opinions please - sorted!!

[ClaireBear]

Hello

I am 21, have done my bike theory test, have had a full driving licence since I was 17 but have always had quads/tractors on the farm and recently got an off road ts 125 a few years ago. I completed my CBT yesterday and although it was my first time on the road with a bike, apparently my road positioning, checks, observations etc are spot on and so are gear changes etc...but my problem is basically clutch control on the slow parts- figures of 8, u-turn etc. Tbh I was expecting problems here!

But anyway my plan was to go straight on to do the DAS- as I figured that with previous experience I might be ok (especially as some people go completely from scratch) but the instructor says I am not ready for this- fair enough- but he is sure that with three days worth of training I would pass the A2 no problem. He reckons I would crack the slow movement control problem on the first day.

I dont mind being restricted for two years- but I dont want to stay on a smaller bike forever lol

So Im wondering- is it best to go from a 125 to a 250/400 restricted and then, probably after my restriction is up, get a 600 (quite fancy a bandit/fazer )?

The reason I ask is he says that a lot of people scare themselves with a bigger bike straight away and he told one of the other lads that if you stall a big bike you'll be sitting on the floor next to it!

Thanks for reading this and any advice given

[FerretFing]

Hi Claire, everyone is different so it`s hard to say what you should or shouldn`t do. You are your own boss so take a little while to decide - doesn`t help when people say you`re going to drop a bigger bike if you stall - my wife manages fine on the Er6 & she has rheumatoid arthritis AND stalls it still she hasn`t dropped it yet!

If you fancy doing the DAS then go for it , life is too short to miss out on what you want. Our approach was to get lots of praccy on 125`s (did several thousand miles) then do our A2 (which we both passed with no tuition at all) - on reflection, we should`ve done DAS & if I had the choice over again that`s what I`d do.

The fact that you already have an understanding of the roads due to having a driving license is a big help, the control of the bike is purely about praccy which will build your confidence in no time.

Good luck with it all BUT be your own boss Claire!

[wizzzard]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally I would say get a cheap 125 and get yourself a decent amount of practice and then do DAS.

With a larger heavier bike, stalling at the wrong moment can make it very easy to drop the bike. But a larger bike is easier to ride without stalling.

While I don't think jumping onto a sports 600 would be a good idea after DAS, there are plenty of larger bikes with adequate power to get used to riding on and having done DAS it saves you the cost of getting one restricted.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Banned]

IMO DAS then source suitable first big bike.

Steve

[ClaireBear]

Thank you for your replies

I found it personally a bit contradictive him saying that I could be test standard with just one day of the training on a 125, and the rest would just be polishing- so why not recommend the das lol

But anyway, if Im more likely to pass the A2 then I dont mind giving it a go- I just find them quite difficult at times to balance- Im 5ft 11 and fairly well built so a 125 is quite small lol But I think I just need to look ahead more

I guess what Im worried about is passing the A2 test and then getting my first bigger bike without the 'support' of an instructor there- I've noticed a lot of instructors seem to use the ER-5, and I have seen a few of them for sale restricted to 33bhp.

I would prefer to do the DAS, mainly because that way I will be shown how to ride a bigger bike- or is it not actually much different? Particularly if it has been restricted? (taking the weight of the bike out of the equation of course )

[Banned]

DAS, deep end your swim not sink !

[hedgehugger]

I went from an sr 125 to an er-5 (restricted). Never had lessons, did my a2. Passed first time.

I was crapping meself with my Big Bike parked at the kerb (had got somebody else to ride it home for me when I bought it.
Very nervous (but in a good way), before I rode it for the first time.

Apart from the weight and height (which you soon get used to)
It's just a bike

The first few times I took it easy to get used to it, but soon it feels 'right'.

Up to you whichever way you do it, my restriction is up in April 2010 and the time goes by quite quickly.

(5ft 4in, stall but don't drop )

[hedgehugger]

I went from an sr 125 to an er-5 (restricted). Never had lessons, did my a2. Passed first time.

I was crapping meself with my Big Bike parked at the kerb (had got somebody else to ride it home for me when I bought it.
Very nervous (but in a good way), before I rode it for the first time.

Apart from the weight and height (which you soon get used to)
It's just a bike

The first few times I took it easy to get used to it, but soon it feels 'right'.

Up to you whichever way you do it, my restriction is up in April 2010 and the time goes by quite quickly.

(5ft 4in, stall but don't drop )

[lnewland]

I did my CBT last sept and only rode a maximum of two hours between then and doing my A2 last march. i did a four day course due to having very little experience and poor slow speed control. upon passing my test i brought a restricted cb500 and what a difference. i found it so much easier to control a big bike and felt far more confident. i now wish i had done my DAS course but never mind. in my case if worked for me going onto a big bike but as previously mentioned eveyone is different
____________________
Cg125 stolen and returned trashed
Cb500
Yamaha R6

[ClaireBear]

Im pretty sure I will prefer a bigger bike, after all practice is the key

But can I ask hedgehugger and Inewland- when you got your 500's, was it the very first time you had been on a big bike?

Thanks again for your replies

[adama]

I went from a 125 straight to a gsxr600...felt quite awesome i must say. Funnily enough i was asking the same type of questions as you, and big bigs..believe it or not are actually easier to ride
____________________
Vlogging - www.youtube.com/caprio85

CBT Passed - 24/04/08 - Theory Passed 18/07/08 - Practical Passed 2/04/09

[ClaireBear]

lol I do hear/read some people say they are easier to balance
etc

I think Im just worried about the initial pulling away on a bigger bike lol

[lofty]

Do your DAS, if they think you could manage your A2 after a few days training, why not do an extra days training if you can afford it... and do your DAS? I did my a2 when I was 20, wasn't confident enough to wait until I was 21 to do my DAS as I am really short and felt a lot more confident doing the test on a smaller bike, but just grit you're teeth, im sure clutch control will get easier!

[wizzzard]

[hedgehugger]

YOU are in control lol
you are more likely to stall it by not giving it enough throttle rather than whacking your wrist back and flying up the road, leaving all the neighbours to eat your dust 'n' pick up the pieces

First time out on a 'big bike' n you'll come back grinning like a loony

[hedgehugger]

[lnewland]

Claire,
yes it was the first time i had been on a big bike. if your worried about how it feels to pull away just pop down to your bike school and ask to have ago on one of theirs in the yard. just remember easy on the clutch. come of it to quick and yes you willl shoot forward. go back to basics, find the biting point and gadually ease it of from there
____________________
Cg125 stolen and returned trashed
Cb500
Yamaha R6

[Mac_Black]

If anyone has made these points already then sorry but I'm skimming.

Confidence, play away with any apprehensions you have and your control over the bike will improve as a result...
Keep it calm and together and learn at your own pace and you won't be dropping anything.
Prepare yourself for the inevitability that you will stall and you'll manage fine when it happens, when coming to a stop or an area that is built up and likely to offer many hazards...
Slow down and keep an eye on the road conditions carefully, keep the bike in the most neutral position possible and cover the brakes,
think things through as you come to do them and then let them become second nature.

Do your DAS, there's no reason to go for the A2 anyway, nothings stopping you from riding a smaller machine after passing so why bother with the A2 and being restricted anyway?
Self police, the best policy I think.

Whatever you chose to do, good luck.

[karoshi]

[lnewland]

im sure there will be a time but i havent stalled my bike yet other then putting the side stand down before putting the bike in neutral
____________________
Cg125 stolen and returned trashed
Cb500
Yamaha R6

[ClaireBear]

Latest thought/concern

When I arrived to do the cbt we were taking about the module one and he said that the 125's had trouble getting up to speed to do the swerve test.

Surely 31 mph isnt too difficult lol

Decisions lol

[Bucky]

[BelleBot]

Do DAS, my instructor gave me the same spiel of not being able to cope with a bigger bike because I'm a girl, size 8 and generally too small. (I had longer legs than both the instructors though)

As long as you can flat foot it I don't see a problem. I found the 125 I did my A2 on much harder to balance as it was lightweight and nothing to grab on to with your thighs. Balancing on my bigger bike for a brief test ride after surgery was much easier, and I'm not exactly fighting fit or have any decent strength at the moment.

I wish I'd stuck my ground and insisted I use a big bike and do DAS, ah well only 18 months of restriction left. Good luck.

[ClaireBear]

Based on what the instructor said , I have decided to go for the A2 test. Restriction will be annoying, as in having to get a bike restricted, but its only for two years.

Managed to book us (other half and me) for three days training and the module one and two, a few days after. Luckily it is at our local instructors place where we did the cbt so at least we know them and the bikes from doing the cbt lol

RANT!
Get this though- we emailed a guy in the next county up from us simply finding out when he could fit us in. Was all nice on the phone- suggesting we have the training with him and then rent a bike to practice what hes taught us- only doing 3 hours road riding though each 'day'.

Theres a separate scheme in devon and cornwall called wheels to work, where you hire a bike off them cheaply to use for getting around. He told us to pretend we live in devon (first alarm bell) to get one of their bikes. I emailed them, and cant hire from the devon ones, whereas he went and spoke to the managing director and said we apparently can. (Maybe helpful/maybe getting a bit pushy here)

First email from his simply said 'ready to book'. Didnt like this but explained we would look into hiring or getting our own bikes and doing the A2 in a month or two.

Next email- 'keep kicking those tires!' What a prick! Certainly glad we booked elsewhere based on his customer service...

Rant over