Dana_leigh

To be honest I'm leaning back towards the Kawak a bit, just because love superbikes and the Kawak has more of a look that I'm after in that sense..... Might be worth getting a Duke as a 'target bike' - one I save for and get later on maybe.....

Thanks for that My ex has a Ducati 748 and ran fine. I've worked on it with him on things like replacing the clutch lines (cos he wanted fancy ones) and a few other bits so I can work some stuff out, or ask him to help if I need to do things myself. However, I'm used to paying dealers to service my car so normally just pay out (might be a typical woman there!!)

Insurance cost is no bother....all have to start somewhere, I would rather have something I like than something for a cheap insurance job. I don;t mind buying second hand but as I know nothing about bikes I Figured the benefits of buying new will help. I will still up buying from a dealer even if it is second hand.

So nothing to do with the fact that Rossi rides for Yamaha then?

haha yes I do......I can't shake the feeling of wanting one!!

Well according to 'What Bike' they are only an insurance category apart.....but yeah I guess servicing cost might be an issue

Did consider a hornet actually, but didnt seem to stick in appeal like the kwak or duke

oh but the Duke was sooooo soooo pretty and nice Plus I already have a bit of a love affair with Dukes

Ok so I have the fortune of having time to window shop for a bike when I pass my tests in October. I like the look of the Kawak but sat on the Duke at the weekend and now love that. I'm going to buy new (My treat to pick myself up in life) so cost isn't going to be a factor in it....which would you have? I will have only just passed my tests so maybe that might be a factor. I'm also not looking to use it as a regular commuter. cheers guys

Ahh right, well that should all be ok then All you have to do it pass Good luck with it

When's your CBT? you will need to show your license for that so don't send it off just yet.

well as someone who passed their cbt on a 125, the got on a 500 straight after from never having ridden a bike. the swerve on a bigger bike is no issue. The actually swerve bit is minimal (think side step to the right or left and it kind of feels like that) There are a few tips I would follow as others have said 1) DON'T BRAKE on the swerve 2) Maintain you speed on the bend and open the throttle towards the speed trap 3) DON'T go too fast, you only need to go at 51km so anything over this obviously shortens the time you have to move the bike 4) Throttle off as soon as you hit the speed trap, even the loss of 1 or 2 km an hour helps 5) keep toes in to ensure you don't clip!! I failed my module one after going to fast (60km) and it didn't allow enough manoeuvre time. Before that in practice I had never hit a cone and that was after only a week on a big bike so I don't think the size of the bike would be an issue for you at all since you are used to it. ( I would have failed on a 125 too as it was the speed that got me!!) Remember you can always do it again if the speed it under, but if you hit a cone, you're done for - something I will be remembering next time!

Go for the DAS, I started learning from scratch and had issues with clutch control. It took me a week to pass my CBT but once I had that sorted, getting on a 500 was much easier. Clutch control needs to be mastered but once that is done your sorted. I found the 500 to have better balance and feel more 'stable'. When out in the wind I felt more secure and control was no different. I spent an extra couple of hours after my CBT out on the 125 to make sure I mastered the clutch, then straight onto the 500. I dropped it twice, both at a standstill, which hurt my pride more than my body, but it happens. Go for the 500, its not such a bigger deal and if I can do it, anyone can!!!

You should be fine, I went on a 500cc straight after my CBT and had only ever ridden a 125 for my CBT and I was perfectly fine!!

Well, I did my module 1 last night. The night before my instructor had given me some practise time, and when I turned up he asked me to do a demonstration of how to do a module 1 to a few people. Turns out they were 3 DSA Big Wigs and the examiner for my test. I completed the whole of the damn module 1 fine, no problems. Of course on my actual module 1 yesterday, did everything find until the avoidance exercise. Was so determined to hit the 50kph mark that I gassed at through, didn't leave enough time to make the manoeuvre and kicked the blue cone, sent it spinning into the air. At that point the examiner asked if I was ok and wanted to carry on, to which I replied no as there was little point. I had done it so many times the extra practise really wouldn't have made a difference and I was so wound up I would have just binned it, so I stopped. Was really annoyed at the time that as I was the only one there, no one else was after me, it was all set up and the examiner had watched me do it yesterday no probs that they couldn't have let me do another test without all the faffing about!! Of course I know why they can't, it was just annoying at the time. Will wait until October half term now, as my step dad has been paying for all this and he is keen for me to complete it with my instructor, as I am, so I will wait until then. Lesson learnt......don't try to go tooo fast!! 60kph, way too fast and probably the fastest I have ever done it!!

well my own fault, I was trying to make sure I did the min speed, in actual fact went thru at 60kmph. If I had slowed a bit I would have been fine. Is more annoying that the guy watched me do the whole thing yesterday and commented to my instructor about how well I had done!!!!

Well I didn't pass!!! Went too blooming fast on the avoidance and took a cone out!! Did it properly apparently and sent it flying!!! Never mind, going to try again in October.

Thanks....I hope I will be fine.....just as long as I remember not to use my back break too much!!

So this evening I have my module 1 test....I've been practising and hopefully everything will be fine, as long as I do get nervous!!! Yesterday went for a practise and was asked by my instructor to do a demonstration for some people of how a module 1 test we done. I had 7 people watching me, the other student, my step dad, my instructor, a driving instructor and as it turned out 3 DSA people!!! Talk about nerves!!! I did it all fine except for my Emergency stop, where I slid the back wheel due to too much back break. I ten to do that if I pass through too fast (that one was 59kmph) and revert to pushing the back break a lot to slow it down more (though most of the time I'm ok) So anyway, fingers crossed!!!

Any of them, but not a good idea to do a U turn on a bend??

Glad to hear that you enjoyed it, dont worry about the clutch control, it takes a bit of time to get used to as slow speeds Yeah...think I spoke to soon, I dropped the damn thing twice today!!! luckily when I was stopped but my instructor wasn't happy and ended the lesson with 'If this keeps happening I'm putting you bad on the 125!!' great!!!

So today I went out on a 500cc for the first time......wow I loved it!!!! I still have issues with come clutch control but I hope I will sort it. Despite a few issues my instructor took me out on the road and I was AMAZED at how much safer I felt on a bigger bike!!! Didn't get blow about half so much, now I understand why people love it so much!!! BRING ON THE DAS!!!!!!!

Don't worry about it, I've been a car driver for 8 years and sooooo much was just common sense and thinking of myself in a car if I got stuck!!! I bought this : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Driving-Test-Su ... 505&sr=8-1 just to help me out with the Hazard perception part, again that was easier than I thought as my driving experience really helped. So much is common sense so don't worry too much about it

Well done!!!!

thats a shame I will be riding a 500cc Kawasaki but as I want to get it done in the next couple of weeks (before I go home) I may just do the tests on a 125 to get it done and ride restricted for two years. Plenty do it, can't be too much of a hardship.