DAS Advice (or a metaphorical 'kick up the bum') needed

[techsnap]

Sorry long post coming up...

Background: did a CBT last year and been riding a 125 Varadero since. Just started DAS training and tests, having previously done a couple of one-off hour lessons.

I did my 'Mod 1 Preparation Day' at the weekend in preparation for test at the end of the week. On the day, did probably 4-5 hours of riding, including about an hour on the test pad to practice the manoeuvers. This day was also my first on-road ride of a big bike, having previously done 1hr off-road on manoeuvers.

Frankly, I found the day hard going, particularly the Mod 1 pad as I struggled to get into the swing of maneouvers and even had a small off due to a hamfisted attempt at u-turning. I found the big bike to be quite a struggle to get used to - it wasn't an especially heavy bike (Yam XJ600N), but I found it heavy and unwieldy and struggled to feel confident with it - problems I don't have at all with my Vara. I have to make a difficult turn-around of the bike on an angled surface to get it into my garage, and I'm not sure I could deal with the weight and 'falling momentum' of a big bike in that scenario.

The experience has left me feeling really 'empty' about it all - I don't feel much like I want a big bike anymore and for a while I was all for giving up with the DAS and either staying on CBT/L's or taking the A1 tests on my Vara and then keeping it.

At the moment, I'm heading towards a test on Friday with no confidence I stand a chance of passing and feeling totally unprepared. I must say I was expecting to spend all day on Mod 1 prep, but I don't know what is normal? I don't even feel that I can do anymore personal practice as my instructor has told me to keep off the 125 so I don't undo my learning with him.

I'm mainly posting to clear my own thoughts, but I'm also hoping that there are some other bikers out there who went through a similar experience who can offer some wisdom and some encouragement. Even better, if anyone has any killer tips for the U-turn and Slalom exercises, that'd be great!

Thanks for reading.

[CKBear]

Hi, dont be put off by the odd mishap. I failed my first Mod 1 after lots more training than you appear to have had. I messed up the u turn too. Trust me, once you pass (and I am sure you will), you will wonder how you lived with a 125. And you dont have to pick up a monster once you passed either. I went for a GPZ500 and it doesnt feel much heavier than the GN I rode for the CBT. If size worries you, start on a 250 perhaps?
Good luck!

[mauzo]

[Rogerborg]

The XJ600N (old 600 or new XJ6N?) may be a bit top heavy, but you only have to pass a simple 15 minute test on it, once, then an easy road ride. After that you can get whatever you want, whether it's a Firebusa or a 250. My Midi-GS for example, is ridiculously easy to ride slowly.

Your confidence is shot because you dropped it. Well, it happens, but it doesn't mean that you can't ride it, or that you'll drop it again. As said, head up, look where you want to go, you'll be there before you know it.

Sod off your instructor, he's your employee, not your boss. Go and do whatever you like on your bike. If you don't get on with him or the Yamaha, alternatives are available.

tl:dr version - stop fretting, you fanny, just get it done.
____________________
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

[RedPanda]

Suck it up, we all have times when we doubt ourselves. I failed my mod 1 initially, as do a lot of people. Do we later think about that when we’re enjoying a quiet motorway, touring Europe, etc? Of course not. Once you’ve passed all the stress and worry is soon forgotten.

Ps I agree with those here who say stay on the 125 between sessions.
____________________
CBF125 (2013) -> CBR600F (2001) -> 'Ninja' 300 (2014)

[baderlfc]

Why did you do 4-5 hours of riding (I assume you mean on road) and 1 hour of mod1 manoeuvre practice in your mod 1 prep day?

When I did my DAS it was about 5 hours practising manoeuvres on the test pad, with an hour on road ride (to get between different mod1 practice locations.

Then the following morning we had another 3 hours practising anything we were struggling with the previous day then straight down to test centre job done.

Don't worry if you didn't pick it up straight away, not everyone does, but once it clicks you'll be fine. treat mod1 as a practice, see how you feel afterwards but just stick at it. It is so worth it once you've jumped through all the hoops.

I passed mod 1 first time, but mod 2 3rd time and I did feel like jacking in after 2nd fail but honestly just stick at it, nothing beats the feel of passing and jumping on a nice big bike with no stupid L plates.. a bike that actually makes u grin when you open the throttle.

[techsnap]

Thanks all, useful tips and the pick-up that I needed.

@Rogerborg it's the old XJ600N

@baderlfc I wish I knew why we did what we did on Saturday! Apparently the test pad was very booked up because it was the only day it was open over the Easter weekend so could only get a short slot. The pad itself was an hour or so ride each way from the school location, but why we spent time touring the local area rather than practicing for the test, I don't know. With hindsight I should have questioned it really.

[Rogerborg]

[techsnap]

[M.C]

Sounds similar to me really. I really really struggled with the low speed Mod 1 stuff, I was so bad the instructor wasn't even going to let me take the test.

For me it was purely the weight of a 600 (in this case a f**king Bandit), and some of the stuff just feels alien, I mean you don't do a slalom through roadworks, or figures of 8 when you can't decide which way to go

Anyway with very little Mod 1 practice went into the test convinced I was going to fail, the instructor let me take it (as practice) after seeing the high speed Mod 1 stuff which was ok, but I passed! Then passed my Mod 2 the same day*

How much do you weigh? Apparently more women are failing now due to having to take their tests on a big bike, and I'm sure people will call BS, but personally at 8.5 stone a 220kg bike is too heavy.

* we'll gloss over writing my bike off 6 weeks later

[techsnap]

[Bigvern72]

I was often terrified when going from my 125 to the big bike (xj6) when doing pad work. It felt so ungamely - but what helped me was going for a road ride (with the instructor ofc) just to get used to the weight and handling.

Hopefully what your instructor has done is to teach you all the mod1 manoeuvres in a smaller area (like mine did) so that when you get to the test centre it's actually easier than the training.

The ride from training school to test centre should help you set the bike weight in your mind anyway then 15-20 minutes of testing and you never ever have to do a uturn again.

Ever
____________________
Tracer 700 (66) and Triumph America (65) - current rides
Yamaha xj600 diversion and Honda cb125f (65) - both 'retired'

[Ribenapigeon]

You have to be disciplined with practising your U-turns and Slaloms. Every time you pass a car park you go by regularly just pop in and do ten U-turns and ten slaloms. And if your really worried about weight buy a sack of spuds and stick it on the back of the Vara while doing your U'eys.
The U-turn is all about physics. You have to trust the force! Luke! Forward momentum even a small amount will stop the bike tipping over. Operator stiffness and panic is what makes bikes tip over at slow speed. Its a simple procedure. Do Obs, Move forward (pick up momentum), Do Obs, Turn, Stop, Do another Obs just cos. Done.
A Varadero shouldent be to big a difference from an XJ6 and some people will be going from an MSX125 to a 600 so just thank your lucky stars you were sensible enough to learn to ride using a bigger 125 like the Vara.

We all know how you feel though the assessments are just part of your biking life though so get on with it (see what I did there? I called them "assessments" not "tests" so you stop thinking of it as a test).

Of course when you pass it feels fucking fantastic! you just ride around the rest of the day looking at other big bikes and thinking Yahhh I can get one of those! or one of those! or one of those! or....ya get the picture.

I disagree with your instructor as well. ride as much as you can and do loads and loads of U turns.

[M.C]

[primalcarl]

Interested to see this post techsnap as I too am a Varadero owner and about to book my DAS and test for a couple of weeks time but I get serious nerves which affects my concentration!

I too have considered forgetting trying to get a licence and stick with the Vara as they're nice bikes, but I get pretty fedup with the lack of top end power, not to mention having to ride with L plates.

I want to pass my bike test if it's the last thing I do, I dream of travelling.

All I would say is stick with it! Hopefully I'll battle through my training too and not get too stressed by the intensity of it all!

[Dave70]

A lot of it comes down to how you feel on the day. When I took my first test, I knew beforehand that the only real problem I was going to have was with the U turn. So I practiced it over and over and over for about three weeks prior to the test. I had it so well sussed by the end of the three weeks, that I could have probably done it blindfolded.

Then came test day and I ballsed it up really badly and came very close to dropping the bike.

Also, in your situation, if I had paid for lessons to practice mod 1 and it didn't happen, I'd be asking questions as to what they intend to do by way of compensation to rectify the matter.
____________________
There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[Aceslock]

I would not listen to your instructor regarding the practice......

As been mentioned above get in an empty car park and practice them U turns! Don't look at the floor - When you look over your shoulder, look where you want to go, pick something in the distance like a tree or building to focus where you want to go.

This is what worked for me........

Good Luck Friday
____________________
Previous Bike: Skyjet SJ27
Sold: Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat. Sold: ZX636R
Current bike: R1 14B (Beast)

[asta1]

I would echo the above post about looking ahead. It helped me loads, especially on the figure of 8.
By this point you have probably done the exercise 100 or so times. You know where the cones are, so don't look at them. Just line yourself up properly at the start and then keep your head up, it makes everything loads easier.
I also found that once I had a bit of confidence, a touch more speed actually makes everything that bit more stable and therefore easier.
Other than that keep at it I guess, I am sure it will go fine.

[Kaya75]

I felt the same othe first day on big bike, wtf! It's massive (cb750) it always felt big, by the time I got my mod 2 done, I had a little omg moment when I got the bandit delivered, went to work on it, now a year later it's feels nimble and agail, o had a little blast on a 125 and it did feel like a bicycle, I smiled at the massive, very fast cb125 I did my cbt on... Keep at it, you'll get used to it, big bikes are more stable, you'll find it lovely once you get a bit of practice on the road riding
____________________
ybr125 Sold, GSF600 K1 Bandit (For Sale), FJR13000 gen2.

[Wonko The Sane]

when I did my tests I did them on my vara which broke down the day before and I ended up practicing on a little CG which I struggled to ride because I'd been used to the vara for the past 6 months.

Thankfully the other instructor got it going and all was good.

I swapped from the vara to a ZZR600, from a light 125cc 15bhp V twin to a heavy 600cc 100bhp IL4 sports bike and that felt awkward

after a while it started to feel the most natural thing in the world.




your brain is learning to manage the difference between the bikes and you've kicked your confidence by dropping it, keep going and let your brain learn, you'll be fine
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[techsnap]

Thanks again all, lots of encouragement and lots of food for thought.

Took myself out for a practice session yesterday afternoon, and using some tips from here and some advice from a friend, I managed to get much more confident with the U turns and slow-speed control in general.

So feeling a bit more optimistic for the test tomorrow.

I will certainly 'have words' with my instructor about the amount of practice I got if I fail - general opinion seems to be that I was short-changed on practice time and so I don't think I should be paying out more for extra practice if I need to do a retake.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to read and respond.

[Kidjal]

[barclay03]

Interesting to read, as it just goes to show that everyone is different. I feel the manouvers and slow work easier on the 600 than the 125, much more controlable.

I am doing my DAS just now, with no previous riding experience on the road. Have done 2 days out in on the 125 then have done a few half days on the 600 (bandit). Other than a quick mess about in the training schools yard to get used to the bike before heading out I'd had no dedicated Mod 1 experience until last saturday when we went into test centre for an hour to practice. Didnt feel 100% with it as i had a habit of letting off the power on slalom.

Sat my test on wednesday morning and I was a bit stressed pulling into the test area, but once i got the slalom out the way and relaxed a bit i rode out with a clean sheet.

As others have said it's just finding that confidence in the bike, and if the slow stuff is throwing you i'd say to the training school to concentrate on that. Try and stick with a positive attitude though - it really does help. At the end of the days its just a bike and you can do it!