Brand new to biking

So having turned thirty I thought I'd give this biking malarky a go, I've never ridden a bike before and I was looking to take the Direct Access a go but given my inexperience I guess it will be the four day course which seems to come in at around £500/£600.

Do you think it's worth buying a bike first and getting used to the basics off the highways and then taking the two day course? (I'd rather put that £200 saving towards some gear) or is that unrealistic?

Cheers
Steve

Direct access is the way to go. If you have a car licence you have road sense, you just need to apply it differently with a bike.

Riding the 500cc bike on my DAS was easier than the 125.

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steve, as an ex Ccbt instructor you could always hire a bike and instructor for a couple of 1-2hr lessons before you go for the two day course just to see how you settle in.

if like you say you are new to bikes, dont be tempted to rush things as it may cost you a lot more in the end.

i would advise you to go for the four day course. less pressure, relaxed, better concentration, you will enjoy it more and with new skills aquired, hopefully pass. you then have time on your side to look for the bike / gear of your choice. its up to you steve. either way, good luck and stick with it.

Yeah I'll definitly do the DAS course. I guess I'm just a tightwad, it was the same when I was taking my car test all those years ago there was no way I was paying some instructor £20/hr to show me how to change gears I'd get good on my own steam first then just take a couple of lessons to learn the test route.

Having said that I should probably just stump up the money and do the 4 dayer, I'll only drop it if I get my own bike first

I was a late rider too and also did a 4 day DAS course prior to getting my SV. Do the course first as I learnt so much with riding safely, life savers, emergency stops, riding the clutch.... : ) Course will be a good intro to it all.

It also got me comfortable riding on a big bike as id been zipping around london on a vespa for a year or so prior - and as i soon learnt rather dangerously.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

Gmonsta if you don't mind me asking what did you pay for your 4 day DAS course? I've checked out a couple of places round here (Essex) and £500/£600 seems to be the going rate.

I used these guys - did a 2 day course after the basic stuff - not much use to you in essex. pricing is comparable to what you are looking at though.

http://www.lightningpass.com/jkcm/de...p?pg=15&lang=1

Got into biking late as well. Had a 125 for a few years and it did teach me a few things but once i did the 4 day DAS i realised just how crappy my riding really had been. The guy with me on the course had never ridden in his life and we both passed first time. I was better with the gear changes and u turns as i had been practising but he soon caught up in a day.
A friend who did the DAS just after me hired a 125 in between lessons and it was the over confidence that failed him the first time! Do the cbt before the main lessons and then do the full days either side of a weekend so you can relax a bit inbetween lessons as it can be a lot to take in all at once.

I used these guys in essex...prety good bunch they are

BTW, Welcome to the site...perhaps we'll see you about the essex lounge sometime

I used camrider in Waltham Forest, very good training.