When to test?

[deputy]

Bought an NSR125 a couple of months ago as a cheap (and fun) means of getting back and to to work. I had a bike in my younger days, all those years ago, but never got round to taking my test before some tosser in a white van decided to send me flying down the road on hands and knees. In the 18 months waiting for the insurance settlement I was lured to the delights? of 4 wheeled motoring. It is only now some 17 years later that I am getting the 2 wheel bug again.

Anyway to my question, my plan was to ride the 125 for a year or so then do my test probably next summer, do I need any tuition before taking the practical? Are there any guides available which detail what the examiners look for? Any other hints, tips or info would be greatly appreciated.

I would do the DAS approach but it would cost as much as the 125 did and at the moment am really strapped for cash and need to do this as cheap as possible.

[Frost]

You dont NEED tuition, but it would of course help.
There is a guide in the guides section that i used to pass my test with 1 minor without any tuition, so clearly it must be possible for most people to pass the practical test just from common sense and the assistance of a guide

I advise you to read the guide, practise a fair bit, then if you can afford it, take a single days tuition to make sure you've not missed anything or missread anything.

[deputy]

Not wishing to seem incredibly dim, but where is the guide section?

[jrisch]

[deputy]

Yes, took my CBT the day before I picked up the NSR. I know I said that I wanted to do things on the cheap, but I also want to do things legal!

[Kickstart]

Hi

You can do you test without lessons, but as you are over 21 you might be best doing DAS which pretty much makes lessons essential.

Also remember that they are really testing your ability to pass the bike test rather than your ability to ride, so some lessons will tell you what the examiners are looking for.

All the best

Keith
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[Bendy]

[Ste]

The guide is still online, but just in general bike chat now.

[G]

Personally I would say save up some money and do the DAS.

Otherwise you're looking at two years restricted to 33hp; or worrying that you are restricted to 33hp.

Some places will do hour or two hour lessons at a time, like car driving lessons. This gives you the opportunity to spread them out and use your own bike inbetween for practicing.

[Andy99]

You could always take the DAS test on a schools bike and keep riding the 125 until you've got enough cash to buy something else.
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[stinkwheel]

Well worth doing a few lessons with a local instructor. They will tell you what the examiner expects to see and will take you round the places they like to do it, pointing out potential hazards on the test routes where people tend to fail.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[deputy]

Thanks for all the replies, that certainly gives me a few things to ponder on over the winter.