Learning to ride
Discussion
yep... Definetly do your DAS course. I have just passed, it is great fun and will mean you can ride anything. After that get a bike nad get out on the road.
As for track days I'm not sure abou those. At present if I went on a track I would be a mobile chicane... Probably worth getting used to riding on the road before moving on.
Finally go for it! It really is good fun, the course actually makes you a better driver as it definetly reinforces the need for observation all of the time.
Have fun!
As for track days I'm not sure abou those. At present if I went on a track I would be a mobile chicane... Probably worth getting used to riding on the road before moving on.
Finally go for it! It really is good fun, the course actually makes you a better driver as it definetly reinforces the need for observation all of the time.
Have fun!
How old are you? If you're under 19 then even if you do your DAS, you'll be restricted to a bike 33hp or under for two years anyway. Which is a good way to learn on something that won't be too easy to take over the limits.
Find a good instructor/school and they will set you right. As for track days, I'm not reallya believer that these help your road riding that much. They give you time on the bike, but it seems to me that it is very hurried and you don't have time to take things in like you would on the road.
Advanced riding lessons and training are a better method. Track days are for having fun and a thrash, not really about experience on the roads.
Find a good instructor/school and they will set you right. As for track days, I'm not reallya believer that these help your road riding that much. They give you time on the bike, but it seems to me that it is very hurried and you don't have time to take things in like you would on the road.
Advanced riding lessons and training are a better method. Track days are for having fun and a thrash, not really about experience on the roads.
If you're over 19 then DAS means you can ride what you want.
Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against track days. Been to some with friends before.
But...
Why go onto a track, where you can thrash the bike as hard as you like, without knowing your or the bikes limits straight from passing your test. Surely some extra lessons with an instructor first would be better than getting over enthusiastic on a track and throwing it (and yourself) down the tarmac?
You said the bike will be used mainly for fun, great, but you'll still be riding it on the roads, won't you?
Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against track days. Been to some with friends before.
But...
Why go onto a track, where you can thrash the bike as hard as you like, without knowing your or the bikes limits straight from passing your test. Surely some extra lessons with an instructor first would be better than getting over enthusiastic on a track and throwing it (and yourself) down the tarmac?
You said the bike will be used mainly for fun, great, but you'll still be riding it on the roads, won't you?
I agree with Racefan UK, advanced lessons are definitely the way to go. Once you've done a critical mass of advanced training, you'll enjoy yourself a lot more. A track day gives you a buzz just for that one day. Advanced training lets you enjoy yourself more every time you go out. (Once you demonstrate that you've mastered the basics, advanced becomes very rapid at the higher levels.)
Check out www.rapidtraining.co.uk as well as RideDrive's bike training.
Check out www.rapidtraining.co.uk as well as RideDrive's bike training.
wedge girl said:As everyone else has said DAS aka Direct Access, you don't really want to be pissing about in traffic on a 125.
So what's the best way?
wedge girl said:Look at doing a road based course after the test, for sharpening your numpty awareness skills, improving road positioning etc.
Obviously there is no substitue for experience, but should I look at doing an intensive course then some track days or is there a better way.
wedge girl said:It depends on how long your legs are, as much as overall height.
What's a good bike to learn on given that I'm only a little over 5ft.
Probably a Suzuki GS500, Bandit 400 and 600, SV650, Kwasaki ER5, GPZ500, or one of the Honda 400s if you want a sports bike with fairing.
Go along to a local dealer and try a few for size.
If you do DAS your training school will normally have bikes to learn on. I used the schools own and it was fine. I was happier using theirs in case I dropped it - I didn't but risk is there. Once you have passed your DAS you can then go and try them all...
I have ended up with a Suzuki SV650s. I really like it, great fun and seemingly a great bike to gain confidence on whilst maintaining a bit of cred!!
I have ended up with a Suzuki SV650s. I really like it, great fun and seemingly a great bike to gain confidence on whilst maintaining a bit of cred!!
By all means do a DAS scheme but then keep going with advanced training. Someone else has recommended Rapid Training and I'll endorse that - they are excellent.
Some here think that trackdays are just about having a thrash. Point about trackdays IMO is that you can really find out what your bike will do in a relatively safe environment - nothing coming the other way, no roadside furniture to worry about etc.
One of the commonest accidents is the rider who goes into a corner too fast, sees something coming the other way, stands the bike up by braking and ploughs into the oncoming vehicle. Go on a trackday and you'll find out that the bike would probably make the corner - all you have to do is lean it over a bit more. So trackdays have their part in improving your skill level just as much as advanced training. Rapid also run track days and they are very user friendly for the novice - Rapid is comprised of Police riders and - excuse the pun - all the sessions are well policed.
Some here think that trackdays are just about having a thrash. Point about trackdays IMO is that you can really find out what your bike will do in a relatively safe environment - nothing coming the other way, no roadside furniture to worry about etc.
One of the commonest accidents is the rider who goes into a corner too fast, sees something coming the other way, stands the bike up by braking and ploughs into the oncoming vehicle. Go on a trackday and you'll find out that the bike would probably make the corner - all you have to do is lean it over a bit more. So trackdays have their part in improving your skill level just as much as advanced training. Rapid also run track days and they are very user friendly for the novice - Rapid is comprised of Police riders and - excuse the pun - all the sessions are well policed.
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