Passed my DAS today!
Discussion
Hurrah!
After jumping on the back on my mate's Fireblade (and was totally blown way by the experience), I decided to sell my 996 Turbo to do a CBT with a view to completing my DAS after. With no prior bike experience, I started the CBT in June and passed after a couple of days. Immediately bought a CG125 to run about while studying for my theory.
After passing the theory at the end of August and with 2 months' worth of road riding in the 125, I was ready to do the DAS. Did the obligatory 6 hours of 125 riding and then it was onto the ER5 last Monday, it certainly felt more stable and MUCH faster in the straights. Was a wee touch imtidiated during the first 2 hours (wet roads) but things started to settle on Saturday during a 4 hours lesson - the only thing I needed to improve was the dreaded U turns! Ballsed it up a fair few times and nearly dropped the bike.
It's amazing how you can be great one day with riding and totally $hit the next, after the 4 hour lesson I went back out on the 125 to make sure I nailed the U turns - picked the same industrial estate that I did the lessons on and picked the tightest roads to practice to polish it up. Did the same yesterday afternoon.
Then it was onto today...the dreaded test! But before that I had to get the last 2 hour lesson out of the way (8:30am).
Was taken out by the instructor on various routes whilst it was still quite wet, went fairly ok...until he took us to this slight uphill road in a quiet housing estate for U turns. I looked at the shiny wet surface and slight gradient and thought (oh fcuk...) the mind block set in once again. Ballsed up the first couple of tries but then things improved after a couple of decent U turns. After the exercise, I was totally relieved to move on but was still bricking it for the test..stopped for a coffee and then the sun came out and the roads started drying.
During the coffee break, I started relaxing and decided to 'just go for it' come the test. With no further test dates available until end of Nov, I didn't really want to do the test again slap bang in the winter. I'm not joking I started to ride the bike like it was in the dry even though the road was still very greasy (was told off for leaning too far literally trying to get my knee down on one roundabout!). I treated it like it was all or nothing.
Then came the actual test, the typical Scottish weather resulted resulted in sudden lashing rain...coming out of the test centre was most certainly nerve wracking but after literally the first turn out onto the main road, I didn't pay the examinor any attention and drove on like I was on my own. Was still careful with application of power through corners and after sailing though the town centre, ventured onto a NSL road before ending up on the housing estate I practiced earlier for the U turn. It was really strange as I saw the examinor as a 'pedestrian' and did the U turn with no fuss! He told me it was onto the emergency stop drill and at that point I was about to check with him if he wanted me to do another U turn - I thought better not
From then on it was plain sailing, emergency stop done, I could sense the end and I was a relieved man approaching the test centre and was told to turn back in. Parked the bike up, went for a sit down in the waiting room...and after a few questions, was told that I had passed!!!
Then followed the intructor back to the office minus head set for instructions as I was allowed to ride on my own, only blip of the day was during an approach towards a roundabout, some muppet was indicating left but decided to tank right through straight on which forced me to apply an emergency brake making the backend to snake about. Held the slide and stopped in time...I'm glad that happened after passing! I would have been pi$$ed if that had happened earlier.
So after thanking the instructor for his tuition before driving off, it's now onto the big boys!!!
Can't wait to try out a GSX-R600, CBR600RR and Street Triple before making my mind up what to buy this winter!
After jumping on the back on my mate's Fireblade (and was totally blown way by the experience), I decided to sell my 996 Turbo to do a CBT with a view to completing my DAS after. With no prior bike experience, I started the CBT in June and passed after a couple of days. Immediately bought a CG125 to run about while studying for my theory.
After passing the theory at the end of August and with 2 months' worth of road riding in the 125, I was ready to do the DAS. Did the obligatory 6 hours of 125 riding and then it was onto the ER5 last Monday, it certainly felt more stable and MUCH faster in the straights. Was a wee touch imtidiated during the first 2 hours (wet roads) but things started to settle on Saturday during a 4 hours lesson - the only thing I needed to improve was the dreaded U turns! Ballsed it up a fair few times and nearly dropped the bike.
It's amazing how you can be great one day with riding and totally $hit the next, after the 4 hour lesson I went back out on the 125 to make sure I nailed the U turns - picked the same industrial estate that I did the lessons on and picked the tightest roads to practice to polish it up. Did the same yesterday afternoon.
Then it was onto today...the dreaded test! But before that I had to get the last 2 hour lesson out of the way (8:30am).
Was taken out by the instructor on various routes whilst it was still quite wet, went fairly ok...until he took us to this slight uphill road in a quiet housing estate for U turns. I looked at the shiny wet surface and slight gradient and thought (oh fcuk...) the mind block set in once again. Ballsed up the first couple of tries but then things improved after a couple of decent U turns. After the exercise, I was totally relieved to move on but was still bricking it for the test..stopped for a coffee and then the sun came out and the roads started drying.
During the coffee break, I started relaxing and decided to 'just go for it' come the test. With no further test dates available until end of Nov, I didn't really want to do the test again slap bang in the winter. I'm not joking I started to ride the bike like it was in the dry even though the road was still very greasy (was told off for leaning too far literally trying to get my knee down on one roundabout!). I treated it like it was all or nothing.
Then came the actual test, the typical Scottish weather resulted resulted in sudden lashing rain...coming out of the test centre was most certainly nerve wracking but after literally the first turn out onto the main road, I didn't pay the examinor any attention and drove on like I was on my own. Was still careful with application of power through corners and after sailing though the town centre, ventured onto a NSL road before ending up on the housing estate I practiced earlier for the U turn. It was really strange as I saw the examinor as a 'pedestrian' and did the U turn with no fuss! He told me it was onto the emergency stop drill and at that point I was about to check with him if he wanted me to do another U turn - I thought better not
From then on it was plain sailing, emergency stop done, I could sense the end and I was a relieved man approaching the test centre and was told to turn back in. Parked the bike up, went for a sit down in the waiting room...and after a few questions, was told that I had passed!!!
Then followed the intructor back to the office minus head set for instructions as I was allowed to ride on my own, only blip of the day was during an approach towards a roundabout, some muppet was indicating left but decided to tank right through straight on which forced me to apply an emergency brake making the backend to snake about. Held the slide and stopped in time...I'm glad that happened after passing! I would have been pi$$ed if that had happened earlier.
So after thanking the instructor for his tuition before driving off, it's now onto the big boys!!!
Can't wait to try out a GSX-R600, CBR600RR and Street Triple before making my mind up what to buy this winter!
amare32 said:
Can't wait to try out a GSX-R600, CBR600RR and Street Triple before making my mind up what to buy this winter!
Street Triple won't cost a fortune to repair when you drop it...Edit - congratulations btw, great feeling when you pass, isn't it!
Edited by FunkyNige on Monday 24th September 18:13
Thanks guys! Apologies if it was a bit of a long post (but I am so over the moon passing!). You won't believe how worked up I was the last few days as my mates was commenting how edgy I was mood wise.
The proceeds from the 911 sale will cover the cost of damage (**touch wood I won't
). Anyways, apart from the sporty 600s I've mentioned, I won't rule out the Hornet or even SV650...however, being a responsible (**cough) 30year old, I'm positive I'll be ok if I'm careful. After all, you're as likely to damage a 125 as you are with a Gixxer.
But if I'm honest, I so want a GSX-R600. Planning to buy a bike in the winter to get a good deal then bring it out next spring. I'm collecting a new TT Coupe V6 next week so that'll do me over the winter. I would like to buy a 997 GT3 a few years down the line but if truth be told, I'm loving bikes so much that I might not need a porker afterall..
The proceeds from the 911 sale will cover the cost of damage (**touch wood I won't
). Anyways, apart from the sporty 600s I've mentioned, I won't rule out the Hornet or even SV650...however, being a responsible (**cough) 30year old, I'm positive I'll be ok if I'm careful. After all, you're as likely to damage a 125 as you are with a Gixxer.But if I'm honest, I so want a GSX-R600. Planning to buy a bike in the winter to get a good deal then bring it out next spring. I'm collecting a new TT Coupe V6 next week so that'll do me over the winter. I would like to buy a 997 GT3 a few years down the line but if truth be told, I'm loving bikes so much that I might not need a porker afterall..
Huge congratulations,matey. Welcome to the new world.
By all means,use the nasty weather to bring down the price of the shiny gixxer you fancy, but if you are going to FWB your pride and joy (wuss), then stick a few hundred quid on the side for an old CBR600F or similar to carry on riding through the winter. Not only is it a great way of not caring if you drop it (literally, not throwing it down the road - its a LOT heavier than a 125 - trust me
), but you will get your riding skills honed by riding in the nasty wet and cold, and come the daffodils, you'll know which corners are which.
By all means,use the nasty weather to bring down the price of the shiny gixxer you fancy, but if you are going to FWB your pride and joy (wuss), then stick a few hundred quid on the side for an old CBR600F or similar to carry on riding through the winter. Not only is it a great way of not caring if you drop it (literally, not throwing it down the road - its a LOT heavier than a 125 - trust me
), but you will get your riding skills honed by riding in the nasty wet and cold, and come the daffodils, you'll know which corners are which.Great post - really enjoyed reading about your experience (luckily had a free afternoon so plenty of time on my hand . . . . . . !! Welcome to the wonderful world of biking!
From what I hear the Street Triple is going to be a belter and may well be a lot more fun than the GSX-R - I often have a lot more fun naked these days (errr . . . that is naked rather than faired!!). I also found the bike to be so much more fun than the car that I sold the TVR earlier this year and only have bikes now - forget the Porsche and get a couple of bikes instead and never stop smiling!!
. . . !! Welcome to the wonderful world of biking!From what I hear the Street Triple is going to be a belter and may well be a lot more fun than the GSX-R - I often have a lot more fun naked these days (errr . . . that is naked rather than faired!!). I also found the bike to be so much more fun than the car that I sold the TVR earlier this year and only have bikes now - forget the Porsche and get a couple of bikes instead and never stop smiling!!
Well done for passing your test.
It is worth trying a few different bikes before you decide on what to buy as all those you have mentioned will be different from anything you've already ridden and will be different from each other.
Do expect to drop the bike, not everyone does but most do, so consider the likes of crash bungs etc. Don't get hung up on engine size. Almost anything of 600cc and upwards will have more performance than you will have skill and ability to handle. As such, you will not be using all of the bikes capabilities so this raises two questions:
1) If you're not using all of the bikes capabilities, why have you paid extra for them and not simply bought a cheaper/smaller/slower bike?
2) If you're not going to use all of the capabilities of one a bike, does it matter if that bike is a 600/750/100/1200 etc.?
Have a great time choosing your bike.
Ride safe and enjoy.
It is worth trying a few different bikes before you decide on what to buy as all those you have mentioned will be different from anything you've already ridden and will be different from each other.
Do expect to drop the bike, not everyone does but most do, so consider the likes of crash bungs etc. Don't get hung up on engine size. Almost anything of 600cc and upwards will have more performance than you will have skill and ability to handle. As such, you will not be using all of the bikes capabilities so this raises two questions:
1) If you're not using all of the bikes capabilities, why have you paid extra for them and not simply bought a cheaper/smaller/slower bike?
2) If you're not going to use all of the capabilities of one a bike, does it matter if that bike is a 600/750/100/1200 etc.?
Have a great time choosing your bike.
Ride safe and enjoy.
amare32 said:
Thanks guys! Apologies if it was a bit of a long post (but I am so over the moon passing!). You won't believe how worked up I was the last few days as my mates was commenting how edgy I was mood wise.
The proceeds from the 911 sale will cover the cost of damage (**touch wood I won't). Anyways, apart from the sporty 600s I've mentioned, I won't rule out the Hornet or even SV650...however, being a responsible (**cough) 30year old, I'm positive I'll be ok if I'm careful. After all, you're as likely to damage a 125 as you are with a Gixxer.
But if I'm honest, I so want a GSX-R600. Planning to buy a bike in the winter to get a good deal then bring it out next spring. I'm collecting a new TT Coupe V6 next week so that'll do me over the winter. I would like to buy a 997 GT3 a few years down the line but if truth be told, I'm loving bikes so much that I might not need a porker afterall..
Wow, snap, I also am a 30 year old who has just passed my test, August. I could not resist and instead of the sensible bandit or SV i got the GSXR600.. and WOW.The proceeds from the 911 sale will cover the cost of damage (**touch wood I won't
). Anyways, apart from the sporty 600s I've mentioned, I won't rule out the Hornet or even SV650...however, being a responsible (**cough) 30year old, I'm positive I'll be ok if I'm careful. After all, you're as likely to damage a 125 as you are with a Gixxer.But if I'm honest, I so want a GSX-R600. Planning to buy a bike in the winter to get a good deal then bring it out next spring. I'm collecting a new TT Coupe V6 next week so that'll do me over the winter. I would like to buy a 997 GT3 a few years down the line but if truth be told, I'm loving bikes so much that I might not need a porker afterall..
I am always amazed at the difference. I am still just getting used to the bike, and it is still very apparent that the bike is capable of sooo much more than I can do on it.
In some ways it is reasurring as you know that it will be a number of years before you can say you are getting the best from it. Should not get boring quickly, 
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