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Who's ready to do their test? I know you've nearly all done your theory tests, so was wondering who is ready to go the rest of the way? We're quiet and could do with the business, so talk to us about a deal on prices and we'll see what we can do... ;)
I nominate Vivi! ;) I've been telling her for weeks she should at least do an assessment lesson to see what still needs work - she's certainly done some miles with us to get very comfortable with her 125 on the road.
i would probably be ok to do the test on a 125 but maybe not until may/june as thats when i finish uni
im game...but still not sure about whether to do it on my 125 and be restricted or go for the 'biggie' (mainly dependant on me being able to fit on your 500's)... :-/ :-/ :-/ but I think it's time I had a go instead of putting it off ;D ;D ;D ::) ::) ::)
Bigger bikes are much easier to ride. The weight increases the stability...
but im sure i need to be able to reach the floor hehehehe ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Nah, don't worry about that! lol
Ok cool. You'll need to give us a few weeks notice that time of year. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazel-nut
Come and have a quick go round the training area at the school on Sunday, if you're free. If you don't fit, we'll talk about the 125 course. Remember, if you do the 125 test, you're only restricted on horsepower (33bhp for two years), not size of bike. And 33bhp is more than double the power of your 125... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tina
TBH, i would take my test tomorrow but I'm skint. :(
Christmas, + family holiday to pay for.... + no overtime for months at work... Times are hard :'( :'( :'(
If I could afford it Mark, I would be banging on your door!!! ;D
No joy selling the super cruiser yet then Toph? ::)Quote:
Originally Posted by python
Come and have a quick go round the training area at the school on Sunday, if you're free. If you don't fit, we'll talk about the 125 course. Remember, if you do the 125 test, you're only restricted on horsepower (33bhp for two years), not size of bike. And 33bhp is more than double the power of your 125... :)[/quote]Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_Able
i can vouch for this, i went from a 125 to a 250 jumping from the roughly 10bhp to 21bhp and that was a huge power difference, in fact when i picked the bike up it was difficult getting used to the power..for the first 30 mins ish then upgraded to a restricted Honda CB 500s restricted to 33bhp and you really notice the small increases in bhp, i've noticed that the lower end acceleration is still there but the top end stuff isn't and in most cases struggles to go to 80+, but upto that it's fine :)
I've taken it off the market Mark, I had a few offers , could have sold it twice, but the wife talked me into keeping it for a month or two,until the family finances are healthier!! If I sell it... I'll have to walk to work, until the test and replacement bike is sorted, maybe the 125 test would be cheaper than DAS??
I could put up with 33bhp for two years for an affordable jump in horsepower. :-?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tina
Just get boots with thick soles ;D
Yep, the 125 route is cheaper, especially if you do it on your own bike. To be eligible, your bike must have a manufacturers stated top speed of 64mph or more.Quote:
Originally Posted by python
Let us know when you're ready mate... ;)
Come and have a quick go round the training area at the school on Sunday, if you're free. If you don't fit, we'll talk about the 125 course. Remember, if you do the 125 test, you're only restricted on horsepower (33bhp for two years), not size of bike. And 33bhp is more than double the power of your 125... :)[/quote]Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_Able
I can back this up too! I don't notice the lack of power with my restricted Gladius. And I'm sure those that have been on rideouts with me would say the same! :D
O and the 2 year wait won't actually feel like 2 years, I've got about 4 months left on my restriction and the time has literally flown by.
Tina and Toph (and anyone else dithering about DAS)—you know what I'd recommend! I was much more comfortable doing the test on my own 125 which I had got to know well by myself over a period of months, rather than the school's 500, which seemed big and heavy by comparison and would have taken several expensive and stressful training days to get used to. The 33bhp limit means little: I'm still learning what my bike can do—by the time I feel I've mastered it and I'm ready for a change the licence restriction will have expired anyway! My 250 is just under the power limit (so there's no need for restriction) and it can out-accelerate most cars and do 3-digit speeds—that may not match the acceleration or top speed of bigger bikes but it goes round corners more easily than them! As a further bonus, tax is £33 and fully comp insurance with breakdown cover is £171. Definitely a good option to consider IMHO.
If your at the Harp and Crown, you can try my GS for size. See what ya think. The do have very low seats, lower than some 125's.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tina
Go for it guys! 8-)
BB
If Beamer, Vivi, Hazel-nut, Toph (and probably Anatomiss in the summer) all pass, I think it calls for a......
PARTY!!!!
Anyone agree? :-?
Hate to break it to ya Scotty, but I think there may already be a party in the summer planned... :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Scotty
C'mon all of you, get on and do your tests! The weather is supposed to be mild for the next little while ;)
I did mine as a restricted licence (on my own CG, which I could throw around with no problems - can I hear you say "0 mistakes on Mod 1, if we'd filmed that it would be put up as a perfect example"? ;) ) and I'm already chomping at the bit to get a bigger bike after only 4 months ::)Quote:
Originally Posted by Robf
Hate to break it to ya Scotty, but I think there may already be a party in the summer planned... :P[/quote]Quote:
Originally Posted by Taylor86
You can never have too many parties. Bring it on. I think we should have another party even if they don't take their tests. Just coz we can!!!!
I did my test 11 years ago as a restricted licence and that was mainly due to the cost not age :o
I had a cg125 for about 6 months then got meself a Z250 kawasaki to do the rest of my restriction :)
After that I bought a fazer 600 and haven't looked back since.
You can actually buy all sorts of bikes and have them restricted down to 33bhp which on some models is still well above the national limit 8-)
I wouldn't know what you mean Simon... I know mine will do 70mph [smiley=engel017.gif]Quote:
Originally Posted by silly_simon
Thanks Mark....I shall pop down if i can. Thank you
Scotty, lets just party anyway hehehehe
Thank you everyone for the advice.....you've all given me loads of food for thought. :) :) :) :)
I wouldn't know what you mean Simon... I know mine will do 70mph [smiley=engel017.gif][/quote]Quote:
Originally Posted by Taylor86
No of course you wouldn't Jen :P :P
Here's a bit of motivation...i'm provisionally booked in with Mark for the 25th-27th April, who can beat me to it?! ;D
Great news Rachel...you will be fine! and hopefully the first!!!!! whoo hoooo
roxy
Mark, can you give me a costing of taking the restricted test using your own bike, this seems like the cheapest option.
I really want to take the test as soon as poss, but with limited funds.
I knew you'd rise to the bait Toph!
I really need to get it done and dusted Rach!!! He He!!
We can have another party [smiley=beer.gif] :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Scotty
Hey Rachel, thats brilliant news.....you will do fab......WBers needs more young fully fledged biker chicks.....actually will you be the youngest????.....a bucketful of good luck to you Rachel (not that I think you will need it) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
go for it Rachel and good luck :-*
Toph - it aint going to get any easier or cheaper. :-*
BB
We can have another party [smiley=beer.gif] :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Caroline
[/quote]
Hell yeah!!! :D
As Robin put forward a good case for the 125 route, and it works well for him, on our last trip out I was the 750 and he wasn't as slow as I thought, but because I am an awkard bastard, I thought I would put forward my case for DAS, my personal choice.
I think it's worth mentioning that just because you take your DAS, it doesn't mean you have to jump straight onto a 2.3ltr rocket III or a Busa, you can go for a 250 or any bike with about 33bhp, but you then get the option to upgrade earlier if you wish rather than having to wait.
I have to say I found riding the 500 much easier than the 125, as soon as I got on the 500 the turn in the road was a piece of cake, so much better to have power on tap, rather than twist the throttle on the 125 and wait 20 secs for the revs to build. It's easier to maintain that power all the way through the manouver as well.
Don't worry about the size of the 500 compared to the 125, they both work pretty much exactly the same way, and it's not having the extra power thats the problem, it's how you use it. I pretty much went from DAS to 1200cc, I did get the usual 'u will kill urself' nonsense from friends and relatives, but it's just that, nonsense. If you are an inexperienced rider, and you jump on a powerful bike and just open it up, yeah you're probably going to do some hedgerow surfing, but then again if you jump on Ro's 250 and just open it up everywhere you stand a good chance of doing the same.
Just because you have the power, you don't HAVE to use it, it's just nice to know you have something in reserve, just ride a big bike like you would a small bike, get used to it first, take ur time it's not a race, I'm certain the way Mark taught you to ride a 125 will work if you jumped on the 500, and that extra power REALLY helps in all aspects, easier hill starts, faster safer overtakes, easier slow manouvers, but what I REALLY notice is I'm not up and down on the gearbox as much when out in the country, my engine only screams when I am making good progress (cough cough) and not all the damn fecking time, and by far the biggest advantage I have found when riding in town (when that extra power is godlike for getting away quickly at a busy junction AFTER you have got used to it) is that the bigger the bike, the less you get bullied.
I have a 750 and a 1200, I get bullied more on the 750, when I am around town, but it's quicker and more agile so escaping is easier, on the 1200 far less people try it on, and it's still narrow enough I can filter if needed.
At the end of the day, if you're a sensible person, you should know when you are confident to use the power, if you're not a sensible person, well, I would have to wonder if it's a good idea you're riding a bike.
Either option, 125 or DAS, I would strongly recomend once you have passed to get an extra 'advanced' lesson from Mark, with some motorway training, personally I think motorway training should be compulsory for EVERY license. I can also recomend getting either an IAM or RoSPA (or both, I don't think you are only allowed to get one or the other) qualification, I've started with IAM (second observed ride tomorrow) and already I've noticed the difference, plus there are added benefits, cheaper insurance, it's not bad for putting on your C.V., makes any newbe pillions you take out more relaxed, but the best benefit, is you can ride a blood bike!
"Is the Pope a catholic?" "Does a Bear sh*t in the woods?"Quote:
Originally Posted by Scotty
Let's party all night long! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
I agree with Hunars position regarding DAS. I had a 125 and after riding it around for 3 weeks made the decision to go DAS. First time I sat on the 500 I wondered how the hell I was going to manage it however after a quick blast from Frome to Warminster services with Mark Able it felt great.
I didn't do too well with the U turn during practice but the test went like a dream and by the way I'm not the tallest at 5'6".