Comments needed from experienced bikers

[bainbridge]

Hi Bikers, first post in the bikers cafe so please be gentle

I'm after a bit reassurance that my plan is sound and would appreciate any pitfalls being pointed out.

I rode motocross bike as a kid (have the scars to remind me ) and at 17 did the CBT and had a 125 on the road until I got a car at 19 and have been driving cars for the past 20 years. I'm potentially changing jobs and will be working in central Bristol and looking at getting a budget bike to commute into town.

After doing my research here's the plan:

• Do my CBT again and get A2 licence. I did my theory years ago for the car licence so am I right in saying I don't need to do the theory again?

• Buy a Honda CB500 for about £1200. Is this bike ok for the A2 licence? I do all my own car repairs so if it needs a bit of TLC to bring it back to tip top shape that'll be a good rolling spring/summer project for weekends. Can anyone suggest a better bike to put me in the upper power limit of the A2 licence on a similar budget?

• Use the bike to cruise down the new Metro bus lanes in Bristol and get to work in a reasonable time. Am I right in saying bike parking is quite easy and free in a big city? There's no parking at my new office and I'll need to put it somewhere fairly nearby to make the venture worthwhile.

• Get the thickest bikechain I have the strength to carry and also possibly fit some sort of alarm system. The bike will be on a open driveway overnight and a neighbour had his bike pinched about 3 years ago. Is there an alarm that's hard to defeat and fairly inexpensive and straightforward to fit?

• Insurance is working out at about £175 so with a helmet and gloves I'm looking at £2000 including the bike licence. Does this sound viable?

If you could let me know what you think I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[bainbridge]

A CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) doesn't require any form of theory, and isn't a test. However a license, is a test, and therefore requires a new theory test to be completed.

According to http://a2bikes.co.uk an older CB500 is NOT A2 legal without a restrictor. (http://a2bikes.co.uk/bike/honda-cb500)

Parking at work with a motorcycle i've always found relatively easy, though I don't work in offices, generally asking the right people if you can park on the premises results in a yes, as for on street parking you can't leave your motorcycle on paths and things or it will get ticketed.

A chain not attached to anything is no better than a disc lock, if someone wants it, it'll be lifted into a van, making an alarm equally useless. Alarms on bikes are not something I would ever recommend, others may. You shouldn't have too many problems with that type of theft for something like a CB500 though, so a chain attached to something solid should prevent the local scum from pinching it for a joyride.

Depending on your area and how much tuition you require, theory / training / A2 shouldn't be more than about £1,000 (estimate based on what I paid for tuition / test about 9 years ago, in the south). I would increase your budget for clothing a little, and look at a jacket, gloves, boots, and bottoms, especially if you plan on using it to commute in the wetter / colder weather. Don't be one of these people riding around in shorts / T-shirt / Lid.

Thanks for your response Munchies, can you suggest a budget bike that might be at the upper end of the A2 licence restrictions with no mods needed?

So theory is needed too, I'll get that booked in.

Yes will get a decent jacket, helmet and gloves.

 

[bainbridge]

Well it looks like getting an A licence is the better option of the 2, I just wanted something bigger than a 125 and figured it would be easier to get the A2 but this evidently isn't worthwhile.

I agree a cover would be a good additional deterrent, not to mention keeping the rain off!

Maybe I'll have to stretch the budget to 3k then, thanks for the advice guys 1st step is to get the theory booked in then!

 

[bainbridge]

OP looks to be in Bristol on his post bio thing, so I'd suggest the place I learnt - http://www.bristolmotorcycletraining.co.uk/ - I think one or two other guys on here have used them too and liked the place, but obviously ask around and do a bit of your own research too OP.
Bristol also has a J&S store in the South ( https://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/stores/bristol ) which I found to also be pretty handy for advice with gear and costs weren't horrific either. Worst case you can easily try on a large range of gear then order online elsewhere at a cheaper rate I suppose.

Thanks InvaderGIR I'll check out that place, I did my CBT in Hambrook somewhere 20 years ago so it might be the same place.

How do you get on with parking a bike in central Bristol?