Advice on moving to a 125cc

[stuartadair]

No1 Son is about to be 17 and can move up to a 125cc bike. He want to take his test as soon as possible. He's currently riding a Kinrod xt50 - 18 which has a clutchless semi-automatoc gearbox.

Should he go out and buy a cheap 125cc bike to learn clutch control prior to taking his test, or save the money and learn clutch control during lessons - Knowing that he'll need to spend more time with an instructor if he isnt regulaly riding a bike with a clutch ?

Stu

[ThoughtContro...]

Get the clutch control sorted before having any lessons. If he's busy piddling about with clutch and gears he's going to miss anything else on a lesson.
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"In a world of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

[Rogerborg]

Wait, what? Instructor? If he's been riding for any length of time, just buy any old 125 and get his tests booked. A few fails are going to cost a lot less than lessons, and if he's not safe enough to pass them now, what's he been doing riding around?
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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

[ThoughtContro...]

We're talking riding to DSA standard. One lesson might pick up on a few of his bad habits and missed shoulder checks etc, that would be a guaranteed fail on any first test he does. Mod 1 he'll probably piddle all over once he's got the clutch and gears sorted, providing he does all the shoulder checks before each manoeuvre.
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Prize cunt
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"In a world of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

[Teflon-Mike]

Can you book a couple of lessons & test for him on a School Bike?
If he's already using gears, shouldn't take much... just ten minutes to get feel of the lever and master the biting point; First part of first lesson, Mod 1 Prep.... then as Rog suggests, at £15 a pop, though you'd have to add bike hire to that; boook & re-book till he passes.
Another 'lesson' in prep for Mod 1, correct any bad habbits, get some tips and pointers on what the examiner will be looking for, and he's set, possibly, as Mod2's are £75 a pop might be worth a second 'Mod2 'mock' to give him a 'cheaper' dry run, but depends on training costs... whether that's worth it.
And if yo can get him 'straight' onto a 33bhp licence, certainly saves a lot of hassle battling with the 125 market-place; zero years licence held and zero years NCB, insurance on something like an old XL185 will be cheaper than anything with a 125 badge too....
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[stuartadair]

Thanks for the advice. He's ridden an off-road bike with a cluch before so I know he understands the biting point etc, its just experience on the road he needs.

He'll pay something like £140 for a full days riding using a riding school's 125 so it sounds like that's a good place to start.

Thanks

Stu