Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I'm planning on completing my CBT soon and then want to go on to do the Direct Access test so I can hopefully get an SV, but I will need a 125cc bike to practice on as a learner for a while before I take my practical test.

Is this the best thing to do, or should I do the CBT and Direct Access test together in one week rather than get used to a 125 and then end up on something more powerful?

If I get a 125 I'll be looking for something cheap just to practice on and then i'll sell it once I pass my test. What would be a sensible price for a 125 and which bikes would you recommend? TIA!

Cat :)

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Honda CG125; the older ones you can get cheap (prob less than £500?) but they'll have drum brakes all round.

I enjoyed riding a yamaha YBR125 when i was training (passed my test on it) but they are quite a new model, so would be around...£900-£1000?

Dont get the chinese bikes, they fall apart quicker than crumbly cheese

Matt

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

As this will be a "disposible" bike, dont fall for any of the Sportier styled 125's like a CBR125

Get a CG125 (or the Yamaha or Kwak equivilents)

Cost me ?300 for mine.

Or just do as you suggest (and as I did) CBT one weekend DAS starting the next.

However I did need the 125 as I failed my end of DAS test and still wanted something to be on the road on.

Would offer you the CG125 on loan, but hopefully it will be in use by Vixis at that time.

Oh and without a license it cost me ?120/year to insure.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I did CBT and DAS as one week course, was bally hard work (8 hours tuition a day) but ultimately worth it. It's nice to be able to have exactly the bike you want, without having to worry if it can be restricted etc.

Go do the DAS course, you'll love it!

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I see Hursqrvana have a new 125cc supermoto 2-stroke out. :geek:

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I'd like to do my CBT and DAS in one week but I think I might be pushing myself a bit too much. However, if you get 8 hours of training each day that's probably more intense than the amount i'd be learning going out at the weekends for an hour, as a learner on a 125.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Presonally I would go and get a cheap little 125cc bike (honda CG125, Yam SR125, Suzi GN or GS125 are all great) and practice. I rode my 125 for a year before doing my test and it made such a difference. I hated the idea of going from never riding a bike to a 500cc and then a test all in one week. Even if you keep the little bike for 6 months I would do it.

Just my opinion.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

ARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

My house mate failed his test again. It would have been ideal for him to borrow a 125 for a couple of days to practice on.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

You're 5' 2"?

Get an old Yamaha SR125. They're rubbish but have a nice low seat height to boost confidence. I had one! :)

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Actually, can I borrow it for a, um, little while - I don't fancy getting my bike dirty in the big, bad, outside world.....

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Its not actually in running order at the moment, needing new chain, sprockets, brakes, MOT, insurance and Tax

But should all be fixed soon (I hope)

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I learnt on one of them...I looked like Bear on the SV!

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

+ 1

Get it all done and then your sorted license wise, If you want a 125 then you can ride one till you feel up to moving to a bigger bike. If you grow in confidence quickly no need to do another test.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Should be a nice job for you to do!!!!

Give me a shout I'll come over with torque wrench & biscuits.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Thank you all for the advice. I'm going to check out some 125's and see if I can get one within budget and then decide. I'm swaying towards taking a week off work and doing the CBT and DAS in a week as it would make it easier. Cheers for your help! :smt023

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Dude. Can't we just shove your SV engine into one of those?? That would be cool and then you'd be faster than all of us.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I reckon DAS is defo the way to go.

However, it might be best to do the CBT and see how you get on before booking DAS. After a day doing CBT you and your instructor will have a better idea of how much training you'll need before taking the test. It's also worth considering doing DAS but not doing all the training in one week (maybe one day a week for a month), a friend of mine did that.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I disagree. :D

I reckon its better to do DAS consecutively, to save wasting time recapping on what was done the previous week.

However i do agree with a CBT/assesment before booking DAS to make sure you're at the correct level in time.

When i did my training/test one girl booked it together as i did and she was nowhere near good enough by the time the test date came around. Ideally its best to give yourself some 'wiggle room', if you're new to bikes.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Thanks Sarah, that sounds like a good idea :smt045

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Don't you talk to each other in the real world?
I recommend straight to DAS. Saves you 'learning' the differences between very different bikes.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I did CBT one weekend, then borrowed the instructor's 125 to practice on for a day the next weekend, (token 20quid for the day) then started my DAS that next Monday after my day on 125. The extra day on the 125 was great, helped me to practise the basics learnt on the CBT, but I'm glad I didn't have to buy one, only needed a day on it, and just went straight to do my DAS, and passed. ;)

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Nah, we try not to! That's why we're happy! ;-)

I think CBT first then i'll book my DAS once i'm happy and do it over a few consecutive days. How much in advance do you need to book? Should I book my CBT soonish if i'm aiming to do it April? Or wait until nearer the time?

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Yeah that sounds like a good option. Ta!

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

If you want a specific day then book now!

The good training schools fill up quickly, especially when the sun comes out.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I vote DAS,

With a CBT you get one day and then let out on your own to learn the rest. (that will include bad habits!)
DAS you get far more training, then once you have passed you can get what you want, that can be a 125 if you want.
You learn by doing the miles, why not do them with more than 1 days training under your belt (lets face it half of that is sitting talking about gloves etc)
You just need to have the control and sense to not buy an R1 just because you can lol.
(also remember the test is only going to get harder, so why not get it done asap?)

Look around at the different training centres, the one I went with gave you as much training as you needed, if you failed your test extra hours and the bike hire didn't cost any extra, you just had to pay for the extra test fee. Even if you keep failing they just keep training you.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I wouldn't bother with the 125.. I had one for 3 weeks! Should have got the big bike straight away.

My training centre spread the DAS out into 8 2-hour lessons which you can do as quickly or slowly as you like so you could do 2 lessons a week and then it's a steady learning curve until you take the test.. Worked for me and you can pay as you go...

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

another vote for DAS.............

boy in work just passed CBT and got one of those chinese imports,(utter pile of poo) although its just got written of....which is nice.

if you want a 125 i would go for a yamaha DT 125

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

+1

a couple of months on a 125cc is a great help, then you can do your DAS later on in the summer. Youcan pick that type of bike up for peanuts and sell on again easily afterwards. And def go for a cheapo 125 with no fairing as you'll probably drop it at least once at slow speed!

That said, if you do your CBT first then you can decide for sure which way to go

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Yeah baby! :smt043

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I'm afraid I pre-date all this DAS/CBT stuff :-({|= but it strikes me that one of the most important aspects is to quickly get confident in "handling" the bike. By handling I don't mean scraping footpegs and doing stoppies, I mean simply being able to operate the controls and manoeuvre it, including holding it up when you stop, without any fear of the bulk of the machine.

If you are at all intimidated by the bike it will prevent you mastering the techniques of riding, and then being able to concentrate on the road-skills rather than just keeping it under control.

I would have thought spending time on a 125 would be an admirable route, there's really no glory in trying to run before you can walk.

Personally I would never recommend a faired SVS as a first bike for example, I don't think they are the easiest things to master. Other naked "sit-up-and-beg" bikes are so much easier to ride for a novice, and it follows that the lighter the better. It's important for your own confidence to make it as easy for yourself as you can.

Hopefully if you take to it, you won't want to stick with a 125 for long, but it's got to be a good starting point, surely? Just my 2p.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Genuinely surprised, do people drop 125's thought they were light enough to save from dropping?

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I went for a Varadero 125 which is just a beautiful bike, cant recommend it enough! Sets you up for the bigger bikes too as its bigger than the 500's you'll do your DAS on so you get used to the bulk.

Great ride and will hold its value as well so i ended up running it round for a few months between CBT and DAS and then traded it in for near enough what i originally paid for it.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

I did the cbt, and it took me four attempts to do it. I highly recommend seeing if you are a quick learner or not - also, after a four hour lesson, I felt too tired to concentrate properly. I'm a slow learner with stuff like this, but am glad I bought a cheap 125 for six months before doing the test, no way would I have taken enough in on an intensive course.

After my cbt disaster I passed first ttime on the test though.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

This is a very good point. If you're considering learning, why make it a harder, longer and more expensive experience. See here for useful info.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

CG125 Honda, Best 125 EVER built in my eyes.
I totally abuse the one at our training school & have done for the last 7 years, plus students dont really care about our bikes, so more abuse there. It runs as smooth as silk & it is still running the original clutch.
The SR125s we have are forever going wrong.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

K's got one of them. They do hold value, you are right. Nice bikes.

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

+1

Fizz has a really good point here - just because you do the DAS and pass the cat A test, doesn't mean you have to go out and ride a 500cc+ bike! It does however give you the option to, when you feel comfortable enough.

Get the licence out of the way - it really isn't that bad at all and then you never have to think about it again!

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

id recommend getting something you can sell, i bought a Yamaha DT125r for ?2700 traded it 6 months later for ?2500 i certainly got ?200 quid out of it lol, but it then went towards the SV, had i got something cheap and nasty... well they are much harder to shift in the end

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Thanks for the advice guys, it's much appreciated :)

Re: Advice needed - 125cc bikes
 

Best bet is wait & see how you fair on your CBT. If you feel confident, then go for DAS, if not, then take another route.
Once you have done the CBT ask the Instructor what he thinks. The number of people that think they haven't got what it takes is amazing. Your instructor, if he/she has any nouse about them will be perfectly honest and say whether or not to go for your test.