Not got on a bike yet....

forr3s · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Karma :

Hi all,

I am looking to book my CBT this week and after some advice really if possible.

Having not ridden a motorbike before would it be best to do the cbt on a 50cc moped or a 125cc bike, considering I looking at getting a 125 once I have the CBT.

Any tips on what to expect? Now I realise it not a test as such, but guessing you have to meet a certain level before being given the certificate.

I wear glasses for driving a car/van so what would suggestions be for a helmet suitable for glasses wearers?

Would it be wise to buy a new bike for first one or something a bit used?

Many thanks

kgm · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Karma :

Do it on the geared bike with an instructor teaching you to use the gears. It's no harder to ride, clutch and gears aside. The only reason to do it on the moped is you're 16, don't intend to ride a geared bike afterwards or if you really struggle with the clutch and gears.

You do need to meet a competent standard to get the certificate - basically it's up to the instructor and you just need to demonstrate that you can control the bike and navigate the road safely. If you struggle some schools will offer a discounted additional session.

The school will teach you everything you need to know. No prerequisites.

I've yet to try a helmet they didn't work with glasses although some have a removable piece of foam where the legs sit which can help with comfort. For a decent budget helmet (if it suits your head shape) you could do worse than a Nolan N87 (I prefer mine is to my very expensive Shoei Neotec actually).

I'd always advocate a used bike (Japanese generally) as a first as there's a good chance you'll drop it at some point. There all some decent new deals but don't enter into finance if you think you might want to upgrade to a larger machine in the near future (decent chance you will unless you're purely looking for cheap transport).

Alpineandy · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2015 Karma :

IMO!
Do it on a 125 geared bike.

You don't mention your age or what your long term intentions are.
If you're over 24 and want to have a bike for fun then you'll be aiming for a full licence asap, so a new 125 bike doesn't make sense.
If you're 18 and only want to commute for 1 year until you've sorted a car & licence then again a new 125 doesn't make much sense.
So a bit more info would help.

As for a Bash Hat, the training school will have full face helmets and you need to faff around feeding the glasses in after you've put it on.
You can do it with most full face helmets so probably not worth spending on your own stuff until you've got your CBT in hand..
When you get your CBT and start getting some gear like boots. jacket, gloves and a helmet then you'll probably visit a motorbike gear place like J&S. There you can try on various helmets to see what size fits best from a few manufacturers (Different ones fit different shaped heads better/worse) and if you're OK with the Glasses faff or if you prefer a flip-front helmet.
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Riejufixing · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :

Riejufixing · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :

forr3s · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Karma :

Alpineandy · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2015 Karma :

hedgehugger · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Karma :

You may need more than one session/CBT to 'get' it.
Some places charge for a whole new day, some let you continue on another day for a smaller fee.

Alpineandy · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2015 Karma :

Riejufixing · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :

Alpineandy · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2015 Karma :

WD Forte · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :

Never ridden before?
ever?
may I ask what prompted this desire to be a biker?

Just do a cbt and see how you feel about it.
As you say, its training not a test so dont feel bad about having
an extra day or so if you or your instructor feels it would help

Some people get the bug and wish they'd done it years ago, some don't enjoy it
and the enthusiasm wanes when they realise how vulnerable they are.

If you do get the bug, don't throw money away on a 125
get something simple, cheap and cheerful until you get a full license
as whatever 125 you get will feel woefully underpowered pretty quickly
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Riejufixing · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :

Easy-X · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Mar 2019 Karma :

Do the CBT on as big a bike as you can get (125) with gears. Any muppet can do the CBT on a 50cc auto scooter and come away with a piece of paper. Why not set the bar high and go for the challenge!

Unless you're particularly unambitious you'll get sick of a 125 in a few months so I wouldn't recommend buying anything new. Everyone I know that ever bought a brand new 125 to learn on has regretted it for a tragic waste of money.
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forr3s · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Karma :

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

kgm · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Karma :

I pretty much agree with Alpineandy's comments. Definitely consider going straight to direct access for a full license, bigger bikes are easier to ride so don't worry about the performance gap. You'll learn to manage the bigger bike quickly and from there it's just down to how far you twist the throttle.

I still recommend doing the cbt on a geared bike with someone to guide you.

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Don't do it! Here-in lies pain, poverty and madness! lol

Start here: Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

Bhud · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Oct 2018 Karma :

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Alpineandy · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2015 Karma :

forr3s · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Karma :

wow,

thanks for all the replies, some really useful info you have all given me.

Will do the CBT on a 125 to get some familiarity with the gears and then if the school I am with feels comfortable I will then book for full licence course. And as much as I would love to do the DAS the cost is not viable as need to get a bike to get used to while learning.

I could do the learn as I go by riding locally as I live in a rural area with plenty of quiet roads thankfully.

One definite is that I won't be buying a new 125 and will wait for new bike until I have that A licence.

As for gear, I am going to a bike shop locally to check out different types of lids, Jacket and Gloves but will hold back until done CBT.

One thing for certain is that thanks to all the quality posts on this thread I am better prepared for the short term. Thumbs Up

Alpineandy · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2015 Karma :

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

DAS is not a coiurse, DAS is the two rules of testing that sat you 'may' test for a RWYL licence on a bige biger than 125, and you may, train for them tests on same bike if under supervision of DSA approved instror.

You so NOT need do a full DAS course let alone an intensive DAS cour5se to get a RWYL 'A' licence; you may take weekly one pr two hour lessons, just like car drivers commonly do, or even go it-alone and 'just' take the tests, pr4ovided you have an A test eligibl;e bike to use, and way to lkegally get you and bike to the test center.... usually more practical and as cheap to go theorough a school, but its not mandatory.

As Webby 125's, Are they worth it? (TIME ON A TIDDLER IS RARELY WASTED!) CBT & L's can be a good 2ways about, BUT, you are still learning by your own mistakes, that tend to come paiful and expsnsive on bikes... so how many of them can you stand/afford? As said you do most of your learning post test and licence, and no-one says you MUST get a big expensive or brand new bike as soon as you have licence...

If you start via tiddler, probably as well to wait the year out and get the first NCB on your ticket before you get a bige bike any way, possibly a bit longer still to get full 1 years full licence histyory too... BUT,, just for sake of, my Seven-Fifty is actually about 40-50% CHEAPER to insure a year than my 125.... so good odds that all in it'd actuallty be cheaper to do a DAS course and get OTR straight away on a 'big-bike' than do the dangerouse thing and try tiddling.... as said my 750 is 40/50% cheasper to insure each year than the 125, it would also be cheaper to replace!!!

Good odds that you could save the pri e of a DAS course just on the price of a more sensible 2nd hand bog bike, AND you would get more bike for your money for it, as well as the licence, plus the safety provided by the lessons..... THINK abnout it, its all 'win' we aren't bl;owing smoke just cos we ride big bikes' yopu want to ride, ANY bike, do the sensible, go get trained.. as said no-one makes you ride a bike, lety alone a bigger one, you can Ride a 125 on a ful licenmce just as legally as you might a 600 or full litre.. I do.... so why not?

Stop thinking 'Bike' start thinking 'Learn to Ride'.,... if you were nbew to cars or HGV's,. hang-gliders or sail-boards, you would do lessons, so why not for motorbikes?

Money is NOT an excuse... if you cant afford lessons you cantr afforsd a bike... end of.
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Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'