New biker :) How much training is really required to learn?

[Scotsman277]

Hi all - just signed up as pleased to be finally doing my CBT this weekend, aged 37, to begin life on 2 wheels apologies if this comes up as a common question; but with just starting out, how many hours of real riding time do you think you need to become decent enough to ride well/pass a test confidently? I don't want to do a direct access, fluke the test, buy a fancy machine and then write myself off a week later.... I remember taking 4 months to learn to drive a car on weekly lessons so think I want to build a bit of riding time before being let loose on anything with many CCs. So, tell me if you think it daft to buy a 125 after a few initial lessons (can only do weekly and not a block), build up say a years experience before then taking more lessons on a bigger bike and then trading in the 125 for something more. Or should I not buy a bike at all and just take longer to learn through lessons on a larger machine? Don't want to sound overly cautious here but part of the justification to my partner and family is that ill promise to go about this sensibly! I'm not slating the quick DAS courses but just don't think they'd work for me.

Cheers

[Tango]

How long is a piece of string?..... Everyone learns at different rates......so, someone may be fully competent in a week on a bike, and others may take months...... I'm afraid that only you can answer this question.....

[GaryJM]

Learning to pass the test and becoming a good rider are two different things.

To pass the test you have to learn to ride the way the examiner wants to see you ride.

DAS,A2 and A1 courses teach you that.

If you don't think that you would progress quickly enough on a block DAS course, by all means ride around on a 125 for a bit, not too long as you will soon pick up bad habits ( we all do).

That will teach you slow speed control etc and build up your confidence.

Just do your course in weekly segments or do it as a block after a couple of months on the 125.

As to buying a 125 as you intend to do DAS buy a second hand Japense bike ( better resale value than Chinese), buying new would mean you take the big depreciation hit that happens when you buy any new vehicle.

As to becoming a good rider that comes down to riding and common sense.

If you were to do the likes of bike safe post test (where you go on a supervised ride usually with the Police , have also heard of ROSPA instructors doing it), they will show and advise you on more advanced techniques.

Again further training such as the track schools ( Ron Haslam et al) will again show you "better" ways of cornering etc.

Just my pennies worth

[Bonniebird]

Do what suits you. Like learning to drive a car it takes experience and that only comes AFTER you get your licence.

You never stop learning IMO and there's always room for improvement.

If you ride for fun and don't ride much in the Winter then every Spring is a bit of a new learning curve as you get back into it.

You will need to do some sort of DAS if you want to ride anyrhing bigger than a 125 but most good Schools are flexible about the learning process.

[Chrissb6]

Hi, passing your test is one thing gaining experience is another! Some take to it like a duck to water others take a little longer. I've been riding bikes more than 40yrs and everyday is a learning day, there's always something new waiting round the corner that's life! Take it one step at a time, take notes, listen up, be alert and enjoy.

[Guest]

Everyone is different.

I went from CBT straight onto my DAS and hopped onto the GSX-R 600 and haven't looked back, well I have for my lifesavers etc

But yeah no regrets here. The bike will only go as fast as you make it. Take it steady and you'll be fine regardless of what size you get on first. What you could do is do your CBT and DAS and then hop on a 125 for a bit. I imagine though once you've done the DAS you'll not want to get on a 125. Riding a larger bike certainly feels safer, the wind still hits you but you don't get pushed around as much as on a smaller lighter bike.

Anyway if you get all the testing out of the way now you'll avoid riding a 125 for a year and having to unlearn any bad habits you pick up before the test.

[NeilM]

I'm with KC on this one.

[Whitey1984]

Okay i did mine before all this mod one, mod two business. I was 21 when i did my CBT, rode a 125 for 6 months, Then did a weekend DAS course Saturday and Sunday all day then test Monday morning.

Passed my test with 2 minors Jumped straight to a CBR600F and never looked back, the bigger bike was actually much better for me and i felt very comfortable, steadily rode around while gainaing confidence.

I will never be an amazing knee down god, but I'm safe and i enjoy it

[Scotsman277]

Thanks a lot everyone for taking the time to explain your own experiences; really useful stuff. I'm getting a better idea now for what I want to do and looking forward to doing the CBT before then either heading straight for DAS or otherwise buying a second hand 125 for a bit (having seen a dealer today with fairly flexible trade back deals). Cheers all

[Woodman]

I had a 125 for 12 months before I put in for my test.I only did it because my girlfriend put in for hers or I'd have tootled round on the 125 until my cbt was ready for expiring.

It depends how desperate you are for a big bike.

Personally I enjoyed my 125.I kept it about 8 months after passing my test before buying a bigger bike.

If you can get a cheapish one that you wont lose too much on it wouldn't be a bad thing to buy one.