I passed my CBT in January and have been commuting from Surrey to the West End on a PCX, and I absolutely love it. So much, in fact, that I’m booked to do my DAS at the start of September. Now, the PCX is a really great scooter, nippy off the lights, economical, and a brilliant introduction to commuter biking. However, I’m starting to wonder if I wouldn’t be best placed getting shot of it in favour of a second hand geared bike - I’m thinking Varadero 125 - in order to give me as much practice as possible on a (biggish) geared bike before my DAS. The friend who got me into this whole drug in the first place (he owns a Triumph STR but also does the scoot-commute) says this isn’t necessary - and that 125 bikes are a bit, er, socially undesirable and for kids (I’m 35), but I just don’t know…
You don’t need to be riding a geared bike to get through the DAS, pleanty of people (including me) have done it without manual gearbox experience. I wouldn’t be bothered with the faff of selling the scooter to buy a manual 125cc when you’re probably going to want to upgrade again after you pass.
You can do a half day training to get some instruction on the gears and if you feel you need some more time to adjust you can hire a 125cc manual bike for a week - I know city bike service do it for about £150/week and I’m sure there’s plenty of others.
Having said that you could have a lot of fun on a Varedero commuting (not the fastest bike out there but nice and tall with and easy to throw around) and it will help your gear and clutch control when you move onto the bigger bike. As for the socially undesirable thing? NAH! Respect to grown ups on 125s! it’s a serious bike just a small one whereas scooters on the other hand…
Mate to be honest with You don’t waste money on another 125. You’ll be looking for swap soon and bigger bike is only a future. Do Your DAS and get something bigger. You are not a youngster so don’t think that You’ll do any stupid things. I start on 125s honda xl piaggio x8 and straight after to Speed Triple 955i, but same as You I’m over 30yo.
+1
I rode a scooter up to the point I did my DAS. If you also drive a car, remember, the gear/clutch principal is the same.
Save your hard earned for an upgrade after you pass the test
my Vara 125 is doing me proud for my daily commute (i went from a PCX 125) the varadero is much more fun
id love to get my DAS done and get a bigger bike but ATM i just do not have the money to do this. If it wasnt for wanting to do a lot of the rideouts LB do id always want to keep the baby vara
My friend failed his mod2 and is considering purchasing a 125 until his mod 2 resit in october. I said don’t purchase one as it will be a waste. Have the extra training session, pass the mod 2 and then get a cheap 600cc.
With regards to you I would suggest the same thing, train hard with an instructor, pass the DAS, get a big bike.
Great little bike, but my 650 is the one I always use.