Best way to get my license?

[AJ ;-)]

Hi, I after some advice! Am I better doing one of the all in one "crash course" thingies or spacing it over a few weeks? Everyone I know who rides a motorbike has done so for ages and isn't being much help. Thanks in advance.

I'll then have to bug you all on the "what bike is best" but there are loads of threads on that already!

[AJ ;-)]

dern said:

I'd also suggest that you don't go mental and buy a sports bike after passing my test but I suspect I'd be wasting my breath Mark

Do you know me or something?!

[stooz]

dont listen to them, go straight out, do direct access in 3 or 4 days, and buy whatever bike you like. start here for advice..

www.bbc.co.uk/motoring/twowheels/index.shtml

and get it sorted quick, so you can join us on the brands hatch trackday

>> Edited by stooz on Tuesday 27th April 15:26

[raceboy]

Depends what time you have available for it really, I was inbetween jobs so had plenty of free time, so did Direct Access, did my CBT on a Saturday, Monday/Tuesday on a ER500 all day, Theory test on Wednesday, Thursday back on the 500, test on Friday, and I passed
I then left it a year, bought a 125, rode that for a year so I didn't kill myself, and am now looking for something 600ish, (as soon as I've sold the 125)

[AJ ;-)]

raceboy said:

Depends what time you have available for it really, I was inbetween jobs so had plenty of free time, so did Direct Access, did my CBT on a Saturday, Monday/Tuesday on a ER500 all day, Theory test on Wednesday, Thursday back on the 500, test on Friday, and I passed I then left it a year, bought a 125, rode that for a year so I didn't kill myself, and am now looking for something 600ish, (as soon as I've sold the 125)

Thats what I was thinking of doing because I seem to have the time but wondered if it was too quick. Who did you learn with?

[Davel]

If you've got the free time, then do it on their bikes.

Pass your test on the schools bike rather than rush out and buy the first bike that you see and then, after you pass, have a good luck round for a bike that you like.

That way you'll be on the road ready for the good weather.

Enjoy it and good luck.....

[raceboy]

The nearest instructer to my abode at the time sorted me out, I even got it paid for as 'retraining' by my previous employer/government retraining scheme I told them I fancied the idea of being a motorcycle courier

[AJ ;-)]

raceboy said:

....got it paid for as 'retraining' by my previous employer/government retraining scheme I told them I fancied the idea of being a motorcycle courier

Fantastic!

Not planning on buying a bike straight away (car to sell - hurray!)

[954 Girlie]

Am I being a bit fick here............ or, do we have TWO 'AJ's' on this site?? or has A_J changed his user name

Sorry for going off topic but I'm confused
A

[Pigeon]

I'd recommend *not* doing a crash course but spacing the training out over time. All crash courses, whether motorcycle-riding or anything else, have the disadvantage that while you may get rapidly up to speed for the exam you forget most of it quite soon afterwards. You're also more likely to forget what you do in the afternoon due to the old brain suffering from information overload.

[AJ ;-)]

954 Girlie said:

Am I being a bit fick here............ or, do we have TWO 'AJ's' on this site?? or has A_J changed his user name Sorry for going off topic but I'm confused A

Hi there is an A J but no A_J and loads of other ones with other letters at the end. I've always been AJ ;-)

Hope that helps, can't have you confused

[keitht1]

I did CBT, hire of 125 for a few days then crash course to DAS.

Most difficult thing for me was learning to control the bike, after years commuting on a mountain bike then the roadcraft was 1/2 way there already.

I would definately have liked longer to do the training, letting the lessons learned on one day sink in before the next lesson.

I recommend CBT followed by day 1 training fairly soon. With any luck, day 1 will see you on a 125 for most of the day and a 500/600 for 1/2 hour or so. This will give you (and the instructor) an idea of how good/ in control you are and you can base your further training decision on your own experience.

Picked up my SV650 day after I passed - fantastic. Nothing to compare it to so in all honestry don't know if it's a good bike but I'm enjoying every minute and learning more road skills every time I ride it.

Keith

[AJ ;-)]

keitht1 said:

Most difficult thing for me was learning to control the bike, after years commuting on a mountain bike then the roadcraft was 1/2 way there already.

So did having ridden a mountain bike help?

[keitht1]

From a roadcraft point of view yes. I used to commute into central London on the bike every day so was well used to shoulder checks, looking ahead, expecting cars to turn into you etc. so it was a good start. Everything happens a bit faster on a motorbike though

[bennyboysvuk]

AJ - I think a DAS 3 or 4 day course is best. I did that and passed my test. This was followed by waiting a month before getting a YZF600 (back in 98). The whole thing was a great experience and you can get on the roads quickly, however I had lots of roadcraft from driving like a nonce in my car for a couple of years before my motorcycling days began. If you have the roadcraft, go for DAS. If not then maybe still go for DAS, but DEFINITELY do some advanced police stuff too. ESPECIALLY if you go and buy a sports 600 or bigger.

Have fun and the first time you go out of the instructors view, gun it. Even a 500 is impressive if you've not ridden one before.

B

[AJ ;-)]

keitht1 said:

Everything happens a bit faster on a motorbike though

thanks for the help, think me being impatient getting it done quickly might be the way to go.

[barry sheene]

AJ said:

thanks for the help, think me being impatient getting it done quickly might be the way to go.

More Speed, Less Haste


>> Edited by barry sheene on Wednesday 28th April 16:23

[tonyrec]

Whatever you do, be very careful........bikes can/will bite big time and its rare that you get a second chance.
Apart from that..........have fun