Newbie here, just done my CBT, some strange feelings.

Bear said this to me. I ignored him, took my test on the 125 so I'm
legally restricted to 33bhp bikes for two years. In retrospect I could
have taken the DAS and been fine but at the time it was the best
decision.

Go with what is best for you. Not everyone suits an intensive course.
Depending on what money is like then perhaps a couple of hour sessions
to get used to it more and then make a decision about what to do.

You're never 100% safe.

 

"speed kills"

 

This sounds all very familiar. You'll get past it. You're at the bottom
of your biking learning curve so everything will feel odd, confusing and
new.

Again all very familiar

You will improve - remember that saying "practice makes perfect"? well
that pretty much applies here in that you won't reach perfection.
Provided you concentrate, learn and take some training after your test
and persevere in improving your riding then you'll get along fine.

Can't really comment about this as I took my test before all this 500cc
nonsense. I went from a CBT and test on a 125 to a 600cc Suzuki Bandit a
few weeks later. I then had a crash but after recovering I got back on
the bike, took some training and set about rebuilding my skills and
confidence.

You will probably always feel like the loons in cars are out to kill you
but just remember you a car owning loon now so you can understand both
sides of the equation You may also crash or fall off your bike at
some point - again it's all part of the learning curve so don't worry
about it.

 

Nah, it just wrecks your teeth[1], makes you paranoid[1] and suppresses the
appetite[1].

Heroin kills, unless you are in the elite Scottish group who report no ill
effects.


[1]<speed freak mode>

Mustchewgummustchewgumishestaringatmemustchewgumdidthatcopperstareatmewhendidilasteatmustchewgum
</sfm>

 

It can also get you into trouble with the law apparently. I knw someone who
picked up his allotment and cunningly put it in his mouth in a plastic bag.
Then he got stopped by the Rozzers on the way home. I'm sure it was an
interesting conversation.

 

in message

Cor! Could've been me talking two years ago. Went on to do DAS and halfway
through the week my nerves were in shreds and I was trying to think of a
good excuse to get out of it justifying the loss of the money I shelled out.
I couldn't. Stuck with it, passed the test and I now tell everyone that was
one of the best things I have ever done. I rode 12k miles in my first year,
all year round and absolutely love it. In other words, do not think the way
you feel now means that you really don't want to ride. I did have the added
incentive in that I had already paid out £4.5k for a bike which sat in my
garage taunting me.

Book a DAS course ASAP. you don't need to 'practise' on a 125, after all
that's what you will be paying the riding school for. Do it now, and if you
are like me you will have a great summer to look forward to. It's good you
feel apprehensive, that'll keep you alive while inexperienced.

 

I had a bad momment here trying to work out how he'd get his shed and
spades and stuff into a plastic bag.

 

i agree with all of this, but need to add something.

*Then* buy a gixxer thou, they fucking rock... [1]

[1] Thanks for letting me have a go last year Ace, I *still* want one.

 

Seconded, except the Gixxer Thou bit, as I have never had a go on one.

I'd quite like a go on Ginge's ZRX though.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X
BOTAFOT #140, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

Ask, next time you see me.

 

snip

Seriously - Get on a mountain bike and ride slightly faster than you feel
comfortable on slightly dodgy surface and keep pushing that speed higher.
Sounds naff but it *will* almost certainly transfer to making the MC easier.

Then go back and do a bit of riding you feel comfortable with. Maybe a bit
more off road stuff? Its true 500s are more stable than 125s but they
aren't as easy to ride slowly.


--
Nidge
ZX6R J2 Stunning in zit yellow. KX 125 MX 'I'm snot green -fly ME'. A few
bits of CB500S in Norwegian Parrot blue. BOTAFOT#63 BOMB#5

'Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand'.
Homer (Simpson).

 

Okay, cheers

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X
BOTAFOT #140, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

I have, and it is indeed fun.

Somehow, I prefer Bruce's XJR13, though - which is silly as the Kawasaki
is, objectively, a better bike.

 

Sounds familiar. When I learnt to ride, I just hired a bike for lessons.
Although I learnt the basics I never really felt at ease, so I ended up
buying a cheap 125 so that I could get more practice in. After a few
weeks riding around I found that everything was much easier and I passed
my test first time.

So I think that some more time on a 125 is not at all a bad idea.

Whether you do the Direct Access test after that is up to you and depends
on what sort of riding you want to do. You can have a lot of fun on a
restricted bike but they're not well suited to long distances, IMO. Also,
power is a thrill, and more power is a bigger thrill.

One other thing I would recommend is some advanced training. Something
like "BikeSafe", if it operates in your area.

 

I have always liked the looks of the XJR, but in the tests I have read the
ZRX seems to get a better review.

Also, I guess the ZRX is an evolution of the Zephyr, and I am interested to
see how different it is.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X
BOTAFOT #140, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

About as wrong as the Home Secretary.

 

"You sunk my battleship"

Erm, whilst I accept I prolly am wrong, my thinking behind this theory was
quite crude, i.e they're both Kawasaki's, both essentially naked bikes and
both have big motors. Also, whilst I wouldn't class the ZRX as a retro, it
is retro-ish (IMHO).

Explain.
TIA

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X
BOTAFOT #140, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

Indeed they do. Most mightily.

Oh FFS. Just go out and buy one then. And get rid of all the other
stuff - it's the only bike you need.

Quite fun, in a porky sort of way. Did about 70 miles up through the
Vosges on it, with fluffycat as pillion, and quite enjoyed it. Plenty
of power, decent-ish brakes, not too wallowy round the bends. Yep, it
is actually a better bike that the early-80's Z1000 on which it's
styled, and the Z900/Z1 before that.

But I know which I'd rather have.

 

The scared rabbit feeling will pass as you learn to spot dangers and
gain confidence. Be open minded and prepared to completely relearn your
road craft, and you'll be ok.

 

I really do like the Zephyr, but it's handling is a bit archaic. I guess a
newer big naked bike would handle better.

Okay, how about "bastard lovechild of a Zephyr and a ZZR"