CBT or CBT & DAS

[stredon]

Hello BCF!

Currently looking to get on the road however I'd like your input on the following, I could do a CBT and struggle along with a 125 and use it to gain confidence and experience or the CBT then DAS route. The only reason I'm considering DAS is the fact I'd use the bike to get from London to Leeds every now and then and to be honest a 125 on a-roads all the way up there would be a struggle and not fun at all!

What would you do in this situation? I'm 27 so it's just a case of should I or shouldn't I.

[pinkyfloyd]

Best advice is do the CBT and see how you get along. Speak to your instructor and see what he recommends. I have had a few students I have sent straight to DAS and they have been fine. I have also had a few I have recommended they spend a bit of time on a 125 before going for DAS just to get experience on riding.

Chances are you will be fine and if so I would go straight to DAS.
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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.

[Rogerborg]

I'd agree with that, except don't give two shits what your employee says. If you don't like what you hear, take your money elsewhere.

I wouldn't waste too much time on a tiddler.
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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

[Ozzy92]

I've went down the route of buying a 125. The sole reason for me was this would be the first bike I have ever ridden. Therefore I wanted to gain some experience on a smaller bike before moving to something with more power. Personally I am finding it great to learn on a 125, however there are numerous occasions were I need more power.
I've ridden a 5 hour journey on it and it isn't too fun, especially as you cannot ride on motorways with L plates.
Therefore, that may be a key reason you go down the DAS route.

I suppose there are numerous things which tie into which route you go down. Money, confidence and experience, how long will you ride the bike, how soon will you upgrade.

Probably doesn't answer your question but it may help.

[MissBex]

I'm gonna say go straight with your DAS. Do a free 1 hour lesson through GetOn with a local school, see how well you pick up being on a 125, then go straight for DAS. (is what I did)

I've seen so many people say things along the lines of: "I Wish I'd done it sooner" and "Being on a big bike is a much different experience", so I think you should go for it
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Direct Access Passed - 30/05/14
00' Honda Hornet 600

[Taught2BCauti...]

Stick with the 125 for a while - if you can master it, anything larger will be a doddle, but if you decide bikes aren't for you you haven't invested too much.

Depending how you get on, you could go from CBT to Mod1 and Mod2 without having to pay for a complete DAS package, but I think it would be wise to pay for a Mod1 practice session, and a pre-Mod2 assessment at least.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[Matt B]

[stredon]

Thanks for the replies so far, very helpful.

Following on from my original question, if I were to go for the 125 route for a while I need suggestions for a bike.

I was going to go for the CBF 125 but it seems like I'd need to dunk it in a swimming pool of ACF-50 to keep it shiny, the CBR quite honestly is too expensive for what it is as is the YBR 125.

I was considering the supermoto route and the only bike that seems to come to mind is the Sinnis Apache...

[pinkyfloyd]

Do the CBT first and see how it goes. As I said. You might find it all an easy and simple process to get to grips with the little 125 and if that is the case, go straight to DAS and do not waste your money.

The only people we tend to recommend riding around on a 125 and "serving time" is people who have the ability there to complete the CBT to a satisfactory level but could benefit with some solo riding on a smaller bike to get used to the way a bike handles.
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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.

[Nash GT]

fella do the CBT and DAS you wont regret it.

if ultimately you end up going down the 125 route, get something with enough poke, like Varadero XL or similar powered V twin
but I would rather put the money on bike lessons than on a 125
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Suzuki GSF600N

[stredon]

Thanks Nash, Pinky.

I'll go for the CBT and see how I get on, if all goes well I'll go straight for the DAS and spend my money on a decent bike instead of a 125, just need the power there to get out of sticky situations!

I've picked the right time for this, riding in autumn and winter means it'll be a blast in the summer!

Any recommendations? around the 250-400 mark.

[Nash GT]

125 on that budget you'll be looking at a Chinese bike
maybe an old CG125 if you are lucky .
Scour eBay and gumtree , you might be able to find something that needs very minor work
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Suzuki GSF600N

[stredon]

[_Chris_]

CBT 'or' DAS doesn't have to be a question.

Do the CBT, on a geared 125cc bike, then see what you think.

Most training companies will deduct the cost of the (already completed) CBT from their DAS price if you do both with them, you don't HAVE to book the whole package up front.

125's are fun, but it depends on the types of roads you 'need' to use to get to work etc. Mine are mostly 70mph dual carriageways, not great for me a slight head wind knocks a LOT off speed off (strong wind knocks me back to 40mph maxed out)
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Just getting started

[Amber Phoenix]

I'm in the 'go straight for DAS' camp. That's what I did.

Obviously, you need to do a CBT first regardless, so get that done anyway. You'll have a much idea of what you want to do after that.

Either way, there's pro/cons both ways:-

Just doing CBT:
Pros
Cheaper and on road sooner.
Cons
You'll be stuck on a 125, can't go on motorways, can't take pillion.
You will have had the bear minimum of training, so won't be as safe on road.

Doing CBT+ theory + DAS:
Pros
Can ride any bike you like, wherever you like, with whoever on back.
Bigger bikes are often easier to ride, more forgiving, better spec'd
In second hand market, a first big bike will likely cost similar to a 125.
With more training you ought to be a better and safer rider.
Don't waste cash flogging on a 125, switching insurance etc.
Cons
More up front cost on tuition and will take a bit longer.
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[Commuter_Tim]

Just did my first 2 hours on a big bike yesterday.

Wasted 4 years on a shit bike with no guts.
Jumped on a 500, OMFG TEH POWAAAAR! (ha, relatively at least)

I believe the 4 years has given me some good clutch control.
However this is counter balanced by picking up some seriously shit riding habits from so long on a 125.

Get on a big bike asap.
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[TallPaul_S]

[Commuter_Tim]

You must be one of those "normal" people that I keep encountering.

I'm a weird complacent motherfucker, I moved close to work about 3 yrs ago (it takes me 10 minutes to get to work without traffic, and all of 2 corners).
Due to this, I can't corner for shit, and had no clue I had no idea how to actively Countersteer intentionally until yesterday, and how wank I am at it now.

Also it seems I'm shit at keeping to the centre, I guess my first time I wasn't used to the power.
Poor instructor kept having to repeat, "centre of your lane please".
Seemed to have the patience of a saint, I'm paying him and I still felt guilty for how my shit riding caused him to have to repeat himself so much

I really did feel that the gear lever was too high up tho, is the CBF500 a small bike?

I'm 6'3", my balls were at the edge of the seat and tank, heels on the pegs.
My right foot felt a little cramped but OK.
Left foot was lifted right up, and I still had to motion my whole leg upwards to shift up, and lift my whole leg up to get round it to shift down again.
I am a lanky bugger though.

Is it unreasonable to call in advance and ask that they lower the gear selector a notch?
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[Wednesday Biker]

I wonder what the percentage is for people coming from no bike to passing the DAS.
A mate of mine did his cbt same time as me and he only scraped through as he'd never ridden before.
It took him a long time to get to the standard where he could pass his test.
I'd had about 6 or 7 years riding 125's before I got round to my test and although I passed first time I could easily have failed, especially mod 1(nerves made it trickier than I thought it would be)
I've got to applaud anyone that can go from noob to full license with only a 5 day course.
But I wonder how many actually manage it first time.
IMO I would advice anyone to get a 125 and have a good 6 months before jumping into DAS but I realise people go down that route successfully.

[pinkyfloyd]

We have had quite a few students come through with a 4 day DAS. Day 1 CBT, day 2 and 3 is big bike riding and mod 1 prep and day 4 is mod 2 prep.

Had a student who really struggled at the start with a 125, threw it down the pad once at the start. Passed mod 1 with a clean sheet. Failed mod 2 the first time on the last few seconds, clean ride until they got back to the test centre when she clipped a kerb. Nailed it second time a week or so later.

Can be done, nothing to DAS and passing. No time to pick any bad habits up and no bad habits to knock out.
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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.

[Wednesday Biker]

Yeah I suppose.
Im a bit of a killjoy when it comes to people going from no bike to buy what they can afford in a week.
People are fine tootling around under test conditions but what happens when they buy their beast.
I really believe people should have more road experience before they are let loose on a powerful bike.
But its just my opinion.

[DrSnoosnoo]

My route was CBT - to make sure I actually liked riding as much as the idea of riding. Then did my Theory and got DASd up. From CBT to full licence - 2 months or so then onto a (by new laws) unrestrictable sports tourer from the 90s!
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[ferrisio]

I did CBT, bought cheap 125 - £400, rode for 3 months and did DAS, then flogged 125 (£350). Passed Mods 1 and 2 first time with no faults, admittedly I had good tuition (Phoenix Foots Cray) but I think getting used to the 125 for a few months deffo helped me out and only cost me £50.
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BMW R1100R

[pinkyfloyd]

[Ribenapigeon]

Time on a 125 will teach you a lot about power manegment and how to get the best out of a bike. DAS will teach you how to pass a test but if you take that route I think you should consider taking improvement lessons.