How many days for full licence?

alexakasloth · 22 Sep 2013 at 21:44

I've been riding a 125cc for the past year and i'm now looking to get a larger bike mainly for some longer trips and that a 125 just feels like it's lacking in power now.

I know this probably has the answer "how long is a piece of string" but how many days would you recommend for learning before doing the full licence (for budgets sake) and what would be the main difficulties when going from a 125 to a larger bike? Any bad habits that riders usually pick up that I may not have noticed?

Thanks for any advice advance

MADMAN69UK · 22 Sep 2013 at 21:58

You could do something like a CBT Plus first and have the instructor observe and advise you maybe

Grimbough · 23 Sep 2013 at 10:32

I rode a 125 with my CBT for 2 years before doing the DAS. I did two full days training on the 500cc and then did a morning of the third day and the test at lunch time.

If you've done a fair few mile on your current bike, I doubt you'll find it hard to move up to the bigger engine. Training centres don't provide you with twitchy angry sports bikes, you'll get to ride something fairly tame - but still way more fun than a 125. I found it harder getting back on a little bike to ride home once I'd got used to the power.

wazza300 · 23 Sep 2013 at 18:18

no idea,just pay as you go,all comes down to how quickly you pickup your system for riding then they will put in for your test

could be weeks/months

Glaucus · 23 Sep 2013 at 18:51

I did 5days, test on the 5th day. Free training if you failed, which i did. Didnt need more training, but took one more day as it was free. A women crashed in to me on day 4 and I failed for hesitation with a lorry, which I felt was very harsh.

alexakasloth · 24 Sep 2013 at 07:52

Grimbough said:
If you've done a fair few mile on your current bike, I doubt you'll find it hard to move up to the bigger engine. Training centres don't provide you with twitchy angry sports bikes, you'll get to ride something fairly tame - but still way more fun than a 125. I found it harder getting back on a little bike to ride home once I'd got used to the power.

I've covered about 4000+ miles on my bike, mixture of a roads and city riding, the training center has ER6's which look quite powerful/cool but i'm told they have quite even power delivery.

Thanks for all the replies, i'll budget in an extra couple of days and if I get it before hand that's some funds towards a new bike. Theory is booked for a couple of weeks time.

Scythe · 24 Sep 2013 at 12:01

alexakasloth said:
I've covered about 4000+ miles on my bike, mixture of a roads and city riding, the training center has ER6's which look quite powerful/cool but i'm told they have quite even power delivery.

Thanks for all the replies, i'll budget in an extra couple of days and if I get it before hand that's some funds towards a new bike. Theory is booked for a couple of weeks time.

I spent just over 12 months on a 125, did 8000 miles. I did my mod 1 without any training, it's that easy. I had one full day of lessons to iron out any problems and took my test the next morning, and passed.

It depends on your confidence and what your instructor reckons.

Sagalout · 24 Sep 2013 at 14:06

I had to retake my test a few years back (supid DVLA lost my entitlement - long story)

Anyway, from not riding for a few years I did a 2 day course (was 1.5 + lunch then test) and passed first time. You'll find the bigger bike easier - much more stable and less twitchy than a 125.

alexakasloth · 25 Sep 2013 at 07:17

Sagalout said:
I had to retake my test a few years back (supid DVLA lost my entitlement - long story)

Anyway, from not riding for a few years I did a 2 day course (was 1.5 + lunch then test) and passed first time. You'll find the bigger bike easier - much more stable and less twitchy than a 125.

Ah, I thought it would be harder to ride being a heavier bike but that makes me feel more confident. I have a lesson booked for the weekend after next

Griffo · 25 Sep 2013 at 09:25

I heartily second Saga's thoughts on the heavier bike - in fact I think it's a universal fact! Whenever I'm yapping to people about learning I try to impress upon them how much nicer it is when you get on that GS500 or whatever.

My K1300 is about 260Kg before I sit on it, and that is a delight

(And I'm 5'8 and around 62Kg). Damn I love my bike.

Sagalout · 25 Sep 2013 at 12:46

alexakasloth said:
Ah, I thought it would be harder to ride being a heavier bike but that makes me feel more confident. I have a lesson booked for the weekend after next

The only thing that's harder with a heavier bike is manoeuvring it around. Eg I think theres still a bit in the test where you have to get off the bike and wheel it round in a U turn to the other side of the road. If the bike goes past the balance point and gets away from you and it can be harder to catch

leigh_boy · 25 Sep 2013 at 16:45

I rode for 6 months from 17 on mr rg - fun 125 then bought a 2007 rs 125, did my test a month later with no training, the bike could do the u turn on the road becuase it was a sports bike and would hit the kurb, even from 1 kurb to the other, and i still passed with no minors.
and to top it off it was winter and i was in a city i didnt know.
so id say do it when your ready.
i no have a 2004 R1 and have had a few bikes since then as well
a few r6's and r1's , some gsxrs but the best bike i had was a renal bike and was a honda hornet 2008 plate.

alexakasloth · 27 Sep 2013 at 07:03

leigh_boy said:
I rode for 6 months from 17 on mr rg - fun 125 then bought a 2007 rs 125, did my test a month later with no training, the bike could do the u turn on the road becuase it was a sports bike and would hit the kurb, even from 1 kurb to the other, and i still passed with no minors.
and to top it off it was winter and i was in a city i didnt know.
so id say do it when your ready.
i no have a 2004 R1 and have had a few bikes since then as well
a few r6's and r1's , some gsxrs but the best bike i had was a renal bike and was a honda hornet 2008 plate.

The hornet looks like a great bike, think I know what i'm looking for once i've passed!

agnes · 27 Sep 2013 at 12:39

I did 0 days, one weekend on the CBT, 2 weekends later I did my full bike licence. Ridden bikes all my life though haha

Just never, ever wanted anything less than 500 for road riding. Not sure why. Stupid idea now I think back on it.

So waited until 21, took the test 3 days after turning 21. Failed due to putting foot down... Re took and passed with flying colours lol.

alexakasloth · 5 Oct 2013 at 17:05

So I had a day on the ER6n today with the instructor, and Sagalout you're spot on there it was much nicer to ride than a 125 and I felt a lot safer on the A roads.

Needed some more work on the slalom and looking out for dangers but by the end of the day got the hang of doing the U-turn on a larger bike. Highlight on the day thought was being able to practice at the test center in Burgess Hill - nice tarmac and got to pratice the Mod 1 a couple of times and managed to do the swerve and emergency stop at 50kph+ after a couple of attempts.

Now I need to hurry up and book my next lesson!