12 years ago when i passed my bike test there was a great selection of small bikes you could buy ( im talking new bikes here  :p )

In fact even for learners there were some great 125's.

Amongst others you had the..

tzr125, nsr125, rg125, ar125..... etc etc..  

then after passing your test you could go for something like a..
rgv250, tzr250,

or  you could go for a 4 stroke and get a
zzr250, zxr400 ... etc etc


what really annoys me nowdays is that youngsters who just pass there test, read the bike magazines and they get told they HAVE to buy a R1 or a ducati 999..  after passing my test i gradually built up onto bigger bikes and most people i know did the same thing.. Ive been in bike shops watching salesmen trying to sell novice riders big fast sportbikes that more than likely will get them killed  :(

When i got really back into biking 2 years ago i bought a old rgv250 and it was a real fun bike to ride

it a shame that european rules have almost killed the 2 strokes. the lovely rs250  is getting rarer to buy new now and  am i right in thinking the nsr125 is the only sports 125 left to buy from the japs?

if there are any manufacturers out there, start making small bikes ... please!

.... just dont make any more scooters,we have enough of them already ta!  :p

(Total Dejavoo there EB hon heheheheh)

Yup ... I totally agree  I said the same thing at work a month or 2 back ... except they're only interested in making big racing bikes  

When I'm over in Italy, it's scooters through the week and bikes at the weekend there.

wee screamer

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news....ID=null

that small enough for ya??

Its all caused by DAS.  face it, if you had just passed your DAS would you HONESTLY want a 200 benley or a TS185 when you could likely buy a CBR6?

It stops people 'coming up through the ranks' as it were and gaining experience on bikes that are easier to handle/pick up/get fixed/keep running etc.  That's why there's a decline in nodding and the whole 'biking snobbery' thing that seems to have reared it's ugly head more and more since DAS came out.

Another upshot is people taking the magazines advice as gospel and never using their back brake for example or believing that is important to practise locking the front wheel or pulling stoppies so you know how well you're brakes work should you need them.
Nothing is ever written about what to do if it goes wrong and hardly anyone seems to give two f**ks about safety or road positioning or daytime conspicuity or braking with both brakes as advised in roadcraft or using the controls - such as the brakes for instance - with 'finesse' through practise.

I think every one's opinion is about right on the bike issue, I passed my test back in 1964 on a 250cc Enfield twin,since then over the years its been a long long learning curve gaining experiance as I went.

In between !964 and now Ive progressed from a 250 cc to 650 Tri Bonnie/BsaA10/Tri-BSA650/Bmwk100/ZZR600/CBR1000/CBR1100 just to name a few, now all change to a Tri T100T 1967,  the point Im getting at is, it was a long learning curve that stood me in good stead,  NO accidents 1 Slide off no break downs no insurance claims in 37/8 years of riding.

But having said all that It didn't do much good when renewing my insurance premium but i had a lot of fun and experiance over the years and stories to pass on to my grand kids.

I am all for this restriction on power as in my early days I lost a few friends to RTA's and that was in them days down to speed and power as it was then.

I have to say I don't think it's down to the instructors - it's no good them running courses for folks on small bikes if the learners all want to do DAS!

I learnt on a Yamaha RXS100 2-stroke, and passed my test just before the rules changed.  I did the old BMF course, one evening a week for 8 weeks, not only did I learn about riding but a bit about maintenance and safety too, with plenty of chances to re-do parts of the course that either I or the instructors were not happy with my standard.

It also meant I got to practise during the week what I had learnt at the Monday session, and ask any questions that arose at the next session.  I think it was an excellent start, I then rode that little bike for about 3 years including touring in Normandy with my club.
After that I moved on to a 400 SuperDream which I had done a lot of work on myself to get it roadworthy, then to the Kwak GT550 that I ride now and for the forseeable future.

Unfortunately, the local scheme that I learned with has more or less collapsed for lack of demand, as they all want to do DAS, 3 to 5 day course then straight out on the road on, at the very least a CBR6, or like one girl who joined our club, came to one meeting on her very cool ZX6R which she dropped (TWICE!) in the car park and we've never seen her again.  If she'd been riding an old superdream or similar, bet she'd still be riding with us!    :nod:

I was lucky enough to have a Yamaha SRV250, a Honda VTR250FJ, a Bros 400 and then a CB400 Super Four - the last two both being ...... grey imports.

Uttering such blasphemy usually results in much shaking of heads and sucking of teeth, but if you pick the right grey imports, spares and servicing are not a problem at all. The Bros (both 400 and 650 ) and the Super Four are widely available and great fun. I only wish I had my wee Bros around at the moment as I might now be actually able to ride it properly, rather than the wobbling about I did then.

Ah well ......

When I started back on bike again, I hadn't passed my test. Yes, I'm a DAS'er

I planned to go for my test before buying a bike because I didn't fancy riding around on L plates on a 125cc again. I have grown a bit since the last time I did it.  :blush: Although I would have quite happily had a 125cc trail bike. I thought of passing my test, then going for something like a 250. In the end, I opted for the XBR500. A kin great bike. Its not what you'd call a fast bike but the big thumper had plenty of torque and could pull my bulk about with ease.

So didn't jump straight onto a pocket rocket and it seemed to work out well for me. I really enjoyed myself on the XBR and the only reason I changed it, was because it wa showing signs of its ages. I was starting to had regular problems with the electrics, so it had to go.

The one thing I did notice is that the does seem to be a lack of quality smaller machines. I really fancied the cb400 super four that Spud mentioned but they seem to hold their price well. It is a pity, that there is not more choice out there.

Well........(puts Instructors hat on)
I blame the system & the big manufacturers & the insurance industry, you have to do a CBT, you have to do it at an ATB (approved training body) who are there to make money primarily-and who also offer DAS training.

If you are under 21, you are restricted to a machine of 33BHP,
If you are over 21 & do a DAS course you can ride any machine of any HP/capacity upon passing your test.

The cost is approx £400 to do the whole lot-how many people would pay that,then pay a simmilar amount again if restricted to say 400cc initially.
Also a lot has been said about 4 day training-in practise(up here) from CBT to passing test takes about 6 weeks.
you have to take & pass the theory test B4 you can book the practical-its about a 4 week waiting list up here.
We use CB 500's-enough power to get into trouble with but a good stable donkey/workhorse.
We dont teach them that they NEED a sportsbike.Thats up to them.
Have you tried to buy a good 400 non import?
Insurance companies dont like them-the big 4 dont supply many to our shores as they are not volume sellers-why?
Bike mags & dealers IMO-plenty 6's out there-bought by the shed load cos the mags say there the best.

So what about the theory test?  Do you think it's a good thing?

I read somewhere that in any multiple choice exam, you have a very good chance of passing if you just guess the ones you're not sure of, certainly that worked for my husband when he did a radio exam, if it works for the theory test then it's not much help really.

My first bike after passing DAS(yes I'm another) was a ZZR400 grey import.

Don't see many of them around now. In fact you don't see that many greys at all anymore.

Nowt wrong with being restricted to a 400 for a year after passing DAS

IM a DAS as well,dont see any reason why you cant choose the size of bike you want after youve done the test.
In my opinion if you are a hot head and think you can ride briliantly when you just get on the road you will fall of anyway.
My first bike was a CBR400 and was well quick enough, the only reason i have bought the falco was im so fussy and the cbr was getting a bit tatty.
I havnt been out on it yet cos of the weather but when i do i will be kakkin meself.
On the point of the theory test, if you drive a car and have a bit of common/road sense the test is too easy,i didnt study for it guessed a few and still passed
Alan.

Ging... no offence mate but that's gotta be bollox You're suggesting that someone such as I, having not ridden on the road for something like 20 years, should take their DAS (and I agree about the theory test BTW) and then hop on an R1 for instance?

I bought a 600 for several reasons... Hilts has one... I could afford it... I could afford the insurance... it looks good (no sniggering at the back their Zombie )... and goes faster than I could possibly ride it.

I'd say the over 21 rule about having "any bike u like" is a little silly... compare reaction times / learning curves of a 40 - 50 year old born againer with those of a 19 year old for instance.

I actually elected to do the "full" test... after I discovered it was cheaper to do that than have my bike restricted to 33BHP :sus:

And my point is... anyone's fecking guess. Mrs Blandy just shouted at me and I've lost me thread  :wwww:

DAS ?

Was Is Das?

If that's the question... then it's "Direct Access Somethingorother"... it's for old gits who forgot to get their licences when they were young

Or for anyone else who has passed a CBT.

Oh, Mr Fecking Pedantic... I didn't know that actually