New to Bikes and Which Test
Discussion
Hello and Happy Christmas!!
I am 45 and have never even sat on a bike but I am keen to take my test (wife calls it a mid life crisis but I do like to learn new things). I have a couple of questions for the biking fraternity if I may:
1) As I am so inexperienced should I go CBT and ride a 125cc or go straight to DA?
2) Anyone know of any good training places near Peterborough?
Cheers
RL
I am 45 and have never even sat on a bike but I am keen to take my test (wife calls it a mid life crisis but I do like to learn new things). I have a couple of questions for the biking fraternity if I may:
1) As I am so inexperienced should I go CBT and ride a 125cc or go straight to DA?
2) Anyone know of any good training places near Peterborough?
Cheers
RL
hey.
best of luck with your training.
there big chain i believe operates in peterborough....they started in a very famous university town and i strongly advise you don't train with them due to rip off 'sessions'.
if not too far away, this is the man you want training you:
http://www.motorcycletraining101.com/competitive-p...
Lee, the owner, holds Jedi status in the world of bike training. Top man.
best of luck with your training.
there big chain i believe operates in peterborough....they started in a very famous university town and i strongly advise you don't train with them due to rip off 'sessions'.
if not too far away, this is the man you want training you:
http://www.motorcycletraining101.com/competitive-p...
Lee, the owner, holds Jedi status in the world of bike training. Top man.
kurt535 said:
hey.
best of luck with your training.
there big chain i believe operates in peterborough....they started in a very famous university town and i strongly advise you don't train with them due to rip off 'sessions'.
if not too far away, this is the man you want training you:
http://www.motorcycletraining101.com/competitive-p...
Lee, the owner, holds Jedi status in the world of bike training. Top man.
Kurt,best of luck with your training.
there big chain i believe operates in peterborough....they started in a very famous university town and i strongly advise you don't train with them due to rip off 'sessions'.
if not too far away, this is the man you want training you:
http://www.motorcycletraining101.com/competitive-p...
Lee, the owner, holds Jedi status in the world of bike training. Top man.
That's great and a bit nearer to me actually, will give them a call in the New Year. Just need to decide on which test.....
RL
Whilst I learn't many years ago before all the complicated test stuff arrived I was restricted to a 125. To be honest it does no harm.
I dropped the bike a fair few times in the early days. All low speed stuff mind. If you're gonna fall off through incompetence it's better to do it at 20 than 60mph
A 125 whilst not over exciting when ones used to bigger stuff is still great fun at the beginning. A serviceable bit of kit can be had all day for around a grand and is easy to sell on when you're finished with it. Just stick to the main Japanese products and you won't lose a bean. You want as little plastic as possible, it's expensive to replace.
Get the CBT done and whiz around on a 125 straight away. Even with the best instructor in the world there's no substitute for clocking up some miles. You'll also learn loads not just about riding but what sort of riding kit you want, what sort of bike, chain/ suspension adjustment and other basic maintenance, then when you get something decent/ expensive it won't be quite as intimidating and you'll less likely drop it moving it around the garage.
I dropped the bike a fair few times in the early days. All low speed stuff mind. If you're gonna fall off through incompetence it's better to do it at 20 than 60mph
A 125 whilst not over exciting when ones used to bigger stuff is still great fun at the beginning. A serviceable bit of kit can be had all day for around a grand and is easy to sell on when you're finished with it. Just stick to the main Japanese products and you won't lose a bean. You want as little plastic as possible, it's expensive to replace.
Get the CBT done and whiz around on a 125 straight away. Even with the best instructor in the world there's no substitute for clocking up some miles. You'll also learn loads not just about riding but what sort of riding kit you want, what sort of bike, chain/ suspension adjustment and other basic maintenance, then when you get something decent/ expensive it won't be quite as intimidating and you'll less likely drop it moving it around the garage.
Edited by Harry H on Friday 29th December 12:04
Being 45 do you not already have grandfathered motorcycle allowance?
You have to do CBT to then do DAS. You will also need to do a motorcycle theory test at a test centre.
You can do it all in the space of a few days. In short, if you have been driving for a few years it will be simple to do.
CBT is one day - basic skills in a car park and then out onto the road. It's not a test, but you have to display competence to be allowed out on the road. If you have never ridden a bike, it might be worth getting a 1/2 day taster to get used to a manual bike and slipping the clutch.
DAS can be done in a couple of days - it depends on your abilities.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/direct-...
Get it done.
You have to do CBT to then do DAS. You will also need to do a motorcycle theory test at a test centre.
You can do it all in the space of a few days. In short, if you have been driving for a few years it will be simple to do.
CBT is one day - basic skills in a car park and then out onto the road. It's not a test, but you have to display competence to be allowed out on the road. If you have never ridden a bike, it might be worth getting a 1/2 day taster to get used to a manual bike and slipping the clutch.
DAS can be done in a couple of days - it depends on your abilities.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/direct-...
Get it done.
Harry H said:
Bungleaio said:
Unless you only want to ride a 125 then full is the best. The tests are the same for all the other grades anyway.
Has it changed again then ??I thought if you already had a car license you could do a CBT in a morning chuck set of L plates on and away you went.
I'd agree with your approach: plenty of 125 experience did me no harm at all.
Just don't read this thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I'd suggest doing your CBT first - it will give you a good feel by the end of the day how comfortable / confident you are at bike control. Then get your theory test out of the way so it's one less thing to worry about. Then see if you can get a trial lesson on a big bike, an hour or 2 on the schools playpen should give you an idea of how you cope with it towards mastering the Mod 1 exercises which are by far the toughest part since its an instant fail for a foot down. Ideally you want a hour spent doing mod 1 practice and a 45 minute test ride assessment to see how close to test standard you are. Based on that a good instructor will usually tell you if you are DAS ready or would benefit from more time on a 125 getting the basics nailed.
I took the 125 route and spent everyday on it for a month, watched the youtube videos to memorise the circuit and techniques and got 1k miles getting my confidence on cornering and menorising the lifesaver observation drills. did 2 hours on the mod 1 pen and passed first time with a trivial minor. I was confident enough on the big bike test route that had terrified me on my CBT first ride that we had to stop and wait for the DAS candidates to catch up - so learning to ride a 125 well really does help in building your confidence & competence providing you keep bad habits in check. The biggest thing I gained was learning to ride in all weather conditions, and getting past the problems like target fixation and hitting diesel at slow enough speeds and a light enough bike that they didn't become a problem.
I guess the most important thing is to go at a pace you feel comfortable with and not feel rushed to run before you can walk. There is no point in doing a 5 day DAS if you get killed on day 6 because you lucked through your test without really having the bike control needed when you confront a new problem. I found a good instructor who was happy just to charge me an hourly rate and spend time working on my weakspots to make me a btter safer rider rather than solely focus on getting through the test pass.
So I'd say there is no right ir wrong way - what works for others may not work for you - but don't be afraid to take your time as its not just about getting a test pass so you can leap on a fast bike, its about learning the skills you need to stay alive when confronted with constantly changing hazards and idiotic road users so make sure you find an instructor who actually cares about making you a safe ride not just a pass factory product.
last advice - once you know its for you buy decent warm and waterproof kit. the difference being comfortable makes to your concentration levels is huge.
I took the 125 route and spent everyday on it for a month, watched the youtube videos to memorise the circuit and techniques and got 1k miles getting my confidence on cornering and menorising the lifesaver observation drills. did 2 hours on the mod 1 pen and passed first time with a trivial minor. I was confident enough on the big bike test route that had terrified me on my CBT first ride that we had to stop and wait for the DAS candidates to catch up - so learning to ride a 125 well really does help in building your confidence & competence providing you keep bad habits in check. The biggest thing I gained was learning to ride in all weather conditions, and getting past the problems like target fixation and hitting diesel at slow enough speeds and a light enough bike that they didn't become a problem.
I guess the most important thing is to go at a pace you feel comfortable with and not feel rushed to run before you can walk. There is no point in doing a 5 day DAS if you get killed on day 6 because you lucked through your test without really having the bike control needed when you confront a new problem. I found a good instructor who was happy just to charge me an hourly rate and spend time working on my weakspots to make me a btter safer rider rather than solely focus on getting through the test pass.
So I'd say there is no right ir wrong way - what works for others may not work for you - but don't be afraid to take your time as its not just about getting a test pass so you can leap on a fast bike, its about learning the skills you need to stay alive when confronted with constantly changing hazards and idiotic road users so make sure you find an instructor who actually cares about making you a safe ride not just a pass factory product.
last advice - once you know its for you buy decent warm and waterproof kit. the difference being comfortable makes to your concentration levels is huge.
Do the test and treat it as an entry exam. Invest in ongoing training / improvement and be very self-aware.
Regardless of how talented you think you are, you're not. Build up slowly and do lots to improve your mental and physical competency as bikes are like being machine-gunned at first. If 45mph feels fast enough then 45mph *is* fast enough, possibly even too fast... you're taking in so much information and you're recalibrating yourself to new controls and new sensations.
Bikesafe courses are very worth it, Police riders are very skilled and anything shared by them will be worth knowing.
Smooth is better than fast, if you work towards developing smooth then fast will follow. Never cross your fingers and hope for the best on a bike, if in doubt then back off. There'll be another time to make that overtake, there'll be another gap in the line of traffic.
Best advice though, start on a smaller bike. Only buy a bike you feel comfortable and in control of, and from a satisfaction point of view it'll be more enjoyable to wring the neck of a 250/300 than to be clinging with fear to a 1000. Sit up bikes are more comfortable and enjoyable to ride, in the real world at sane speeds especially when you're new.
Last thing, have fun... motorcycling is ace. Been riding since before I was 16 and whether it's been on a Vespa or a superbike it's been fun the whole way. Favourite bikes have been my 1200GS and Ducati Scrambler for sheer fun.
Regardless of how talented you think you are, you're not. Build up slowly and do lots to improve your mental and physical competency as bikes are like being machine-gunned at first. If 45mph feels fast enough then 45mph *is* fast enough, possibly even too fast... you're taking in so much information and you're recalibrating yourself to new controls and new sensations.
Bikesafe courses are very worth it, Police riders are very skilled and anything shared by them will be worth knowing.
Smooth is better than fast, if you work towards developing smooth then fast will follow. Never cross your fingers and hope for the best on a bike, if in doubt then back off. There'll be another time to make that overtake, there'll be another gap in the line of traffic.
Best advice though, start on a smaller bike. Only buy a bike you feel comfortable and in control of, and from a satisfaction point of view it'll be more enjoyable to wring the neck of a 250/300 than to be clinging with fear to a 1000. Sit up bikes are more comfortable and enjoyable to ride, in the real world at sane speeds especially when you're new.
Last thing, have fun... motorcycling is ace. Been riding since before I was 16 and whether it's been on a Vespa or a superbike it's been fun the whole way. Favourite bikes have been my 1200GS and Ducati Scrambler for sheer fun.
I would go and do the CBT, if anything it's just a fun day out for under £70 or whatever it costs these days.
This will give you a idea of wether or not you think you'll enjoy riding.
If you enjoy it then just get the DAS booked, perfect time to get it done now, pick up a cheap bike in the darker months then you'll have the bike and license to enjoy in the summer months.
This will give you a idea of wether or not you think you'll enjoy riding.
If you enjoy it then just get the DAS booked, perfect time to get it done now, pick up a cheap bike in the darker months then you'll have the bike and license to enjoy in the summer months.
Just do a CBT and see how you get on. If it clicks then do a DAS. If you feel like more time on a bike is useful then get a 125 and ride it for a few months before doing the DAS. You won't lose much money and the whole DAS thing won't feel so daunting at first because you'll have the basic controls truly sorted.
I did the latter, I was happy on the CBT and probably could have gone to DAS but I was just interested in a cheap way to commute. After a while I decided a bigger bike would be more useful.
I did the latter, I was happy on the CBT and probably could have gone to DAS but I was just interested in a cheap way to commute. After a while I decided a bigger bike would be more useful.
Red Leader said:
kurt535 said:
hey.
best of luck with your training.
there big chain i believe operates in peterborough....they started in a very famous university town and i strongly advise you don't train with them due to rip off 'sessions'.
if not too far away, this is the man you want training you:
http://www.motorcycletraining101.com/competitive-p...
Lee, the owner, holds Jedi status in the world of bike training. Top man.
Kurt,best of luck with your training.
there big chain i believe operates in peterborough....they started in a very famous university town and i strongly advise you don't train with them due to rip off 'sessions'.
if not too far away, this is the man you want training you:
http://www.motorcycletraining101.com/competitive-p...
Lee, the owner, holds Jedi status in the world of bike training. Top man.
That's great and a bit nearer to me actually, will give them a call in the New Year. Just need to decide on which test.....
RL
Harry H said:
Bungleaio said:
Unless you only want to ride a 125 then full is the best. The tests are the same for all the other grades anyway.
Has it changed again then ??I thought if you already had a car license you could do a CBT in a morning chuck set of L plates on and away you went.
Learning to ride a bike is great and has given me a new appreciation for the road. Even if you don't take it any further than cbt im sure it will assist you with your driving.
Red Leader said:
Hello and Happy Christmas!!
I am 45 and have never even sat on a bike but I am keen to take my test (wife calls it a mid life crisis but I do like to learn new things). I have a couple of questions for the biking fraternity if I may:
1) As I am so inexperienced should I go CBT and ride a 125cc or go straight to DA?
2) Anyone know of any good training places near Peterborough?
Cheers
RL
It is not a mid life crisis but a mid life realisation.. I am 45 and have never even sat on a bike but I am keen to take my test (wife calls it a mid life crisis but I do like to learn new things). I have a couple of questions for the biking fraternity if I may:
1) As I am so inexperienced should I go CBT and ride a 125cc or go straight to DA?
2) Anyone know of any good training places near Peterborough?
Cheers
RL
I'm 40 next year and did mine this year: the DA was 6 sessions done over about a month rather than a 5 day intensive so that I could get extra tuition or buy a 125 (i didn't) to practise on and get some experience if i felt i needed i: i'd no real bike experience other than crossing my brothers MX bike when i was 15 - he never let me on it again.
In the end I booked 1 extra session just before the mod2 because road position, selecting the appropriate speed into roundabouts etc, gear selection, observation all took a lot of brain processing power, throw in some unfamiliar routes when you are also trying to navigate and you'd be surprised how much thinking time you need over that you'd use in a car, and I felt I just wanted to get a bit more dialled into the bike + the other student on my course was holding me back a bit which was frustrating (got lost, kept dropping the bike and generally going dangerously slow) - anyway nailed it so i'm happy and you can't have too much tuition.
I felt vulnerable on a 125 and much preferred the bigger bikes - do the CBT, see how you get on, and go from there. I love it!
i trained in cambs with the school that didn't get a good review earlier in the thread. - it was good. not sure how the peterborough one compares..
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