Soon to be 30 new biker advice

[SuperT3d]

Hi All

Wil start of with a bit of background information that i hope will help. I did read the stickies in this forum but am still somewhat confused

Im turning 30 next June and decided i want to get my Bike Licence, i have not ridden since i was 16/17 and that was on a Yamaha DT50. I 'passed' my CBT first time and had the bike for a good 18 months which i only gave up because i was fed up getting went and i wanted a car. I am now in the position where i can afford both a Car and a Bike so thats my goal.

Upon thinking about it i dont want nor can i afford to go straight for the DAS and get a 1300cc bike, it's just not for me and i dont trust myself. So i want to get the license i need (help!) and ride maybe a 125 or a 250 for a while to get more experiance and confident before i go bigger.

I passed my car test 5 months after my 17th in 1998 so if i read right i dont *have* to take the CBT but it is advisable im sure. Am i right in thinking i should take my A2 license and ride a 125 or a 250 for a while and then just wait out the 2 years and i will then have the full license?

I think this will be best depending on the cost difference between that and the DAS, if its a lot it makes sense, if not maybe it does make sense to spend a little more and go for the DAS even though i have no plans to get a big cc bike for at least a year or more!

Thanks for your help in advance.

S.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Hello, a CBT lasts for 2 years, ditto the theory and modules.
So you'll be doing your CBT-theory then mods.
It will only be cheaper if you do your test on your own bike.
So go for the DAS.
I did A2 with a similar background to yours. Wish at the time i could've afforded DAS. Not that i'm dissing 33bhp, its perfect for the likes of me (1 step at a time) But i want to do longer trips and a bigger cc bike would help.
Yes after 2yrs your A2 automatically becomes a full licence.

Take your time and try and enjoy the whole process.

Sage advice from other BCF members will follow.


Pat
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[ClaireBear]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Even though I am 21, I decided to go for the A2 licence, basically because it was more achievable to pass for me and so didnt have to worry about the cost of retakes etc lol But also I preferred to go from a small bike to 33bhp and then whatever- bit more of a gentle learning curve. The restriction isnt permanent so it will be like getting a new bike when you take it off

Even if you do your das theres no reason why you cant ride around on a 125 or 250 to get the experience but it might be worth considering getting a bigger bike and restricting it if you got for the A2 route- that way you can get used to the weight of the bike which is actually the biggest 'worry' I have got. You get used to the power in no time but the weight and size is somewhat different

Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide

[daemonoid]

CBT is still necessary afaik.

I was in a very similar situation to you - I passed my A2 a little over a year ago when I was nearly 29 I went for the A2 for pretty much the same reasons as you. I'm still happy on the license, I've not been longing for the extra power. I did my CBT, bought a 125 and spent 6 months on L's before passing. I've now moved on to a 250.

The one thing I would've done differently is to have chosen a different bike... don't get me wrong, my 125 & 250 hyosungs have been great, the problem is expense. I would've got a restricted 2-stroke 125 that I would've lasted me for 2.5 years. On the plus side though I suppose I've got used to riding a large bike (hyos are big for their capacity) and have had the chance to try out faired and un-faired.

Good luck with whichever route you take though...
____________________
current: ducati monster 750
past: hyosung gt250r, bajaj pulsar 180, hyosung gt 125 comet
@thomasgarrard | www.straitjkt.com | www.racingseven.com

[deanoet]

Why does everyone assume you have to get a litre + bike after you pass your DAS??

Like has been said, you can do your DAS and then keep using a 125


It depends entirely on what you want the bike for. If it is just for weekends, and stuff like that, and a 125 / 250 will do you fine, then do the A2.

If you want to do the A2, then restrict a 600 down to 33bph, then you had may as well do the DAS, as any money saved will be used to put the restrictors in.

I had 6 months on a CG125, then did my DAS and bought myself a 600cc Hornet. Does everything I want, it will happily sit on the motorway at 80 / 90 all day long, and it will equally scream its head off down country lanes having a bit of fun.


You could, just do the CBT, get yourself a CG125 / other bike of choice, ride it for a year / 18 months getting experience. In the mean time saving up the little extra to do the DAS.
If you pick a bike carefully you probably wont lose much, if any money on a 125 bike over a year or so
____________________
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[waffles]

[SuperT3d]

Hey

Thanks for the warm welcome and lots of advice, i do wish however the government would make it a bit clearer.

Reading from what you have all said if i want to ride a 50cc hairdrier i can on my current license just fine (dont want to be doing that, i think it would drive me nuts in a matter of days), however if i want to ride a 125cc on my current license i would have to take CBT?

If i wanted to ride a 250 or whatever is 33 restricted i would need to do the A2 test?

My thinking on the DAS is it will be too expensive at the moment and mean i have less to spend on a bike, i do like the look of the DT125 and at the moment that seems favourite. I have no plans to need it for long trips anywhere, my girlfriend doesnt like them so wont come with me on it so i would use the car for those trips.

I was figuring im going to have maybe £2.5k to £3k tops to spend on the whole package from Test to Helmet and gear to bike.

Generally it will be to and from work (10 miles each way) and some general riding around the local area (~40miles) at weekends if its nice.

S

[cvntdude]

Hi,,

Welcome to bike chat chaos, i'm relatively new here and in your position.

Since joining i've gained the following ref our plight.

Gear = Ebays bargains to be had.

CBT / theory and mod 1 can feasibly be done for a few hundred.

Then it's how good you are, a few lessons and hopefully pass mod 2 first time.

I;m getting a honda hornet for around 2/3 grand.

Buying bike in winter months hoping to get a good deal .. ebay with asking here first ... invaluable if your bike clueless like me ...

Good luck ..
____________________
We all choose what to think about ...

[SuperT3d]

Sorry, i have been reading and just wanted to post the path i think i need to take to happily scoot around in a 250cc bike or thereabouts...

CBT > Theory > Hazard Perception Test > A2 Test

I think that right? I am presuming that included in the A2 Test is the Mod 1 and Mod 2 i have been reading about?

Sorry for the silly questions but i have to say im getting quite confused!

S

[cvntdude]

Sites quick .. ehh ... do it all for as cheap as you can and buy an appropriate first bike ...
____________________
We all choose what to think about ...

[daemonoid]

[SuperT3d]

[quote="daemonoid"]

[daemonoid]

[SuperT3d]

Ah right, i know what you mean now! Was being a bit slow

Decided im going to get my CBT for Christmas hopefully to take in January and then go from there. Get used to the 125 for a bit and take the A2 test closer to by birthday.

That should give me 3 or 4 months riding around getting a bit more confidence.

If anyone can suggest a 125 that can be tweaked to 33bhp that is one of the trials style bikes that would be awesome!

S

[bacon]

do the das, dont restrict yourself for 2 years...

you can find cheap big bikes, and with a das you wont need to worry about restrictors. For the sake of saving £150 on the training course etc its not worth 2 years of potential hassle when you want more performance but are stuck to 33hp for the 2 years....

you can pick up 600 sports bikes for £1k-1.5k ish if you look on ebay atm (to show you big bikes are cheap enough not to make you want an A2) then say £700 for cbt, theory, das (give or take £ depending on location)

that leaves plenty of cash for gear, and no hassle from restriction if you know what i mean.

Of course you could buy a 125 if that was what you wanted, do your cbt, then ride the 125 for a few months, then flog it and do the das, and get a big bike

so yeh...do das

[Ingah]

I think all the previous posters have covered all the main points - although it's hard to get my head around despite the fact i even know the stuff already!

One additional point to note is that big bikes can be very cheap (you don't have to buy a sports 600!) - especially the 500cc commuter bikes (GS500, ER-5, and the less cheap, but better CB500) - they generally knock out 50+BHP and restrict very well if necessary (they look nothing like that there DT125 though, so may or may not suit you). You can pick up old ones for not too much more than 500/600 notes! (and insurance would be a pittance on them too as insurers regard them as 'safe' bikes).

You will grow out of them though, just like i expect you'll grow out of the DT125.
____________________
-- Ingah

[SuperT3d]

Hi

Thanks again for the reponse, i need to not be tempted into going for the DAS!

I do want it and you put across a good argument, but in all honesty i dont trust myself. I like to think i have grown up but im sure if i was riding a big bike i would act all stupid again and more than likley end up in trouble or wrapped round a tree!

My way of only being able to ride a smaller ish bike until i get more wise and sensible is kind of a safeguard.

Like you say though if i get bored after a year (likley) i can always do the accelerated to get a bigger bike so that option is always there i guess.

Ive swung the girlfriend and parents to a 125cc or maybe 250 so i might leave that for a bit and then if i change my mine try for bigger, tough call though!

[cvntdude]

Do the das .. ffs .. you could die at 29 mph on a 50 cc ..

And you could buy a restricted bike, ........
____________________
We all choose what to think about ...

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Ok so you don't trust yerself, what makes you think a 250 or 33bhp won't lead you astray. They'll get to 30+ as fast as most modern cars. They'll do 80-100 which is plenty fast enough to get into trouble in corners...see what i'm saying..you'll have to learn self control, otherwise your biking career will be short and expensive.



Pat
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[daemonoid]

I'm completely with ted on this one - I did my A2 for the exact same reasons he did. I think I'm a better biker for it - I'm learning to wring all the power I can out of my bike, I've learnt to corner better than I would've on a 600, plus, given my propensity for breaking myself, I've had a fairly safe 18 months...

And this time next year when I'm on my duc 695 I think I'll still recommend the A2 route to everyone, especially when us born again bikers are the second biggest risk group on the road!
____________________
current: ducati monster 750
past: hyosung gt250r, bajaj pulsar 180, hyosung gt 125 comet
@thomasgarrard | www.straitjkt.com | www.racingseven.com

[bacon]

maybe but nothing is stopping you buying a less powerful bike, just if after a year you fancy something over 33hp you dont have to ride illegally, or spend more money to do teh accelerated access and the test all over again

[SuperT3d]

Imo doing the DAS upfront would be preferable, but the cost is rather high!

Doing it the way i think i will means i can spread whatever cost it might be over a year or whatever. Doing the A2 restricted now and then if (when) i get bored with smaller engine bikes and i can afford to get a bigger one and do the i can just pay for the Accelerated.

Ok, in the long run the CBT, Restricted and then Unrestricted might cost more than doing the DAS straight away but its not an upfront one of cost, gives time to save some cash and improve my biking skills first.

The idea of going from 50/125 to 500 for the DAS test in a week is to me a little bit scary. Maybe im being to cautious, but thats my feeling considering i havent ridden for coming up to 13 years.

[cvntdude]

Well, like i said i'm in a similar boat, after cbt theory and mod 1, i will have 2 lessons a week until i'm deemed ready .. then mod 2..

Yes you are being to carefull, which is fine, but if you do the mod 1 and 2 in your time and cost frame and then buy a restricted bike, then thats the way to go IMO ...

My work here is done, the decision is yours ...
____________________
We all choose what to think about ...

[SuperT3d]

[cvntdude]

The penny has offically dropped ...

The penny has offically dropped ...
____________________
We all choose what to think about ...