Re: New Guy!!!
 

Sidi are good boots! :)

I have a pair of RST gloves, good for summer, but I find mine too cold for winter!
Been down the road once in them, and they didnt split or anything.
They will be 3 years old this summer, and still are in good(ish) nick.

Welcome from Sunny Scotland!

Re: New Guy!!!
 

+1
buying new ever is a risky move but as a first bike you've either got deep pockets or you've already hit your head a few times. You'll be heart broken to drop it which seems to be a popular theame with new bike owners.

Am gussing its the blue and white one down at Padgetts you've been drooling over?

Re: New Guy!!!
 

yeah !!!! have you seen it ? what you think??? there is also a pure black one which does it for me !

anyway little update i was up at Bumpy earlyier for a little test lesson and loved it first time on a geared bike but think i did dam good the odd stall but on the whole very good !!!!

CBT tomorrow wish me luck!!!!!

Re: New Guy!!!
 

nice one tom - is bill the scottish instructor still there? He trained me, properly nice guy :)

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Yeah! he was teaching me today ... really is decent guy and just let me get on with it felt totally confident after 20mins

my cbt is with andy (who apprantly is there best instructor)

Re: New Guy!!!
 

How'd you get on fella?

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Welcome, and good luck with the tests. I'll put my vote to getting a fairly decent second-hand bike rather than new as well, though I never crashed my first big bike, and it took me more than a year to drop it. But if you have the cash, and you take it steady you should be fine.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Update!!!!

I....... Passed!!! my CBT that is .. im now legal on the roads !!!! really enjoyed it and i did all my cbt on a geared bike which i first i thought was a bit of a bugger as the others were on scooters much easier or so it seemed !!

but im really glad i did it on the gears now and have alot more confidence,

my next question as im seeking clarity! what can i ride and do i need plates....?

im over 21 have full car license, now have bike thoery and CBT....

Thanks Tom.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

125cc with L plates.

You can't ride anything else, unless with a trained instructor from a school, when you do your DAS.

Above IIRC been six yrs since I did any tests, changed a bit since, but doubt for CBT laws.

If your over 21 you don't have to faff with a restricted license for two yrs, so DAS here you come :-)

It doesn't matter if you have a car license and theory, you still have to earn your stripes!...unfortunately.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Well done fella and +1 to what DB say's :)

Re: New Guy!!!
 

IMO don't get a restricted licence as you willget sick of it after a few months.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

+1 If you're over 21 do the DAS, no messing.

Nothing to stop you buying a slower bike with a full license.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

whats the point of doing it the hard way with a restricted license if your over 21?, a bit daft!

No need IMO....unless you are truely rubbish and only just scraped a CBT, which by the sounds of it our new friend did just fine.

One thing I would say is, don't go for it straight away, you don't need road sense, as you've got that one ticked with a car license, but riding is the training you need, do a few months on the 125 then do DAS, less pressure and more confidence for you,

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Great fast help as always :) onto DAS i go !!!

Re: New Guy!!!
 

just reading the above...

whats opinions on gettin 125 for time being ? then learn DAS in month or so ...

or

just bite the bullet learn a proper bike an get it done asap ...

Re: New Guy!!!
 

My last lid was a Shoei Raid II. I thought it was pretty good, it was the one which fit me the best in the shop (in budget).

Sadly, it only lasted a few months before falling from my grasp as I walked through a carpark. I have held on to it as I keep meaning to take it to a Shoei dealer to inspect for damage, but the Arai Chaser I replaced it with is far superior: softer, more comfortable padding, better pinlock fitting, better ventilation... but about £150 more :/

Re: New Guy!!!
 

By the time you've bought a bike, insured it and ridden it for a few months you can pay for a lot of lessons.

Get a local yokel to lend you a bike in car park for a few hours, get the slow control practice sorted (time consuming bit).

Depends how comfortable you are on the bike.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

well you wouldn't be able to ride a bigger bike until you had the DAS.
In my personal experience, riding a 125 for a while was much better than diving in. Fair dos I failed a few times from nerves, but my ability to ride was never questioned by any of the examiners.

The only downside to a 125 is they are bleddy hard work in comparison to a bigger bike. Bigger bikes work right, and so much easier to ride.
I've seen many a big headed bloke on my DAS who have gone in guns blazing thinking they could do it all in one hit, even those who had off roading experience, only to have their pride hurt when they are told they need more days training and fail over and over on the test.

I had my 125 for nearly a year, and I passed my DAS exactly one year after my CBT! I had help though, two of my friends were ex instructors so they gave me some proper road training on the side before I did the course.
When you decide to do yours is when you feel confident and comfortable enough to do it.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Yeah I did the das option in 2007, think it was 18 hours of training in 3 hour blocks over 2 weeks leading upto the test for about £500 all in (everything: test fee, bike hire, fuel, insurance etc..)

They also offered a 12 hr package for less but I can honestly say the extra 6 hours made the difference because bumpy trained to such a high standard.. I got 1 minor for accidentally putting my right foot down at a red light & 1 minor for missing a quick lifesaver check immediately before turning right into a side street.. :) top banana

Re: New Guy!!!
 

I did das in around two months, so would have been a waste of cash to buy a 125 and tootle about but each to his own. I also found riding a 500 while learning on my DAS a whole lot easier than riding the 125 on my CBT, so i say bite the bullet, although i was terrified of the size jump at first within 10 minutes it was just so much better.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Its each to their own isn't it.
I wasn't terrified of the jump in size at all. I had my own 125 parked outside the training place(can't remember why I didn't use it) but on the first day was cursing their 125 as it didn't work like mine..made me look like a right pillock it did, wanted to kick it off a bridge within half an hour:(.
Adam my instructor was relucant to put me on the GS given my performance on their heap of poo, so we had a bit of a chat, and I told him to trust me on the matter. He handed me the keys and I was doing the old figure of eights as if I hadn't been off it. He couldn't believe I as better on that bike in two minutes than the 125!

Re: New Guy!!!
 

The place i learned to ride (Ace in Durham) had a fleet of cb500's all the same but for some strange reason i could only ride a particular one of them to a good standard? The bike seemed to like me more :)

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Das das das sv...

Re: New Guy!!!
 

i did my 33bhp license in 2 days .... lol

Re: New Guy!!!
 

same. as did my bro

Re: New Guy!!!
 

das in 3 days including cbt never sat on a bike before, straight onto a curvy sv
as for kit
raid 2 is the dogs dangles i have used it to full effect at high speed face first, got xr1000 (cheap)was bang on but louder now buying another raid2
from what you said about comuting etc id go textiles first, just some cheapies to start but make sure they are ce approved you can pick a set up for under a ton
gloves ,summer= i use sp1's £45-50 ,winter =spada enforcers £50
id also suggest a neckwarmer, and thermals
good choice in boots
finally as previously stated id go second hand first as its not as soul destroying if you sratch it let alone bin it
and ask anyone on here i know how to bin a bike
now i must cease comunication with you as your a wrong'un from "that" side of the hill so therefore are more than likely the lovechild of yc and leeds matt who we all know are their own brothers,uncles and also married to eachother

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Lol i will be shopping later this week for gear then going to see about DAS training so ill let you know how i get on and as for "lovechild" .....who told you ? Gypsie wedding anyone ?

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Hi and welcome!

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Well another update!!!!

I have Mod 1 booked for the 16th taking a little longer then hoped but with work and wanting to make sure i pass i dont mind !!!

also all gear bought pics to follow but the better news.......

im now the proud owner of this beast :D
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...e/DSC00315.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...e/DSC00316.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...e/DSC00314.jpg


Sorry for the crap photos!

Cant wait to get her on the road hopfully in time for the may16th meet :smt026

Re: New Guy!!!
 

cool :D

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Dem blue ones are quite nice.............................................. ................. for a pointy :smt047

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Enjoy the new toy:)

Re: New Guy!!!
 

UPDATE !!!!

Hi guys an gals just to let you all know i PASSED YES PASSED my MOD1 Yesterday i have Mod 2 booked for the 10th of may!!!! so if i pass il shall be meeting you all for the Ride out on 16th !!!!! woo

so chuffed !!!

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Welcome welcome from the isle of man

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Nice one Tom, good luck for your Mod 2 and welcome to the org.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

well done, but take it easy on your new sparkly ride.

Re: New Guy!!!
 

if you dont mind my asking how much did you pay padgetts for that bike?
did you get any finance on it etc?

Re: New Guy!!!
 

I'll bet he paid about £16k for it without any tax or extra's, and they'll have made him push it to the petrol station... :razz:

Re: New Guy!!!
 

list price was 5395 got for 4800 3 years 0% finance tax for 6month

i never even thought about the petrol just assumed it would be full may have to inquire lol

Re: New Guy!!!
 

Best of luck with the MOD 2.