Lightning Motorcycle Training

Negative experience: Scam!! Be careful of paying upfront. They took my money and never gave me an option for a re-booking a date despite a month of back and forth emails. Apparently I could pay more upfront and this was a gesture of good will. Ive heard nothing back now for two weeks. Not the best way to do business in my opinion but I guess losing £34 is better than loosing £1000. Silly way to do businesses in my opinion.

Fantastic experience: I did my DAS course with Lightning, out of both Wembley and Reading. I was very pleased with the instruction given, although I did prefer the instructors at Reading. The motorcycles and equipment were in good shape, and the facilities were pretty much as I would expect. It did not help that I did it in the dead of winter!! The training pad at Rivermead was fine for my Mod 1 training, and I found that Kev was able to get me absolutely prepared for my first test. It took me a couple of times, but that was mostly down to nerves. For my Mod 2, I passed first time with only a couple of faults. I found the entire team to be helpful and accommodating. I especially liked they were very proactive in getting things re-booked when we had a weather cancellation. All three of the instructors were excellent, but I do have to call out Kev, who put me at ease throughout the experience, and really focused on teaching me how to ride a motorcycle properly, not just pass the test. I would recommend them to anyone looking to do the DAS or any other motorcycle test.

Fantastic experience: I had a fantastic experience with lightning motorcycle training. All the staff are friendly experienced and approachable. I would highly recommend. I tried several companies prior and they all had limited availability, but lightning managed to get me through and pass within a month.

Fantastic experience: Hi. I’ve passed my Motorcycle Full A license with lighting Motorcycle Training. In my past 38 years life , I’ve not had any experience and motorcycle license like a A1 and A2. I’ve spoken with lovely girl as BECKY at lighting motorcycle company then she encouraged me as I am 38 years old and having Car Driving License for while then I can go straight for Full A license for my dream motorcycle engine 1000cc. I was worry as I had not any experience in entire my life. Becky told me that do not worry. We will teach you in course session. She was true. After a full package of Full A training course then I’ve passed my motorcycle license FULL A in second time. First time failed with one silly minor fault. She is very positive, useful and helpful also very kindly and quick response to customer inquiries. I can recommend this company for anyone who are interested to get motorcycle license. God bless you. Thank you Ehsan

Fantastic experience: Thanks to LMT who did not postpone the CBT for the experienced renewal riders on what was a super hot day. And many thanks to Jerry, who skillfully judged the needs of the riders and adavnced their learning beyonf the CBT in busy Oxford trafic.

Fantastic experience: A very positive experience, will go to them again for future training.

Fantastic experience: Lovely environment and staff. Special thanks for the instructor Rob. Very focused on the safety and all about ride a motorcycle.

Fantastic experience: Just passed my mod 2 bike test with lightning... Just want to say thanks to all the guys Andy, pirate, nick and Kevin for the excellent tuition throughout. So much to learn before your test but with these guys it gives you confidence as you learn... Thanks again, Darren.

Fantastic experience: Best motorcycle training in Oxford

Fantastic experience: I completed my CBT yesterday with Lightning and had nothing but a positive experience. My instructor was patient and informative, and the little interaction I had with the other instructors was positive. I would recommend lightning to anyone and I'm going to be completing my full bike licence with them if they'll have me. Also to lightning themselves and to my instructor I wish to say a big thank you for getting me though my CBT.

Fantastic experience: I passed my full license tests this week after training with these guys. The training experience has been brilliant all the way from CBT to Mod2. The team has helped me massively in building up my confidence on a bigger bike. Big shout out to my instructors as well as the admin team who were super friendly and patient. Thank you guys!

Fantastic experience: Overall Summary - Outstanding experience! After passing the first time both my A license MOD1 and MOD 2 exam, with zero rider faults on the MOD2, it must come down to the outstanding instruction at Lightning Motorcycle Training. I would highly recommend the DAS and CBT course to anyone looking to get their license in the Oxfordshire area. My instructors where Kyle, Mark, and Simon, and all three were very professional, excellent teachers, and a pleasure to ride with during the lessons. I rode with Mark as the instructor for both the MOD 1 and MOD 2 skills days. Mark had the perfect mixture of friendliness and sternness, which allowed for the student to stay confident even after making mistakes. One of the best aspects of Lightning Motorcycles was the warm-up before the riding sessions and exams. The first day on the Suzuki 600 was very nerve-racking, but the school allowed for the riders to drive around the practice area for 20-30 minutes to get a feel for the bike on their own. Finally, the mock MOD 1 practice was extremely valuable as we practiced the MOD 1 exam three times under exam conditions with the instructor marking our performance. All in all, I highly recommend Lightning Motorcycle Training to anyone looking to get their A license/CBT. In-depth review: I had the unusual circumstance of booking a 3-day DAS course-based with a competitor out of Swindon/Carterton and have a direct comparison of two local schools. I had first completed my CBT with Lightning but decided to switch to another school for the DAS course due to the 5 star reviews and free retake of the MOD 2 if I didn’t pass the first time. Unfortunately, this was a terrible mistake costing me 600 quid. The first day of the 3-day course we spent on 125cc motorcycles in worse condition than my 2011 CBF125. We drove from Carterton to Swindon to practice at the test centre’s MOD 1 test area. The instructor had only one Yamaha 650cc for 4 students to practice on. Each pair had 2 hr in the MOD 1 area and the rest of the time was reviewing driving theory in the DVSA office (even though I had passed my theory test already?). I had about 1 hr on a 650cc through alternating with a partner, and with constant criticism from the instructor, I never had a chance to relax and get a feel for the bike. The instructor said the time was up, and both my partner and I needed to book an extra full day to improve our riding. Finally, this instructor was sending students out to complete the MOD 1 exam with very little training, time on the 650cc, and not having completed a mock/simulated test. This is a night and day comparison to Lightning Motorcycle Training. I decided to book as you go and booked a MOD 1 skills days with Lightning in Oxford. The very first thing after checking in was being shown the Suzuki 600cc bike and being free to ride around the practice area and get the feel for the bigger machine compared to my 125. As stated before, even when I made a daft-serious fault during training, I was never demoralized by the instructor. It was always framed as a way to learn from the mistake and build upon it. Once again, I highly recommend Lightning Motorcycle Training!

Fantastic experience: I successfully done my cbt mod 1 & mod 2 overall 4 day course and I can’t find any fault in it what so ever I had a different instructor everyday and I learned something new each time, I’d highly recommend to anyone who’s wanting to start riding or going all out with the full licence

Fantastic experience: What a good bunch of instructors. All very friendly and able to give sound advice and guidance on how to ride safely. First contact on the phone is pleasant and the operators are able to give advice on the type of course that would suit the individual. Will be returning to complete advanced rider training. Thanks one and all. Thank you all. Ian

Fantastic experience: Wow what an experience! From the beginning: Advised you of my ultimate goal and my complete lack of bike experience. All emails were courteous, and helpful. Thank you ‘Alice and Becky’ Onto day 1: CBT with Piotr. Very informative and knowledgeable instructor. He gave me the good, the bad and ugly! But encouraged me to improve in the right way for me. He gave those of us on the course time to retry many manoeuvres until we had gained some confidence in them. I did feel as though I may have been holding the other guy back, but he reassured me as well! I completed my CBT day with a pass. Day 2: Roadrider day with Kyle (Alex/princess, he wasn’t fussy!). Again, a very informative helpful instructor. He instantly under stood my learning requirements and adopted his style to those needs. Loved a bit of banter, caught on quickly that I’d not be offended. I have read a comment about somebody being inappropriate with the trainees. My response to that is it’s probably best to get your humour across to your instructor, or to simply grow a set and allow yourself to join in! Any training is much more fun when you can get along. Various staff I have no clue of name, but pretty much every one of them made me feel welcome, they were friendly and genuinely interested in how things were going! Right now, I look forward to my Module1 day next weekend! ***update*** MOD1 & 2 day with Simon (the pretty one ) again, a calm and patient instructor; even when I dropped the bike! Three instructors all with the skills and patience to adjust their technique to suit the students, making the training fun and informative. Initially I was worried about different instructors, but honestly feel I learnt a lot from them all. I requested additional days and had Gary and Colin. Every person I have met along the way has been friendly and helpful. When I couldn’t complete my swerve avoidance for love nor money, a hint from the other Simon cured it! Last week on the third try, I passed my MOD1 (finally got out of my own head!) I have today PASSED my MOD2! And that is thanks to ALL the staff I have interacted with along the way - those that have had the pleasure of my humour for 8hrs straight and still smiled at the end of the day, the quick ‘hi, how’s it going?s’, and the virtual email/text conversations.

Fantastic experience: Had a gentlman called kyle train us today immense coach very good teacher would recommend kyle anyday of the week the guy would put rossi to the test ! His ways of drilling importants into your head are amazing very much enjoyed my test today cheers kyle and lightning motorcycle training!!!

Fantastic experience: I have wanted to learn how to ride for some time and today was the day! Kyle taught me all the basics for my 125cc CBT and I went from a nervous and insecure newbie to feeling like a badass In under a day. He really took the time to make us all feel safe and he went at our pace. I felt very comfortable asking him questions or asking if I could cover a particular skill again when I was feeling insecure. I am completely under the spell of motorbiking and no thanks to Kyle. I had a wonderful day ☺️ Thanks mate and thanks Lightning ⚡

Fantastic experience: Despite having passed my CBT on multiple occassions over the years im still a little nervous on the day and as this was my first time with Lightening my nerves were pretty jittery but Kyle was awesome Very understanding and patient and thorough I really enjoyed it and felt that i have learnt well in the time spent today as we all know bad habits creep in when only pootling back and forth from A to B daily so Thankyou Kyle for helping me see the areas i need to give more attention to I will recommend Lightening and You to anyone needing CBT in the future

Fantastic experience: These guys are simply amazing. I just passed my test today and it felt so easy after training with these guys. They are really good at drilling the necessary habits into you so that when it comes to taking the test, you don't even have to think about doing your lifesavers and the rest; it just clicks. Can't possibly recommend these guys anymore. They get the job done and they get it done right. It would be helpful if they could do training days at weekends during normal time (I trained during the Covid-19 pandemic) as it would make it possible for students like me that have to work over summers and don't have time off to do a week-long course to train with them. Go for these guys. They are fantastic!

Fantastic experience: Passed my direct access today and couldn’t be more pleased. I booked the course with Lightning and I am so glad I did. Day 1 Kyle was my instructor. He took me through the basics and gave me my first real insight to motorcycling and by the end of the day I had my CBT. Day 2 - Mod 1 skills and Mark was my instructor. Very patient and has an excellent way of teaching and imparting his Knowledge. Day 3 Mod 1 test followed by day 1 of Mod 2 training and Simon was my instructor. Again he was excellent and with his guidance, by the end of the day I felt very confident in what I was doing. Day 4 - Mod 2 training day and Gary was my instructor. A nice run to Swindon and back to Oxford with plenty of stops for debriefing and instruction. Great day. Day 5 was my Mod 2 test and again Mark took me out for a warm up. He has a fantastic way of passing along instruction and building confidence. By the time Mark had finished with me I felt that I could have passed anything. It’s a great company with fantastic instructors and I would highly recommend them to everyone. Thank you all so much for making an old man very happy. Sorry can’t stop and chat all night I have a Goldwing that needs polishing

Fantastic experience: Thank you Kyle for looking after my son on Tuesday he loved every minute of it and felt confident with you and he's took in everything you've said thank you

Positive experience: Did my CBT at Abingdon with Kyle. Now, I have had my full license before (different country long story), and I was renewing my CBT. Kyle is BY FAR the BEST instructor I have EVER had! Not only is he upbeat and positive but he gave me tips and tricks that I never had before that made my tricky bits SOOO much easier! He is FAB! Would have been 5 star if maybe a bit was spent on the trailer and loo facilities. Thanks Kyle!

Fantastic experience: Re sat my CBT on Sunday with Kyle, fantastic experience. Kyle had a real focus on safety and made sure all the learners were are the right standard before progressing to next stage. Kyle made the day fun , but also made sure everyone was competent. The course ran over, due to Kyle making sure everyone was able to complete all tasks, not once did he complain , he just cracked on with it, I highly recommend this company

Fantastic experience: We Had Carl as out instructor for the day & he was great. Made the day enjoyable and learnt loads. Will definitely be back for my next training.

Fantastic experience: Highly recommended. I had two different instructors both called Simon (sorry I can’t remember their second names) but they both were amazing, made you feel welcome, were extremely professional and made the whole experience fun and enjoyable.

Fantastic experience: Thank you Kyle!! I took the CBT in Culham and Kyle was patient, thorough and really looked after us when he took us on the road. Was a really fun, cold day and I’d love to take my proper test if you guys did weekend courses! Thanks for looking after me, really appreciated.

Fantastic experience: 10 out of 10, fantastic team, i only prepared for my mod 2 test with them and took the test the day after, which i passed with no problems. I had a great time with the instructors on the sunday before my test and Simon put me up to standards very quickly, after not riding for more than a year Simon did a great job with me. The whole team is great, very professional and loads of fun at the same time! I greatly recommend this school, there is no way I would of passed if it wasnt for the patience and the advise of my instructor! Go for it guys they do know what they are doing! Thanks again LMT and especially Simon, no way I would of passed my test without his precious help! PS: Sorry i dropped the bike braking on the icy surface!!!!

Negative experience: Overall experience using LMT was ok, however many improvements can be made! 3 Day DAS Course booked, which was at Rivermead in Reading/Oxford for the test. When telephoning I mainly spoke with Becky, who had a good telephone manner and helped as much as she could in terms of timing the lessons and when making bookings. The course venue (Rivermead) which LMT use is run down. The course, which is set up in part of the carpark isn't fenced off so anyone could walk through the course while you are training (which happened) and the area is messy and had litter around most of it. The ground had loose stones and there were several pot holes dotted around. Yes it may simulate the roads in the UK right now but for training, it shouldn't be like this! There are many training schools, which have fenced off clean and well organised training grounds. LMT take note! The area where we had to meet up and collect the bikes, safety vest etc was in a worn out paint flaking off shipping container. The area around it was messy and yet again litter scattered all over. Everything looks so old and out of date. A majority of the bikes looked, old, tired and worn. When I mentioned it to one of the instructors he just said "The boss doesn't want to spend any money" ? When taking lessons the instructors, whose names I won't mention were at times quite sarcastic and one of them was more interested messaging on his phone rather than watching/guiding! If something was not done to their liking they were at times rude and you were made to feel incompetent and useless. When out on the road, one instructor advised to do a manoeuvre in a certain way and then the other instructor on another day said not to do it that way? I have been driving cars and riding bikes for many years without any accidents or issues and for someone (instructor) to tell me it was wrong multiple times was frustrating. On the day of the MOD 2 test at Oxford my bike broke down, which was a shame as I so got used to that bike and had a good feel for the clutch, brakes etc. Luckily there was another bike there to use but was a different make/model and I said out loud, that's a shame, i got used to that other bike and William, who i believe is the boss said all bikes are the same! No William all bikes are not the same and do feel different! So to sum up, lots of improvements can be made and money needs to be spent to update. The instructors must be consistent with their teaching to avoid any confusion.

Fantastic experience: I have done all my training with these guys, with a mix of the 2 Simons. Alice arranged everything and was extremely helpful throughout. Simon Blackham was my main instructor and I cant recommend him enough, very friendly, patient, and willing to give extra tips to help you pick up the little things you might struggle to remember. I didnt have a 50/125cc so all my biking from CBT (which I did a year ago now with zero prior experience) to mod 2 passing has been done through a total of about 4 training days, give or take.

Fantastic experience: Fun and engaging CBT course. Thank you Kyle!

Fantastic experience: Passed this morning through the excellent training provided by the guys at lightning Oxford. I was referred by 3 friends who had all done their bike training via lightning. I did the CBT to start me off then a 4 day DAS course. Training is very thorough and the staff are excellent at working out where you're at and what you need to do to improve. They aren't out to just get you through the tests like some training companies, they are there to make sure you are safe on the road. If you aren't, they don't pressure you into something you're not comfortable doing. Will recommend again and again! Cheers.

Fantastic experience: I did my CBT course with Chris from Lightning Motorcycle Training. The administration were incredibly helpful and understanding with the bookings that I wanted to make and made every effort to accommodate my needs. The training was incredibly professional - perfectly planned out, carefully and patiently explained always giving time for questions and ensuring that the students understood. We all received a good amount of 1 to 1 attention and time to practise the basic skills. I was quite nervous going out on the road but Chris' calm and measured nature meant that the whole process was actually very smooth. I cannot recommend Lightning enough. A great company.

Fantastic experience: Did my cbt today on a 125 (21/08/19) Kyle was superb got us all relaxed and taught us well. I will be 100% booking my bike test with these guys Thanks again Kyle

Fantastic experience: You're treading on sacred ground. This is where bikers are made.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic team, very patient and understanding to my needs. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable experience learning with these guys. I will definitely be back in touch to do my advanced rider course.

Fantastic experience: All the staff at Lightning Motorcycle Training that I encountered were superb. Relaxed company and great training. They got me from hopelessly unable to do a u-turn to passing module 2 with zero faults. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Very experienced instructor Gaby ,another chap changed my bike last minute without hassle sorry did not get his name , first asked for a manual but then changed my mind . They will tell you if you have done something you should not and also tell you what you did well . Overall a good experience!

Fantastic experience: Came for a CBT having never ridden a bike before. Garry the instructor was really helpful, patient and made the day great fun! He put us at ease and imparted good wisdom.

Fantastic experience: The instructors are really nice and helpful as they still let me complete my training despite being an hour late.They were very motivating and made you feel at ease even if you make a mistake they pull you over to the side and explain what you need to do to improve your riding.

Fantastic experience: Had my CBT today ,Never done a CBT before so I was very nervous. It actually turned out to be really fun. and guess what i passed it ,,Will definitely recommend you abdel

Fantastic experience: Had my CBT on 13/01/2019. Never done a CBT before so I was very nervous. It actually turned out to be really fun. Gary was my instructor, he did a very good job. He was very professional and thorough with the training and made sure we understood clearly answering all queries. Very nice environment with friendly staff. Thanks again to Gary and the team. Will definitely recommend you Dileef

Fantastic experience: No riding for 2 years prior to completing my 2 day DAS course, CBT included which I also did on a lovely sv 650. Passed first time. Thanks to everyone at lightening for guiding me through..

Fantastic experience: Great fun learning to ride.... I had very low confidence riding in winter so didn’t want to work for my tests then, but was pushed to go for it. Great instruction so I overcame my fear and managed to pass mod 1 and mod 2. Very happy . Definitely helped that I spent majority of my lessons laughing at my instructor’s wittiness. Thank you for a great service.

Fantastic experience: Completed my Mod1 and Mod2 with Lightening. I have to give them 5 stars as I passed everything 1st time, but all the instructors I came across were great and never once displayed any frustration during my training (even when I gave them cause to do so)... U-Turns. Communication from the company throughout was exemplary (emails and text confirmations and reminders). Very much recommended.

Fantastic experience: Really clear precise instructors, friendly and helpful too.

Fantastic experience: Genuinely knowledgeable staff who've been doing this for a while now. They are really good at coaching and ensuring everyone understands. A good bunch of people too! I have really enjoyed learning here.

Fantastic experience: This is a really good training centre. I had my CBT, Mod1 and 2 training in there. The instructors are friendly and professional. Motorbike are recently new too. Most importantly, you get to have the same bike throughout your motorbike tests from Mod 1 to Mod 2. Reasonably priced too. If you look for a motorbike training centre. This is the one.

Fantastic experience: Very helpful instructors, now have my full licence!

Fantastic experience: Can't rate them highly enough. Really took time to help us and get us compident and confident in each aspect. Really feel like they taught us to ride properly rather than just pushing us through. If you want an easy CBT to just get on the road, this is not the place. But for a really good course with a really patiant instructor, they are idea. Definately be back for our Dicect Access.

Fantastic experience: I already had a lot of experience on bikes and I was looking for a place that would give me some quick training for the tests and not charge me £700 for it. The 2 day course was exactly what I needed. There are a lot of instructors so no guaranteeing who you get but my 3 instructors Sam, Simon and Keith were all great. All very down to earth, quality training and when they say you’re ready for the test you know you are. One recommendation: try as much as possible to do the test on the exact same bike you trained on. Same model does not mean same bike! I took the mod 2 on a different bike and it shook my confidence a bit.

Fantastic experience: If I could give lightening 10 stars I would. These guys are second to none. They took me from having never sat on a bike to getting my full license in a matter of weeks. The instructors are all absolutely awesome and the girls in the office are so so helpful. I honestly can not recommend them highly enough. I’m already looking for every additional bit of training and excuse I can find to go back and spend more time there. If you are looking to get your license or just refresh your skills then do not hesitate to book with the team here.

Negative experience: Literally a scam, dont go to these people

Fantastic experience: Both very professional and very helpful!

Fantastic experience: I had been saying I would do my full licence and get back on a bike again for the last 13 years, finally got my back side in gear and decided to give Lightning a call based on the high level of reviews and recommendations. I was impressed right from picking up the phone, I had 1,000 questions which were all patiently answered and clearly explained, such as why I shouldn’t do all the days consecutively due to having to rebook if fail a module and incurring more fees. This was all followed up with clear and informative emails explaining exactly what I needed and what was required of me. The lady’s in the office were on hand to help when I couldn’t find my theory certificate and phoned through to the assessor the morning of my test to save me failing – thank you. I then went on to pass CBT, Mod1 & Mod2 on the first attempt in large thanks to the fun and friendly trainers such as Keith, Wes & Gary, who have the patience of a saint but also made it an absolute pleasure to get on the bikes in all weathers and giving me the confidence and the knowledge to ride competently and safely out on the open road. Great value for money, great service and would highly recommend to everyone.

Negative experience: very rude

Negative experience: Good instructors and apprentice staff, however not at all impressed with the level of customer service from the lady behind the counter. For this reason I am only leaving 2 stars, bit of a shame as you would expect a warm welcome when arriving along with a better level of overall service. I will definitely be doing my full bike test at a different centre to avoid a repeat of this unfriendly expereince.

Fantastic experience: Excellent teaching technics and very professional instructors really demonstrating that they care. Rob and Jeremy in particular were brilliant, I went from novice to full licence thanks to those guys, thank you! The courses are very well designed, including lots of riding and the right level of briefing on theory and safety. Good bikes too. I’d definitely recommend Lightning Motorcycle Training.

Fantastic experience: Excellent professional instructors and staff walking students through the whole process from start to finish. Real good team.

Negative experience: Local school stuck in the past Not recommended at all. They do not provide disposable helmet liners and gloves smelled quite bad. They also said that Full EU licenses were not valid in the UK and refused to accept anything expect for an UK license. Their terms and conditions do not mention that they make a distinction between UK and EU licenses and that the latter would not be accepted. On top of this, it is basically impossible to get a refund. This might have been acceptable many years ago, but nowadays it is unacceptable.

Positive experience: The instructors are lovely, friendly, helpful and brilliant unlike the woman with brown hair and glasses behind the counter.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic time doing DAS with Lightning. There are three parts to my overall experience of Lightning's training school. 1) Pricing This was on point and very reasonable. 2) Teaching All the instructors I had over various stages assessed every student very well (including myself) and were able to build on areas which were lacking without neglecting the monitoring of what I was already seemingly competent at. 3) Focus on being a better rider Lightning are familiar with the local test routes but make it abundantly clear that they will not teach them. As a rider (or anyone on the roads for that matter) you should be comfortable getting from A to B without always knowing the route. By focusing on being more comfortable on the bike you’re able to take in more information around you regarding the roads you are on. Many thanks to William and the team for helping me get through my test and I look forward to riding and coming back for the Enhanced Rider Scheme.

Fantastic experience: Booked a CBT course for my 16 year old daughter at Oxford this week. The booking process was straightforward and when I needed to call them they were extremely polite and helpful. The day before I had to call again to request the use of one of their bikes (we had originally said we would use our own) again very polite and helpful. My daughter was nervous before starting the CBT but when we collected her she was grinning from ear to ear and had a fantastic day with lots of riding and a CBT to boot!

Fantastic experience: Great training. Just passed my direct access with these guys. Can't recommend highly enough. Big thanks to Rob and Will who got me through without any problems at all. Top class.

Fantastic experience: Did my CBT with Lightening Pass this weekend, and I couldn't have been happier. The base is a portacabin with loos round the back and tea and coffee making facilities. There are plenty of bikes which you can borrow and they run well and are very forgiving. The instructors are lovely and give you plenty of time to learn.

Fantastic experience: I'm from London but was the best choice to went there to do the school amd the test. In London they rush and doesn't trach tou enough. Here the guys have patience and time as well. I recommend 100% them.

Fantastic experience: Lightning Motorcycle Training provided me with a very well designed course that took me from a complete novice to an A license holder in a matter of three weeks. The instructors Kevin and Sam were polite, professional and understood that the process of learning consists of making mistakes and correcting them. They were able to describe what I did wrong, explain the risks it created and provide me with constructive criticism that allowed me to adjust my riding and make fewer mistakes each day I got on a bike. Sometimes that process had to be repeated more than once, but they were patient with me, even if I did the same thing wrong repeatedly. I was lucky enough to pass everything on the first try and I'd recommend the school to other novice riders like me.

Fantastic experience: Review Edit: I only know of two training schools in Oxfordshire and this is quite easily the better of the two- a bit more expensive but you definitely get much more in depth training- after flopping and flunking with Lightning the first time (my uselessness nothing to do with the training if unclear) I did about 2500 miles on a cbr 125 but did tests with other place since way cheaper and I only needed a refresher of the tests after doing this. If you're new though and can't decide which then this really is the place in my opinion. If you're totally new i.e never had a manual vehicle I'd strongly recommend getting a 125 (manual) first for at least 500-1000 miles (should take a month or less if keen?) till it becomes instinctive. If you can do this I reckon 70% of the work is already done come training- plus you've lost no money because the resale value of the 125 will virtually be the same and you can use that money for a big bike. Don't be a fool like me and try to rush to do DAS with next to no experience- it'll probably be a waste of money... cheers to William for the training

Fantastic experience: Outstanding training from a dedicated team of professionals. Instructors have a great attitude, are very experienced and patient. whole team very welcoming and offer great advice. A good selection of bikes available for students which are very well maintained. Great atmosphere and a real interest in students progress. Completed Module one and two for an A licence today. Will be definitely returning to Lightning for advanced training. Cheers guys have a great Christmas and New Year Charlie

Fantastic experience: I have just completed my full motorbike licence with Lightning! :-) I have read through a good chunk of the reviews here, and I am having real difficulty reconciling my experience with the poor reviews that I have read! It is true that the building is a portacabin/mobile/terrapin, but it is warm, with seats and tea or coffee, but it is NOT true that there are no toilets, with the worst situation I encountered being that I had to ask someone to unlock them for me! It is also NOT true that that the bikes are in poor condition - there are some lovely bikes (I LOVED the Gladiuses that I learned on!!), and there may be a scratch or two, or a couple of mismatching indicators or mirrors, but, by definition, they're being ridden by people who can't ride yet, and things happen! (I dropped a couple of bikes during my training!!) On the flip side, I have watched as the instructors check and maintain the bikes in the morning, to make sure they are completely safe and roadworthy, before we students get on them! Finally, over the course of my training, I went out on the road with 5 of the instructors at Lightning, and I CANNOT think of a single moment where any of them was rude or arrogant or unsupportive or overcritical, or any of the other adjectives used to describe them - I found all of them friendly, knowledgeable and professional, and would describe all of their comments/instructions as clear and precise, and designed to do two things only, i.e. keep me safe and get me through my test!! I cannot recommend Lightning highly enough - from the boss, Will (who rearranged a day to personally get me home from Oxford when I injured myself when I fell off a bike!), to the girls in the office (who coped with all the trouble caused by spreading my training over several months, due to only being able to do anything in school holidays and working around all of the other things I already had planned!), to the instructors (who, as I've said above, were all fantastic!), this is a great company and great value training! Many thanks to you all, and keep up the good work!

Fantastic experience: Excellent tuition with William, did the DAS (1 out of 3 days inc Module 2 test other 2 days at their Reading training centre) very thorough preparation for the Module 1 test. Would recommend.

Fantastic experience: These guys helped me pass my CBT and direct access over 4 days in total, complete competence in training and delivery of how to ride a motorbike, the instructors are patient and very professional and cater for any level of learner! I would highly recommend this training school if you want to learn how to ride a motorbike SAFELY and COMPETENTLY! Thanks again for helping me achieving one of my life long goals!

Fantastic experience: Nick is a pro. Excellent ! Had a really great day with our informative and very funny instructor Kevin who turned a long day into a very positive experience. The only issue was my card didn't work on the phone so my friend called up and paid it for me which meant I didn't get the information email sent to me! Apart from that the receptionist were helpful and friendly. All in all huge improvement from the last time in 2008. Keep up the great work and atmosphere guys, really appreciated it.

Fantastic experience: I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every staff member of Lightning Motorcycles for helping me get my A licence. Everyone's so humble and totally focussed on their job. I wanted to clear my license on my first attempt. So wanted to join some reputed & reliable driving school, then I came across Lightning. I was so lucky to find them. The instructors were professional and had always been up to the mark. Many thanks Lightning! Will definitely come again for the ERS scheme.

Fantastic experience: I fully recommend.

Fantastic experience: Done my direct access with these boys and was excellent from start to finish , just sorry 5 is the most stars I can give , cheers lightening.

Fantastic experience: Hi William & the rest of the team at lighting… I’d like to thank William & his team for the perseverance & dedication given to me to help me achieve my pass….. Some nurturing was required, but we got their in the end…!! I would recommend lighting pass to anyone who is thinking of acquiring a full bike licence or CBT’s Kind regards to you & your team will.. Phil.

Positive experience: Mod 2 to be done in just under 2 weeks there are a few bad revues on here, yes the toilets maybe bleak but the standard of training and the staff fantastic... Cheers guys.. See you soon

Fantastic experience: done my CBT yesterday, i was very happy with the Instructor Jeremy he was helpful and very knowledgeable! would definitely recommend their services

Fantastic experience: Dedicated instructors. Made me feel at ease and guided me all the way from CBT to full motorcycle licence. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Just passed my full bike license. Initially booked a 2 day course, after failing mod2 I booked another training day and passed second time. Nice bikes, good instructors, and cheap.

Fantastic experience: Took the 2 day Direct Access. Nice bikes, instructors are very good and I got my license on my 1st attempt. I'll be going back there for the ERS course soon!

Fantastic experience: Finally i have made my dream come true through Lightning motorcycle traning school and is the best school. I had a great time of learning and passing my full bike license. Competitive price, friendly environment, good bikes. Anyone who is looking for a good school and a bargain please look no further than lightning motorcycle school.

Fantastic experience: Lightning training is not one of the best - it is THE BEST motorcycle training provider you'll ever find! All trainers have a wealth of varied experience to offer students, with teaching methods that would suit any and every ability. My training was outstanding! They had enough patience to keep training me, up until I finally passed both mod1 & mod2 tests :) Everyone is learning at their own pace and they have provided me plenty of support and non-judgemental encouragement. Best people ever :)

Fantastic experience: Everyone at lightning went out of there way to help and the instructors were superb.

Fantastic experience: The guys at Lightning were fantastic. Knowledgable, friendly and very patient. Some of the bikes I rode over the training period were brand new, and others of course had the odd dent - it is a training school after all, and learners do drop them from time to time. Me included!

Fantastic experience: I recently passed my test with Lightning and couldn't be happier with their service. Very patient and helpful right from the CBT through to the Module 2. Chris and Rob were my instructors throughout and I can't praise them enough. I can't imagine myself to be an easy student but they never lost patience with me.

Negative experience: Went here to do my CBT and was shocked by what followed. their is a small shed like thing to sign in and sit in, told you can piss round the back we where shown the bikes mind had a broken tail light and part of the kick stand had been snapped off .And some of the worst rust I have ever seen. through the day the instructor seemed to think that personal insults and telling us that he has things to do later and he will fail us if we did not hurry up was a good positive teaching method for new riders. On the road ride this was keep up by telling us we are stupid and lucky not to be hit by a car. also criticising for waiting to long at junctions he was very aragonite a rude. the hole experience was almost unnerving to me and I even questioned whether I should start to ride. I will never go back and advise others to go to a different centre in oxford there are plenty I wish I had.

Negative experience: My letter of complaint to Lightning Motorcycle Training: Dear Ben, I did not receive what I paid for below. The Mod2 course was mis-sold, there was no mention of escorting students to and fro the test centre, inadequate training methods involving ridicule, and lengthy periods of time in which riding had to be postponed. I did get enough appropriate riding done between 7am and 13:29. You sold a Mod Skills day 3, plus a motorcycle. Mod Skills day 3 was not what I had to put up with Ben. In view of these obvious discrepancies, and my statutory rights as a consumer when purchasing a service I would unquestionably desire to be refunded the £141.00 course charge immediately. The instructor was reluctant to lead out, in front, from the start (probably grudging that I was not good enough for day 3, and this became a deciding problem, when he should have been way out, trail-blazing, for most of the 'intensive' session anyway. His personal strops wasted far too much of my time, and money Ben to  stop. He had a responsibility to train me (I just needed to follow his wheel, with commentary of the procedures in detail), but he chose to do something else, thus making your terms and conditions invalid, I needed pure riding (with short breaks from time to time) from 7am to 1:29pm. This was so disappointing because all I really needed, most of the session, was to follow, concentrate on the bike idiosyncrasies, and mimic his DSA exam procedures, not suck up constant 'criticism/nonsense' from behind, and counter productive remarks. Coming out with CBT references was pathetic, and totally out of order. I believe that your instructor resented the idea of me joining a direct access course on the third day, and from that made the training very personal, and difficult. The instructor struck me as probably someone who 'does not suffer fools gladly' etcetera, but I do not care who he likes to train, or his prejudices, or intolerances towards other people. It was a business transaction for a service (I cannot wait for indifferent robots to take over), and strictly non personal. He was unjustifiably harsh, and did not carry out his role, and as a result I would now like a refund. The instructor in question is not an examiner, and had no right to exploit every opportunity to ridicule me from behind. It was senseless. I feel softly ripped off Ben from the whole experience. The instructor, and his 'common-sense' seemed more like nonsense as the training progressed. The course was actually depressing Ben, apart from the examination which was the only good thing about it. Please refund the £141.00 as soon as possible. You let me down. Kind regards, Mr Gary Moran Their tough, unreasonable response: Dear Gary Thank you for your email. We utterly refute your comments which are groundless and a complete distortion of what took place. No refund is due. We strongly urge that you take the matter up with the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and seek legal advice. For our part we will not entertain further correspondence of this nature; in particular slurs and insinuations against our instructor who worked very hard to try and teach you to ride a motorcycle safely. This matter is full and final. Yours Sincerely, William Rodwell (General Manager)

Negative experience: I'd agree with some of the other user comments that the staff at times are minimally supportive and instead have a bit of a chip on their shoulder - teaching is best done in an encouraging manner rather than verbal abuse. The bikes are KNACKERED too. One guy who I was training with booked for a CBT on a geared motorcycle and was palmed off on a scooter because their 3rd training bike was broken- not good. My bike had a sticky clutch making it very difficult to learn clutch control (I tried the other bike for about 5 mins, and it was immediately noticeable why I had been struggling to be smooth, however I was sent back off onto the old broken bike anyway) and repeatedly cut out of its own accord. That said- I got my CBT. I think they seriously need to improve. Motorcycling is dangerous, and it wasn't the learning/start that I had hoped for when I signed up.

Fantastic experience: I have done my CBT and the full test(new scheme) with Lightning and generally I think they are very well organised. I did not experience any 'wrong dates' and misunderstandings like people here said. The instructors do vary in terms of style. Some of them are very friendly and some can get very patronising at times but if you don't take their criticisms as personal insult then you would be OK, which is the mistake I think some people have made here. What they do have common is that they do hone into your mistakes, nag you about it and make sure you get rid of bad habits and generally make sure you become a good rider. They do that very efficiently and they don't miss a trick. Would totally recommend.