News...and feedback wanted please...

[JodieWodie]

HI all....

Well..Jo has finally thrown in the towel and admitted defeat on the DAS
I had another lesson last night...fell off again...couldn't pick bike up....got mad at myself....confidence gone

The thing is....when learning for the A test we have one guaranteed lesson a week...sometimes more...
but on the DAS...they have so few bikes that you get one lesson a fortnight...sometimes only an hour long
The instructor wants us to do this, that...lifesavers..the other....I am trying to remember how to START a strange bike... not to DIE,.. and keep the bike upright !!..Savvy Instructor ??!!

I cannot learn like that...it takes me an hour to acclimatise to the big bike

Last night I was scared at times...and did not enjoy the ride at all...weird for me...never happened before.

So....with all my 500 confidence ebbing away I have taken the decision to do my A test again...I have thought long and hard and this is what is best for ME.

It is a shame as my first 500 lesson was easy...fun..enjoyable....
now it is a seldom occurence that leaves me fed up.
As the lessons go on I feel less confident.

I can now swing u turns on the 125 easily...my road sense is a lot better...plus I am on the 125 daily....I think my test will be 3/4 weeks away

So..my choices...a 250...or restricted 400+...

QUESTION:
If I got...say a Suzuki GSXR400 for example...what would the top speed be when restricted to 33bhp ?
And...in fact...for many of the other 400/500 cc bikes ??.....

Thanks in advance technical people....

Jo xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

[Ste]

Top speed on a bike at 33bhp is about 100-110mph. If you plan on keeping it restricted for the two years then the closer to 33bhp the bike is as standard the better it will take it.

Why not change training schools and do your DAS with someone else, most places will be able to courses which are a few days of training with your test at the end.

[JodieWodie]

[Retro-Man]

Jo

I think your riding skills are fine you do need however to get a new tutor

A strange bike will take time to get use to and it appears from your post that your lessons are a rushed hour long affair

I would recomend a couple of 2 hour relaxed get used to the bike type sessions one on one

Don't give up with the big test, You have the Skill, You have the ability
You have the Road Knowledge
Don't let a bad Tutor knock your confidence

all the best
retro
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Think Ste is right. The issue seems not to be your riding ability on the 500s just the difficulty in switching between different bikes for the odd lesson. If you can try and get longer sessions on the 500, even if it means changing riding school (I know, easier said than done).

At least if you have several hours out at once you can get plenty of miles under the wheels getting used to it before you have to cope with the U turn.

All the best

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

[ProXimaCore]

I know when I had my DAS lessons, it did take a little while at the start of each lesson to get the feel for the bike again after riding my 125 in between. I made a point in making sure I could have 2 hours at a time for that reason and also got them one day after another. Things stick in your head easier that way. I remember learning to drive a car and having one lesson a week. I felt like I had forgotten everything again by the time the next week came round.

As said already, try and get yourself to another school that can give you more time. It took me 3 days of training 2 hours a day and then an hours lesson before the test on the 4th day. I think on the test date I was up at 9am with the test at 2pm. I just went out on the NSR till it was test time. Kept bumping into my instructor all day as I was taking the routes he showed me. He asked if I was completely knackered after all that riding.

Nice choice bike the GSXR400. A bit uncomfy though. Top speed restricted would be an indicated 100mph I'd guess. Unrestricted, you're talking indicated 135mph. Probably a true 120mph. You really really want to do the DAS though. You would be really kicking yourself later if you went for restricted access knowing you have to put up with it for 2 years when you didn't have to.

Hope that helps a little. If at all.
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Honda NSR125R -> Suzuki GSXR400R GK76a -> Kawasaki ZX636 B1H -> Honda CBR400RR NC29 -> Nothing

[Visitor Q]

I agree, do an intense course if you can. When i did my test ( i know its not a 500 but same applied when riding any big bikes, Theres always the 'hmmm this is heavy' aspect) i completely kept away from the 50 as it was a 2 stroke and sporty, and i was doing my test on a dull sr125 4 stroke. All bikes need getting used to and it seems you are getting a raw deal.

Go to a decent place, get an assessment of your riding done, and do either the 2 day or 3 day courses they offer. Less stress aswell.
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[dodsi]

I have bought a yamaha SR 125 for that reason, as i am so used to riding it now my next test should not really be a problem.

Well the other reason was that the Speedfight 100cc had major engine failure so the "clever" choice was the SR 125.

[Frost]

To be honest if your having trouble getting used to a bigger bike and have dropped it a few times, then the top speed of a bike shouldnt really be your concern. 33bhp is a big enough step up from a 125 and will take you faster than you need to go and more when your still learning.

Just do an A2 ona lighter bike, get a 33bhp bike, l;earn on it, gain expirence then de-restrict it.

[malb]

It would be a shame to not complete DAS now, like everyone else says you seem to have the knowledge and skill to ride any bike, just perhaps not the experience. Stick with it and you WILL do it, and remember everyone has bad lessons, well most people anyway.

Then if all else fails you still have your 125 to blast the F**K out of.
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[Wave2k]

maybe a A2 course would be a better step
the bikes are a hell of a lot easier to ride
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[Ste]

She's been managing okay with the big bikes and having problems because of the time gaps between using them and the fact she is only able to be using a 125 in that time. She would still have to learn to do the same things for the test and bikes like the 500's they use for DAS are used because they are easy to ride.

If she does a A2 course instead of DAS then quite quickly she'll be kicking herself and doing the accelerated access test which is basically the DAS test for people who are over 21 but on a 33bhp restriction.

[stinkwheel]

I can't really pick my bike up if it goes all the way down. I have done but it took about four attempts and I nearly pulled a muscle doing it. This is not a reason not to ride it

From the wording of your post, it sounds like the instructor is taking out several students at once? That is shit, I wouldn't be happy with anything less than a 1:1 ratio. I see no reason why you should expect anything less than the instructors full attention if you are paying through the nose for an hours lesson. IMO if he is taking two students out at once, you should be out for two hours for the same price.

Far as I am concerned, with driving schools smaller=better, you need to find someone who is happy to take you out for a couple of hours at a time on a 1:1 basis where you can have a relaxed and unhurried lesson tailored to YOUR speed and ability, not geared to getting it over with and the next handful of cash coming in by craming two or three learners per instructor.

You are the customer, you are paying so exercise your consumer power. You have a bike so you are able to travel to lessons, go through the yellow pages and phone round, see if you can find someone in a small town nearby who does the job properly.
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[synaptyx]

Chin up lass! How do you think I felt going from my DAS 500 to a 125 automatic scooter and back again over the course of a few days? As the guys have already said. Don't let a problem with the instructor shake your confidence. Have you spoken to the guy about it? It could be he doesn't understand what you're going through. You can do it. Like StinkWheel, I couldn't pick up my bike without some serious temple exploding effort. I also agree with what he says about smaller schools = better; they should have more 1:1 time for you. Remember, like anything you buy, be it a product or a service, it's your money and if you're not satisfied let 'em know.

Good luck Jo!

[AcIdBuRnZ]

Don't quit DAS because of not getting long enough lessons and reasons like that. Do quit DAS if you don't feel confident or ready for a bigger bike.

My point is that if you do decide to drop DAS, make sure it's for the right reasons, not because you feel you should due to other factors.

It's only my opinion here (and therfore bears no relevance), but even with a one hour lesson and 2 weeks in between, you shouldn't be dropping the bike at all, especially when you ride a bike between lessons.

I was riding my NSR between lessons (and to and from) and found it easier going to the 500's than it was going back on the 125

Hope you stick with it anyway
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[TiN]

I'd say change your school/instructor - they are obviously far too busy to properly help you. The 500 is definately a different beast to the 125, especially if you haven't spent a whole day getting used to it.

There's a place in Bristol that does intensive course, and offers free accomodation on site, so that might be a plan if you've got some holiday time available from work.
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TiN
dotgems.net

[JodieWodie]

Thanks all for those comments and advice

I know why I am leaving the DAS, and I feel it is for ME, and for the right reasons for me at this time.

I will stick with my current test and get a 250 maybe.

In about a year, I may feel confident enough to get on a 500 again...who knows....and that won't be a problem, there will be cash at that time to follow it through.

I know it was the training schools fault, and they have said so themselves to me last night about the lack of lessons...broken bikes...not enough instructors, etc.... and I was right to be angry....but the damage has been done now, and I have made a confident positive decision.

I am happy I gave it a go.

JO x
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Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

[Demonic69]

Do you have a licence at all? Sounds to me like you only have your provisional, which will mean you can only ride a 125. If you're still having trouble with your DAS it could be worth just doing your restricted test.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[JodieWodie]

[Demonic69]

I get ya:D Ride anything you want too, don't just get a shitty low-powered thingy. I rode my Blade on the restricted licence for a year
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[stryker]

I know you cannot change your training regime, but I have to say its not your fault. You cant beat an intensive course. Your spending half your one hour lesson becoming orientated with the bike again....... not good.
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Now what?

[malb]

[Demonic69]

My lessons were always at least 4 hours long, and as said, you spend the firt hour or so getting used to the bike again.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[tony532]

i did exactly the same as you jodi

did lessons for d.a.s hated the gs500 couldnt do the u turn on it

changed my test to the a2 one the day before and passed my a2 test on the cg125

and restricted the gsxr400 to 33 bhp and its still restricted

plenty fast enough for now


felt it was the right thing to do at the time and still do

[iCraig]

As the rest have said don't quit!

It'll get easier with practice.

One thing other people have suggested is try another riding school. One that does day lessons in blocks, where you go riding for like 4-5 hours a day. It really does work, as its being drummed into you and if you get a decent instructor like I did its good fun too and I didn't want to get off the bike.