Advice Needed - Learning

RedTen

RedTen

RedTen

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Joined
23 Jun 2007
Posts
552
Location
South East
Hello

I passed by CBT last year and never purchased a bike. To be honest I took the CBT to see if I'd enjoy biking - which I did.

I'm now in a position (and over 21) to get into it but I'm not sure whether I should pick up a 125cc and remind myself the basics in a quiet carpark or pop down the test centre and do a 3/4 day course of tuition and try to get my full license.

Or I could get a bigger bike and have it restricted?

Short term goal is commuting a 20 mile journey a day and when confident do the Europe trips. I'm thinking a BMW tourer or something.

Any suggestions? I don't want to rush and crash but at the end of the day I don't want to waste cash on a 125 or failed tests.

:o
 
I'd recommend riding around on a 125 for a couple of months first. That will really prepare you and teach you anything more than a CBT could. If you feel happy and love it then sure, go for it, you should have no problems passing if you have several months experience on the road first. :)

Bike-wise. Go for a big name bike such as Honda or Yamaha. As everybody says, you will sell these for pretty much the price you bought them providing you don't knacker them. Search around, see what style you like.
 
Macky said:
I'd recommend riding around on a 125 for a couple of months first. That will really prepare you and teach you anything more than a CBT could. If you feel happy and love it then sure, go for it, you should have no problems passing if you have several months experience on the road first. :)

Bike-wise. Go for a big name bike such as Honda or Yamaha. As everybody says, you will sell these for pretty much the price you bought them providing you don't knacker them. Search around, see what style you like.
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I suppose it'll be cheaper too as I can get away with having less time at the test centre?
 
You won't lose any money I wouldn't say by going with a 125 for a little while. The experience you gain will be in-valuable too.
 
Any opinions on the YZR125 or maybe the CBR125? Ideally looking at around £1500 for the bike.

I'm sure someone will suggest the CG125 but I really just wouldn't enjoy getting on it which would put me off clocking up some hours learning.
 
Both excellent bikes. The YZR is pretty expensive though. I take it you want the superbike look then? CBR is good but quite small (if you're under 6 foot I think it would be perfect), should do around 70mph eventually and has excellent fuel economy. +100mpg. The YZR is slightly more powerful and will have good fuel economy too probably not quite as good as the CBR though. The YZ is bigger too.
 
MADMAN69UK said:
CBF125 is a great little bike. You should be able to find one second hand for less than £1500 :)

Edit: 128mpg too ;)
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Although I know it shouldn't be important at this stage.. I find the CBF pretty ugly.

Macky said:
Both excellent bikes. The YZR is pretty expensive though. I take it you want the superbike look then? CBR is good but quite small (if you're under 6 foot I think it would be perfect), should do around 70mph eventually and has excellent fuel economy. +100mpg. The YZR is slightly more powerful and will have good fuel economy too probably not quite as good as the CBR though. The YZ is bigger too.
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Well not necessarily the super bike look - just something I will look forward to riding and not feel like a giant on. I'm 6ft2.

I've seen some YZF's at around 1800-2000 which I don't mind stretching too if it means getting the ball rolling.

I'll read some reviews.
 
Will it only be used for commuting to start with, or the occasional weekend out?

For commuting 20 miles a day i would recommend something like a yamaha ybr 125, theyre pretty cheap and do about 80+ mpg.

something fun for the weekends, have you thought about 2 strokes? yes people say theyre un reliable but if you treat them well they treat you back, i currently commute about 25 miles every day on a Cagiva Mito 125 and get around 45 mpg, never had any problems with it.
 
on bigger bikes its all down to the slow speed stuff due to the extra weight and power control needed - on u-turns etc.

best thing to do is pop by a local school and ask if you could rent one of their 4 stroke bikes for a run round the car park where they teach to see if you and they think you're up to scratch.
 
B3AU said:
Well not necessarily the super bike look - just something I will look forward to riding and not feel like a giant on. I'm 6ft2.
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Don't get the CBR125 then, you'll look like you're on a childs bike (I'm just over 6ft and didn't realise how silly I looked till I sold the bike)

Just get something for under a grand, don't worry about what it looks like because you'll be selling it in February/March time anyway when you realise that you want to do your full license.
After my CBT I thought about getting a brand new 125 of some description but I listened to sense and bought a cheap CBR125, so glad I did as I only kept it a short while before doing my full license, would've been a huge waste of money otherwise.
 
As a taller rider you want something like a Varadero, but they are expensive when compared to a lot of other bikes.
I'd go down the DAS route as eidolon is right in that you'll be wanting something bigger when the novelty of riding wears off and you realise 125 just won't cut it.
 
I just replaced my 125, and from going to pushing the 125 to its limits on my daily commute my new Bandit barely raises above idle!
 
I remember the frustration of my CBT having the instructor telling me to stop being nervous and to speed up. I'm shouting angrily (although he couldn't hear me) that I had the throttle wide open but the 125 would barely move!!!
 
Felix said:
I just replaced my 125, and from going to pushing the 125 to its limits on my daily commute my new Bandit barely raises above idle!
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I think that riding a 125 is fun in its own way. For instance, the little celebration you have when you overtake someone on a dual carriageway. :)
 
True, I quite enjoyed the run I took to the new owners house.

I don't recall over taking anyone on the dual carriageway though!
 
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