Late to biking, love it!

[lordvaderuk]

I'm 43, and the first time I ever even sat on a moped was during my CBT at the end of July. I came to biking (OK, scootering) reluctantly as a way to cut my commuting time and costs.

I've surprised myself how much I'm enjoying knocking about on my little beaten up Honda 125, to the point that the car has sat idle on the drive and I'm actually disappointed if I can't go wherever I'm going on the bike!

I've got my theory test out of the way, and have decided to take the full motorcycle test. I'm going to do the 2 modules giving me a restricted licence for a couple of years. That's OK because although I now want a bigger bike, I'm looking at a 250cc at most (because otherwise it becomes less economical and that's one of my key needs).

Anyway enough waffling, a question for you experts if you don't mind helping out a newbie...

I've only been riding a scooter for a month. However I am pretty confident on it and I think this is because I have the benefit of 25 years driving experience.

I'm thinking of just taking the modules 1 and 2 with no additional training.

Given my very limited biking experience, am I likely to flunk it?

Answers on a postcard please!
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New biker, scooterist, be nice

[FerretFing]

Hi & welcome to the forum & biking both my wife & I passed with no lessons at all & both nearly 40 at the time....my wife doesn't drive a car either so she had no experience at all....BUT it was the old test not this weird mod1 & 2 thingy! I should point out though that I crashed in the wet on my emergency stop during my 1st test don't let that put you off though! I passed 2nd time but the wife did it 1st go...cocky cow

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I'm as thick as a gurkha's foreskin and i did it...Similar age to you.

Started on a motorbike so by the time i did my test gears, clutch and braking was second nature.
I downloaded the test routes and when i was out riding i'd do abit of it. On the day, we did bits of one route and part of another.
Lots of reading-up and video watching but miles on the road doing all the lifesavers etc was the best thing.

I passed easily, but given my time again i'd probably do a couple of lessons. I wasn't 100% sure i was doing 'it' by the book and this adds to the pressure.
I took a left when he said right...went through lights as they were changing and momentarily locked-up the rear on the E stop. I didn't flap...did my own ride and made safe progress.
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Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[trikeschick]

Welcome onboard!

Any instuctor worth their salt will teach you more than just how to pass the test. I would definitely advise in the lessons.

Good luck whatever your decision though...
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"Light travels faster than the speed of sound, which is why some people appear bright until they speak"

[Rogerborg]

Yes, you can pass yourself. There's nothing hard in the tests. You can get extra training after you've got the test out of the way, if you feel like it.
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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

[Wibbler]

As a fellow early 40 something, based on my experience, I'd recommend you get some lessons. I learned a huge amount from one of my instructors about general riding skills which the tests just don't cover off.

In the end I went from no experience to CBT then Mod1 and Mod2 with 5 days of training and passed both first time. That speaks volumes to me in terms of the value of lessons.

Now I'm into week 2 of solo riding on my TT600 and loving every minute

[ajbsmirnoff]

I think the driving experience will help with confidence (no hesitating for you!), and a bit of roadcraft It'll be coping with gears on the wrong limb, and new traffic rules (so spiral roundabouts, whose cocaine induced we dream were they ?).

I was in a boat of similar construction when I did a DAS course.

However. Each lesson I'd get out of a fast car (allright, a pertrol V8 BMW), get on a 125, then a 500 and think' blimey this is a handful' because they were in my inexperienced hands.

[Wibbler]

The road experience is definitely useful but sometimes, you realise how much you do wrong when you have a bit of training. Now I've done bike test, I think my car driving is better - certainly my use of lanes and observations are.

As for the fast car thing - that made me smile. Similar experience here - I have a fairly fast german thing (the one with the engine in the wrong place) but still doing 60mph on a road with sweeping bends whilst learning was like "woooahhh" lol

[trikeschick]

[reddeviljp]

I think car driving gives you good road sense, but.... you then have to ride a bike and add to that road sense with bike sense which is uniquely different.
If you only think of turning a corner on or in the two vehicles and you have, as a biker, a different set of circumstances to contend with.
The difference between the two drivers is that because of its size driving a car can be an automatic, unthinking process whereas an unthinking biker can quickly end up on the tarmac through lack of concentration.

[snikks]

The answer is, yes you can take the tests by yourself - and you may pass, plenty of people have passed without taking training first. I passed my Mod 1 without training, then decided to take some training for Mod 2 when I struggled to pass it.
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- CBT: 02/01/11 Theory: 26/04/11 Mod 1: 19/05/11 Mod 2: 19/08/11
- 2007 Honda XL125V Varadero (Sold), 1999 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer (Sold), 2001 CBR600F

[defblade]

I passed at 39 without extra training; but I put that down to riding over 10,000 miles on a pushbike in the years leading up to getting a motorbike, as well as general road sense from driving.

Read the Police Motorcyclists' Handbook (and Roadcraft and even Cyclecraft) for more help.
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Rogerborg]

[lordvaderuk]

An update, for those who are interested...

Took my module 1, passed with no issues at all. All I did was to watch all the videos on the DSA's youtube site to understand what Mod 1 was all about.

Took my module 2, failed Stupid error, wrong lane at a roundabout.

Today... took my module 2 and passed - goodbye L plates

So it cost me an extra £75 to retake the test. With hindsight, maybe an hour or two training just to fine tune things like shoulder checks, but overall, it wasn't too taxing.

Now then, what bike shall I buy?
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New biker, scooterist, be nice

[anthony_r6]

Congratulations on your pass. I too did it without lessons. I can't advise you on the bike unfortunately. Just go for what you feel, remember to try as many as you can beforehand though!
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[FerretFing]

Congrats on pass

[Beelzebob]

Congrats on the pass... did you take it on the scooter? If so, does that mean you're restricted to auto bikes only?
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'09 YBR 125 -> '92 XJ600 S Diversion -> '99 Hornet 600

"Stronger than your average female lifeguard"

[carlosthejack...]

[lordvaderuk]

[crackfinder]

congratulations
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Yamaha FZS600 Fazer (gone but not forgotten). Current - Kawasaki ZX6R A1P

[Muscle Bike Rider]

Well done mate, I'm in the club of passing with no training but have rode bikes on and off for many years, its possible but depends on the person and confidence etc. Well done enjoy your new sense of freedom.
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Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300

[ninja_butler]

You'll probably fly through the test but if you're going to buy a bigger bike don't end the training too soon! A couple of hours riding on a full-sized bike with an instructor will drum into you some essential tips that may very well keep you out of hospital.