New Biker from today... DAS passed!
Discussion
Hi everyone, I know there are a few threads on this subject but...
I passed my mod 1 and mod 2 today! Before Monday I had been on a bike for 1 day a few years ago when I took my CBT. That lapsed and so I enrolled onto a DAS course with CBT included on Monday.
Chuffed to bits is an understatement, I seemed to be able to ride the bike well and took to it easily. It must be because I was a cyclist in a previous life.
Now the questions... where do I go from here?! Straight to the dealership to get a bike? Save for a few months and get one?
Also, how did you approach fast corners when you were a novice? 70mph corners are the only area where I find myself tensing up. Which, as we know, is the last thing you want to be doing.
I passed my mod 1 and mod 2 today! Before Monday I had been on a bike for 1 day a few years ago when I took my CBT. That lapsed and so I enrolled onto a DAS course with CBT included on Monday.
Chuffed to bits is an understatement, I seemed to be able to ride the bike well and took to it easily. It must be because I was a cyclist in a previous life.
Now the questions... where do I go from here?! Straight to the dealership to get a bike? Save for a few months and get one?
Also, how did you approach fast corners when you were a novice? 70mph corners are the only area where I find myself tensing up. Which, as we know, is the last thing you want to be doing.
Edited by BigGingerBob on Thursday 10th December 19:25
Congrats... thoroughly miserable and cold here today, so you did well if braving similar.
No matter what you do over the next weeks and months on a bike, just wait until it warms up and it'll feel like the best thing in the world.
On your questions, while you've got the bug I'd at least start looking at bikes, getting insurance quotes etc... keep the interest strong while the weather puts you off riding.
As for corners, slow in fast out is how I still ride on the public highway. Boring but I don't know what's round the corner.
No matter what you do over the next weeks and months on a bike, just wait until it warms up and it'll feel like the best thing in the world.
On your questions, while you've got the bug I'd at least start looking at bikes, getting insurance quotes etc... keep the interest strong while the weather puts you off riding.
As for corners, slow in fast out is how I still ride on the public highway. Boring but I don't know what's round the corner.
Congratulations on the pass!!
Within a week of me passing I had a deposit down on a brand new bike from the dealers, lots of people advised against it but years on I don’t regret it one bit, loved that bike and out a lot of miles on it. Go with your heart is my advice.
As for fast corners, don’t go fast into anything until you start getting to grips with it, target fixation is horrid and is mostly instigated from too faster corner entry.
Within a week of me passing I had a deposit down on a brand new bike from the dealers, lots of people advised against it but years on I don’t regret it one bit, loved that bike and out a lot of miles on it. Go with your heart is my advice.
As for fast corners, don’t go fast into anything until you start getting to grips with it, target fixation is horrid and is mostly instigated from too faster corner entry.
Congrats!
I will go in the opposite direction of experience to MrGman though
. I also bought a brand new bike immediately after passing (SV650 Sport), mostly because I learned in order to do a particular trip so needed a bike immediately. I liked the bike but I regretted buying a brand new bike, which I'd talked myself into because I was scared every used bike would fall in half after I got to 60mph :P.
So if you have time to think sensibly and apply whatever sound or unsound financial methodology you apply to the rest of your life, then... do whatever makes you happy unless you're broke
.
I will go in the opposite direction of experience to MrGman though
. I also bought a brand new bike immediately after passing (SV650 Sport), mostly because I learned in order to do a particular trip so needed a bike immediately. I liked the bike but I regretted buying a brand new bike, which I'd talked myself into because I was scared every used bike would fall in half after I got to 60mph :P.So if you have time to think sensibly and apply whatever sound or unsound financial methodology you apply to the rest of your life, then... do whatever makes you happy unless you're broke
.Good stuff!
if you have the money go and buy what you like. My restriction was not paying daft money for insurance initially. I had already ordered a new bike for March the 1st delivery and hadn't even passed my test (passed end of Feb). I had to pass or it would have been frustrating not being able to ride it!
if you have the money go and buy what you like. My restriction was not paying daft money for insurance initially. I had already ordered a new bike for March the 1st delivery and hadn't even passed my test (passed end of Feb). I had to pass or it would have been frustrating not being able to ride it!
Congrats!
As the others have said just take it easy - relax and practice will bring more confidence. Every time you ride try and improve your skills, be it target fixation, countersteering, whatever. Don't worry about wanting to go any quicker as it'll come with practice.
At some point you'll make mistakes, the key is not to beat yourself up too much about it, be objective and try and learn from it. Even if that means you have to stop in a layby and have a word with yourself while all that traffic you overtook files past staring at you.
For bikes I'd try and test-ride anything before committing to buy, but I'd also say buy what really tickles your fancy. Even if it seems like a stupid choice it should be something that makes you smile and itch to go out on.
As the others have said just take it easy - relax and practice will bring more confidence. Every time you ride try and improve your skills, be it target fixation, countersteering, whatever. Don't worry about wanting to go any quicker as it'll come with practice.
At some point you'll make mistakes, the key is not to beat yourself up too much about it, be objective and try and learn from it. Even if that means you have to stop in a layby and have a word with yourself while all that traffic you overtook files past staring at you.
For bikes I'd try and test-ride anything before committing to buy, but I'd also say buy what really tickles your fancy. Even if it seems like a stupid choice it should be something that makes you smile and itch to go out on.
Welcome to a whole new world, you won't believe how much you don't know / didn't think about.
Getting cold far from home was one of mine, breaking down was another, read up on forums / youtube and don't spend all your money on the bike.
I'd do a bit of research then go and sit on a load at a Dealer (call first some won't let you do this) before you make any decisions.
Dealers vary a lot - some are friendly and helpful (FastTrack in Leicester) others aren't
Getting cold far from home was one of mine, breaking down was another, read up on forums / youtube and don't spend all your money on the bike.
I'd do a bit of research then go and sit on a load at a Dealer (call first some won't let you do this) before you make any decisions.
Dealers vary a lot - some are friendly and helpful (FastTrack in Leicester) others aren't
I would by a cheap naked bike for around £1000 you can ride for a year or so, if you drop it oh well.
I bought a Honda Hornet CB600 (which I still own) I have come off twice since I starting riding five years ago, first time was my mistake as I suffered with target fixation on a really sharp slow bend (gravel in the road) shortly after passing and the second time I came off when I was going round a round about I hit an oil patch and off I slid.
I was certainly disappointed I came off and damaged the bike but no where near as upset had it been a brand new shiny bike, you will make mistakes as a new rider so get the practice in on something that's not to expensive to fix or discard.
MB
I bought a Honda Hornet CB600 (which I still own) I have come off twice since I starting riding five years ago, first time was my mistake as I suffered with target fixation on a really sharp slow bend (gravel in the road) shortly after passing and the second time I came off when I was going round a round about I hit an oil patch and off I slid.
I was certainly disappointed I came off and damaged the bike but no where near as upset had it been a brand new shiny bike, you will make mistakes as a new rider so get the practice in on something that's not to expensive to fix or discard.
MB
BigGingerBob said:
Hi everyone, I know there a et e a few threads on this subject but...
I passed my mod 1 and mod 2 today!
Congratulations indeed. Your not making me fee good about failing my mod two today I passed my mod 1 and mod 2 today!
I made mistake of becoming convinced the 30 I was on was a 40 as all cars were doing 45, he let me off that as he said he thought it was nerves and circumstance at start of test.
But then apparently I accelerated up to the NSL sign before passing it and did similar with a 20-30. What a n00b ... Still he said apart from that I was good to go. Will leave it be for this year I think.
Ps heated grips are amazing
BigGingerBob said:
Also, how did you approach fast corners when you were a novice? 70mph corners are the only area where I find myself tensing up. Which, as we know, is the last thing you want to be doing.
You are not looking far enough ahead. If it's a fast cornrer then you're likely to be be able to see right through the corner and out the other side. That's where you should be looking before you enter the corner. Ignore the tarmac 20ft in front of you (that's where you're likely looking at the moment) and look as far up the road ahead as you can.
Gratz!
Go out tomorrow, spend a grand or two on an older middleweight bike you like the look of, smother it in ACF50, get some warm textiles you feel comfy in and get some wheels under your tyres. Come spring you can start thinking about something that pulls the heart strings, in the meantime you can enjoy yourself knowing a bit of sprouting rust or the odd scuff isn't going to upset you.
Go out tomorrow, spend a grand or two on an older middleweight bike you like the look of, smother it in ACF50, get some warm textiles you feel comfy in and get some wheels under your tyres. Come spring you can start thinking about something that pulls the heart strings, in the meantime you can enjoy yourself knowing a bit of sprouting rust or the odd scuff isn't going to upset you.
hiccy18 said:
Gratz!
Go out tomorrow, spend a grand or two on an older middleweight bike you like the look of, smother it in ACF50, get some warm textiles you feel comfy in and get some wheels under your tyres. Come spring you can start thinking about something that pulls the heart strings, in the meantime you can enjoy yourself knowing a bit of sprouting rust or the odd scuff isn't going to upset you.
Yep, a thousand or two miles over the winter will do more for your confidence and bike control than trying to think your way round a 70mph bend. Go out tomorrow, spend a grand or two on an older middleweight bike you like the look of, smother it in ACF50, get some warm textiles you feel comfy in and get some wheels under your tyres. Come spring you can start thinking about something that pulls the heart strings, in the meantime you can enjoy yourself knowing a bit of sprouting rust or the odd scuff isn't going to upset you.
Wait until spring for that sort of stuff.
Nice bike! Tell me more!
Thank you everyone for the congratulations. I will see if there's a bandit or hornet knocking around Torbay that I can buy for the winter and then get myself something tasty for the summer.
Practice makes perfect for sure and I just need to get more practice looking further ahead on the road.
For those asking about roads, look at the a380 on google maps, an nsl dual carriageway with fast flowing corners. I wasn't trying to hoon on my way home from my test!
Thank you everyone for the congratulations. I will see if there's a bandit or hornet knocking around Torbay that I can buy for the winter and then get myself something tasty for the summer.
Practice makes perfect for sure and I just need to get more practice looking further ahead on the road.
For those asking about roads, look at the a380 on google maps, an nsl dual carriageway with fast flowing corners. I wasn't trying to hoon on my way home from my test!
Congratulations on passing.
There are loads of answers to 'what bike should I buy' Ultimately I'd say just buy whichever bike you want and ignore everyone else.
BUT ....
At this time of year, I would buy a cheap SV650 or something like that, ACF50 it. Ride it till March / April and you will find your riding skills will have progressed loads during that time, plus it will also give you more of an idea of what bike you really want rather than which bike you think you want.
Then ...
In April, go out and buy the bike you want and turn the SV650 in to a track bike
Funnily enough, this is exactly what I've done with my Mrs who passed her DAS in October. She doesn't know it yet but the 2003 SV650 I bought for her for passing her test is going to become my track bike next year.
There are loads of answers to 'what bike should I buy' Ultimately I'd say just buy whichever bike you want and ignore everyone else.
BUT ....
At this time of year, I would buy a cheap SV650 or something like that, ACF50 it. Ride it till March / April and you will find your riding skills will have progressed loads during that time, plus it will also give you more of an idea of what bike you really want rather than which bike you think you want.
Then ...
In April, go out and buy the bike you want and turn the SV650 in to a track bike
Funnily enough, this is exactly what I've done with my Mrs who passed her DAS in October. She doesn't know it yet but the 2003 SV650 I bought for her for passing her test is going to become my track bike next year.
Congrats on the pass!
Bike wise I'd recommend a cheap used bike, any bike is likely to feel exciting for now because its new to you!
In time you may find you realise what you like and dislike and you'll have some experience to draw on to narrow down your search.
As for faster corners... Don't put pressure on yourself.
Go round them as quickly as you feel comfortable, if that's 30mph or less so be it!
Some good advice listed though of looking through the corner at the vanishing point.
It'll always be better to think on the exit of a corner " I could have gone a touch faster through there" rather than thinking "oh s
t oh st oh st oh st" or worse, lying on the floor after a whoopsie.
Enjoy the riding! One of the best feelings is when you've been riding in winter and all of sudden spring starts and you can start to lean the bike over more and more with dry roads and the sun beginning to beat down
Bike wise I'd recommend a cheap used bike, any bike is likely to feel exciting for now because its new to you!
In time you may find you realise what you like and dislike and you'll have some experience to draw on to narrow down your search.
As for faster corners... Don't put pressure on yourself.
Go round them as quickly as you feel comfortable, if that's 30mph or less so be it!
Some good advice listed though of looking through the corner at the vanishing point.
It'll always be better to think on the exit of a corner " I could have gone a touch faster through there" rather than thinking "oh s
t oh st oh st oh st" or worse, lying on the floor after a whoopsie.Enjoy the riding! One of the best feelings is when you've been riding in winter and all of sudden spring starts and you can start to lean the bike over more and more with dry roads and the sun beginning to beat down
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