What to have...?

[legendkie]

Hi guys,

Im new to this forum and Motorcycles in general, so on here looking for general advice. Im in the process of revising before booking my theory before booking a direct access. Im more than likely after an R6,probably a 2004-2006 model.

Im hoping some of you guys could answer some questions please:

1) What is the bike test like, is it difficult etc?

2) The R6, as a first bike good idea or not? Good bike in general?

3)how much should i look to pay for the direct access?

Any other advice would be more than welcome with regards to the direct access, the bike and what to look out for etc when buying.

Really appreciate any reply's in advance.

Hello to you all.

Kieran

[Leatherat]

Hi Keiran, good luck with the Direct Access course,it should be between £500 & £600 for a 3 -4 day course, including bike and equipment hire and all test fees. Is it difficult?........No it's not difficult, can you ride a bike already? Might sound like a stupid question but some people can't and just dive right in. listen to what your told and stick to that, ride how you want once you've got the ticket.

The theory test is £31.00 and you have to book that yourself, mostly common sense, read the Highway code (Cars & Motorcycle parts especially, don't worry too much about the pedestrians and cyclists although as Tesco says every little helps) Get yourself a DVD with interactive Hazard Perception, so that you can practice and re practice the clicking, its what catches most people out, but it can be learnt, most of the clips on the DVD will not be official but don't worry about that, it's the recognition of the developing hazard your after.

Once you've got your pass certificate you can think about the MOD 1 test.

MOD 1 Test tips:

The test starts from the moment you get on the bike, so don't forget observations even before your on the testing ground. Remeber Neutral/Ignition/Stand when getting off the bike.

Enter the first available box to complete the manual handling exercise, push it back out as if you're leaving a parking space at Tesco, use observation techniques constantly, keep going backwards in a U shape so that once you've backed into and come to a stop in the second box you'll be ready to ride out for the slalom/ figure 8. When you've finished manually manouvering your bike, stay close to it, even inadvertantly kicking a cone with your foot is a fail.

Don't count the figutre 8's only stop when he calls you over(it has been known for some people to only complete 1.5 circuits)

Pull off and round the bend, accelerate pretty hard out of the bend and only back off once your through the speed trap, flick the bike through the avoidance and front wheel stop into the box.

The next bit is where alot of people fail, the U-Turn. Observations before you pull off, THEN AGAIN BEFORE you make the turn, don't look down! find a point in the distance towards where you want the bike to go and look at that.

Slow ride keeping up with the examiner (they don't dawdle, so you shouldn't have any problems there)

Then back around the bend and through the speed trap again (Same as before) but this time it's an emergency stop. Leave the gears alone and leave the clutch until the very last seconds, stalling is OK (better if you don't) but losing control (without regaining it) is not.

Remeber the test is not over until the bike is back in the parking space you started from so don't forget observations even once your off the playground. Park and get off! The test is now over.

Make sure your insurance, MOT and Tax disc are all up to date, this should be up to the school to check but there was a story in MCN recently of a girl who is being prosecuted for no insurance on a school bike.

MOD 2 Test tips:

Even riders who think they're good, probably aren't. The DSA like things done their way, learn to do it their way and you'll pass the test, after all that's what your paying to learn ........ how to pass the test, not ride a motorcycle. They will ask you to ride a course set by them over the radio head set you'll be wearing (you'll be used to this arfter 3 -4 days of listening to your instructor jabbering at you for hours on end), they will also ask you to direct yourself to a destination (harder than it sounds when you've everything else to think about at the same time) They will ask you to perform a hill start and pull away at an angle from behind a parked vehicle, you've already demonstrated the U turn and emergency stop in the Mod 1 test. Test dates are rare and getting rarer, don't balls it up, or you might have a long wait.

As for the Yamaha R6, well if that's the bike you want, go get one. It's a pretty quick machine, 108bhp and only 189kg. Probably not the sensible option, but if that's what you want why waste time and money buying something slower when you could be getting used to your dream bike, just be aware that it will be more bike than you can handle (I've been riding for 30 years and my XJ900 Diversion with only 98bhp and weighing in at the same as a block of flats is more bike than I can handle at times) and corners come up very fast on a bike like the R6 (as do penalty points for speeding offences).

All the very best of luck with the test and remember to let us know how you get on.

[FZR AL]

heres a couple of links for you on the practical

My link

My link

My link

[legendkie]

Hi Keiran, good luck with the Direct Access course,it should be between £500 & £600 for a 3 -4 day course, including bike and equipment hire and all test fees. Is it difficult?........No it's not difficult, can you ride a bike already? Might sound like a stupid question but some people can't and just dive right in. listen to what your told and stick to that, ride how you want once you've got the ticket.

The theory test is £31.00 and you have to book that yourself, mostly common sense, read the Highway code (Cars & Motorcycle parts especially, don't worry too much about the pedestrians and cyclists although as Tesco says every little helps) Get yourself a DVD with interactive Hazard Perception, so that you can practice and re practice the clicking, its what catches most people out, but it can be learnt, most of the clips on the DVD will not be official but don't worry about that, it's the recognition of the developing hazard your after.

Once you've got your pass certificate you can think about the MOD 1 test.

MOD 1 Test tips:

The test starts from the moment you get on the bike, so don't forget observations even before your on the testing ground. Remeber Neutral/Ignition/Stand when getting off the bike.

Enter the first available box to complete the manual handling exercise, push it back out as if you're leaving a parking space at Tesco, use observation techniques constantly, keep going backwards in a U shape so that once you've backed into and come to a stop in the second box you'll be ready to ride out for the slalom/ figure 8. When you've finished manually manouvering your bike, stay close to it, even inadvertantly kicking a cone with your foot is a fail.

Don't count the figutre 8's only stop when he calls you over(it has been known for some people to only complete 1.5 circuits)

Pull off and round the bend, accelerate pretty hard out of the bend and only back off once your through the speed trap, flick the bike through the avoidance and front wheel stop into the box.

The next bit is where alot of people fail, the U-Turn. Observations before you pull off, THEN AGAIN BEFORE you make the turn, don't look down! find a point in the distance towards where you want the bike to go and look at that.

Slow ride keeping up with the examiner (they don't dawdle, so you shouldn't have any problems there)

Then back around the bend and through the speed trap again (Same as before) but this time it's an emergency stop. Leave the gears alone and leave the clutch until the very last seconds, stalling is OK (better if you don't) but losing control (without regaining it) is not.

Remeber the test is not over until the bike is back in the parking space you started from so don't forget observations even once your off the playground. Park and get off! The test is now over.

Make sure your insurance, MOT and Tax disc are all up to date, this should be up to the school to check but there was a story in MCN recently of a girl who is being prosecuted for no insurance on a school bike.

MOD 2 Test tips:

Even riders who think they're good, probably aren't. The DSA like things done their way, learn to do it their way and you'll pass the test, after all that's what your paying to learn ........ how to pass the test, not ride a motorcycle. They will ask you to ride a course set by them over the radio head set you'll be wearing (you'll be used to this arfter 3 -4 days of listening to your instructor jabbering at you for hours on end), they will also ask you to direct yourself to a destination (harder than it sounds when you've everything else to think about at the same time) They will ask you to perform a hill start and pull away at an angle from behind a parked vehicle, you've already demonstrated the U turn and emergency stop in the Mod 1 test. Test dates are rare and getting rarer, don't balls it up, or you might have a long wait.

As for the Yamaha R6, well if that's the bike you want, go get one. It's a pretty quick machine, 108bhp and only 189kg. Probably not the sensible option, but if that's what you want why waste time and money buying something slower when you could be getting used to your dream bike, just be aware that it will be more bike than you can handle (I've been riding for 30 years and my XJ900 Diversion with only 98bhp and weighing in at the same as a block of flats is more bike than I can handle at times) and corners come up very fast on a bike like the R6 (as do penalty points for speeding offences).

All the very best of luck with the test and remember to let us know how you get on.

Thank you, brilliant reply, everything i needed to know. Im still debating whether or not to get the r6 as i have never ridden a 'proper bike' shall we say. i completley agree with the probability it will be too quick, and appreciate your opinion, especially with the number of years you have been riding. So i will pass my test first and see how it goes. Thanks again for such a thorough response!

kieran