Passed motorbike test

Thanks for the advice. It's going to be difficult on my budget but I'm gonna go for the course then as it does seem to make more sense really.

Something I've noticed, big bikes tend t not be any more expensive than learner legal 125's... is this just a matter of there being a premium on learner legal bikes due to their high demand?
 
I agree with Scort, doing the A2 test makes sense. The difference in cost between 125s and bigger bikes is negligible anyway. Plus the bigger bikes are easier to ride.

What test center will you be using Zefan? I can highly recommend the Bristol Motorcycle Training Center on the Old Gloucester road in Hambrook.
 
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The place I mentioned was kickstart in Keynsham, however if the place you're talking about is good then I'll probably go there. The website looks pretty decent, not bad prices.
 
now look what you've made me do. I've just registered myself to do a CBT course on the 5th July. Also went down to WH Smith at lunch time and bought revision material for the theory test! WooP!
 
Simmy said:
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
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I agree, plus on the 125 getting speed up takes ages, and following drivers are much more likely to try hilarious things to get past. They still look to do the same when you're on the 500 mind, high vis learner tabbard is like a red rag to an inbred bull. But you're fast enough then.

Summary of my rambling post: 500 nicer to ride than 125, also feels more stable. You'll love it when you make 21 Zefan :)
 
Griffo said:
I agree, plus on the 125 getting speed up takes ages, and following drivers are much more likely to try hilarious things to get past. They still look to do the same when you're on the 500 mind, high vis learner tabbard is like a red rag to an inbred bull. But you're fast enough then.

Summary of my rambling post: 500 nicer to ride than 125, also feels more stable. You'll love it when you make 21 Zefan :)
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Made me chuckle, but completely true, hell, I still get it when I’m out on the Ninja :mad:

The summary is also spot on really, I have said it before in other threads, but I’ll say it again – I honestly believe that ‘big bikes’ are better at everything, the only thing a 125 will likely do better, is MPG. But going, stopping, steering and the feel you get, all surpass what the 125 I rode offered.

Not saying 125s are necessarily bad (2 stoke smells nice – makes me think of Moto X), and granted I have only ever ridden the one in the CBT part of my DAS course, but for anyone in the position where they can go for a full/A restricted license, why bother with a 125 fro longer than the CBT day?

Don’t forget to really plan Zefan, I personally spent 6-7 months planning all my finances and things before attending my course, I probably spent well over a grand before I even went for my own bike – kit and course.

Not too sure about your question on prices between bikes though, I only ever focused on sports bikes from 600-750cc, but I would imagine that the cost of 125s are driven up as there is a huge market for them.

Scort.
 
Ok, I'm off to look at an sv650 tomorrow. I've seen pictures and it's in good nick. General jist is;

SV650 SK1
5 Owners - I'm wondering why so many?
13800 miles - Self serviced so no real service history
MOT til May 2009
Tax til September
No crash damage and never been dropped
Carbon can co exhaust
£1550

d1b51vt8.jpg


He's put a rear end from a GSXR on but he's supplying the OE seat fairing and exhaust. I think I'll put the original rear seat back on as I'm not a fan of the rizla sign.

It's advertised at £1650 but I've already said i'm travelling quite away and would he agree to knock £100 or so off subject to viewing. Seem like a good deal? Anything I need to look out for with these bikes?
 
Well I'll be damned - I just did an HPI check on the bike

Alert Details


Condition alert

  • Recorded against
    VRM
    Description
    SUZUKI SV 650 S
    Date
    15/07/2003
    Category
    C - Vehicle extensively damaged but repairable - the insurer decided not to repair
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The guy has owned it for 18 months so obviously didn't crash it himself. Not sure what the next step it. I could use it to get a massive discount and hope for the best or I could just walk away?
 
SV650's are ten a penny. Unless you get a huge discount (sub £1k) I'd walk away. Its hard to tell from that pic but it doesn't look as if its been kept in especially great condition either.
 
Walk away! As said the SV650 is common as muck. Now I own one (pointy thought :P) I see them all the time!

Keep looking, eventually you'll find a loved one. Also http://forums.sv650.org has a for sale section, and it's a good bunch of people.

Scort: Regarding planning, finances etc hah! I can't believe how much i've spent getting this particular 'hobby' off the ground! Excluding learning and the bike! Last 2 weeks, God knows how much i've spent on bits and bobs. Trouble is, when buying bits and bobs, at least one bit or one bob ends up costing 50-60 quid! Tank bag, race visor... Still need paddock stand and rabid dog to chain to bike.
AND i'm going Europe on her, and keep finding things I need, breakdown cover, travel insurance, MORE BUNGEES, a flipping hotel in Luxemburg!

Sorry, rambling.

When viewing bikes - I don't know much as I chickened out and bought new - check the radiator, if it hasn't got a fender extender it may have suffered. Same for beneath pillion saddle, where the rear tyre will spray up crap if it's been used in the wet. SV is often bought by beginners, so it should have crash bungs :/ If handlebar levers and/or bar ends are non standard, it hints at having gone down. Check along can for scuffs. Smooth movement of handlebars when turning front wheel... well you probably know al this already so i'll go now, hopefully something useful here! hehe
 
Yeah I decided not to go and look at the bike in the end. Instead I found a nice local one, for which I have just put a deposit down :D

1998 Kawasaki ZZR-600 with 10700 genuine miles - £1500

Hopefully picking her up tonight if the guy manages to sort out road tax for me :D
 
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I sense that you don't approve? :p It's in very good condition considering its age - I'll get some pics and more details up once I collect it.
 
Simmy said:
Yeah I decided not to go and look at the bike in the end. Instead I found a nice local one, for which I have just put a deposit down :D

1998 Kawasaki ZZR-600 with 10700 genuine miles - £1500

Hopefully picking her up 2nite if the guy manages to sort out road tax for me :D
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Nothing wrong wiht the ZZR600. I had one of the first ones (1990) when I was a student. It was reliable, fast and comfortable.
The ZZR is still a capable bike and is a great all rounder. It won't live with the latest 600 sports tackle but then again, you'll be wafting aloing in comfort while they're dancing on their gear leavers. You might want to get the forks re-valved though as they go off very quickly.
 
Oh i've nothing against them at all :) i wouldn't mind a go on the bigger variants hehe. Anyway, pictures now!
 
When launched the zzr600 was fastest 600 on the planet (genuine 150mph), i went and bought one just because of this :) ...the later ones like yours are even quicker as have ram air induction getting closer to a real 160..

At the time my cousin had a GSX750 slingshot, kinda a tourer with a gixxer 750 lump, after going on my zzr he had a big cheesey grin on face and couldn't believe how much faster it was than his bike. If I remember rightly at the time it was competing with the track focused FZR600 and the reborn CBR6 (without jelly mould shape F2 ?), and it's top end blew these away.

The first ones had a real slack cush drive with lots of play so it kinda clunked when pulling away.. think they sorted it on later ones though..

Even by modern standards still pulls like a train (though more soggy than modern stuff in the corners, they wallow abit), you'll love the 14.5 red line :D

Fantastic bike...just take it steady to begin with because even though not a razor sharp tool like the latest 600s it's still VERY quick in a straight line and it's easy to get yourself in a whole heap of trouble. I remember riding back from showroom and I'd just stepped off my KR1 250, I overtook a car like I would on the KR1 (throttle pinned) and almost hit a tractor head on.. shook me up abit.

Get some photos up when you can, here's my old one :)

3.jpg


and a few months later when some ahole pulled out of t junction after being waved across my path by someone in filter lane :( (almost 20 years later my wrist still hurts, lucky he missed my kneecap)

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Rilot said:
Flukester, your ZZR was exactly the same colours and shape as mine.
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was a lovely bike.. first powerful bike I had and felt like a rocket :)

at the time I remember many praised it because it felt a lot bigger than your average 600, funny how things go the opposite way now. :confused:
 
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