sort of teaching; too much encouragement, not enough instruction.
Learning a new skill at my age was never going to be straight forward, and having watched many younger riders sail through their courses with little effort…
Before you come
The four things riders ask us first
What do I need to bring with me?
For CBT you must bring your driving licence — photocard or “old-style” paper version. The photocard must be shown on arrival.
For full licence courses: your driving licence, CBT certificate if already held & your theory / hazard perception test certificate.
For all training: lunch, although there are numerous takeaways & shops nearby if required. Hot drinks are freely available!
What clothing do I need?
All we ask is that your footwear offers your feet some protection, which does NOT include trainers!
For your DVSA tests the following is required, and we do not see why anything else should be acceptable during training:
- a motorcycle helmet that meets British safety standards (this doesn’t apply if you’re Sikh and wearing a turban)
- motorcycle boots or other sturdy footwear that provides support and ankle protection
- textile or leather motorcycle trousers or heavy denim trousers
- a textile or leather motorcycle jacket or a heavy denim jacket with several layers underneath
- motorcycle gloves
Can I use my own bike?
Of course! But you will need to ensure the vehicle has a current M.O.T. (if it needs one), tax & insurance. These will be checked electronically.
Instructor fees will apply to taking the test on your own bike.
Do I have to take the theory and hazard perception tests?
For full-licence courses you must have passed your theory & hazard perception tests, even if you hold a full car licence.
Not for C.B.T.
Book a course
Tell us what you are after
The same questions we would ask you on the phone, so we can come back with a date rather than a list of things we still need to know.
Call the school01823 354288
The school
87 Eastleigh Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2YE
When we are in
Roughly 09–10 and 3–4. Closed most Sundays and every Monday.
We frequently hear “I came to your school, but it was closed!” & that’s probably because we were all out on-road training!
A non-refundable deposit is due to complete any booking. This deposit is included in the full price. All major debit & credit cards are accepted.