Hello from another noob

[dougie_t]

Hi all,

Newly qualified biker here, saying hi and just wanted to share my experiences

Did CBT in May 2010. One of the hottest days of the year so spent the morning in the local school playground (it was a Sunday) sweating in my new textile jacket and helmet. Never had been on a bike before so it was all new to me, but picked it up fairly quickly although struggled with emergency stops (locked up the rear every single time)

Rest of the day was slightly frustrating in that the instructor on the road ride was muttering so badly that neither me nor the other learner could understand his instructions so he called it off citing a "radio fault". Retried a couple of days later with a different instructor and sailed through

Then embarked on the DAS course, took a series of lessons mostly in the evenings after work. Got absolutely perfect weather every time, didn't encounter rain until the day of Module 2, but more of that later

Eventually progressed up to the 600cc bikes (Yamaha XJ6) which was a massive surprise in terms of power - I honestly screamed like a little girl the first time I opened it up on the National Speed Limit roads! But the good part of the 600 was that I found emergency stops far easier, never once locking up the rear.

So on to the Module 1. On the first try I was convinced I was going to put a foot down on the slow speed slalom, which I didn't. However I did clip a cone on the high-speed avoidance test - I was going far too fast and basically ran out of room to get the bike round the cone properly. So that was a fail.

Retook Mod 1 about two weeks later and passed. Had to do the swerve test twice due to not reaching 50kph on the first go but succeeded on the second go

Then on to Module 2. Early start, 8.30 test so met at the shop for a 7.30 lesson. Cold, dark, wet morning - my first experience of riding in the rain. Got to the test centre to find out that the test was to be cancelled due to high wind. Fair enough I suppose.

So Mod 2 rebooked for yesterday. Perfect weather, if a little cold. Two show me/tell me questions to start with:
1) How would you check the oil on this bike?
2) How would you check the brake lights?
Both easy

Off we went, first problem being the examiner was very quiet on the radio but I could just hear him. We did the Independant Riding part which went a little bit wrong. I was to follow signs for a particular area, which I was doing until I found myself in a part of town I didn't know too well with no road signs. So I approached a small roundabout expecting the examiner to give me a left or right direction, but he didn't. I then stalled the bike and for the life of me couldn't get it started. I checked everything - stand was up, kill switch was off, ignition was on but it wouldn't start. I got off the bike to tell the examiner I thought the bike had broken down but he just looked at me and said "Is it in neutral?"

Doh!

So off we go again, by this point I was sure I had failed for not being able to operate the bike properly or something, so I just thought "Oh well, might as well get some test experience from it for the next time"

We went onto the dual carriageway and I got up to 50mph and cruised along for a bit, then we pulled off, round some local side streets, roundabouts etc and then before I knew it we are back at the test centre. Things I noticed we didn't do: Stop signs, unmarked junctions, hill starts. Bit strange.

Anyway, into the little room, and he starts telling me where I've gone wrong. I'm getting the full lecture about late signals and one point where I failed to do a shoulder check when pulling out to get round some parked cars. I was pretty hacked off by this point and didn't really want to listen to his lecture and just get out of there. He opens his folder and gets out the form and starts ticking where I've gone wrong:

"So, late signals, twice" - two ticks
"Failure to check before moving out" - one tick

"That's three minors. You've passed"

Me - "Are you being serious?"

It turns out I somehow passed...!!! I was certain the stalling incident had blown it, but it seems not.

Anyway, that's my story of going from nothing to full DAS. Sorry its a bit long, but I think I'm off to buy a bike today

[...]

Congratulations on passing!

So what bike did you do the test on, and what bike are you going to buy?

[pinkyfloyd]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the pass.

Said it before and will say it again. It doesnt matter how messy it is on the day. A pass is a pass and that slip of paper is all that counts at the end of the day.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[CaNsA]

You're Welcome.

[dougie_t]

[pinkyfloyd]

You have done your DAS course. Whats this rubbish about a bike being too much for you?

What do they tell you at this school? You ride the bike not the other way around.

I passed my test in June and was given the loan of a race tuned GSXR750 to run around on until I got my own ride. I now have my own ride and its a 1000cc engine.

Provided you treat the extra power with the respect it diserves there is no reason not to go on what ever bike you want.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[dougie_t]

Its nothing the school have said, its just my own feeling on gaining experience before I graduate to something that much more powerful. Actually, the last thing the instructor said to me as I left the test centre was "NOW you'll start learning to ride", which is something I agree with entirely.

I'm not kidding myself that I can just pick up and ride anything, that I'm the best rider there ever was and that I'm never going to have an accident. The exact opposite is true.

I'm fully aware that I virtually a complete novice, I'm more than likely going to drop a bike/have a crash, so I figure why not gain that experience on something cheap and disposable, rather than bending 12 grand worth of dream machine.
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CBT: 23/5/10. Theory: 10/6/10. Mod 1: 14/10/10. Mod 2: 9/11/10. Bike: Not got one yet

[blurredman]

Hey, well done matey! Good feelin' init?
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[Paxovasa]

Hello and welcome.

As I have a short attention span, I shall read the OP over the next day or two
____________________
Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[pinkyfloyd]

[dougie_t]

love it, spot on.
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CBT: 23/5/10. Theory: 10/6/10. Mod 1: 14/10/10. Mod 2: 9/11/10. Bike: Not got one yet

[Paxovasa]

[pinkyfloyd]

[N cee thirty]

lmao you got off the bike and told him it was broke ? and then passed

jesus what am i doing wrong lmao

well done and take it nice and easy
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Astridax]

Bribery goes a long way rob ... Only joking

[psychofox]

[dougie_t]

[blurredman]

[Inkognito]

Well done on passing. Now the real fun begins.
I don't see anything wrong in getting a big bike as long as you can restrain yourself and get used to the bike in the beginning.
If you're a speed demon or have poor throttle control you should probably start out on a less aggressive bike

I can't say anything about what your "dream bike" is like but i'm sure someone here has had one and can shed some light on that.
Whatever you decide I'd suggest you go and look at lots of bikes. Sit on them and get as many test rides as possible on the bikes you find comfortable/like.

[dougie_t]

Maybe you are right. I can see VFR1200s in Auto Trader for about 9k, barely used so I might just go for one of them and be done with it.

Gulp!
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CBT: 23/5/10. Theory: 10/6/10. Mod 1: 14/10/10. Mod 2: 9/11/10. Bike: Not got one yet

[SweenyT]

Welcome and congrats!


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Current ride - 2005 Suzuki GSX-R600 K4 - 2x 2014 Honda NC750s long term courtesy bikes - 2003 Fazer FZ6 written off as idiot reversed into me - 2009 YBR125 - still have from new