New Rider - Milton Keynes

[MrCawdell]

Good afternoon everyone,

New to the forums today.

I've been pondering about getting a bike license for some years now but being only 24 I decided to leave it until now so I could get on with the Direct Access.

I've got very little experience on a bike, and by that I mean a few laps around a car park on a moped at 16!

Would anyone recommend a company in or around the area where I can take the DAS on weekends? Only weekends available due to no holiday at work.

Also, how long does it take to get a test booked in? Ive only experience with a car (been driving 7 years) and that took a few months.

Would anyone also advise on a rough cost of the DAS and what kind of bikes I should be looking at to start with?

It will be purely for pleasure, as I drive a company car day in day out I wanted to get a bike to use outside work just to change things up a bit as being stuck in a car all day certainly drives you crazy!

Look forward to hearing from you guys!
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Newbie to Motorcycling. All advise taken gratefully!

[Rogerborg]

[Andy_Pagin]

I did DAS about five years ago in Enfield, total cost about £600.
What bike to go for? Since it's just for fun, try sitting on a few then pick whatever takes your fancy. However, get DAS out of the way before you get too hung up on what style of bike to go for.
____________________
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

[Andy Rider]

Hello,

I did my DAS last year with Rebel Dogg! based in Bletchley area, cost was about £700 (but that was with a "winter discount" -in quotation marks as they said they applied this but I have no idea what they'd have charged without the discount)

Went from not touching a motorbike for 24+ years (had a 50cc for a year when I was 16!) to full A licence in about 6 weeks. I passed all the test first time where as I no a few I met on the various days didn't so guess it could end up costing a unlimited amount if you had to sit many re-tests

[Polarbear]

Hi,

My wife did her training with Horizon, https://horizonridertraining.co.uk/

She passed all first time and said they were very good, however this was many years ago.

A while after she did her test the owner was killed and it was taken over by someone else so it probably bears no resemblance to the company and people she was trained by.

All I can say is I haven't heard any bad things about it.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[petalbriefs]

I did my CBT and Mod 1 and 2 with 1on1 rider training in Barton Le Clay. Passed everything first time and found them to be very pleasant and helpful.
Also did it at the weekends.
____________________
Proud owner of an R6 + ZXR400
Honda CBR 125 R - Stolen

[Alpineandy]

My neighbours son did it with the Colchester office of these guys
https://rebeldoggmct.com/
____________________
The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[Val]

[MrCawdell]

Thank you all for your advice.

I've booked in for my CBT and my Theory Test already. CBT this weekend.

Touch wood, i'll love it and go right ahead and book my DAS.

I've taken the advice above and stopped looking for bikes and i'm going to see how the test bikes feel and try a few out once passed.

I think its advisable I start with a smaller bike like a 250 Ninja or CBR and learn to ride rather than diving in with a 600 and not being experienced enough to control it. Would you guys agree?
____________________
Newbie to Motorcycling. All advise taken gratefully!

[bamt]

Welcome!

[AshWebster]

Once you pass your full test on a 600 I'll bet good money you won't buy a bike less than 600. Especially being 24 and a weekend warrior. (Source - me)
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Honda cg125 J reg peice of shit ---> CB650F ---> 2016 CBR600RR
Ford KA ---> 93' MR2 ---> 94'MR2 ---> 98' Subaru WRX STI Ver 3 (track car)

[Rogerborg]

I'm favouring my Ninja 250 at the moment, but as a just-enough commuter rather than an open road fun bike.

It's revvy and short geared, so gives a good impression that there's lots going on, without actually racking up much speed. It's really only average-car-fast.

If you're wanting to overtake every grandmother on the road, I'd go 600+. They can go slowly as well.
____________________
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

[MrCawdell]

AshWebster,

I did think exactly that but a lot of what i'm reading is that its easy to make a mistake with something like a 600 by throttling too hard etc. I'll have a better idea once i'm on one, I guess! Right now i'm just interested in passing and becoming a safe and enjoyable rider!

Bamt,

I agree i think i'll see how I feel when i'm on a bigger bike. Is Mrs Bamt on a bigger bike now??

Any recommendations on potential 600s to own? Since i've only really been looking at 250s until now. Budget around £2,000.

It's only to glance at so I know what's available when I pass
____________________
Newbie to Motorcycling. All advise taken gratefully!

[MrCawdell]

[Rogerborg]

The thing about 600 IL4s (oh allah, I'm Teffing) is that they get fun when they get fast. Have you considered something like an ER6f or SV650S? Still plenty of performance but twins won't encourage you to chase the 7000rpm+ hijnks quite as much as a revvy IL4.
____________________
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

[bamt]

[MrCawdell]

Roger,

Excuse my ignorance but IL4s are In Line 4 motors right? In which case I know the difference between the two but i've never rode one so I cant comment as to what I prefer riding.

I have only really looked at the ER-5s and the CBR500s, but i'm going to go take a peak now!

Bamt,

Get that work to fix that car park up so the wife can enjoy her bikes more! But it seems like theres a happy medium out there for everyone!

All this talk and I cannot wait to do my DAS!
____________________
Newbie to Motorcycling. All advise taken gratefully!

[AshWebster]

Its all a moot point really until you sit on/ride a bike on your DAS.

Me personally before id passed my DAS I found a sports bike too cramped and I liked the sit up and beg Gladius that I trained on so I started with an 'easy' to ride CB650F. Once I had improved a bit I rode my mates CBR and fell in love with the sports bike. That's the beautiful thing with biking - easy to switch up and change.

You learn throttle control on the course so don't panic about thinking you will smash open the throttle and dump the bike down the road - it just doesn't happen, you're not on a Fireblade et

Once you have your first few days of DAS training , then go sit on some bikes in showrooms/dealers, and feel how different/comfortable they are to you personally. Like I said sports feel very different to cruisers/nakeds.
____________________
Honda cg125 J reg peice of shit ---> CB650F ---> 2016 CBR600RR
Ford KA ---> 93' MR2 ---> 94'MR2 ---> 98' Subaru WRX STI Ver 3 (track car)

[MrCawdell]

[Rogerborg]

[pudder]

[MrCawdell]

Roger;

Thanks Roger. I've got a lot to learn! I'm still getting my head around how my insurance wants to charge me less for higher bhp and cc than smaller bikes!

Pudder;

I think i just need to get on them and go from there. The image ive got in my head of riding a bike and how quickly they accelerate etc i'm sure will be downplayed once i've been on one and experienced it. But like a few have mentioned on here i think i will be bored of a 250 once im used to the tarmac being right under my feet and the speed doesnt feel all that.

But you're right, I know of a few people who've been unfortunate on bikes and will be showing them 100% respect. I've got a couple hundred thousand car miles under my belt too so know what to look out for from other motorists.
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Newbie to Motorcycling. All advise taken gratefully!

[Rogerborg]

[MrCawdell]

[Polarbear]