Starting Biking
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Tripps

Original Poster:

5,814 posts

294 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
This thread has probably been done before, but it's more the discussion I need than the actual answers, as I think I know what I want to do

What would be involved for me to get up and riding on a bike? I (think I) know the basics; do the CBT, ribe around for a year or so to build up some experience and then get the full test, but my knowledge is all pretty vague. Is there any way I can get some sort of trial (perhaps along with a CBT) to see if it does it for me before spending out on bike, leathers, helmet and everthing else?

Mountain bikes and quads are the closest I've got to two wheeled motoring, so I've got a bit of a learning curve ahead of me... But is an itch I really need to scratch before I get too old for it. I'm very concious of the older biker syndrome, so want to spend some time to build experience rather than be at one with a tree after buying the quickest bike I can.

Thanks thumbup

JustTheTip

1,035 posts

258 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
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How old are you? There are different routes available for you depending on your age.

DamienCBR

2,037 posts

245 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
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Rob,

THought you were going to build a Tiger.....

You will not need any gear to do the CBT and Direct Access. I did mine in a pair of jeans works boots and a padded jacket. They provided helmet and gloves and water proof when raining. I would do the direct access course, a 125cc is slow as sh!t and you will get bored very quickly. After the CBT you get on the 500cc and it is a world apart, a few days later you pass your test and can ride anything you like. This is when i bought my leathers helmet and gloves, then bought the bike. Started on a CBR600FY then got a CBR600RR.

Biking is great fun and i loved every minute of it until i fell off; wrote the bike off broke my shoulder had an operation on it to pin the bone and am still going through physio.

That is when the Tiger came along, still a giggle and i have got 4 wheels. Don't get me wrong nothing can replace the sheer acceleration of a bike but it still puts a smile on my face.

D

Tripps

Original Poster:

5,814 posts

294 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
JustTheTip said:
How old are you? There are different routes available for you depending on your age.
32 but I see my 40s coming up way too soon

F.M

5,816 posts

242 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
An off road bike was my way of popping my cherry into biking...good fun and you learn quick but some motocrossers(250`s) are absolute animals now though so start smaller...I bought a 2nd hand 125cc scrambler for £500 quid...fell off lots and hurt the muscles on my face through grinning all summer then sold it for the same price ..provided you have an intact body and haven`t hit a tree..Went on to superbikes no problem...It`s not a route for everyone though if your not a young `un...Trust me though..it`s great..thumbup

Edited by F.M on Thursday 19th October 15:17

Tripps

Original Poster:

5,814 posts

294 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
DamienCBR said:
THought you were going to build a Tiger.....
I'm toying with a few ideas at the moment while the garage is empty, the idea of both a bike and fun car does appeal...

DamienCBR said:
You will not need any gear to do the CBT and Direct Access. I did mine in a pair of jeans works boots and a padded jacket. They provided helmet and gloves and water proof when raining. I would do the direct access course, a 125cc is slow as sh!t and you will get bored very quickly. After the CBT you get on the 500cc and it is a world apart, a few days later you pass your test and can ride anything you like. This is when i bought my leathers helmet and gloves, then bought the bike. Started on a CBR600FY then got a CBR600RR.
That sort of thing sounds ideal, as I'd like to have the full license even if I don't get a bike just yet.

How does it work then, my impression is that I can get on a scooter/moped now with L plates, with a CBT I can take the L plates off and after the full license (Direct Access) the world is my oyster.

DamienCBR said:
Biking is great fun and i loved every minute of it until i fell off; wrote the bike off broke my shoulder had an operation on it to pin the bone and am still going through physio.

That is when the Tiger came along, still a giggle and i have got 4 wheels. Don't get me wrong nothing can replace the sheer acceleration of a bike but it still puts a smile on my face.
I've always stayed away from biking thinking I'd always have a toy car around, but figure it'd be best to try the real thing at some point.

JustTheTip

1,035 posts

258 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
You'll be wanting direct access then.

www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopeds/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopedsArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4022568&chk=SQ//zi

Google direct acess and your town and give your local training centre a call, they should be more than happy to help.

anonymous-user

76 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
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Tripps

YOu cannot remove your L plates without passing a test. If you pass CBT on a 50cc or a 125 then your CBT allows you to ride that sort of bike with L plates. YOu cannot even go on the road with L plates unless you pass your CBT!!



At 21 you can DAS on a 500 cc bike and at the end of that course (3-5 days depending on your competency) you take your test. If you pass you can ride anything with no L plates.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 19th October 15:17

Steve_T

6,356 posts

294 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
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Rob,

There's nothing like it. I think you'll be fine, as you already realise that an R1 immediately after DAS is perhaps not the smartest choice.

Steve.

Tripps

Original Poster:

5,814 posts

294 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
garyhun said:
YOu cannot remove your L plates without passing a test. If you pass CBT on a 50cc or a 125 then your CBT allows you to ride that sort of bike with L plates. YOu cannot even go on the road with L plates unless you pass your CBT!!

At 21 you can DAS on a 500 cc bike and at the end of that course (3-5 days depending on your competency) you take your test. If you pass you can ride anything with no L plates.
Ah, I'd always assumed the kids hooning about on scooters could do it without any kind of test, hence my confusion.

If DAS takes 3-5 days I think for now I'd be better off getting a 125cc CBT done, as I couldn't commit that much time in one go right now. Doing the CBT would give me a chance to see if I like it, I could then ride around on a 125 for a year of so or until I get bored of the lack of power or ashamed of having L-plates!

Does that make sense?

remal

25,072 posts

256 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
i'm 29 and never ridden before. on the 1st Oct I done my CBT on a 125cc. then mon to Thurs my direct access and passed first time on a 500cc ER-6. worth it and did not find it too hard. even if you do only the CBT 125cc you need to pass a test otherwise you need to re do the CBT every 2 years. and have to use L plates until you take your test

DamienCBR

2,037 posts

245 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
My direct access including CBT was 3 days.

125cc first day including CBT
500cc second day learning the ropes
500cc third day brush up in the morning test pm

job done

Only i failed the first one and had to go back for a day, basically the same as day three. When through zebra crossing while somebody was waiting.....dooohhhh

Tripps

Original Poster:

5,814 posts

294 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
DamienCBR said:
125cc first day including CBT
500cc second day learning the ropes
500cc third day brush up in the morning test pm

job done

Only i failed the first one and had to go back for a day, basically the same as day three. When through zebra crossing while somebody was waiting.....dooohhhh
Is that all it takes, did you have any previous experience on bikes at all?

Seems so quick compared to the time to build up driving experience and pass the test, mind you that was just an hour a week, so a lot of re-learning was required each time.

My worry would be that having never even picked up a bike in anger, I'd need to spend time getting the basics sorted before even being good enough to tackle the CBT...

DamienCBR

2,037 posts

245 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
Tripps said:
DamienCBR said:
125cc first day including CBT
500cc second day learning the ropes
500cc third day brush up in the morning test pm

job done

Only i failed the first one and had to go back for a day, basically the same as day three. When through zebra crossing while somebody was waiting.....dooohhhh
Is that all it takes, did you have any previous experience on bikes at all?

Seems so quick compared to the time to build up driving experience and pass the test, mind you that was just an hour a week, so a lot of re-learning was required each time.

My worry would be that having never even picked up a bike in anger, I'd need to spend time getting the basics sorted before even being good enough to tackle the CBT...


Yes i could ride a bike, however most places will let you go down and have a ride on one of their 125cc bike, assess you for free and tell you which DAS would be best for you. You already have a knowledge of the road so that is a good start, i did mine in Gillingham and they were great really helpful, go along and have an assesment to see what you need.
D

anonymous-user

76 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
Tripps

No instructor worth his salt will let you take your test unless he feels you are ready and capable!! Just book it and enjoy - the thrill of a 500 after a 125 is quite something!

DamienCBR

2,037 posts

245 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
garyhun said:
Tripps

The thrill of a 500 after a 125 is quite something!


hehe

anonymous-user

76 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
DamienCBR said:
garyhun said:
Tripps

The thrill of a 500 after a 125 is quite something!


hehe


So says the man with the written off Honda CBR600RR

DamienCBR

2,037 posts

245 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
garyhun said:
DamienCBR said:
garyhun said:
Tripps

The thrill of a 500 after a 125 is quite something!


hehe


So says the man with the written off Honda CBR600RR


Ouch that hurt....rolleyes

I did have the CBR600FY for 3 years before hand though

Then the CBR600RR lasted all of 5 weeks..yikes

Not allot you can do about diesel on the road or the central reservation headache

anonymous-user

76 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
DamienCBR said:
garyhun said:
DamienCBR said:
garyhun said:
Tripps

The thrill of a 500 after a 125 is quite something!


hehe


So says the man with the written off Honda CBR600RR


Ouch that hurt....rolleyes

I did have the CBR600FY for 3 years before hand though

Then the CBR600RR lasted all of 5 weeks..yikes

Not allot you can do about diesel on the road or the central reservation headache


DIESEL!! furious

Tripps

Original Poster:

5,814 posts

294 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
OK, I've found Alan Clark Motorbike Training right on my door-step which is rather handy...

Anyone heard of him by any chance?