Very basic questions that i missed in the CBT.

Doubt when he passes he'll be any more of a Danger to himself and others than anyone else who's just passed their test - from CBT wobblers to Junior in his dad's range rover.

IMHO etc

Edit: Though most 17yr old males I knew took up crashing 125s as a hobby for a while...

Edit2: Though you'd maybe be less inclined to experiment on a 1800 SV than on some 400 quid rat stroker

[jamesterror]

Originally Posted by Magnum

I havn't booked it yet. How long in advance do you have to book?

No, i will be doing the restricted test because im 17.

I aggree with SoulKiss, after doing the CBT i think it is too easy to be allowed on the road, and there is no legal requirement for me to actually study any road safety, although i will for my own safety i can't imagine many others will.

Doing the same as me I'm just waiting for a date from the place I'm at for my practical..

I had a book and did a few reading sessions through that, but also did a lot of practice theory tests; http://www.all4bikers.com/

My CBT had a 2 hour PowerPoint / Questions classroom based activity, then 3 hours on car park, 2 hours on road. Although classroom side was boring, its in the best interest if your safety really. My instructor continually tells me if I have a question ask as your a fool not to.

I think you've came to right place for advice as there are a lot of experienced riders here, I find it interesting reading threads as im a newb to biking, but your instructor should teach you everything.

I'm learning on a 125 and my instructor is on a touring triumph (not sure which), but he over takes me on country roads, and dual carriage ways expecting me to overtake him "safely" based upon my own judgements.

I told my instructor to be very picky with what I'm doing wrong in the first few lessons, and ride ahead of me to demonstrate how it would be done, but we have difference ways of learning.

Good Luck with your Restricted Access

Originally Posted by Magnum

He was surprised that i had not read the highway code

That observation alone should have sparked some sort of concern with the instructor, he should have known better than to pass you with no knowledge whatsoever

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

I my opinion, the Theory Test should be mandatory BEFORE a 1st Provisional License is issued.......

+1. I took my theory test before I went for my CBT and passed it first time (). However, I personally knew I didn't want to be out on the road - if I got that far - without any knowledge as I would have scared myself stupid and really wouldn't have felt safe...

Originally Posted by Magnum

So we learnt how to use gears and practiced slow speeds round the track. We eventually moved up to changing gears, the order of braking, slow speed figure of 8's round cones, U-turns

Gah, not the order I should have been taught, my instructor was making me do manoeuvres and figures of 8s before teaching me how to change gear, I kinda wanted to be taught that near the beginning so I could grasp how everything slotted together. But then people do learn differently and he'd only been a qualified instructor a few months

Originally Posted by Magnum

When we went out on the road, i would say it was over half an hour.

I was told I would be out on the road for approximately 1-2 hours, half an hour wouldn't have seemed long enough at all! But then I guess it depends on the instructors and how competent they feel you are.

Originally Posted by Amplimator

dude dont buy the books, get the official cd-rom and practice on ya pc

The DVDs are the best things you can get, I had the same ones mentioned in this thread and passed first time to my surprise so definitely recommend those! However, might be handy to have a small book to take with you places so you can read while you're out or just away from the computer. Bear in mind that ideally you want the information to stick in your head for actual use on the road, not just to pass!

Originally Posted by jamesterror

I told my instructor to be very picky with what I'm doing wrong in the first few lessons, and ride ahead of me to demonstrate how it would be done, but we have difference ways of learning.

Couldn't agree with you more on that one. I ended up telling my instructor to stop jumping about in front of me trying to encourage me and just watch from behind and let me know when I'm going wrong. I like to be taught something then left to my own devices to practice, something he just didn't get. Incidentally in the 10 minutes he was chatting on his mobile during the session I learnt more myself just pootling around the car park than the whole 3 hours of him faffing about


All the best with your test, both theory and practical

Originally Posted by Sosha

Though most 17yr old males I knew took up crashing 125s as a hobby for a while...

.

I only crashed my small bike once

So not all :P

Lots of people have offered their opinion on your trainer, and to a certain extent, I agree with them, but I'll try to stay away from that aspect of the thread.

Your CBT in particular though, approx half an hour out on the road? Are they having a laugh? My CBT consisted of 4 hours on the road (after car park work).

This, IMO, is the reason CBT's have a bad reputation.

As for the being scared on the road thing, I can't really comment. As a kid I grew up riding bikes in fields, so I had the controls down. I also had a car licence way before the bike licence, so I knew the rules of the road.

I may/may not of also ridden bikes on the road prior to having a licence, or any formal training. The same may/may not be true of cars/vans.

At the end of the day, make sure you're comfortable. By all means try a bigger bike on DAS, but if you're not happy about it, tell the instructor.

Good luck, and please, don't become a statistic due to poor training.

I have been looking into getting the SV for my first bike for quite a long time, and the decision to go straight onto a big bike was one that i decided on with advice from the very large majority. (people on a previous forum, some from this forum, and my parents biker friends)
Only a couple of people have said that it's best i get a 125 first, one reason was that it will be hard to repair in a low speed off or a drop.

In response to Viney, is your concern that i would be more vulnerable on an SV after doing my restricted test? I would have thought, and been informed that it would be a safer option to be allowed on the road on a larger bike but with more extensive training than to go on the road with minimal training on a 125 bike. I would have thought the 3 or 4 days training would be essential to make me a safer rider, even though i will be on a more powerful bike.
And for the comment about the new 17 year old riders being quite shocking behind the bars, isn't that understandable with the lack of experience? The same way they would most probably be shocking behind the bars of a 125?
I am a sensible person, and sticking within the speed limits, a restricted SV shouldnt be overwhelmingly more powerful than a 125.

I'm not closed minded about any of my decisions, because making my mind up completely with no experience would be ignorant and dangerous.

Any constructive advice is appreciated.

PS. my theory test is going to be booked for the next sunday.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Magnum

I have been looking into getting the SV for my first bike for quite a long time, and the decision to go straight onto a big bike was one that i decided on with advice from the very large majority. (people on a previous forum, some from this forum, and my parents biker friends)
Only a couple of people have said that it's best i get a 125 first, one reason was that it will be hard to repair in a low speed off or a drop.

In response to Viney, is your concern that i would be more vulnerable on an SV after doing my restricted test? I would have thought, and been informed that it would be a safer option to be allowed on the road on a larger bike but with more extensive training than to go on the road with minimal training on a 125 bike. I would have thought the 3 or 4 days training would be essential to make me a safer rider, even though i will be on a more powerful bike.
And for the comment about the new 17 year old riders being quite shocking behind the bars, isn't that understandable with the lack of experience? The same way they would most probably be shocking behind the bars of a 125?
I am a sensible person, and sticking within the speed limits, a restricted SV shouldnt be overwhelmingly more powerful than a 125.

I'm not closed minded about any of my decisions, because making my mind up completely with no experience would be ignorant and dangerous.

Any constructive advice is appreciated.

PS. my theory test is going to be booked for the next sunday.

I cant really say you are doing wrong as its what I did - except being about twice your age I jumped onto an unrestricted SV straight after passing.

I HAD however had a good few years on the road in cars so had those skills.

I had my first off 2 weeks later, braked too hard on the front, lost it.

A week later I had to pick the bike up again after trying the art of Stoppieing and while I landed it I couldnt keep the bike upright.

Then about 3 months later I had to take a 6 week break while my collarbone healed following a high-side.

The problems with big bikes is that while they ARE more stable while moving they ARE harder to deal with if you stop suddenly (we wont talk about my little incident with the verge on the way to AR09.

As for the comments made about your age - well everyone who has commented HAS been 17 before - we know what its like, and that we all made some particularly stupid decisions on various thinkgs at that age......

As said, not going to tell you what to do, but I DO think you are trying to do too much too fast, but hey that might work for you.

Good luck and all the best

I have a dad who rides as well, so thats been alot of help..

But i am 17, was in you're position in September, but i had a year of a 50 on the road..

Havent had a off on my SV yet, had a off on the smaller bike.

Just do what you feel comfortable with.

Remember and tell us how you get on, good luck with the theory tho

Originally Posted by saoralba

But i am 17, was in you're position in September, but i had a year of a 50 on the road..

To pick up on the safety aspects touched on above...

I have 3 kids, the eldest being 9. The two boys (9 year old and 4 year old) love my bike, and have both said they want a bike ASAP.

All 3 of my kids have been told repeatedly that if they even so much as look at anything with an engine smaller than 125cc, I will burn it & they'll be very lucky if they don't get grounded for the rest of their lives!

IMHO, 50cc engines don't have the power to escape a wet fart! That's not even taking into consideration the person at the controls.

With a bigger bike comes more available power, so more chance of moving forwards out of danger by squeezing the throttle. But also comes higher possible speeds, which mean hazards develop quicker.

There's different handling characteristics with all bikes, and that's something that you adapt to as you ride.

At the end of the day, do whatever you feel is best for you (no-one here can really advise over the Internet). But like I said, please, don't become a statistic!

Originally Posted by Magnum

And for the comment about the new 17 year old riders being quite shocking behind the bars, isn't that understandable with the lack of experience? The same way they would most probably be shocking behind the bars of a 125?
I am a sensible person, and sticking within the speed limits, a restricted SV shouldnt be overwhelmingly more powerful than a 125.

If that was my:

Originally Posted by Sosha

Edit: Though most 17yr old males I knew took up crashing 125s as a hobby for a while...

That was more a reminiscence of their willingness to "overenthusiatically test the limits of the L plate 125s...." rather than an implication that 17yr olds are "shocking" or a 125 recommendation

Originally Posted by Sosha

Doubt when he passes he'll be any more of a Danger to himself and others than anyone else who's just passed their test - from CBT wobblers to Junior in his dad's range rover.

IMHO etc

That was the on topic bit.

Originally Posted by Magnum

sticking within the speed limits, a restricted SV shouldnt be overwhelmingly more powerful than a 125.

Loads more powerful....also heavier

Go for it. After you've passed you can decide what you want - the choice is so much better. (4t 125s are mind numbing)

All I'd add is that at some stage you're more than likely to drop your 1st bike - so avoid anything too shiney - that way when you go to put your foot down in a pot hole or somthing it's less annoying...

Goodluck with the theory.