If it is this Friday I reckon you should make a booking with Speed Queen Racing Academy. They're in Centurion unfortunately, but they will take you through the entire K53 course. It isn't exactly going to be cheap though.
I believe there are easier ways to learn how to ride a bike - I was there for my first lesson - depending on the instructor they expect you to ride like a pro, even though you were never on a bike before, and threaten to reschedule if you don't get the moves right on the first day; and apparently for another fee, unless it was due to their fault or some unforeseen weather problem that they didn't have enough time to complete the beginner course with you, then they reschedule without an additional fee.
They of course charge another R 1000.00 or so for the K53 lessons, which is a totally different course than the mere beginners course - the latter of which I felt was done in a haste for newbies [even for the "one-on-one" extra fee being charged] , newbies should not be rushed who are just discovering the maneuvering of a bike under their control. It should not be done in one day, but rather be extended over a few weeks for that amount of money.
They call people a "safety hazard delaying their schedule" who don't get all of the maneuvers right the first or second time by trying it on the very first day of you actually riding a bike - and I am like - but I signed up telling you I never rode a motorcycle before, of course all beginners are a safety hazard?!:wtf:
I was told I was bonkers for spending R 2000.00 for one day's bike lesson, and thinking I will ride like a pro when walking away from it, the instructors even promise you that YOU WILL RIDE A BIKE like a pro after 6 hours - WHICH IS TOTALLY FALSE!!! Making such promises can be dangerous to their business in general. And to the customers, as far as their self-esteem and "investments" go. I believe those who told me I was wasting my money were correct.
I believe the best is to buy your own bike, and learn yourself by practicing in your own time - and only do the K53 lessons, but weigh your options at different teaching schools. Some charge differently, don't just charge into one school thinking it the "alpha and omega" of your "bike learning experience".
The reason I am saying you should buy your own bike to practice in your own time is because at Speed Queen Racing academy they charge you almost R 1000.00 to hire a bike ie R650 (if you don't have a bike yet) and another R 700.00 (approximately) to hire their "practice course" for a day. They also recommend you attend as many refresher beginner courses to your liking for another R 700.00 - which comes down to each time you want to practice riding a bike you have to have approximately R 3000.00 available to fund your own "practice" classes.:erm:
HERE IS THE FUN PART - YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE A LICENSE TO BUY A BIKE; AND YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE R 3000.00 available each time you want to mount a bike for purposes of practicing for your LICENSE.
Speed Queen Racing Academy also charges another R 2000.00 for helping you get a Learner's License, where they arrange a little bus or shuttle, and huddle everyone together to go to the Licensing department to assist the "little group" who paid for assistance to merely book test dates - that is where the alarm bells went off in my head. When you can go on your own to any Licensing Department, and just take a minimum of R 120.00 cash, two ID photos (black and white; and/or colour photos - take pairs of both for safety) and a copy of your ID to book your Learner's test.
It is as if most of these schools, treat Motorcycle lessons as a Luxury you have to be able to afford [before they even consider teaching you], instead of treating it like a "life skill" that you have to learn to be able to commute as a necessary form of everyday Transport.
If you want to go into racing it is going to cost you a whole lot of money - like a sport. But for everyday enjoyment, transport necessity and just the thrill of riding a bike - go to bike riding schools who are more old school in their approach. Who focus more on the K53 part of taking a bike on the open road, instead of just making money out of you - because you want to be some big stud racer and form part of some racer clique.
My personal opinion is that schools such as Speed Queen Racing Academy should not be recommended to University students or recently employed (new in the work force barely able to pay their own rent) - due to excessive pricing.
ADULTS over 35 with a steady income, should rather opt for this school or beginner's course as some type of relaxing "refresher"-course - and of course only sign up for the intermediate and advanced Courses long AFTER they already GOT THEIR K53 LICENSE AND LEARNERS in the cheapest way possible when they were still "dirt poor" kids, who just wanted to ride a bike and had no desire to impress anyone by the amount of money they have available to throw around for such "classes".
I am however glad I went because it was an experience and a bigger life lesson, but they won't be seeing me any time soon - since I feel a little done in, mainly because I rushed into the whole thing instead of considering alternatives.
If you can ride, and have been riding for a while, it's an easy test to pass. Its basically low-speed maneuverability and emergency stopping.
The area you are in is about the size of a tennis court - don't turn up on a Harley (like one guy did when I did mine) with extended front forks, you wont have a small enough turning circle.
A small, light bike will be easier to manage - a 125 is ideal. Bigger bikes are harder to handle at the very low speeds you will be driving at.
Don't lift your foot off the pedals while moving unless immediately about to stop (eg, when going round a corner at low speed, it is instinctive to put your foot out... don't)
Aside from that.. good luck.
Apparently these days you have to do your K53 License test with a motorcycle with the engin capacity with or above 150cc or you do not qualify to ride bigger bikes with the license you get by completing the test with a 125cc. I could be wrong, this is just something I heard, maybe the person just told me this to get his/her bike sold.
