Discussion
Hi,
I'm a new biker (in my 40s), got my CBT in September and been riding every day since and loving it. Now getting the urge to get rid of the L plates. And maybe getting something a little less weedy (or maybe even a couple ;o)
Would you advise doing a DAS course during say Jan or Feb? Or would you wait until spring?
Really not sure if it something I should worry about, or just get on with it?
cheers
mbc
I'm a new biker (in my 40s), got my CBT in September and been riding every day since and loving it. Now getting the urge to get rid of the L plates. And maybe getting something a little less weedy (or maybe even a couple ;o)
Would you advise doing a DAS course during say Jan or Feb? Or would you wait until spring?
Really not sure if it something I should worry about, or just get on with it?
cheers
mbc
As above, i done mine in november/december, good deals to be had and i liked the idea of learning in the worse conditions.
I bought my first bike a week after passing in december, then by time spring was here i was getting more confident on the bike so had an awesome first summer on two wheels!
Also now can be a good time to pick up some good deals on bikes and apparel.
I bought my first bike a week after passing in december, then by time spring was here i was getting more confident on the bike so had an awesome first summer on two wheels!
Also now can be a good time to pick up some good deals on bikes and apparel.
Just passed 3 weeks ago having started in early sept. I figured I'd have a lesson every 2 weeks so I'd be passed before christmas and could get a bike in march, and by having a lesson (2hr) every 2 weeks then I could string it out and have something to look forward to as I thought I'd never be able to pass and get a bike before christmas anyway due to the cost involved. Plus with that in mind, the thought of passing on a weeks course then having to wait 5 months to afford a bike would have killed me.
As it happens it all went very smoothly, theory, cbt, mod 1 and mod 2 were all passed 1st time and I managed to pick up a 600 hornet at a very good price off a family member. Getting test dates in the winter months is far easier and even if I'd have failed the mod 1 or mod 2, I could have retook them in 2-3 weeks, which I probably would not have been able to in the summer months.
So my advice is to get it done asap. You are riding already so should not need many lessons, in fact the guys I did mine with give you a free lesson for every 5 you have. I had 5 normal lessons then 1 before each test which you have to have to hire the bike , which worked out at £330 plus test fees of £15.50 and £75. So don't rush into an expensive 1 week course if you don't need that many lessons.
As it happens it all went very smoothly, theory, cbt, mod 1 and mod 2 were all passed 1st time and I managed to pick up a 600 hornet at a very good price off a family member. Getting test dates in the winter months is far easier and even if I'd have failed the mod 1 or mod 2, I could have retook them in 2-3 weeks, which I probably would not have been able to in the summer months.
So my advice is to get it done asap. You are riding already so should not need many lessons, in fact the guys I did mine with give you a free lesson for every 5 you have. I had 5 normal lessons then 1 before each test which you have to have to hire the bike , which worked out at £330 plus test fees of £15.50 and £75. So don't rush into an expensive 1 week course if you don't need that many lessons.
I did my MOD 1 in October last year and MOD 2 in Nov. on no day do I recall it being warm or dry until the day of tests. It's fine, my first day on 650cc wad when it rained heavily all day.
Also, I thought I'd wait till spring to get the bike, but the day after MOD 2 I walked into Kawasaki Ruislip....
Also, I thought I'd wait till spring to get the bike, but the day after MOD 2 I walked into Kawasaki Ruislip....
Personally I'd wait until it warms up a bit at least.
The beginning of the year normally brings the coldest weather and I can't think of anything more grim than trying to get to grips with a bigger bike and ride to test standard while I'm freezing cold and wet, actually that's a lie I can and it's me having to commute 100 miles a day on the motorway in that weather which I've got to come
I done mine at the beginning of May a couple of years ago and that was still early enough in the year that I wasn't waiting any more than a couple of weeks for tests and the weather was spot on dry and almost warm.
The beginning of the year normally brings the coldest weather and I can't think of anything more grim than trying to get to grips with a bigger bike and ride to test standard while I'm freezing cold and wet, actually that's a lie I can and it's me having to commute 100 miles a day on the motorway in that weather which I've got to come
I done mine at the beginning of May a couple of years ago and that was still early enough in the year that I wasn't waiting any more than a couple of weeks for tests and the weather was spot on dry and almost warm.
horsemeatscandal said:
As for *only* getting the test fee back if it's cancelled, what else would you expect to get?
Oh I don’t know. How about the bike and instructor time you’ve paid for and the day off work you took specifically to do the test?My test was cancelled because the tester lost the pupil on route and was late back to the centre. Totally wasted day plus quite a lot of money and then I couldn’t get a retest for months.
If you can’t see how only getting the test fee back is a kick in the balls you have a problem.
Besides which what’s with the attitude “what do you expect to get back”? I merely pointed out that it’s worth considering the time of year will make this more likely. Bit more helpful than your useless post.
tom_e said:
BobSaunders said:
Did my CBT in January and DAS in February. No such thing as bad weather, just ill preparation and bad choice of clothing.
Bo
cks
No amount of prep, good clothing, heated grips or anything else would make riding in that safe or sensible.
Proper preparation prevents poor performance. Everything is achievable, everything is negotiable.
trickywoo said:
Oh I don’t know. How about the bike and instructor time you’ve paid for and the day off work you took specifically to do the test?
My test was cancelled because the tester lost the pupil on route and was late back to the centre. Totally wasted day plus quite a lot of money and then I couldn’t get a retest for months.
If you can’t see how only getting the test fee back is a kick in the balls you have a problem.
Besides which what’s with the attitude “what do you expect to get back”? I merely pointed out that it’s worth considering the time of year will make this more likely. Bit more helpful than your useless post.
Oh Christ, calm down. I'm not saying it's not a pain in the arse but I wouldn't expect anything but the test fee back, folk have got to make their money. Just a risk you've got to take, but yes, definitely something to consider this time of year. My test was cancelled because the tester lost the pupil on route and was late back to the centre. Totally wasted day plus quite a lot of money and then I couldn’t get a retest for months.
If you can’t see how only getting the test fee back is a kick in the balls you have a problem.
Besides which what’s with the attitude “what do you expect to get back”? I merely pointed out that it’s worth considering the time of year will make this more likely. Bit more helpful than your useless post.
Also losing the pupil on a test is hilarious. F**k knows what I'd do if I ended up getting lost.
I did my DAS last week 
Coldest was 2.5 degrees, and it did tip it down on Thursday with high winds. But otherwise was lucky with the weather, but VERY glad I'd bought warm gear to do it in !!!!
I think it's luck of the draw, but - when else will you get expert tuition in rubbish conditions..... (I woudln't fancy it if there was ice on the road though)
Coldest was 2.5 degrees, and it did tip it down on Thursday with high winds. But otherwise was lucky with the weather, but VERY glad I'd bought warm gear to do it in !!!!I think it's luck of the draw, but - when else will you get expert tuition in rubbish conditions..... (I woudln't fancy it if there was ice on the road though)
trickywoo said:
More likely to get a test cancellation due to weather at that time of year.
Can be a PITA as the only refund you'll get is for the test fee unless the school has helpful clauses in place.
My dad did his test in winter (when he was 17, so a long time ago) and likes to recount the tale of his first test being cancelled. He only found out after he had ridden the 20 miles down untreated lanes to the test center. it was cancelled due to ice. So he promptly rode back home again, no issues either way. He rang to check before his rebooked test.Can be a PITA as the only refund you'll get is for the test fee unless the school has helpful clauses in place.
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