doing tests on own bike

[bigdom86]

Hi all

currently weighing up the costs of doing DAS with a school and paying the possibility of retakes if fail vs. buying own bike and insuring with bikesure (i have a van to get it to and from site)

out of interest for those who went down the bikesure route how much did it cost? the 600s i like arent exactly mod1 friendly ie. cbr600 r6; but i can slalom, figure 8 and u turn easily on my cbr125 so cant be too different (or could they)

thanks

[MarJay]

[spottedtango]

I agree sportsbikes are unsuitable for taking a test due to the lack of turning circle.

Something upright with the weight off your wrists and good visibility to see in traffic would be more suitable.

[Rogerborg]

I'm confused, surely bigdom86 is a cruiserist name?

Sorry, no idea how much you'll get rinsed by Bikesure - insurance, innit. I believe that they expect you to pass within something like 8 (or 12?) weeks, although that's 2nd hand anecdote.

Given how rammed test centres get over the summer, I'd wonder if you might be pushed for time.

Do you have sufficient "private road" access to practice on your CBR6ZZRYZF?
____________________
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

[DRZ4Hunned]

I've been considering doing this for my A licence. So would be interested to know what people are getting quoted for 'learner' insurance.

It's probably not worth the hassle and I'll just end up paying nearly a grand for DAS again...
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DRZ400-SM
FZS600

[bigdom86]

@roberborg - indeed i should be riding a cruiser, at just shy of 20stone and 6ft2 I look like I am on a monkey bike on my cbr125, probably wouldnt look much better on a r6 or cbr600 but ateast they are faster innit. I'm sure I can find private roads to practice on my luxury estate

this will be for A licence, tbh I wish i started riding a few years ago, could have done tests on my 125 and then be restricted for 2 years which i would have no problem with seeing as I have been pottering around for almost 2 years on this 125

[MarJay]

[Rogerborg]

I'd certainly commend you in principle if you DIY it, and the van makes it easier in practice, but I would agree that a 600+ sportsbike isn't ideal. It's a tough one, it really will depend on insurance and the u-turn and slalom/figure-8s. Tough call.
____________________
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

[Steve McQueen]

Something with upright ride position & wide bars like an XT600/660 or KLR 650, heavier bikes take a lot less effort/body movement to lug around & more stable at any speed making them quite easier to control road reg'd GG or Montesa with saddle would be my 1st choice for slaloms
____________________
Rider assist gadgets are a waste of money for novices, the amount of times you refill the tank with meat & pie makes for a faster/more experienced rider.

[bigdom86]

i guess i could by my desired bike and see how i feel it handles on u-turn and figure 8 using cones, if it doesnt feel up to it then just pay up for the DAS.

anyone any ideas on insurance costs for provisional on a 600 supersports until do tests lol, guess i should bend over now

[Dave70]

I paid just over £350 with Bikesure for the er6f on a provisional licence. That is TPO only, as they wouldn't offer anything else unless the bike is garaged.

Top tip. Do not take their online quote. Phone them up and speak to them, as my online quote was three times more than what I got over the phone.

Also, expect to pay more because sports bikes kill more kittens.
____________________
There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[bigdom86]

how long did that entitlement last with bikesure? also when you turn up to do your tests do they ask you for proof of insurance documents and expect to see how you brought the bike with you? just in case the van is in use that day

[andym]

I insured an xj600 diversion on my provisional (£180 FC), and used that for a couple of lessons, but the instructor only dropped the price by about £5 per hour.

I used the instructors bike for my MOD1 (his advice), then used my bike for the MOD2.... which on the day I put the plates on the bike, plugged in my mobile phones headset and asked a friend if he could come to the test centre with me.... the examiner didn't even ask any questions about my "instructor"

[Dave70]

12 months. However, they did mention something about 60 days to pass my test.

No proof on insurance was requested and all the examiner asked was which school had brought me. So I explained that a mate had rode me down pillion style and he was quite happy and didn't check up.
____________________
There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[c_dug]

Just to clarify for you, a CBR125 handles nothing at all like a full sized sports bike. The riding position is vaguely similar, if you squint a bit, but that really is about as far as it goes.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Rogerborg]

[Dave70]

[dydey90]

Coming from a 125, I really struggled to do the u-turn on the training school SV650. I pissed it when I did it again for my full category A, just down to experience I guess.
____________________
This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[nitrosurf]

I've gone a long time thinking the DAS was a lot of money, but by the time you factor in the cost of the tests themselves, the insurance required and bike hire/ownership is actually pretty good. I just wish i'd figured that out sooner. The place I'm going with (Bike Train Wales; name dropped because they're a fantastic bunch of dudes) is £565. That's something like 18 or so hours of training, bike hire, test fees etcetc. All inclusive and they book everything and whatnot too. I've had many years of riding 125's of various types so lots of road experience, and although I can ride like a manly man (on a girlie bike) it is surprising what can be learned from good tuition. My first go on a cbf600/650 I could crawl at walking pace, figure of 8 like a pro and all that jazz; but the guy showed me a way of pushing a bike that meant it can be done with one finger (not that you should do that on test of course...). It's the little things that sometimes we can become too cocky to think we need to learn, but can sometimes mean the difference between a pass and fail on a test. Even if you already own a CBRZZRFZRGSXR-600RR I still reckon a good quality DAS is the way to go. If you're a South Walien like me I recommend the school I mentioned (hope that's not a forum rule breaker?).

[J4mes]

[nitrosurf]

But maybe you're not looking to get talked out of doing it on your own bike.... So ignore what I just said if that's the case! And something like that CBF I rode would be ideal, rather than a race crouch turbo nutter loony RRR. It would just make things easier test wise I reckon.

[nitrosurf]

And as for test centres being rammed, as far as I've heard talking to folk in training circles Rogerborg is right for the most part, except in Wales where you can still get in within a month of asking in South Wales (well, Newport anyway). Not sure why but there you go.