Old new rider question - 125 or DAS

[darthpunk]

Thank you, all the responses have been very helpful.

I spoke to my mate, he's not a biker but he made some good points regarding the 125. Something I might not have mentioned is I'm a fairly big guy, the wee CBF might have been struggling due to me weighing about the same as a dying star.

The training school text me some dates for the DAS and I've just decided to go for it, booked up for the middle of July. The training starts with a 3 hour transition lesson to go from 125 up to the 650 and I'm going to speak to them tomorrow about a "confidence lesson" or similar on the 125. Failing that I might find a school that offers something like that in the interim. Either way it's booked and I will not be backing out, I've done that before after the last CBT I did 4 years ago

[ogri]

If you fail first time, you will know why and have time to re-assess and get experience before trying
again. Doubt that many people pass first time tbh. Will not not tell you what the olde test was, made the new one look like brain surgery

[Noggin]

I had never ridden a bike, did the DAS (including wheelying a sit-back-legs-forward type 125 away from a T-junction and avoiding a dry drain cover and riding the same 125 up the pavement until there was a gap in the cars for me to get back on the road!) and 6 years later bought a very dodgy ZZR600 !!

I rode that everywhere for 6 months over winter, although, having not had a bike since the test (about 5 years) I did get a half day training with a local school - although it was in almost monsoon conditions, but I lived!!

After the six months, I got a CBR1100xx Totally not ideal and linked brakes so little actual learning!


BUT - I found with the 125 for the first couple of days I was just too big for the 125. I tried a mates 400 something after I'd passed my test - couldn't get my feet up to the pegs as not enough room (I was heavier than I am now, not bendy and too heavy for little bikes!!) and I was often doing a 6 hours round trip on the bike to see my BDad for lunch.

I had Blackbirds for about 8 years and did everything on them, ok, not off road, but gravel lanes, track days, long distance and hooning around the local lanes following a mate on a 916SPS or later another mate on a ZX9r - both total lunatics but awesome fun!

I was lucky, I had a really good teacher than and another a bit later on. Was taught road stuff rather than test stuff. Learnt to ride fast but not cut the white lines with small visibility!


So, not a normal opinion, but, find a bike that is comfortable for what YOU want to do. If you want to bimble about and you fit a 125 (or, look at the KTM 390 Duke - I had the BEST FUN on that bike with a TLs and a ZX10r in the garage as well!), then get one. If you need a sporty riding position, go for it. If you are 6'6" tall, get something you can easily put your feet up on the pegs!

It's about comfort over style in all honesty. As you've found with the boots, if you aren't comfortable, you won't relax into the riding and be open to learning


On the boots -

I know it's the norm to go for ankle boots now but they scare me. My first physical rehab stay I made a friend there who had a very bad fracture of the lower leg - short boots don't protect your shin !

HOWEVER - I ride in jeans !! Normal jeans. Because they are more comfortable for me. (I do wear race boots, race gloves and a good helmet and usually textile jacket


I guess often my opinions aren't traditional or normal but -

the bike NEEDS to be comfy/fit you then you learn; and gear absolutely needs to be comfortable or you can't learn!

[Noggin]

If you fail first time, you will know why and have time to re-assess and get experience before trying
again. Doubt that many people pass first time tbh. Will not not tell you what the olde test was, made the new one look like brain surgery

After my 125 escapades on the first couple of days, absolutely NO ONE expected me to pass

[ogri]

Got taught to ride my fizzie in the local odean car park. Only took test when they were gonna change fron 250 to 125 l plates
Ride round the block twice without falling off , not running the tester over when they stepped out in front of you and riding at tester walking pace without putting feet down ( clutch control mainly)

[Dodgy69]

Not sure of the rules, but my nephew has an A2 and I think that allows him to ride up to 47hp. He says he doesn't need anymore and has allowed him to get his Guzzi he's always wanted.

Tbh, I reckon 47hp would do me these days 99% of the time and go without the 1%. When you take in, the state of the roads, driving numbers and standards, it makes sense.

However, there is something about taking your test at 24 and getting a full licence.

[ZRX61]

Go for the rest of the training or buy a 125 and build up some confidence.

My ex-missus passed her test on a '78 KZ1000-A2, her first bike...

[Skub]

I use these when on the old bikes. Very light,yet feel supportive and easy to walk around off the bike.

[Noggin]

I use these when on the old bikes. Very light,yet feel supportive and easy to walk around off the bike.

Most of the french I see wear these, but then the surgeons and health care are excellent!! But they scare me to bits - mostly because I've massively benefitted from having fully protective boots in a crash that would have smashed my ankle (at best) if I'd had shorties; and a bit because my rehab mate is still classed as disabled because he'll never walk normally

BUT - each to them's own. I will always recommend full gear to a newby - but I do balance that with comfort because I don't wear all the gear

[Skub]

Most of the french I see wear these, but then the surgeons and health care are excellent!! But they scare me to bits - mostly because I've massively benefitted from having fully protective boots in a crash that would have smashed my ankle (at best) if I'd had shorties; and a bit because my rehab mate is still classed as disabled because he'll never walk normally

BUT - each to them's own. I will always recommend full gear to a newby - but I do balance that with comfort because I don't wear all the gear

Yeah,yer right kiddo. I'm old and blasé,which is exactly what someone new doesn't need.

[darthpunk]

update: Paid my deposit and all booked up for July

Found another school locally who do 3 hour 125 confidence lessons. May do that in between now and the DAS, just to keep my hand in and get used to the gears and riding in general as the 125 purchase is out the window. Just too husky I think.

Had a chat with the woman at the school I'm doing the DAS at, she was lovely, really took her time explaining a lot to me and that they're not there to catch me out, they're there to help me pass. You'd think I would have known that at 50 but here we are

As for the boot, going to go to a shop and take my time looking, defo want something a bit taller to cover the ankle, already had my fair share of ankle problems over the years falling off skateboards but then those SPADA's do look pretty nice.....maybe after I get the license

And the long term goal, the head says something like a Honda NX500, the heart says a Triumph Street Twin

Again, thanks for all the advice

[Noggin]

Most of the french I see wear these, but then the surgeons and health care are excellent!! But they scare me to bits - mostly because I've massively benefitted from having fully protective boots in a crash that would have smashed my ankle (at best) if I'd had shorties; and a bit because my rehab mate is still classed as disabled because he'll never walk normally

BUT - each to them's own. I will always recommend full gear to a newby - but I do balance that with comfort because I don't wear all the gear

Yeah,yer right kiddo. I'm old and blasé,which is exactly what someone new doesn't need.

I'm not exactly "young" (although not quite middle aged on here I suppose!!!) but I didn't start riding till I was 32, so, with the 9 year almost gap, I suspect my blasé has run out a bit!! LOL.

My thing was always to protect the bits I really need - feet, hands, head!! I know too many people with metal legs and know life is totally possible and reasonably ok like that, so I'm ok wearing jeans to be comfortable rather than distracted. I suppose that makes it weird that i am scared of an ankle boot !! LOL

update: Paid my deposit and all booked up for July

Found another school locally who do 3 hour 125 confidence lessons. May do that in between now and the DAS, just to keep my hand in and get used to the gears and riding in general as the 125 purchase is out the window. Just too husky I think.

Had a chat with the woman at the school I'm doing the DAS at, she was lovely, really took her time explaining a lot to me and that they're not there to catch me out, they're there to help me pass. You'd think I would have known that at 50 but here we are

As for the boot, going to go to a shop and take my time looking, defo want something a bit taller to cover the ankle, already had my fair share of ankle problems over the years falling off skateboards but then those SPADA's do look pretty nice.....maybe after I get the license

And the long term goal, the head says something like a Honda NX500, the heart says a Triumph Street Twin

Again, thanks for all the advice

Sit on loads of bikes and fit one that "fits" - hopefully it'll be one of those two

[Rockburner]

Take it from me... knee joints are fucking useful when they're working properly, and they don't like hard impacts.

[Skub]

Take it from me... knee joints are fucking useful when they're working properly, and they don't like hard impacts.

That's one area where I am fussy. I always use armoured jeans or leathers.

[Dickyboy]

As for the boot, going to go to a shop and take my time looking, defo want something a bit taller to cover the ankle, already had my fair share of ankle problems over the years falling off skateboards but then those SPADA's do look pretty nice.....maybe after I get the license

Do those Spada boots have lace covers - last thing you need is a loop of laces getting caught just as you go to put your feet down

Personally I would have gone down the 125 route but then again I wasn't a big unit when I learnt to ride..

[MrLongbeard]

lace covers - last thing you need is a loop of laces getting caught just as you go to put your feet down

Tie laces, take long loops and tuck under crossed laces between eyelets, they never come out and works for me on my A* trainer boots.

[Dodgy69]

If you ain't keen on any bike boots, try a decent walking/hiking boot. I've got Merrell moab 3 goretex boots. Proper waterproof, bulletproof soul and very comfy on and off bike, no probs with changing gear. Double knot like mum did as a kid, sorted.

[roadster]

I am of such an age that I only had to pass a round-the-block type of test to get a full license for bikes at 16 and cars at 17. These were no trouble because I had been driving tractors cars vans and bikes on a farm from the age of about 11!

Now very much older slower and stiffer I ride much less often, and every journey starts with an apprehensive phase of a mile or two. It takes some time to dial in the instinctive skills, almost as if they need to be dragged out of my unconscious memory. This highlights the key point that practice makes perfect and, going back to your original questions, clocking up miles on any bike big or small will build your confidence and ability without having to think about it. Ride at your own pace and enjoy it, and don't be afraid to slow down if you are anxious or uncertain.

[Noggin]

Take it from me... knee joints are fucking useful when they're working properly, and they don't like hard impacts.

As are shoulders

Oh, knee replacements are generally easier to live with than shoulder ones with no rotator cuff

But you are right

Take it from me... knee joints are fucking useful when they're working properly, and they don't like hard impacts.

That's one area where I am fussy. I always use armoured jeans or leathers.

I tried. I really tried! The only vaguely comfortable trousers I found were one-piece race leathers - totally not practical for town and local riding!!

I do have some kevlar jeans but the armour pockets are designed in a way that they scratch my skin constantly - 100% don't need that kind of distraction/pain whilst riding!!

But I do intend to find a solution as I am somewhat more risk averse now !!! can't afford to break the left knee yet again

[Skub]

I do have some kevlar jeans but the armour pockets are designed in a way that they scratch my skin constantly - 100% don't need that kind of distraction/pain whilst riding!!

I've a couple of pairs of armoured jeans. The one's I use the most are RST Aramid jobbies. Dead comfy.
The others are Bull-it. With the Bull-it I found the velcro on the armour pockets irritated,but I got busy with a needle and thread and did a bit of modding. They are now bespoke.