Discussion
I think peoples opinion on 125's is probably determined by where they live. Urban types probably cope with them just fine. Around here it's all sweeping fast A roads and the like and unless you enjoy having a Qashqai 6 inches from your rear tyre whilst screaming along at 8000rpm you'd probably do your DAS sharpish.
Although saying that I've done about 3000 miles cycling on the same roads this year and I can produce about 0.4hp on a good day so maybe a 125 wouldn't be too bad.
Although saying that I've done about 3000 miles cycling on the same roads this year and I can produce about 0.4hp on a good day so maybe a 125 wouldn't be too bad.
BugLebowski said:
I think peoples opinion on 125's is probably determined by where they live. Urban types probably cope with them just fine. Around here it's all sweeping fast A roads and the like and unless you enjoy having a Qashqai 6 inches from your rear tyre whilst screaming along at 8000rpm you'd probably do your DAS sharpish.
Although saying that I've done about 3000 miles cycling on the same roads this year and I can produce about 0.4hp on a good day so maybe a 125 wouldn't be too bad.
I think this is a good point. I was riding on mostly B roads or towns and its mostly fine, but the short dual carriage way local to me isn't great on a 125 when its busy.Although saying that I've done about 3000 miles cycling on the same roads this year and I can produce about 0.4hp on a good day so maybe a 125 wouldn't be too bad.
Ive just done my cbt too returning to bikes after a 30+ yr break im looking at 125s now l as has been said itll be a long time to get a full licence what with the delays and renewed interest in motorcycles as a way to get around i live in a small coastal town South Shields so a small nippy little 125 is ideal never far from loads of nice little single track and green lanes either so a trail style bike is ideal , so my aim is to get a full licence but a 125 is really a good way for me to get experience again whilst waiting for the theory ,mod 1 & 2 i am lucky really as i have garage space so getting a 125 is viable for me to keep as a little run around even if i dont progress as fast as i can we really cant predict in these strange times if another wave of covid happens and everything turns to crap again .
I did my cbt last week too and was also wondering if it's better to 125 first or das..
But I decided I would probably get lazy and not follow through with the DAS if I bought a 125...
My local theory test centre was also booked till October/November, but I chose one slightly further away and got a date for 4 weeks later (I did book it at the same time I booked my cbt, so they are only 2 weeks apart).
The only real part I found tricky was overthinking which gear I should approach a junction in (the instructor suggested using first for some junctions which felt unnatural)... Got told off a number of times for forgetting to turn off my indicator too..
But I decided I would probably get lazy and not follow through with the DAS if I bought a 125...
My local theory test centre was also booked till October/November, but I chose one slightly further away and got a date for 4 weeks later (I did book it at the same time I booked my cbt, so they are only 2 weeks apart).
The only real part I found tricky was overthinking which gear I should approach a junction in (the instructor suggested using first for some junctions which felt unnatural)... Got told off a number of times for forgetting to turn off my indicator too..
I had a 125 for 3.5 years. Really enjoyed it as a way to get into bikes and commute as cheaply as possible. How many vehicles can go 300 plus miles on 14 quid?
Slow, yes, no overtaking yes, annoying drivers targeting the L plate.... Yes, but as a cheap way to get about a 125 is fine.
However I don't want to do another cbt so did a DAS and passed first-time with no minors.
Each to their own. Kind of miss my old CBF125.
Slow, yes, no overtaking yes, annoying drivers targeting the L plate.... Yes, but as a cheap way to get about a 125 is fine.
However I don't want to do another cbt so did a DAS and passed first-time with no minors.
Each to their own. Kind of miss my old CBF125.
BugLebowski said:
I think peoples opinion on 125's is probably determined by where they live. Urban types probably cope with them just fine. Around here it's all sweeping fast A roads and the like and unless you enjoy having a Qashqai 6 inches from your rear tyre whilst screaming along at 8000rpm you'd probably do your DAS sharpish.
That is a good point. But to the OP, just do your DAS as soon as you can. Like others have said the CBT is barely a learning curve and you'll be a much better rider after your DAS, and fast bikes are still depending on throttle input. I've never understood this condescending "start out on a hairdryer for the first 18 years until you're confident" malarky. Get what you want.
Bubba Zanetti said:
Cheers all DAS it is then!
Just to update you all. I went the DAS route. Theory test passed at the beginning of September, MOD1 passed end of September, MOD2 booked in for 5th November, national lockdown scuppered that, MOD2 passed day after nation lockdown ended.Now perusing the classifieds.
Salted_Peanut said:
stu67 said:
I believe that the CBT is a joke and it should be far tougher. It should at least have the theory element linked to it rather than the Mod1 and 2.
I wonder why the CBT doesn't have the theory element linked to it? 
Nice one OP.
In September my instructor said there was a CBT overhaul due soon, 2021 I think.I've always wondered how the CBT has remained in its current state during the H&S world we live in. Someone with only a provisional licence and never been on the road before can roll a 50cc scooter around a car park and then around some residential streets for an hour. After that they can jump on a geared 125cc that'll nearly tip 80mph. Madness.
RazerSauber said:
Salted_Peanut said:
stu67 said:
I believe that the CBT is a joke and it should be far tougher. It should at least have the theory element linked to it rather than the Mod1 and 2.
I wonder why the CBT doesn't have the theory element linked to it? Kiribati268 said:
Nice one OP.
In September my instructor said there was a CBT overhaul due soon, 2021 I think.I've always wondered how the CBT has remained in its current state during the H&S world we live in. Someone with only a provisional licence and never been on the road before can roll a 50cc scooter around a car park and then around some residential streets for an hour. After that they can jump on a geared 125cc that'll nearly tip 80mph. Madness.
Not as crazy as in the US. To get your full licence they have something similar to the CBT but with no on road part whatsoever. After that you can ride anything!RazerSauber said:
Salted_Peanut said:
stu67 said:
I believe that the CBT is a joke and it should be far tougher. It should at least have the theory element linked to it rather than the Mod1 and 2.
I wonder why the CBT doesn't have the theory element linked to it? As I said earlier in the thread the CBT does need a overhaul. Think it should be linked to the theory portion at that stage rather than Mod 1. Also the fact you can just keep it ticking over should be looked at. Many riders just look at it as an easy way to get a Deliveroo job in the big cities rather than a route to a proper licence.
LookAtMyCat said:
Yeah just don't bother with a 125 if you're a grown man. They're slow, unstable, sound s
t, and do you really want to ride around with L plates on anyway?
Obvious troll and all that. t, and do you really want to ride around with L plates on anyway?I had never ridden a motorbike before my CBT so I bought a 125 to gain experience. I did get a lot of useful experience of how to/how not to ride before I went on to anything bigger.
There are quite a few people pushing up daisies because they rushed through the test system then bought a big bike then grabbed a load of front brake on the first blind corner they come to.
warch said:
There are quite a few people pushing up daisies because they rushed through the test system then bought a big bike then grabbed a load of front brake on the first blind corner they come to.
How would that be any different on a 125? That is just a result of not being at an appropriate speed going in to the corner not being able to stop in the visible distance. My riding history on a 125 was using it for the CBT for the day and then doing the DAS on a 600cc, the bigger bike is way easier to ride and more stable IMHO.
warch said:
LookAtMyCat said:
Yeah just don't bother with a 125 if you're a grown man. They're slow, unstable, sound st, and do you really want to ride around with L plates on anyway?
Obvious troll and all that. t, and do you really want to ride around with L plates on anyway?I had never ridden a motorbike before my CBT so I bought a 125 to gain experience. I did get a lot of useful experience of how to/how not to ride before I went on to anything bigger.
There are quite a few people pushing up daisies because they rushed through the test system then bought a big bike then grabbed a load of front brake on the first blind corner they come to.
ruprechtmonkeyboy said:
To get through both mod 1 and mod 2 you have to be at a pretty decent standard so I can't think of many riders that would do this.
Much more likely to happen having done the bare minimum of CBT and then going out on a 125! You won't even be taught proper countersteering etc.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff