Bought my first ever motorbike

Participant

Participant

Participant

Caporegime
Joined
13 May 2003
Posts
34,520
Location
Warwickshire
A Yamaha YBR 125.

I did my CBT last Thursday and absolutely loved it. So I went hunting in the usual places and a nice sounding bike turned up a few miles away from me, on Gumtree :eek:. Listed for £1,500, purchased for £1,350. Only 2,600 miles on the clock.

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I went round to look at it this evening, it was really tidy. No dinks or rust or dents. I then immediately sorted insurance and did an HPI check, then went back in a taxi, bought it from him and rode it back home.

As soon as I'd shown it to my wife, I immediately took it back out for a ride round the country lanes near my house. I love it so much already. The feeling of freedom and fun is immense. Forgive me if I'm sounding slightly giddy.

I'm going to commute on it tomorrow...now to reap the MPGz! Should soundly beat the 30-if-I'm-lucky of my S80.
 
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Now repeat after me, I am invisible, I am invisible, I am invisible, keep that thought in the back of your mind at all times whilst out on your bike & you'll be in with a fighting chance. ;)
 
Welcome to the fold now look at getting your tests done. As good as it will be on that 125, a big bike is far better in most situations.
 
Oops, so I managed to not actually say what bike I bought! It's a Yamaha YBR 125.

I commuted with it today and it's so nice going past the queueing cars after a blast on some country lanes. Filled it up as the gauge was in the red...£7.83 :D.

It's pretty terrifying doing 60 on a bike like this. You feel like you're wobbling around quite a bit!

At lunch I went into town to have a zoom round Stratford upon Avon. You see so much more on a bike. Already had a van pull out on me at a roundabout though (he apologised), and people in vans seem to see the L plates and immediately take them as a signal to tailgate you and overtake you unsafely.
 
you have tuck in,rest you chin on the tank n tuck in your elbows

the drag off those L plates wont help though:D
 
Participant said:
Oops, so I managed to not actually say what bike I bought! It's a Yamaha YBR 125.

I commuted with it today and it's so nice going past the queueing cars after a blast on some country lanes. Filled it up as the gauge was in the red...£7.83 :D.

It's pretty terrifying doing 60 on a bike like this. You feel like you're wobbling around quite a bit!

At lunch I went into town to have a zoom round Stratford upon Avon. You see so much more on a bike. Already had a van pull out on me at a roundabout though (he apologised), and people in vans seem to see the L plates and immediately take them as a signal to tailgate you and overtake you unsafely.
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Welcome to the club :D

Yep they do see the L plates and think they can take advantage, I get the same on my 'big' varadero 125. Don't get quite as good mpg £20 for a full tank which will go 280 miles, but then it'll sit at 70/75mph no problem.

Be aware in a few months you'll probably want more power, especially in the middle range 30-50mph area.
 
wazza300 said:
you have tuck in,rest you chin on the tank n tuck in your elbows

the drag off those L plates wont help though:D
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This and got downhill, see what you can push from that beast :D

Ahhh I remember the good old days (well, not so old, just a few years ago!) of my CBF125. That thing generated petrol.

Now go get your A licence. You'll want something bigger soon.

Participant said:
Oops, so I managed to not actually say what bike I bought! It's a Yamaha YBR 125.

I commuted with it today and it's so nice going past the queueing cars after a blast on some country lanes. Filled it up as the gauge was in the red...£7.83 :D.

It's pretty terrifying doing 60 on a bike like this. You feel like you're wobbling around quite a bit!

At lunch I went into town to have a zoom round Stratford upon Avon. You see so much more on a bike. Already had a van pull out on me at a roundabout though (he apologised), and people in vans seem to see the L plates and immediately take them as a signal to tailgate you and overtake you unsafely.
Click to expand...

Yup, careful out there! I seem to have spates of complete retards on the road around me, then weeks or months without a problem.

Come open her up down the Fosse Way some time :) Plenty of us out there on a nice day
 
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Congrats on your liberation - now to pass your full test!

Best thing I've bought for visibility is auxiliary lights. Since fitting them a year ago I don't think I've had a single car pull out on me. Apparently the irregular shape of 3 lights really draws attention. Might look weird on a YBR though!
 
Craig321 said:
Come open her up down the Fosse Way some time :) Plenty of us out there on a nice day
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Might wait until I have a bigger bike, but thanks for the offer :D. I go cycling in the Cotswolds quite a lot and its a great place to be on 2 wheels.

Sagalout said:
Best thing I've bought for visibility is auxiliary lights. Since fitting them a year ago I don't think I've had a single car pull out on me. Apparently the irregular shape of 3 lights really draws attention. Might look weird on a YBR though!
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:p Maybe when I've got a 600.

Couple more pics following a wash this evening. They're not meant to be high quality pics as the light was low and I used my mobile, but it scrubs up well in the flesh.

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Absolutely loved commuting back through town in the sunshine this evening. Commuting home is nice at the worst of times, but this was just great.
 
Those first few months on a bike are some of the best. Ill never forget mine. The sense of freedom is immense. Enjoy, and take it easy.
 
Yup, amazing day for a ride today. Shame I was stuck inside most of the day... still got a good ride to and from work though.

Don't forget the biker nod either, I won't give up on you learners! Looks like it confuses the hell out of a lot of learners and I sometimes end up getting an awkward nod/tilt of the head type thing back :p

Some people don't seem like they have much of a laugh on bikes, particularly the ones with these huge police style BMWs or old men on old school bikes. I get all sorts from the sports/naked bikes, mock kicks as a greeting, waves, nods, hoots :D
 
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