New rider seeking advice

sharif · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Karma :

Hi all,

I have always been interested in motorbikes from a very young age and now I want to do something about it and get my licence.

My goal is to eventually own a Suzuki GSXR 600.

I am currently 20 and will be 21 in December.

Last week I did a one hour icebreaker session which went pretty well considering I had never riden a geared motorbike before.

Now I need your advice on what to do.

I was planning on doing my CBT and then buy a cheap 125cc to practice on, however I was thinking with the money I'd be spending on the bike and insurance, it would be better to spend that money doing the A2 restricted test instead.

I was looking around and found a local company, but they are quoting £625 to do a 5 day course to do everything needed to get the A2 licence. Is this a reasonable price?

I am only worried about failing as it is a lot of money to lose (e.g. failing the theory/practical etc) The only reason I want to start now rather than when I am 21, is that the weather is going to be a lot better now than December.

I just wanted to ask from you guys whether you think it is worth doing the 5 day course starting Monday, from only doing an hours session so far? What would you recommend?

It's just that next week is my only week off work, and thought, it would be the only time I will be able to do the test.

Really confused on what to do.

Thanks for reading

Sharif.

swampy · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Karma :

sharif · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Karma :

swampy · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Karma :

sharif · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Karma :

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

I'm going to agree with Swampy. Pass your theory and get that out of the way. You then have 2 years to get through the CBT and both parts of the test.

If your 21 in December then I'd wait until then also and go DAS. As Swampy said. Most test centres charge the same for DAS as they do for standard 125 lessons. You'll enjoy the bigger bike as they feel a lot more stable and handle better than the little 125cc things.

Get practising for the theory. Theres quite a few test sites online that let you practice both the question part and the video parts.
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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.

swampy · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Karma :

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

sharif · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Karma :

Bought the offical guide to riding by the DSA and read the whole thing today, been doing loads of practice questions online, reading all the road signs, highway code etc.

Only thing I am worried about is the hazard perception, does anyone have any tips for this? As I have only found a small number of practice clips online.

I do drive a car so I'm hoping that will help out for the hazard perception.

Say if I do pass, I am still not sure whether I should wait until I am 21 in December and then wait until the weather improves and do the DAS instead of doing the A2 restricted now whilst the weathers good :s

Does anyone know the rough total cost of doing the A2 restricted, then doing the DAS aswell?

Thanks

Sharif.

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

The Hazard perception is easy. Just click when you see the hazard and then half a second later click again just to make sure you got it.

Why wait until the weathers better? Mod 1 on a crap day would be the only hard one. Mod 2 is easier on a wet day. Your naturally riding slower and more carefully and the examiner doesnt really want to be out in it any more than you do. Thumbs Up

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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.

felicity · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

sharif · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Karma :

Well I took it today and I passed Very Happy

Didn't think I did too bad considering I only had yesterday to read over it all.

Got 43/50 for the multiple choice (the 7 questions I got wrong were ones I hadn't come across on the practice ones) and 60/75 for the hazard perception, which I thought I was going to fail! But remembered to click then a second later click again.

Decided I am going to wait until I am 21 and then do the DAS Smile

felicity · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

felicity · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

swampy · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Karma :

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

felicity · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

https://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/1/3/128754825625541232.jpg

Nuff said. Wait 4 months. You've waited 20 years so far, whats another 4 months.
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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.

ElliotReidMD · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 08 Jul 2011 Karma :

I've just got back from Milton Keynes after doing my bike theory today. I was not worried one bit about the theory test as I've been on the road for 25 years and done some theory practice. I scored 49/50.

I was somewhat apprehensive about the hazard perception part as I've done a lot of practice ones and the quality of the video was usually very suspect, leading to 0/5's as at the time the full 5 points would have been available, I couldn't make it out in the large blocky pixels Very Happy

No such worries at the test centre. Ok not exactly bluray quality but fine. 65/75.

After the 14 videos finished I though I should have passed, but if I hadn't, I would not have known how to do any better.

Not worried about any of the rest as if I fail them at least I'll know what I need to work on.

sharif · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Karma :

Thanks guys.

I was checking insurance on a Gsxr 600, but for me to get one now, its going to cost around £1,800 to insure so getting a Gsxr wont happen for a while now.

I will try do my CBT next week and then in December book the DAS.

I wanted to ask what sport style bikes would you recommend that won't be expensive to insure?

I was looking at the 250cc Ninja's as they were reasonable to insure. Or do you guys think a 400 cc bike would be better to get?

I'm looking at spending between £2-3k on the bike but the cheaper the better

Thanks

Sharif.

fiveus · Spanner Monkey Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Karma :

The sv 650 is very cheap bike to insure for a new rider.My nephew has just pass his das .Age 22 and is paying £220 fully comp Very Happy

sharif · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Karma :

That's not bad at all, did quotes for me getting insured on one now and its around £700, when I am 21 should be cheaper.

Spoke to the new company I will be doing the DAS with, they said it will be cheaper to do everything in one go, rather than doing the CBT now and then the DAS when I am 21. So just going to wait until December and do the whole lot in one go.

sharif · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Karma :

A bit of an update.

Spoke to a local company regarding sorting out a CBT and DAS. He told me to leave the dates as close as possible to do the CBT and DAS.

I've booked the CBT for the 4th December (a week before my 21st) and the DAS from the 18th-21st of December.

He's charging me £590 for everything which I am happy paying as other local companies were charging £695/£800.

I've decided to buy a Honda Hornet 600 ABS when I pass as the riding position is comfortable for me.

Will update next month with the progress of the tests Very Happy

DaveB · Trackday Trickster Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

Good luck for next month Thumbs Up

I too wanted a GSXR600 / Daytona as my first bike but after I started doing my DAS on a Yamaha XJ6 I really enjoyed the upright poisition. Passed my MOD2 last month and at 43 I stuggled to get insured on a GSXR etc. Couldn't even get a test ride one (needed 1 year experience) I test rode a Triumph Street Triple and loved it (similar sorta to the Hornet). Picked it up last week, not stopped smiling since.

£590 is pretty good. I paid £615+CBT which was £99.