Motorcycle Training Forum

[durnster]

Big hello to everyone on this forum.

I have been thinking for a while now about learning to ride (by a while, I mean years and years and years!), however I have never managed to get round to doing anything about it.

Recently I have started thinking about it again and I was wondering...:

I am totally blind in my left eye and I would like to know if this would affect my ability to learn to ride, or in fact my ability to ride at all! Obviously my concern is the restrictive view I would have whilst wearing a helmet.

I have held a full driving licence for 14 years and never had an accident, so its not like being blind has restricted me in that sense (as in blind spots etc.).

I would appreciate your thoughts on this before I pursue the idea any futher...

Cheers!

[Lady P]

Hi Durnster

RJH_786bn will best be able to answer your question about vision as he is an instructor. Not sure how this would work when doing a left 'lifesaver' (ie. looking over left shoulder when needed). See what Rob/RJH has to say. As regards riding, if you can, go for it! I'd always wanted to do it - can thoroughly recommend Rob/RJH school for training - I travelled out of my area to ensure I received the necessary support and it was worth it (Rob can tell you, I was not a natural Rossi - for some reason they kept calling me Evel?! ). Its fantastic fun - entirely different from driving. Want to go out on my bike now just talking about it

[Helen_86]

I would have thought that statistically your right life saver check is probably more important? You'd be fine with those, and you'd be able to stick those little blind spot mirrors on your wing mirrors to reduce your left blindspot.

The only difference is the ability to judge speed (of oncoming vehicles, of yourself etc) but with your driving experience, you're obviously able to deal with that one

[JT (John)]

Hello and welcome to the forum...

as an alternative you could consider a trike.

A full car licence is required for riding a trike and you already have that!

As for the ability to ride a 2 wheel bike is concerned... as long as DVLA have not placed any stipulations on your licence, that you have Category A as a provisional entitlement on your current licence AND that you can read a new style numberplate (with the new font) at a distance of 20.0m - then I can't see what would stop you.

Go for it

Suggest you try a days CBT training with a reputable firm and by the end of that day you'll know whether you'll cope.

CBT costs do vary, but about £100.00 is typical.

Hope this helps,

John

[rjh_786Bn]

Hello and welcome to the Forum! Where did you here about us, and where are you from?
Hopefully the below will help you, however please feel free to PM me if you require further information!

As you are a car driver, I am assuming you are able to read a number plate from the distances required, and your license as JT says shows no restrictions, therefore have a go. Get CBT done, test the water, see how you get on! Mirrors can be added on your near side to give you better visability when riding.

One consideration I would think is your balance? Do you ride a push bike? Is balance an obstacle? If you ride a push bike without any problems then a motorcycle should be ok!

DRIVING EYESIGHT REQUIREMENTS:
Before you start to learn to drive or ride, make sure you are aware of the eyesight requirements.
If you need glasses or corrective lenses to meet the requirements, it’s a legal requirement that you wear them every time you drive.
Letting the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) know about eyesight conditions
When applying for your driving licence from the DVLA you should let them know if you have:

any visual condition which affects both eyes (not including short or long sight or colour blindness)
any visual condition which affects your sight, (not including short or long sight or colour blindness), for example, if you have sight in one eye only
If you have had sight correction surgery you should declare this when you apply for your provisional licence.

EYESIGHT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRACTICAL TEST:
Before the practical driving test, your driving examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a stationary vehicle.

The distance requirement for the eyesight test using old style number plates is 20.5 metres or 20 meters if the new-style number plate is used. New-style number plates were introduced on 1 September 2001 and are easily identifiable, they start with two letters ie AB51 ABC.

You can’t read the first number plate
If you cannot read the first number plate correctly, you will be asked to read a second number plate, if you cannot read this number plate correctly, you will be allowed to walk forward until you are just over the appropriate distance away.

If you still cannot read the number plate correctly, the examiner will ask you to read a third number plate and will measure the precise distance from this number plate. The distance will be 20.5 metres if you are asked to read an old-style number plate and 20 metres if you are asked to read a new-style number plate.
You can’t read the third number plate
If you cannot read the third number plate correctly, and the examiner is satisfied that you do not meet the required eyesight standard, you will fail the driving test, and the practical test will not continue.

This test failure will be marked on the driving test report form (DL25) with a mark in the Item 1 box. Your interpretation of the number plate along with the correct one will be written on the back of the form along with the measured distance.
Wearing glasses/corrective lenses to pass the eyesight test
If you can only read a number plate using glasses/corrective lenses for the eyesight test, the law requires you wear them whenever you are driving and throughout your test. You are not allowed to remove your glasses/corrective lenses when carrying out test manoeuvres (reversing etc).

If you used your glasses/corrective lenses to read the number plate and take off/out your glasses/corrective lenses during the practical test, your examiner will remind you the law requires you to wear them; if you refuse to wear them, the test will not continue.

If you have broken, forgotten or brought the wrong glasses, you should tell your examiner at the start of the test. If you do not tell the examiner and attempt and fail the eyesight test, your test will be recorded as a failure and the remainder of the test will not go ahead.
Failing the eyesight test
Should you fail the eyesight requirement; the examiner will ask you to sign a form DL.77 –which acknowledges you were unable to comply with the eyesight requirements. The examiner (using form DL.77 form) will notify the DVLA that you did not meet the eyesight requirements and your licence will be revoked.

To reapply for your licence, send to DVLA an ‘Application for a Driving Licence’ (D1), available from the DVLA form ordering service or Post Office® branches. You can also download and complete the medical questionnaire V1 and return it with your D1 form.

When your application arrives at DVLA they’ll ask the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to conduct a separate eyesight test for you at a test centre. If you’re successful you’ll still have to pass the DSA standard eyesight test at your next practical driving test.

[rjh_786Bn]

Now then Lady P
Evil used to ride with both wheels in the air
You used to ride with 1 wheel in the air So how come we called you Evil

[yorkie 1200]

Hello Durnster, welcome to the forum, hope you get on alright, keep informed how you go on. Are you quite local, only Rob does come highly recommended.

[durnster]

Wow - im overwhelmed at the reponses from you all. Many, many thanks I'll try to answer as many of the questions as possible, although in no particluar order!

Firstly my eye sight in my right eye is perfect, I suppose its something to do with the muscles in the right eye having to be stronger to cope with the loss of sight in my left eye.

I have no restrictions/endorsements on my driving licence, and as I have had no vision since birth my remaining sight has compensated for judges distances and speeds. Just don't ask me to play darts...

I live in the West Midlands, near Dudley and found this forum via live.com (can't remember the exact search terms).

I hadn't really considered my balance - I used to ride a bicycle when I was younger although that has been more years than I care to admit to

My main thought was the restricted view I might have wearing a helmet, but it sounds as though that is not really an issue...

The more I think about it the more I lean towards just booking in for a CBT and seeing what happens - very exciting!

Again, thanks to you all - I honestly am overwhelmed as the positive responses.

[rjh_786Bn]

I have had Customers from Cannock, Walsall, and Birmingham so I can assure you you would be looked after if you made the effort to come over to Congleton. We conduct CBT every weekend, so consider giving us a call, numbers available on the links below.

[Lady P]

Now then Lady P
Evil used to ride with both wheels in the air
You used to ride with 1 wheel in the air So how come we called you Evil

I definitely heard it mentioned, particularly the time I was 'accused' of doing a wheelie in the playground - still refute that by the way, as far as I'm concerned it was just momentary minimal contact between the front tyre and the tarmac (I know what a proper wheelie is like as I did one in Jersey on Mike's 100 about 15 years ago - that was one for the photo album....). I have to admit to 'lying down' in the playground, still mounted on the bike, wheels spinning -
surely that was almost a re-enactment of his landing 'skills'

Durnster - don't be scared, Rob managed to turn all of that into a 'proper' learner rider (although he may have aged considerably during the process ) - what can I say, it took some effort on both sides but it was definitely worth it. Hope you do your CBT - let us know what you decide / how you get on.

[ValHarri]

Hi Durnster, i live in Bromsgrove, so im not far from you