Before You Take Your CBT… Get Ridefree on Your Side
Alright, let’s talk about something serious for a sec. Over the last five years, more than 30,000 young riders on mopeds, scooters, and motorbikes up to 125cc were injured in the UK. That’s more than 100 a week. Even worse, 314 didn’t make it, and nearly 8,000 were left with life-changing injuries.
Scary, right?
At Two Wheels London, we’re all about helping new riders get started safely—because none of us want to be part of those stats. So, let’s talk training, because getting the right skills before hitting the road makes all the difference.
What Training Do We Need?
Before we can ride any powered two-wheeler (unless we have a full licence), we need to take the CBT—Compulsory Basic Training.
You’ve probably heard of it. It’s a one-day course designed to help us become safer, more confident riders. At the end of it, if we pass, we get a CBT certificate, allowing us to ride on L-plates for two years.
We’ll break down the CBT itself in the next blog, but here’s something that can help us get ready before the course—Ridefree.
What is Ridefree?
Ridefree is an award-winning, free online course created by the Department for Transport and the DVSA. It’s basically a pre-CBT eLearning programme designed to help us hit the ground running when we take our CBT.
It’s totally free, and we can do it at our own pace, which means no pressure.
Plus, it’s backed by the big names in motorcycling—The National Young Rider Forum, the Motorcycle Industry Association, and others—so we know it’s legit.
Why Should We Bother with Ridefree?
Here’s the thing: CBT can be a lot to take in. While most of us will complete it in a day, around one in six riders have to come back for extra training before they’re road-ready. And until we pass, we can’t ride.
A lot of new riders admit they were nervous going into CBT because they weren’t sure what to expect. That’s where Ridefree comes in. It helps us:
✔️ Learn key riding skills and behaviours before we even sit on a bike
✔️ Focus more on the practical side of CBT without feeling overwhelmed
✔️ Link what we learn online to what we’ll do on the day
It takes about an hour to complete, and we can either smash it in one go or dip in and out when we’ve got time.
What’s in the Course?
Ridefree is split into five quick modules:
- The Highway Code & Hazard Perception – Knowing the rules of the road
- Motorcycle Clothing, Equipment & Maintenance – Staying safe and protecting our ride
- Rider Behaviour & Safety – How our attitude affects our risk
- Risk Factors (Parts 1 & 2) – What makes riding dangerous and how to reduce risks
- Accidents & Experience – What happens in a crash and how to become a smarter rider
At the end, we get a Ridefree certificate and—more importantly—a solid head start before jumping into the CBT.
Is It Any Good?
It’s not just us saying it’s worth it—Ridefree has won major road safety awards and is recommended by trainers. Plus, riders who’ve taken it have great things to say:
“Really easy to navigate and I actually learned a lot.”
“Helped me understand how road users think, which was super useful.”
“An absolute gem for anyone about to take their CBT.”
Ready to Start?
If you’re serious about smashing your CBT and becoming a confident rider, sign up for Ridefree now:
Safe Driving For Life – Ridefree Registration
And hey, if you do sign up, let them know Two Wheels London sent you!
Stay safe, ride smart, and let’s get those skills locked in before we hit the road.