Passed motorbike test

Simmy

Simmy

Simmy

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Joined
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UK
Passed motorbike test - Now with pics

Just passed my motorbike test this morning with 4 minors :D To say I'm chuffed is an understatement but the news is still sinking in! I've got a potential buyer for my 125 coming to view tonight so I'm now ready to buy a new bike. I'm looking at the ones below - any advice or opinions on whether or not they're good choices is much appreciated.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=150257280743&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=230262152339&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=330244455969&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014
 
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Congrats on passing! I passed last week too..

As for a bike, I'm going to a new Ninja 250R. I simply cannot justify the insurance costs for a 600cc yet. The 250 seems like a good bike anyway so should do me for a while.
 
I don't think my budget will stretch to that right now. I could spend another month or so saving up, but considering the Summer might disappear at any time, I want to get one within the next couple of weeks ideally :) It does look lovely though. Seeing as bikes retain their value so well I could get a £1500 bike now and possible swap to a newer 2006/2007 model next summer without losing too much money.

kvfb97 said:
Congrats on passing! I passed last week too..

As for a bike, I'm going to a new Ninja 250R. I simply cannot justify the insurance costs for a 600cc yet. The 250 seems like a good bike anyway so should do me for a while.
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How much do you pay if you don't mind me asking? I've been getting quotes of £220-260 for an SV650 tpft with 0 ncb and 1 conviction and 24 years old.
 
Simmy said:
How much do you pay if you don't mind me asking? I've been getting quotes of £220-260 for an SV650 tpft with 0 ncb and 1 conviction and 24 years old.
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I haven't got the bike yet, but the cheapest quote I can get is £650 for the 250R. 600cc started from around £1200 and then went up.
 
Yeah that is a tad expensive but then it is northern ireland.

Road tax starts from £15 for a 125 upto £66 for anything over a 600. Not too bad really :)
 
congrats! I passed a couple weeks ago and got a new SV650 sport. Great fun! Though i keep going too slow on roundabouts for some idiot reason!
 
Well done :D

Can I just ask all you that learned, how long did it take from your CBT to your full test? I know there are courses that cover up to 5 days however I wouldn't feel experienced enough to ride anything over a 125 for at least a couple of months. I'm scared enough of killing myself on a 125 let alone riding anything bigger :eek:
 
Zefan said:
Well done :D

Can I just ask all you that learned, how long did it take from your CBT to your full test? I know there are courses that cover up to 5 days however I wouldn't feel experienced enough to ride anything over a 125 for at least a couple of months. I'm scared enough of killing myself on a 125 let alone riding anything bigger :eek:
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No CBT in NI but from first lesson to test was about 2 months. However 1 month was doing nothing as I had to wait until I got a test.
 
Zefan said:
Well done :D

Can I just ask all you that learned, how long did it take from your CBT to your full test? I know there are courses that cover up to 5 days however I wouldn't feel experienced enough to ride anything over a 125 for at least a couple of months. I'm scared enough of killing myself on a 125 let alone riding anything bigger :eek:
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Just do the course. You will pick things up very quickly from riding around all day.

For me, the CBT = Lots of wobbles and stalls to begin with and gradual improvment throughout the day. Main problem was messing gears up at junctions and stalling.

Day on 125 = Everything had sunk in and did a pretty faultless ride. No stalling this time, 99% of turns in the road were fine etc. Only thing I messed up on was the emergency stop where I put a nice long 11 down the road. :cool:

I've got a day booked for Saturday to get used to the 500s and will hopefully be looking to book the test after.

Like you I thought it would take ages but something will usually 'click' and you'll be using the controls and doing the checks without really thinking about it too much in no time.

And well done Simmy. :D
 
Zefan said:
Well done :D

Can I just ask all you that learned, how long did it take from your CBT to your full test? I know there are courses that cover up to 5 days however I wouldn't feel experienced enough to ride anything over a 125 for at least a couple of months. I'm scared enough of killing myself on a 125 let alone riding anything bigger :eek:
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Just do the DAS you'll pick it up quickly. 6hrs or so a day on a bike (I can't remember how long it is now) over 4/5 days is going to be a significant amount. think of it as 30 x 1hr lessons in the car which is what a lot of people do when they pass their car tests.

If you have a sense of balance from a bicycle the only thing you'll need to learn are the controls, which frankly is easy.

As for me I did lots of riding off road and played along a private estate with the bike I bought before passing my test. When I came round to doing my CBT, he put me on the 125 in the morning and after lunch he was so happy with my competence he put me straight onto the 500! Shame my riding has got worse since then! :p
 
My course was 3 days (Friday to Sunday) of 9-5 riding/theory and then a test on the Monday morning. Cost £495 in all and I really enjoyed it. The instructors were fantastic too :) A whole day on the 125 is quite hard but you learn quickly on them and they're very forgiving. 2 Days on the 500s is more than enough to get upto test standard.

After riding the 500s, I started thinking the 125s were actually more dangerous due to the lack of power. Once you pass your test on a 500 Zefan, you won't want to go back on the 125s :D
 
Won't be doing DAS, not 21 until next year and I need a bike now!

A place near me does a really good deal on a course if you take a CBT with them, I'm thinking I'll take a CBT, get a cheap run around for a couple of months or so to get some riding experience under my belt and then do the course. I want to get on the road ASAP really for the least money possible whilst being as safe as I possibly can. Does my plan make sense or should I really just save up for the whole course and get it out of the way?
 
Zefan said:
Won't be doing DAS, not 21 until next year and I need a bike now!

A place near me does a really good deal on a course if you take a CBT with them, I'm thinking I'll take a CBT, get a cheap run around for a couple of months or so to get some riding experience under my belt and then do the course. I want to get on the road ASAP really for the least money possible whilst being as safe as I possibly can. Does my plan make sense or should I really just save up for the whole course and get it out of the way?
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If I were in your position I would save for the entire course – if you are that worried about being on the road, and as you are under 21, the A restricted license would probably be best; then the tests are out of the way and you have two years restricted to build up confidence.

At least doing it this way you could save the money you were going to spend on a cheap run around, and put that towards something you would actually enjoy owning for the 2 year period.

Seriously though, the difference between the 125s and the ‘big bikes’ is staggering, the latter make the task or riding so much easier that you get to really enjoy it :)

Scort.
 
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