Report on my first DAS day!

DaveS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Karma :

Well today I did my first day DAS training on a 500.

The bike is much more stable while riding on the road than I expected. People can tell you the bigger bike is easier until your ears hurt but until you actually ride it you never really believe it!

My first experience was in a car park, I rode it around the car park for a while, before taking it upon myself to try a U-Turn.

First time.. Not too bad..
Second time.. Getting better..
Third time.. Embarassed

I couldn't stop it from falling so I put it down as gently as I could.. only to look up in fear at the instructor expecting him to be fuming, I think in fact he was trying not to laugh Laughing

After riding for a while on the road (including the Cat & Fiddle route Smile

) we went to a small estate to do more turns.

On the wider road I managed to do loads in a row no problem, but the problem came on the tighter road. I just couldn't manage it without putting my foot down.
I'm doing all the right stuff (looking down the road not at the kerb, slipping the clutch and controlling the speed with the r/brake etc..) I just have a fear that its going to tip when I put it on full lock, causing me to panic and become unstable and put my foot down!

tomorrow I will get more practice with the U-Turn which is the only bit worrying me at the moment, and will be riding around the test area.
I will nail the U-Turn!! Evil or Very Mad

Thanks for reading, thought i'd share the experience as I liked reading other peoples diaries in preparation for my own DAS.
I cant believe how tiring it is to concentrate on riding for a whole day Surprised

!

..DaveS

Minky_monkey · Traffic Copper Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Karma :

Keep us informed!

I`m going for mine this summer, so interested. How many days are you doing?

DaveS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Karma :

CBT, 2 days DAS then a lesson before my test Wed morning.
So 3 and a half days including the CBT.

However I did ride on my previous CBT certificate for the large part of 2 years so the lessons are really to get used to the bigger bike more than 'learning to ride' as it were.

My instructor is fantastic, i'm learning a lot but it feels like i'm just on a whole day ride-out Very Happy

..DaveS

Minky_monkey · Traffic Copper Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Karma :

I've been riding for 7 years on L's now....... Embarassed

alex_t · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Karma :

cool

cant wait to start mine Smile

let us know how tomorrow goes
____________________
[CBT - passed 29.04.06] [Theory - passed 19.05.06 *34/35*] [DAS - passed 09.06.06]

SV650, blue Smile

damnas · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Karma :

All the best mate!

I did my Das 2 weeks ago, and I really miss it because I haven't been on a bike since! Embarassed

So take it easy and enjoy it, it's fun! Laughing

____________________
[CBT - Passed] [Theory - Passed] [DAS - PASSED!!!] Will dance for free motorcycle

We're the weeeeest stand, we're the weeeeest stand, we're the west stand Highbury! *sheds tear*

DaveS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Karma :

Second Day Update!!

Was with another lad who's test was today. He passed!
Basically did some more road work, apparently my road craft is excellent..
Then practiced some emergency stops, I have no problem with them (just have to avoid changing down Smile

).
I managed the U-Turn with a 125cc really easy so we moved back onto the bigger bike.

I still couldn't get the hang of it at all!

Instructor: I bet if I painted a white circle in the road and told you it ws a roundabout you'd do it every time right?
Me: uh.. yeah probably
instructor: Or if it was in a car park and I said do a circle on full lock?
Me: Yeah I guess so!
Instructor: So what difference do the kerbs make!?
Me: Embarassed

I dunno.

We ride to a car park where I can turn it at almost crawling pace on full lock and prove my problem is im my head.
We then went back to the same road and I managed it 15 times in a row.. score!!

Test tomorrow.. Confused

..DaveS

Psychonaut · Spanner Monkey Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Karma :

I've just completed a 2 day DAS (and passed) and it was great. The bikes are a bit daunting at first but a peice off piss to ride after a while once you have mastered the slow movement and clutch/throttle control. I found u turns easier (dunno why) and out in the rain yesterday the bike felt so planted it was fantastic (twice as heavy as my 125) Enjoy. best of luck with the test

whackamole · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 06 May 2006 Karma :

All the very best dude.
I did my CBT in the slashing it down down rain on wednesday and am thinking of sticking to a 125 for a bit (I'm 30 - trying to think sensibly! Wink

) but after reading all this am really tempted to push on and do DAS.
Either way will do it by this time next year.

Hmmm. 125 traillie...DAS and big boy bike???
____________________
Be nice.

CBR600F

Sephiroth · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

Good luck Dave!

Just remember, road positioning, observations and don't fall over!

Bully27 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 01 May 2006 Karma :

Good luck fella, still trying to pluck up nerve/funds to do mine.

DaveS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Karma :

DaveS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Karma :

I passed!

One minor for indicating to pull into the side of the road and then starting to pull back out and almost forgetting I was still signalling left. Smile

In my excitement my instructor and I rode to the bike shop and bought a CBR-600FS1!!
Collect it this weekend.. my first bank holiday as a 'proper' biker Cool

Thanks to everyone who gave advice and good luck messages. This is a great forum.

..DaveS

P.S. Report on the CBR to follow after the weekend! (just have to go away for work and wait until the weekend now Crying or Very sad

)

murphyD · Scooby Slapper Joined: 19 May 2006 Karma :

You lucky devil Very Happy

Have fun .
____________________
May your helmets glisten in the sun !!!!

alex_t · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Karma :

well done mate Smile

mines on the 7th n hoping to part Ex mine for a bigger bike on the day if i pass
____________________
[CBT - passed 29.04.06] [Theory - passed 19.05.06 *34/35*] [DAS - passed 09.06.06]

SV650, blue Smile

Sephiroth · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

Well done!

My advice was best.

Bully27 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 01 May 2006 Karma :

Top man! Well done fella, you got pics on the new bike yet?

DaveS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Karma :

Not yet.. Pics will follow when I pick it up this weekend!

..DaveS

Minky_monkey · Traffic Copper Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Karma :

Well done Dave, Glad to hear you got it.

Love the bit with the instructor and the U turns. How true is that though! Laughing

DaveS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Karma :

Pics of the new bike as promised:

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=84419

I love it and it was all worh it in the end Smile

..DaveS

h00dwink · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 May 2006 Karma :

congratulations mate Thumbs Up

got my A2 test end of june, hopefully better luck for me this time Razz

phk6 · Nearly there... Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Karma :

nice one fella, ive just done a mornings "try ride" for my a2 and they sed i was a natural which was a great releif to me lol

got my other traing days with in the next 2 weeks then my test on the 12th.
____________________
Current .. 2008 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure ..
Before .. 2003 Yamaha Fazer 1000 .. 2004 Kawazaki Z1000 .. 2003 Suzuki Sv1000s .. 1999 zx6r Track Bike .. 1999 CB 500 Cup ..
/Phil

DaveS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Karma :

phk6 · Nearly there... Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Karma :

DaveS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Karma :

Don't worry its worth it in the end Thumbs Up

..DaveS
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2002 Honda CBR600F-Sport