Combined Braking Systems (CBS) Course
Online course of 300 hours in combined braking systems (CBS). 6 modules covering the combined braking concept, mechanical and hydraulic combination systems, regulations and testing, and maintenance and diagnosis, with an assigned technical tutor.
Combined Braking Systems (CBS) Course — studying from the United Kingdom
The motorcycle and two-wheeler sector in the United Kingdom includes manufacturers, specialist component suppliers and a strong motorsport and leisure market. Triumph, with its major plant in Hinckley, and specialist firms across the Midlands and the South West contribute to design, engineering and production. Electric two-wheeler development and scooter markets are expanding alongside traditional motorcycle engineering. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the Motorcycle Industry Association support standards and regulation in this area.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £664 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Are there UK professional bodies that recognise motorcycle engineering training?
The UK has no single regulated title for motorcycle engineers. Relevant bodies include the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of the Motor Industry, which offers its own qualifications. SEIUM's courses are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition by these organisations would be their decision and is not guaranteed.
Do UK motorcycle manufacturers, dealers or suppliers hire people with private engineering qualifications?
Hiring in the UK motorcycle sector typically values hands-on technical experience, workshop skills and relevant engineering knowledge. A private online qualification may help show specialist learning, especially alongside a strong final project, but employers decide how much weight to place on it. Ask prospective employers directly how they view such training.
How long does the programme take, and can I study while working in the UK?
Specialist courses require 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. All study is online in English with an assigned technical tutor. You can study from anywhere in the UK without a visa, and fees can be paid in instalments. Employer sponsorship is possible if your employer agrees to support you.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the principle of combined braking in motorcycles.
Distinguish between mechanical and hydraulic CBS.
Calculate the distribution of braking forces between axles.
Apply the requirements of UNECE Regulation No. 78.
Adjust and bleed combined systems.
Diagnose faults and asymmetric wear.
Compare CBS and ABS in terms of cost and safety.
Who it's for
- Motorcycle mechanics working on scooters and light motorcycles.
- Moped and scooter technicians handling everyday brake repairs.
- ITV (periodic vehicle inspection) inspectors who test motorcycle braking.
- Brake engineers interested in combined and integral systems.
- Delivery fleet technicians maintaining high-mileage scooters.
- Service advisers who need to explain CBS faults to customers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the repair workshop sector.
What you'll work with
- UNECE Regulation No. 78 (braking of L-category vehicles)
- Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013 (approval and market surveillance of two- and three-wheel vehicles)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 3/2014 (vehicle functional safety requirements for L-category vehicles)
- ISO 8710 (motorcycles — brakes and braking devices — tests and measurement methods)
- ISO 4925 (road vehicles — specification of non-petroleum-base brake fluids)
- Real Decreto 920/2017 (Spanish regulation on periodic technical inspection of vehicles)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- SolidWorks
- BikeSim
- Microsoft Excel
6 modules
1.1Brake force distribution between axles1.2Common mistakes made by novice riders1.3Mechanical versus hydraulic combination1.4CBS versus ABS: differences1.5Requirements for category L3e-A11.6History of Honda's Dual-CBS1.7One-way and two-way combination1.8Advantages for scooters and 125 cc motorcycles1.9Limitations in sports riding1.10Workshop: calculating the ideal brake force distribution
2.1Equaliser and distribution cable2.2Combined rear drum brake2.3Combined left-hand lever on scooters2.4Adjusting mechanism clearances2.5Asymmetric shoe wear2.6Diagnosing lock-ups2.7Cable lubrication2.8Manufacturer adjustments2.9Component replacement2.10Practical exercise: adjusting a mechanical CBS on a scooter
3.1Proportional control valve3.2Secondary master cylinder actuated by the calliper3.3Split pistons in the front calliper3.4Rear circuit acting on the front3.5Bleeding combined systems3.6Interaction with ABS in C-ABS3.7BMW integral systems3.8Moto Guzzi and historical integral systems3.9Load-dependent variable distribution3.10Laboratory: bleeding a combined hydraulic system
4.1Combined braking requirements in type approval4.2Braking test with a combined brake4.3Effectiveness with a single control4.4Partial circuit failure test4.5Requirements of Regulation (EU) No. 168/20134.6Braking test at the ITV (periodic vehicle inspection)4.7Type-approval documentation4.8Modifications affecting the system4.9Workshop liability4.10Case study: documentary verification of a type-approved CBS
5.1Periodic inspection of the system5.2Premature wear on one axle5.3Noise and vibration5.4Leaks in the control valve5.5Recommended pads per axle5.6Behaviour with load and passenger5.7Assembly errors during repairs5.8Inspection of brake hoses and cables5.9Road test after repair5.10Case study: a scooter that locks the rear wheel
6.1Definition of the target vehicle6.2Calculation of forces per axle6.3Choosing mechanical or hydraulic combination6.4Design of the proportional distribution6.5Regulatory test plan6.6Maintenance procedure6.7Cost analysis compared with ABS6.8Safety assessment6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The course is delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, SolidWorks, BikeSim and Microsoft Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: adjusting scooter CBS units, bleeding combined hydraulic systems and verification on a brake tester. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: UNECE Regulation No. 78, Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013, Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 3/2014, ISO 8710, ISO 4925, Real Decreto 920/2017.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with MATLAB/Simulink, SolidWorks, BikeSim and Microsoft Excel, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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