Very basic questions that i missed in the CBT.

[fizzwheel]

I can see where the others are coming from. With no road experience its an awful lot to try and get your head around, and you need to be alot more aware of whats going on around you than do in a car when you're on a bike.

But....

Plenty of other people do what you are doing and live to tell the tale, I'd be inclined to get on and do what you want to do, but make sure you get the right quality of training on the right things to cover the gaps in your knowledge. If that means paying for extra day or twos training / road experience on a 125 as part of your DAS then IMHO that would be money well spent.

You're at the start of a very steep learning curve, but you arent the first person to start on that journey.

I suspect your CBT instructor passed you because he knew you were going back to take your DAS with them and could fill in the gaps in your knowledge then...

Personally I did this :

CBT and rode for 6 months on a 125
Then I did my DAS
Then I rode for further 4 months on my 125
Then I got my SV unrestricted

My 125 felt mind numbingly fast when I rode it on the road for the first time, my SV felt like a rocket ship the first time I rode it on the road...

I'm not trying to put you off, I'm trying to point out there are alternatives to the way your doing things, and theres no shame in riding about on a 125, I rode mine again just before I sold it once I had my SV it was a lot of fun...

Originally Posted by Sosha

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.

I will be looking for something like the red k6 in the for sale section now. I would buy that if i was in a position to, but unfortunately not at the moment.

Fizzwheel, i can aggree with you that the 125 does feel fast. I thought it would be a feeble plod barely reaching 40, but the CG125 seemed to really kick in if you give it a bit of throttle. (i cannot even begin to imagine what a litre sports bike would feel like ).
I also realised on the CBT that speeds feel a LOT faster on a bike than in a car. Even 30mph felt a lot faster than i thought it would.

The CBT instructor gave me the certificate knowing fully well that i was not going to ride a bike straight away, he knew that i was going to come back for additional training before the full bike training, and he stressed that i learn the highway code. To be honest, after he knew my situation i would consider him a jobsworth if he chose to not pass me, because we both knew that i was not ready to ride, but steps were going to be taken so that i would in the very near future, before i would be out on the road.

I think it's not a like for like comparison for the restricted and unrestricted SV, but i can understand there will still be a difference in power.
My plan is to do all the training that i need, pass the restricted access test, and see how i honestly feel after that and buy a suitable bike accordingly.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

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.

I think i'll lay off trying any stunts

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Magnum

I think i'll lay off trying any stunts

I wish it had been while stunting rather than when a minibus driver pulled out on me.....................

[jamesterror]

Originally Posted by Magnum

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.

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

I'd consider Viney's opinion as equally as everybody elses, thats his few on it he stated not to take it hard but its reality.

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?

Like I said, I'm 17, 2 of my mates were 17 when they got their restricted access, one got an SV650K3 Naked and other got a brand new Z750, however I'd expect to fall out rather than not to in fairness. But I agree, I always think do I get a powerful bike or get a 125?

I'm split between, and think I'll be getting a bigger bike and taking very
easy as I'm told learning only starts when you pass your test.

Taking other people's opinions the wrong way is the bad approach to it in my eyes, however I think your safer on a bigger bike as if you ever need to open up to get out of trouble, you can't do that on a 125 with as much ease.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by jamesterror

learning only starts when you pass your test.

Spot on, it does, and that goes for any bike, 125, restricted SV or anything else.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Personally I did this :

CBT and rode for 6 months on a 125
Then I did my DAS
Then I rode for further 4 months on my 125
Then I got my SV unrestricted

My 125 felt mind numbingly fast when I rode it on the road for the first time, my SV felt like a rocket ship the first time I rode it on the road...

Originally Posted by Magnum

I think i'll lay off trying any stunts

In that case, please heed the following warning....

My legal road based experience was much the same as fizz. CBT first, then a 125 which sheered it's sump plug & dropped it's oil, ceasing the engine at 70mph. Do I pay to fix it or do DAS & get a bigger bike? I booked my DAS & was confident enough about it all that I bought the SV before I'd taken the test.

I still remember my first ride on the SV now. I honestly thought that my CG125-BR (1984) was pretty damn sluggish. Ring it's neck & it'd move yea, but once up to speed it didn't want to accelerate. So I was used to pushing hard on wide open throttle.

My first ride on the SV, I set off, T junction, I turned right. Whack open the throttle & let the clutch out as I had been on the CG. Instantly brown pants & massive wheelie. Luckily my youth experience meant I controlled it quickly, but yes, I still shat myself as I really wasn't expecting it. Even considering I'd ridden 500cc bikes off-road in the past.

When you first ride a big bike on the road, the power is phenomenal. Seriously.

After a while, if you're like me, you get bored & start wanting more.

Originally Posted by Magnum

...... When we went out on the road, i would say it was over half an hour. The instructor took the mopeds out first, while the other bloke and i practiced while they were out. The day ended at around 3pm.

If the DSA get to know that he is only taking people out for around 30 minutes on the road they will take his training licence away. The minimum you should be out on the road for is 2 hours. There is no way you can fit everything you are supposed to do in the CBT on-road session into 30 minutes.

[jamesterror]

Originally Posted by derbybiker

If the DSA get to know that he is only taking people out for around 30 minutes on the road they will take his training licence away. The minimum you should be out on the road for is 2 hours. There is no way you can fit everything you are supposed to do in the CBT on-road session into 30 minutes.

Yeh indeed, I had to do 2 hours & a half because we had to stop half way through a hail storm which got us all ****ed on but was good fun.

Originally Posted by Baph

My legal road based experience was much the same as fizz. CBT first, then a 125 which sheered it's sump plug & dropped it's oil, ceasing the engine at 70mph. Do I pay to fix it or do DAS & get a bigger bike? I booked my DAS & was confident enough about it all that I bought the SV before I'd taken the test.

I still remember my first ride on the SV now. I honestly thought that my CG125-BR (1984) was pretty damn sluggish. Ring it's neck & it'd move yea, but once up to speed it didn't want to accelerate. So I was used to pushing hard on wide open throttle.

My first ride on the SV, I set off, T junction, I turned right. Whack open the throttle & let the clutch out as I had been on the CG. Instantly brown pants & massive wheelie. Luckily my youth experience meant I controlled it quickly, but yes, I still shat myself as I really wasn't expecting it. Even considering I'd ridden 500cc bikes off-road in the past.

Aha, I want to get some practice on a bigger capacity bike to know how well I'd be able to handle it and to make my decision prior to actually buying a 125 or SV.

Need to ask the training centre I'm at if they'll take me on the car park there with the 500's, or whether they'd have to be restricted to be riden on-site in accordance to my license once passed.

Originally Posted by jamesterror

Need to ask the training centre I'm at if they'll take me on the car park there with the 500's, or whether they'd have to be restricted to be riden on-site in accordance to my license once passed.

There's no reason why you shouldnt be allowed to because it's on private property, but it will be at their discression.
Thats not a bad idea though to try it out, i'll mention that one.