Newbie saying hello - updated.

[Grimeric]

Hi all,

I have just registered here so I thought I would post to say hi.

I have been lurking and reading lots of threads here over the last couple of months and learning lots.

My only biking experience so far has been a couple of 125's that I rode for a few years whilst in my late teens. I've not ridden properly on the road since I was about 21 ish, I am 30 this year.

I am currently in the process of attempting to get a full bike licence, I have a theory booked for this coming weekend and my cbt for the end of August after I return from my holidays. Hopefully if all goes well it will then be onto the big bikes! I don't have an issue with the cbt but the theory test has changed since I took it at 17, I only had to answer 35 questions, now they have this silly hazard perception thing to attempt too!

That's probably all for now, I just wanted to introduce myself.

Grim

[darkhorizon]

Welcome. Good your cracking on with it. Have it done by end of the year!
____________________
2009 CBF600 - London hack - stolen then recovered - still going!
2006 CG125 - Was SORN'd, now back on road - sold Nov '16

[Grimeric]

Cheers. That's the plan. I've been telling myself for years I would do it this summer etc but it never happened due to kids and stuff getting in the way. This is my year to do it. Have the wheels in motion so to speak!

Grim

[-Matt-]

Hi mate, welcome

Grab yourself one of the DSA motorcycle theory dvd's, got all the questions for you to practice as many times as you want and records what you've got wrong or not so you can focus on the regular mistakes, then has a selection of some sample hazard perceptions to practice also to get the basic idea of what to expect on those.

Good luck with the tests when you get round to them

[Grimeric]

[-Matt-]

Ah that might be fine then, didn't even have a phone that took apps a few years back when i did mine

[Grimeric]

They are official DSA apps so hopefully the lay out of the actual theory test will look a little familier. Although I am looking forward to doing the hazard perception on something larger then an iphone!

[Rogerborg]

It is a very silly exercise, but treat it as a game and you'll get through it. There are a fair number of hoops to jump through now, but it is worth it in the end, I promise.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Grimeric]

Yeah I was a bit miffed when I realised I had to take it again, especially with almost 13 years car driving under my belt. I understand riding a bike is different then driving a car, more hazards and danger but I still can't see it as anything other then a money making exercise. I plan to just treat it a little like a game and not take it too seriously.

[banditjohn]

Hi and welcome Good luck with the test

[Grimeric]

[PiercedMrsP]

I was in the same position as you - 10yrs as a car driver and they wanted me to pay for another theory test and a silly hazard perception thingy? Pffft!

The hazard perception is just a game and doesn't bear that much resemblance to how you, as an experienced road user, will view and assess hazards (or how most learners would tbh). I just had a go on some freebie clips and passed fine.

Good luck with the CBT and then onto DAS, where the cone-dodging fun begins
____________________
Can sadly no longer be seen tearing up the road on my Honda Shadow 1100 ACE as she was stolen by thieving scum on 3/7/13.
Now the proud owner of a Suzuki VL800 Volusia and a huge Almax security chain

[Grimeric]

Thanks ! Can't wait to get cracking now!

[Grimeric]

[Grimeric]

I should really have updated this ages ago but I've been busy with work and family and kept putting it off.

I took my theory test as planned and passed with no issues, I just practiced the questions on an iPhone app and managed to score 100%
With the hazard perception side of things I just played around with some free ones that I found online. I just imagined it as a game and I managed to score 53 out of a possible 75. Not an impressive score but a pass all the same.

I then took a break over the winter due to work commitments and booked in for some lessons in January. I managed to pass my mod 1 in the middle of February. My speed for the emergency stop was 55 kph and for the avoidance 57 kph with 0 minor faults. The whole test just seemed to fly by, I felt I was only on the test pad a matter of seconds. The avoidance exercise was the one I was fearing the most but looking back it was the most enjoyable. Once I had a feel for the bike I loved chucking it around the cones.

I then booked my mod 2 for a couple of weeks later. Again it felt that I was only on the road a matter of minutes. As we left the test centre we entered straight onto a busy industrial estate where I had to manoeuvre around what felt like hundreds of lorries charging around everywhere, a couple of times the gap between the lorries parked on the left and the on coming lorries was fairly tight and due to nerves I just zipped right through. I was already convinced that due to this I had failed within the first couple of minutes. The examiner then took me through what felt like a maze of tight back roads and duel carriageways, it also felt like he asked me to pull over at least 50 times!!
I ended up passing the test with just one minor for undue hesitation. I was giving way at a roundabout for a lorry when another appeared to my right, apparently I should have just nailed it after the first lorry if all my obs were okay.

Looking back the tests were a lot easier then I had led myself to believe. Apologies for the long post, I am just proud of my shiny new licence with an A on the rear.
I just need to get my act together and find a suitable bike now!

Regards
Grim

[Az]

Congratulations on passing

So… what bike are you getting then?

[Pigeon]

Perfect timing for the (hopefully) better weather and bikes coming onto the market.

Congrats!

[Grimeric]

Cheers guys.

I'm looking at getting something along the lines of a bandit, fazer or hornet at the minute. Budget is a little tight at the minute though. Will be able to free up some more cash when I get my ass into gear and flog one of my cars.

[Az]

[Grimeric]

[Az]

[Grimeric]

Just shy of a grand. I was gutted I didn't enter more of a bid but I had to slap my bid on in the morning due to not getting a signal out where I work. It came with top box, removable soft side panniers, tank bag and outdoor cover. I'm still kicking myself now! I'm not in a massive rush to buy but I'd like something for this summer if I can.

[-Matt-]

[Grimeric]

You're not wrong there Matt. The main issue I'm having is that most bikes I find seem to be 3 or 4 hours away and at the minute I'm working lots and struggling to view let alone get one home!

[-Matt-]

I used to generally try limit myself to 2-3 hours tops to view the bike also - although if you can get an idea of the seller through a few phonecalls etc i've travelled a bit further on two occasions and it did pay off - its a gamble of course as if they've mislead people in anyway you've wasted a long trek - but even if you can get them to hold it with a small deposit/organise transportation it can pay off longterm if you get something pristine at the end of it.