Discussion
Apologies for potentially another 'what first bike' thread, but i'm looking for some sound advice.
I just hit the grand old age of 24 and can now do my bike test without worrying about silly restrictions and DAS nonsense. Unfortunately, i'm still a student for another year (millennials eh?).
I imagine i would need quite extensive tuition prior to a full bike test and this appears to be the best part of a grand, so i'm looking for the best way to increase my experience and skills so i'm slightly more confident come the day of the big test at some point in the next 18-24 months.
Previously i've ridden trials with my old man since my teens but haven't hopped on a bike for a good 3/4 years so the question is; Am i better off trying to get back into trials and hoping to refresh some 'transferable skills' that way? Or would it be best to do my CBT and ride around on a more affordable 125 which could hopefully hold its resale value until i upgraded?
Ultimately, what would be the best way to improve as a rider whilst i bide my time waiting to do the full test?
I just hit the grand old age of 24 and can now do my bike test without worrying about silly restrictions and DAS nonsense. Unfortunately, i'm still a student for another year (millennials eh?).
I imagine i would need quite extensive tuition prior to a full bike test and this appears to be the best part of a grand, so i'm looking for the best way to increase my experience and skills so i'm slightly more confident come the day of the big test at some point in the next 18-24 months.
Previously i've ridden trials with my old man since my teens but haven't hopped on a bike for a good 3/4 years so the question is; Am i better off trying to get back into trials and hoping to refresh some 'transferable skills' that way? Or would it be best to do my CBT and ride around on a more affordable 125 which could hopefully hold its resale value until i upgraded?
Ultimately, what would be the best way to improve as a rider whilst i bide my time waiting to do the full test?
There's no substitute for on road experience, so I'd get a 125, do your CBT and practice on that.
If you like off road bikes, get something like a two stroke KMX125 or similar. Great fun and quick enough to have fun when derestricted. The modern four stroke 125s look nice, but are dog slow.
If you like off road bikes, get something like a two stroke KMX125 or similar. Great fun and quick enough to have fun when derestricted. The modern four stroke 125s look nice, but are dog slow.
You need to do your CBT at some point anyway so could do it now on a geared 125 and then make a call about how to proceed. After the CBT you will have much a better idea of bike handling, gears, road riding, etc. than you have now. You might feel like, actually, it's a doddle and just crack on with the full thing without spending ages learning; plenty of people do this.
The cost of buying and riding a 125 for a year or so will be fairly high compared to just doing your direct access now. Depreciation + insurance + MOT + consumables could easily end up at £1000. The roadcraft skills will be more transferable than riding a trials bike for a year though.
Do any of your friends ride? Get in a car park with their bike for a play. Also see if you can borrow their bike for your mod1 and mod2 to bring costs down, that way you can spend more money on training if you think you need it.
If you're lucky your riding school might let you have a quick play on a 600 when you do your CBT.
The cost of buying and riding a 125 for a year or so will be fairly high compared to just doing your direct access now. Depreciation + insurance + MOT + consumables could easily end up at £1000. The roadcraft skills will be more transferable than riding a trials bike for a year though.
Do any of your friends ride? Get in a car park with their bike for a play. Also see if you can borrow their bike for your mod1 and mod2 to bring costs down, that way you can spend more money on training if you think you need it.
If you're lucky your riding school might let you have a quick play on a 600 when you do your CBT.
I used to ride motocross bikes off road on green lanes and trails through forests. When I went to do my CBT and DAS I was getting constantly b
ked for giving it too many revs and dumping the clutch all the time - it was just what I was used to from riding on dirt :-) Apparently 1995 divvy's don't like getting ridden like a dirt bike.
The more important thing to learn for DAS is making good road skills a habit. Observations, indications, awareness etc. These are what most people seem to fail on. Bike control isn't too difficult with a small amount of training and practice.
Having said that I failed my first Mod 2 due to dragging the rear wheel for all of an inch or two... in the wet.... on gravel. Traffic light changed, had to decide to stop or go. Decided to stop, gravel + wet = momentary lock up of rear wheel. Caught it almost instantly, still got a fail. He then told me it was an excellent ride and that was the only thing he could fault.
ked for giving it too many revs and dumping the clutch all the time - it was just what I was used to from riding on dirt :-) Apparently 1995 divvy's don't like getting ridden like a dirt bike.The more important thing to learn for DAS is making good road skills a habit. Observations, indications, awareness etc. These are what most people seem to fail on. Bike control isn't too difficult with a small amount of training and practice.
Having said that I failed my first Mod 2 due to dragging the rear wheel for all of an inch or two... in the wet.... on gravel. Traffic light changed, had to decide to stop or go. Decided to stop, gravel + wet = momentary lock up of rear wheel. Caught it almost instantly, still got a fail. He then told me it was an excellent ride and that was the only thing he could fault.
I started the training with no bike experience. The total cost of CBT, theory (inc a day on a 125), MOD1 and MOD2 was £1020 including bike hire and test fees. I got my licence in 2010 then bought a 2005 VFR800, and haven't looked back. Having a fairly forgiving bike with ABS was, imo, a pretty good way to get started and it also had a bit of power so I was able to gradually nudge the edges of my own performance envelope. In those early days I found it really useful to go out with other bikers but do note that if you do this it's vital to concentrate on your own ride, don't think for a moment about trying to keep up with someone quicker than you - unless they're total wkers they'll slow down for you or wait.
I've now done over 50,000 incident-free miles and about 20 laps of the Nurburgring. Loved every moment.
kers they'll slow down for you or wait.I've now done over 50,000 incident-free miles and about 20 laps of the Nurburgring. Loved every moment.
sc0tt said:
Buy a H2
When are we going to get over this obsession with suggesting under-powered, girls bikes..?Turbo-Busa; don't come back until you've hit the obligatory 250mph mark and popped a wheelie.
Pro-tip: If you do it in a hoodie and jeans, they waive the test and just give you the licence.
crofty1984 said:
Is there an echo in here? Get some experience on a 125.
No way I can agree with that.After doing my CBT and before DAS, a friend and I borrowed the 125 bikes from where we were learning. We were just a rolling road block. I suspect a couple of hours on a 125 between CBT and DAS may have some benefit but not enough that I'd think it worth actually buying one.
If I was doing it again, I'd do the same as last time.
CBT > Borrow 125 from riding school a couple of times > DAS > Mod 1 pass > Mod 2 fail > Mod 2 pass (2 weeks later)
Then jumped onto a Triumph Speed Four.
spookly said:
No way I can agree with that.
After doing my CBT and before DAS, a friend and I borrowed the 125 bikes from where we were learning. We were just a rolling road block. I suspect a couple of hours on a 125 between CBT and DAS may have some benefit but not enough that I'd think it worth actually buying one.
If I was doing it again, I'd do the same as last time.
CBT > Borrow 125 from riding school a couple of times > DAS > Mod 1 pass > Mod 2 fail > Mod 2 pass (2 weeks later)
Then jumped onto a Triumph Speed Four.
What 125 did you have? Most are quite fast with 0-60 being under 8 sec and some in the 5s. Lots also top out over 70mph. After doing my CBT and before DAS, a friend and I borrowed the 125 bikes from where we were learning. We were just a rolling road block. I suspect a couple of hours on a 125 between CBT and DAS may have some benefit but not enough that I'd think it worth actually buying one.
If I was doing it again, I'd do the same as last time.
CBT > Borrow 125 from riding school a couple of times > DAS > Mod 1 pass > Mod 2 fail > Mod 2 pass (2 weeks later)
Then jumped onto a Triumph Speed Four.
mgv8 said:
What 125 did you have? Most are quite fast with 0-60 being under 8 sec and some in the 5s. Lots also top out over 70mph.
Quite fast? thats bks frankly, most have a 0-60 of about 12-13 seconds, the Yamaha R125 is 13.2 seconds, the KTM125 is no quicker, yes they will hit over 70mph, eventually, if there are no hills or gentle breezes, its only the old 2t's that had any meaningful performance.Jazoli said:
Quite fast? thats bks frankly, most have a 0-60 of about 12-13 seconds, the Yamaha R125 is 13.2 seconds, the KTM125 is no quicker, yes they will hit over 70mph, eventually, if there are no hills or gentle breezes, its only the old 2t's that had any meaningful performance.
Yep sorry numbers I gave a a little low, but the point beeing on road upto 60mph these bikes will keep up with out a problem, are fun to ride and cost very little to run. ks frankly, most have a 0-60 of about 12-13 seconds, the Yamaha R125 is 13.2 seconds, the KTM125 is no quicker, yes they will hit over 70mph, eventually, if there are no hills or gentle breezes, its only the old 2t's that had any meaningful performance.Lots of good advice, personally I think that dirt bike experience is good for you as a rider, but as several people mentioned, is not always the best way to pass the test.
You need to pass the test, then learn to really ride the bike, more miles, hours riding = experience & learning.
You need to pass the test, then learn to really ride the bike, more miles, hours riding = experience & learning.
Just do your test. I'm presuming that you've been driving a car since you were 17? In that case you have knowledge of how roads work, you know how to ride a bike, just get on with it. They will teach you any bike specific knowledge needed to pass the test on your training.
In my opinion pratting around, wasting money on a 125 is a waste of time, it just gives you chance to develop bad habits which you then have to stop doing when it comes to test time. Also bigger bikes are massively more confidence inspiring, better tyres, brakes and more power only make them easier to ride, and even the extra weight can help keep things stable.
Test, buy a bike and then start properly learning.
In my opinion pratting around, wasting money on a 125 is a waste of time, it just gives you chance to develop bad habits which you then have to stop doing when it comes to test time. Also bigger bikes are massively more confidence inspiring, better tyres, brakes and more power only make them easier to ride, and even the extra weight can help keep things stable.
Test, buy a bike and then start properly learning.
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