Route to a full license.....

[mudcow007]

Right, basically i have been driving cars for 10 years

did my CBT last week - instructor bloke said my bike riding was fine, have i thought about doing my license?

I said i had but i wanted to ride around abit on the CG that i just bought to gain some experience on the road on a bike etc...

is it worth doing it this way or should i just dive into trying for my license...or am i likely to save anything by riding around a bit on my CG

Mod1 looks like just doing figure of 8's, emergency stop etc

Mod2 is on the road an looks a bit more tricky

not looking forward to doing another theory test though

[j.silvs]

I went straight in.

I figure that riding on a CBt for a bit will get you some great experience but could also gain bad habits.

You should have good road sense due to riding a car so that's half the battle.

Take a few lessons and see. Just pay as u go and you could always change your mind half way through.

[noobRider]

I probably wasn't as good as you when I did my CBT but I was an experienced car driver too. My advice would be to do what I did: book your theory early and get it done, and get experience on your 125 for a few months until you're at a point where you think your bike control will get you through your mod 1 without problems and you are used to riding on the road. Then do the DAS and get yourself a big bike.

Edit: read the Police Motorcycle handbook for tips on road riding on a motorbike rather than in a car. I see my advice is the opposite of Josh
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Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[RandomJord]

As above on the practical side of things. I was worried about the theory too but found these links useful for practice, and i'll be buying a kit soon so i get the hazard stuff too

https://www.safedrivingforlife.info/practicetheorytest/practicetests_mcycle.html

https://www.geton.co.uk/content/passing-your-motorcycle-test/motorcycle-theory-test

Good luck!
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Joined the off roaders an green laners with my XR400R

[mudcow007]

cheers guys

i think i will book the theory then i have something to aim for...

im told there are loads fo vids of the Mod1 & Mod2 on youtube so i will check them out

[Rogerborg]

I rode a 125 for a year or so before getting licensed up, but that was under the old system where you could (eventually) end up with a full license via testing on your own 125.

Now that you pretty much[*] have to go via a training school, I'd suggest that you might as well just get on with it. Experience on your CG will only knock a day or so off of your training. There's nothing hard in the tests, and as soon as you're comfortable riding around, you're ready.

noobRider is suggesting that you check out Roadcraft, the System that Plod, IAM, RoSPA et all pay lip service to. There are some decent ideas in there, but I'd hesitate to put it into practice during a test.

[*] You can buy or borrow an A class test bike (595cc+ 40kW+) and sit your tests on that, but it's problematic to do it all legally.
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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

[noobRider]

I would also get some good protective gear sorted out before doing DAS.
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Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[Arfa__]

Went straight for DAS. From never been on a bike (but car driver for 12 years), did theory, CBT, 2hrs of 1-2-1, 3 days DAS and passed the lot first time in 6 weeks. 2 weeks later bought myself a Fazer 600 and hit the streets of London, commuting every day.

We're all different, but it's certainly an option to just go straight in there to a big bike.

I actually found the bigger bike an easier rider than the CG125, less twitchy on clutch, more forgiving, not stalling so easily, acceleration to pull away out of trouble etc.

Financially its probably cheaper too, won't lose any money on the 125, or on insurance (if you move up mid way through the year) and so on. Cost of a second hand 125 to 500cc isn't that much really. Insurance can be cheaper with a DAS and sensible big bike, compared to CBT and a 125. The extra tuition will make you a better/safer rider.

[mudcow007]

[Bikermice]

Same as you - did CBT, told I had good control and to get full license ASAP otherwise i would pick up bad habits. Some people said that the School were just trying to get me to do it quickly so i'd be more likely to spend my money with them. I am now wishing I'd gone through the DAS, but didn't have the money at the time.

If you have the money, do it whilst you're still of motivated mind.

[j.silvs]

[noobRider]

I didn't want any particular bike but I wanted something that would go and I didn't want those Ls any longer than I had to but I needed the practice before going for the tests. I think that just some experience on the roads on you bike teaches you a lot.
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Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[Arfa__]

Not forgetting, with a full license you get out more, use the motorway and carry pillion.

[Clive L]

Everyone is different. A decent instructor will give the best advice for that particular person.
Some people will be told the best is to go straight for it when they have the finances, other, less confident or capable riders may be told to get some time on their own bikes first, to build up their capabilities.

The mod 1 is straight forward, but for a nervous new rider it can be daunting

[WimbleHJR]

Definitely worth getting your theory done. It's not too bad, I did mine after a little bit of studying and practice tests for a week and had no problems.

In terms of routes, i've gone for the 125 for a while followed by DAS. I've driven for 14 years (on and off, been out the country a bit) but I annoyingly suffer nerves which meant on my CBT I wasn't at all confident. Did enough that I didn't have to go back, but that was just because I managed to relax enough by the end.

Got a YBR 125 and have been using that since Oct, has definitely helped me as having done a couple of long journeys as well as riding to work most days, I feel a lot more comfortable. Just passed my theory this week so now the plan is to do my DAS by end of March then trade in the bike for pretty much what I paid and move on...

I wish I'd had the confidence to go DAS straight away but I know for me it wouldnt have worked. I now want the perks of a big bike and wish I didn't have to wait, but the last 4 months have taught me a lot so I'm happy enough

All the best what ever you decide, doing my CBT was the best decision i've made in a long while

[j.silvs]