Sorry..... I'm still confused!

[monkeymark]

Hi all, new here so a quick intro first.

Ok, I'm 34 and originally tried to get into biking over 10 years ago but failed the test due to foot down on u-turn. Got very discouraged and stopped there. There us a little more to it but I won't bore people unless they really want it all.

Anyway. I'm looking into it again. Always wanted to but never had the push but working with a couple other riders and seeing them ride in every day has me itching to do it again!

Ok, intro over, now to the reason for posting.
I know the rules are changing in January and as I need to get my licence updated (still on paper one) I'll never get it done before the changes.

So, after the changes, what are the options available to me?

Really I'd like to ride larger bikes as I'd like to tour around Europe, but not sure if I have the confidence to go for DAS again.

Any clarification of routes available to me or general comments will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Mark

[illuminateTHE...]

bore me.. spill the beans grandpa
____________________
Theory: PASSED Module 1: PASSED Module 2: PASSED 12/2012!!!

yzf r125 [SOLD] sv650 [CURRENT]

[J.M.]

DAS will be your easiest option.

There is a misconception however that DAS is only available as part of a week long (or crash) course.

One option available to you:
Buy yourself a 125cc bike after completing your CBT and ride this around to gain experience. Take lessons on the 125cc bike.

Once you're at a stage where you're confident with your riding ability, there are a few other options availble to you.

You could:
- Take a conversion lesson on to a big bike and then attempt to do your tests on the school's bike
- Find a friend who owns a bike with the legal power for you to do DAS, get temporary insurance on it and use that for the tests
- Hire a bike and use that to do your tests

You can do your DAS tests as flexibly as you can currently do the 125cc tests. It doesn't all have to be done through a school in a week

Hope some of this helps.
____________________
2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Kingstondavo]

U turn is a piece of a cake - lean the bike, keep yourself upright, job done.
____________________
Current Ride - 2010 Hornet 600

[shereen]

[map]

As said DAS will be the easiest and quickest route. Financially about £500 to £600 ballpark.

Suggest if not confident on DAS you post your location for the recommended schools/instructors in your area.

Also if not confident do CBT and get a 125cc for practice (I did).

There has been a few threads on this and if you search for the words of wisdom from Teflon-Mike it might be worth a read (make sure you have time and are sitting comfortably).

The money spent on my DAS is amongst the best I've spent.

Best of luck getting on 2 wheels.

HTH
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[monkeymark]

[FireStorm-X]

Hi there

The best way if you need the confidence, change school. Do a CBT, pick up a cheap 125cc bike. Ride it for a bit, do your theory test. Then if you want to go DAS book a lesion and test for your Mod1. Once passed book another lesion and Mod2 test.

You will find riding your own 125cc bike for a few months will help out a lot and build your confidence back up
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[janner_10]

You are older and wiser now with a lot more miles on the road under your belt.

I would book a CBT at a local school and give it a go. If you look in the regional sections someone may be able to recommend one near you, if not ask at local bike / gear dealers - always plenty of cards / advice on hand in mine.

Do the CBT and see how you feel - if you can sail through the CBT you are more or less 80% to getting your MOD 1.

I didn't buy a 125, just did my DAS over a few weeks, others have etc etc - no hard or set rule.

You need the CBT anyway, so may as well get it booked and see how you feel after a day on a bike.
____________________
Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[monkeymark]

Thanks for all the replies.

I have tried the regional section but it appears I cant access them yet.

Any recommendations for in/around the Durham area?

I'll be getting my license renewed just after Christmas and following up shortly after with a CBT (much more expensive than the last time i did it )

I think decisions are harder when your trying to do these things on a tight budget. I know getting a 125 will probably be the best route for experience but don't want to "waste" money. Though i'm sure if i chose wisely i could get back most if/when upgrading.

[FireStorm-X]

Hi there

The money you can save on commuting to work on a bike adds up very quickly, my cheap Chinese 125cc bike has already payed for itself and now is paying for my gear and tests.

Bike £10 petrol a week

Car £50-60 petrol a week

So £200-250 a month saved
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[monkeymark]

[J.M.]

[Davenaylor]

[J.M.]

[Andy_Pagin]

DAS is drfinitely your best option, both the tests are much easier on a big bike.
____________________
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[s1h]

U turn is even easier now as well as its done on the mod 1 off road and the amount of space you get to do it is massive.

[monkeymark]

[Val]

You can do DAS with good training school with guaranteed pass policy and about 800 pounds

However it is way better if you go for CBT and get 125 and learn to ride before that.
____________________
Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[-LG-]

Don't think its been mentioned yet, but at 34 you don't need to worry about the changes in January.
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Snow rider wrote: I'm far to annoying to be near for long periods of time

[Lord Percy]

[Fem1]

My DAS training school is in Bishop Auckland they are excellent if this is not to far for you let me know and i will give you details.

[Rogerborg]

Well, good news, you'll be doing your (A aka A3) tests on at least a 595cc bike, and likely a newish one.

I'd also recommend getting a 125 for commuting and practice, although there's not much reason to hang around. Don't buy new, something like a used Varadero will hold its value very well.

One thing to watch out for is getting an underwriter who'll swap the insurance to a bigger bike once you pass. I'd check on this carefully before buying insurance, it could cost you quite a bit if they only cover 125s.
____________________
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

[Ribenapigeon]

First things first. Get the theory out of the way.

Sounds like you had a bad experience of a training company as well. There are too many of these kind of reports.

[-LG-]