Taking Up My Dream (Riding!)

[Susieque]

How does it cost him so much though? As from what the guy told me, £110(CBT) + £30(Theory) + £15.50(Mod 1) + £75(Mod 2) = £230.50. A lot smaller then the £700 he payed or have I missjudged everything?

 

Those amounts look like the actual test fees and, with the exception of the CBT, don't include any training time.

And as NearOn has said, the CBT is NOT a test - it stands for Compulsory Basic Training so you can't actually fail. If the instructor doesn't feel you've reached a satisfactory standard to ride on the road on your own, he should ask you to go back until he thinks you're ready.

A good riding school will not charge you if you need to go back.

[Spacedeck]

A good riding school will not charge you if you need to go back.

 

Well this place is owned and run solely by instructors. He said there was aout 4 people working there, it's at the back of a bike shop so isn't big, just going past you wouldn't evenknow it was there. Anyhow he did say if he didn't feel I was good for the road then he asks me to go home and go back another time which wouldn't cost as it's still within the 8 hour course time.

So other then the test fee's I've mentioned, what else is needed? Just training. What type of training and I guess that's the bit that's most expensive?

[Susieque]

The type of training you'll need will really depend on which route you decide to take.

If you choose to buy a 125 after doing your CBT and gaining road experience that way, then it's likely you won't need to spend much on formal training. If you decide to have lessons instead, then it will depend on how you take to bike riding.

My advice, based on experience, is don't try taking your test til you're ready - it doesn't pay off!

[hammer5]

My advice, based on experience, is don't try taking your test til you're ready - it doesn't pay off!

 

Unless your loaded & want to see what's in it lol..

BB

*

All advice from me should be taken with a pinch of salt.

[Boothy]

I didn't feel ready to take my test, did it anyway, was shitting myself all the way around yet still passed. Don't worry about it, they are not looking to fail you they are just checking you are safe.

[Spacedeck]

So over the course of last night, in bewteen playing BF3 I have come to a few conclusions.

1. I want a bike and I'd die trying

2. It will cost a hell of a lot of money

3. I have doutbs I will always fail as my dream, cause they are what they are right? Dream..

That aside I have searched lots and read closely regarding bikes. The last option I found was Lexmoto but I've read they are pretty much crap.

Now there are 2 roads I can see for me. The new plan overtakes the old plan by a bit.

1. Complete the full package and then buy a 600cc on finance. Doing this will provide me lots of trainings, as long as it takes and in the long run could get me riding sooner and being more myself.

2. CBT. Bike. Experience. DAS. The main flaw I've found is the price of it all. It could be easier as it goes on a few months but finding a cheap enough bike is a little tough.

So far no. 1 is what I'm thinking but earlier it was mentioned someone did there full course and thoery. But how does that work? Surely you would have to do the theory before?

Anyway any ideas would be good. I will phone the guy up later to find out how much it would cost for the full lot.

[Susieque]

So far no. 1 is what I'm thinking but earlier it was mentioned someone did there full course and thoery. But how does that work? Surely you would have to do the theory before?

 

I'm pretty sure I'm right in saying that you don't need your theory ewhen you're learning, you just need to produce the certificate when you actually take your tests.

However, synchronising the theory with an intensive course of instruction could be difficult!!

Probably better to do it first & get it out of the way

[Spacedeck]

Ok so I've now managed to ask the guy about the intense course and he replied with this - "Your looking at around 500-700 pounds all in including test fees, maybe little more or less depending how quick you pick things up, cheers, Jase"

Now to me that doesn't sound that bad. It may possibly be the way forward for me.

If I'm VERY VERY tight wirth my money (meaning don't spend a penny) I could save around 500 a month. It sounds pretty promising.

In 2 months it would then give me around 1000£ at an average so that should possibly cover me for the entire course?

This is not going to happen though as I can't save money... Eitherway until I have found a good way to tackle this I'm going to arange a GetOn so I can go have a play around on a bike and train for my Theory.

Really don't see where any of this money is coming from .

EDIT: furthurmore just had a breif chat with him. He says if i want to have it cost the least amount of money/time then I should aim to get everything complete within 2 weeks of starting. You'll pay for the course for the actual lesson you have that day. So a possibility would be at the end of next month as ill get paid at the end of the month. Providing I have managed to save about 500 from the wage.

[Nell]

Could you do it on a per lesson basis? Say 40 quid a time or whatever the going rate is, or are you wanting it done asap?

[Spacedeck]

What do you mean by that? Wouldn't that just be the same as doing an intense course?

I would really like to get it over and done with and also I am trying to think the best money saver in the long run / less time.

[Nell]

Rather than doing it in five days, do as i did - a lesson or a week over a couple of months. People who did it along side me were paying for each lesson separately.

[Spacedeck]

That would work but during the time your not on the bike, don't you feel as though you need retraining each week?

Plus I am guessing without having a bike of your own would make it harder cause you are unable to practise what you've learnt?

[Guest]

That would work but during the time your not on the bike, don't you feel as though you need retraining each week?

Plus I am guessing without having a bike of your own would make it harder cause you are unable to practise what you've learnt?

 

Thats how it was with my flying - Instructor always bitched about other students only being able to commit like 3 days out of a week to be available. I was full time, so got my Private License in 6 weeks, and we weren't working full days for that either.

I can only imagine its the same for biking, as it is for anything really. More practice in a shorter period of time, the better!

[Nell]

That would work but during the time your not on the bike, don't you feel as though you need retraining each week?

Plus I am guessing without having a bike of your own would make it harder cause you are unable to practise what you've learnt?

 

Not really, I wasn't riding between lessons, and you'll have the advantage that you'll more than likely be straight onto it after you've done your cbt, so the knowledge will be fresh in your mind. I didnt do an intensive course for 2 reasons - I don't particularly like having so much information thrown at me in such a short space of time -even more so if I'd never been near a bike before (although i had the benefit of having done so) and secondly I have a farm, so I can't just book a week off work to do it unlike yourself.

[Susieque]

IMO just get your CBT done then have a chat with the instructor & ask him to give you an honest assessment of your riding skills.

Once you get his/her opinion as to how much training they think you'll need THEN is the time to decide how you're gonna go about getting your licence

[Englishman]

I've just wasted ten minutes reading this thread. Jeez, Spacedeck. If it's your dream, and it can come above snowboarding and battlefield 3, then book your theory test and nail it. Do your CBT and pass it. You then have two years to further faff about by which time you should have saved about £20K and can afford whatever you want.

Get your theory and CBT in the bag first, as these are the very basics that you need to have. Then cough up and do a 5 day DAS course. Pass your tests and you can ride anything you want and can afford, or you can ride nothing and just look at the lovely A classification on your license.

Carpe the fecking Diem.

[Spacedeck]

No offence, I understand what you're saying. But I never forced you to read this thread, you didn't have to waste 10 minutes. And yet people probably waste more then 10 ninutes a day doing other things or just sitting doing nothing...

I can assure you I'll have the Theory booked by the end of the month. As far as I'm aware it could be weeks before I can get a place to take it anyway which gives me plenty of revision time. While waiting for that ill book a GetOn soon for next month. By the end of next month or possibly month after I will have my CBT booked and after that I may possibly try get a 125 bike. Do the DAS not so long after then sell / buy a new bike.

So its mapped out.. I dont ask you to keep reading, you do out of your own free will.

[Englishman]

No offence, I understand what you're saying. But I never forced you to read this thread, you didn't have to waste 10 minutes. And yet people probably waste more then 10 ninutes a day doing other things or just sitting doing nothing...

I can assure you I'll have the Theory booked by the end of the month. As far as I'm aware it could be weeks before I can get a place to take it anyway which gives me plenty of revision time. While waiting for that ill book a GetOn soon for next month. By the end of next month or possibly month after I will have my CBT booked and after that I may possibly try get a 125 bike. Do the DAS not so long after then sell / buy a new bike.

So its mapped out.. I dont ask you to keep reading, you do out of your own free will.

 

Good Man. Best of luck with it all and see you out on the road.

[Spacedeck]

On Sunday I hit a stroke of luck and won £1,125. Now my mum already has £600 waiting. I was wondering what people thought about this http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/vehicle ... 872_1a.jpg. I saw this on Autottrader bikes. Now even if I bought this, I can easily arange transport to pick this up. I can still have enough money for the CBT sometime this month (although holidays looks pretty booked up), I will still learn on the company's bike but I'd just have a bike for when I pass. What do people think? I've not looked at the insurance for it just yet but I would see about paying that monthly.

All advice welcome. Few things about what it says though I don't get. What does it mean by data tracked and the 2 keys bit and also what does hpi stand for?

Cheers.

[MattB]

Doing a CBT, buying a 125, doing DAS, selling a 125, buying a bigger bike...... Sounds like a lot of work and lost pennies to me! You really should consider just doing your DAS and be done with it. It will save you time, money and grief.

If you do the CBT there is no choice but to do it on the training school bike. You would not be insured to ride your own bike without the completed CBT certificate you get at the end of the day.

Edited April 30, 2012 by MattB

[Tango]

All advice welcome. Few things about what it says though I don't get. What does it mean by data tracked and the 2 keys bit and also what does hpi stand for?

Cheers.

 

DATA Tag is basically a special code is etched or imprinted on most of the parts of the bike...the idea being that if the bike is nicked and broken the parts can be traced. 2 keys is....well just that....it has 2 keys.....one to use and one spare. HPI Clear means that the bike has not been subject to a write-off or outstanding Hire Purchase agreements.

Hope this clears up these questions for you.....

[Spacedeck]

That's perfect thank you. Now the biggest question I would like to know is... Is it worth it? Woould I regain the money when selling it again? Will it be a a struggle to handle? And like the replica bikes will this have high insurance for what it is?

Thanks, much appreciated.

[Spacedeck]

Doing a CBT, buying a 125, doing DAS, selling a 125, buying a bigger bike...... Sounds like a lot of work and lost pennies to me! You really should consider just doing your DAS and be done with it. It will save you time, money and grief.

If you do the CBT there is no choice but to do it on the training school bike. You would not be insured to ride your own bike without the completed CBT certificate you get at the end of the day.

 

What I plan on doing is keeping this bike for a while. Say a year - over a year and getting experience. Then I will sell the bike on cause during that time ill have saved enough money for a bigger bike.

I will still be completing the DAS before the end of the year but I won't be jumping to a bigger bike without having pretty good road experience first.

I am doing it this way because I would really struggle to get the money together to do it all and then buy a bigger bike.

Looking at insurance it could end up costing around 800-900+ It would end up costing me more to insure a 600cc on a new liscence.

[Tango]

Looking at prices on eBay I'd say this bike is probably about right for a dealer. They are a solid reliable bike....but highly nickable (ask Donnie Brasco.... ). Guys on here will offer advice on what they would do....but you've got to make your own mind up really. You'll get opinions and all the options available and peoples experiences with each of them....but we are all different. So, if you think you'll be more comfortable running the 125 for a year to get experience....and that all important years NCD (hopefully) ready for the step up to a bigger bike...then go for it....

With regard to the CBF125....unless you trash it during the time you have it you're likely to get your money back...or at least a very small drop in the value....but don't quote me on that......

[Spacedeck]

I am guessing no matter what my insurance is going to be high anyway because of my age, the fact I don't have my CBT yet, I'm not a homeowner and I have to say the bike will be kept on the road even though it will be in my back garden where the only access is through a door between the 2 houses which gets locked from the inside and then a locked gate leading into my garden.

After the first year will the insurance price come down?