First Motorbike...

[Scarfacé]

Hi, I'm going to be getting a motorbike for this summer... the few times I've ridden/pillion on a bike have been some of the most fun...


Now, I'm 18 in april... I have a full car licence... I understand I can just do my CBT and ride a 125 on L plates.


I have a few questions....


1) Is a CBR125 a good choice? Or shall I save extra and get an RS125?


2) How much shall I spend on each of the protective gear I need? I want a kind of "good value" theme... eg not really cheap as not to offer good protection... but then not the most expensive SHOEI lid.


3) How hard is the CAT A bike test? Comparable to a car test?

4) Would it be silly to ride without L plates with only a CBT?


5) How much is insurance likely to be for an 18 year old on a CBR125?


6) I now know how vunerable bikers are ... any tips to protect/defend myself?


Thanks for any help!

 

[moss]

4) Would it be silly to ride without L plates with only a CBT?

Yes, very silly

 

[GSXRMovistar]

1) Is a CBR125 a good choice? Or shall I save extra and get an RS125?

I don't have any experience of the CBR (although I think a couple here have them), but my missus used to have an RS125 and I really wouldn't recommend it as a first bike for a learner. It's a very focused race bike that rides better the harder it's pushed and it's not realy suited for day to day runabout journeys. But for a weekend toy it's great.

2) How much shall I spend on each of the protective gear I need? I want a kind of "good value" theme... eg not really cheap as not to offer good protection... but then not the most expensive SHOEI lid.

If you are on a budget just avoid the main fashion labels then (Alpine stars, Arai, etc), you can still get very safe gear with the cheaper brands.

3) How hard is the CAT A bike test? Comparable to a car test?

Would say this differs for every person, only way you can find out is to do it yourself.

4) Would it be silly to ride without L plates with only a CBT?

YES VERY SILLY AND VERY ILLEGAL, What ever you do don't do this.

5) How much is insurance likely to be for an 18 year old on a CBR125?

Depends on so many factors, you really need to spend some time getting quotes.

6) I now know how vunerable bikers are ... any tips to protect/defend myself?

Ride like no other road user can see you, and those that can are out to run you down.

 

[Scarfacé]

Thanks aload for that matey. Forgot to mention this bike will just be for fun... I also have a car for getting to work etc.


Just found that my car has got boring quite quickly... and I'm not going to get much faster (2l Foci) at my age (17) for a while. So bike it is.

 

[Hixxy]

1. cbr125 was the best selling 125 of last year. It dipends how long your going to keep the bike as to whether you go for a rs125. i'd go with the cbr if i was just using the bike to pass my test and then get something bigger, rs if i was keeping it to ride about on.

2. Spend the most you can afford on protective gear and remember helmets are more about the fit than the brand name (all helmets have to pass a saftey test it doesn't matter if they are £50 or £500), the more expensive are us due to features -lighter, quieter, removable/washable lining etc. The minimum i'd look for are double D ring fastener and a gold sticker.

3. Cat A test is 40 mins and you have to show you can control the bike at low speed, saftey, road positioning, signaling etc- with training no more difficult than car test.

4. very silly, each L plate is 3 points and a fine and you'll get stopped a lot more as a youngster on a bike than in a car.

5. try an online quote as it varies a lot on where the bikes kept overnight etc

6. Get training, know whats going on around you at all times and remember others will sometimes do what you least expect, ride within your limits don't take stupid risks.

 

[djbenjo]

The CBR is dog slow - I would be looking at a 2-stroke, RS, NSR etc

 

[AlexG12]

Personally I'd go for the RS. Ok the CBR might be easier to get used to, but the sheer adrenaline rush as you go screaming along with 10k revs is amazing. Safety wise don't skimp. Helmet, gloves, boots, jacket MINIMUM. If you can get trousers get them aswell. If you are happy to stay with a 125 just do your CBT and then see how it goes from that, there is no point with the Cat A test as it just means you don't need L plates. Most of all have fun on it though!
Also, check out www.bikechatforums.com or www.visordown.com for some really good advice etc
Alex

 

[L Plate]

what do you mean there is no point doing the Cat A test?

the question of insurance dropping dramatically for one


and the option then to ride anything later on after the restriction has lifted, you are going about the adrenaline rush of the RS125, after 6 months you soon get bored of it i can assure you of that.



Not too sure why kids these days worry about the L Plates and whether or not to ride without them, to be honest the way i see it, if you are contemplating riding without them you might aswell hand the keys in and not bother riding at all, they arent just there to make you look daft for being a novice or a learner, they are there to also give other road users the hint to beware when they are around you

 

[Shoei]

Personally I'd go for the RS. Ok the CBR might be easier to get used to, but the sheer adrenaline rush as you go screaming along with 10k revs is amazing.

Followed by the silence as it siezes up.
I'd go for the CBR, bit easier to live with in the real world.
Granted 2-squeaks are fun, never forget the feeling when my 250powervalve got to 6K rpm and the power vavles opened, whooooosh. But allways the worry incase the oil ran out in the middle of no where.

Safety wise don't skimp. Helmet, gloves, boots, jacket MINIMUM. If you can get trousers get them aswell. If you are happy to stay with a 125 just do your CBT and then see how it goes from that, there is no point with the Cat A test as it just means you don't need L plates. Most of all have fun on it though!
Also, check out www.bikechatforums.com or www.visordown.com for some really good advice etc
Alex

He speaketh the truth, dont skimp on the saftey gear. see to many numpties riding round here, shell suits flapping in the breeze, no gloves, no visors (even in winter), some times they might have the kappa trackie top on, but usually in summer, just a t-shirt. And all with as much road sense as a hedgehog!!

Visordown is fun, in small doses.

Robb

 

[<(Multi)>]

Hi matey

I've got a RS125 SP, and as mentioned, yes they're great for toy's / weekend bikes. But as a method of daily transport, forget it. Mine was in the garage getting fixed more than it was out (mostly silly things like alarms being jamed on, or powervalues getting carboned up.)

If I were 18 again, I'd getting a much bigger 4 stroke bike, and restrict it to 125 levels.


Good luck.

P.S. Buy a bloody good helmet before you do anything

 

[shimy182]

I just got a NSR and i think its good. its a 2-stroke unline CBR so its fast
my friend has a one and i liked the look of it untill i saw him ride away on it..... the rear wheel is really thin he even says he sufferes from traction around cracked tarmacs.

tbh i will recommend NSR. its more reliable than a RS 125 and faster than a CBR (duh)
unless you like crossers? you can maybe go for a yamaha DT or a kawasaki? there nice and fun to ride on. i got a experience on quite a lot of 125s in the last months

and with a 2stroke becareful of which bike you get. thrashed engines will fail on you so many times you may as well get a new engine all together.
and make sure you warm em up for about 10 mins before setting off. so much must be done, but it pays off

 

[L Plate]

Shimy, you have had your NSR five minutes and couldnt make your mind up at first what to buy, in fact you were on here asking the same questions werent you?

How can you after this short period of time on a bike make a statement about the reliability of the bike compared to another?

I will agree about the thrashed bikes being a money pit but can you guarantee the one you have wasnt thrashed, it certainly looked like it had a pretty unforgiven previous owner.

I think one thing has been apparent on here of late and that is it goes without saying that you have to go and try them out, that means get your CBT done and then go with someone who has a licence, knows their way around a bike and can test ride it for you properly, without a full licence someone may not be so forthcoming when it comes to test rides but as long as it feels comfortable when you are sat on it its half the battle. The rest is down to depth of your pocket as to what you are buying (with regards to condition) and how often you are going to use and over what distance (4 stroke for longer regular stuff ).

But if you have cash on the hip have a look at the brand new RS125

What a nice looking bike

 

[MrMoon]

when I had a 125 about 6 years ago the NSR was great a mate of mine had an aprillia RS125 and it was always going wrong, I wouldnt trust aprillias reliability

 

[AlexG12]

what do you mean there is no point doing the Cat A test?

the question of insurance dropping dramatically for one


and the option then to ride anything later on after the restriction has lifted, you are going about the adrenaline rush of the RS125, after 6 months you soon get bored of it i can assure you of that.

Your'e thinking of cat A2 test, cat A is 125 without L plates, Cat A2 is no Lplates and 33BHP etc . So yes, if you are considering moving up in the future then you may aswell do your full test, but if you think you will be happy enough with a 125 for a year or so then have a laugh on one of them. Then you can pass your test at a later date with some expirience under your belt.
Alex

 

[<(Multi)>]

when I had a 125 about 6 years ago the NSR was great a mate of mine had an aprillia RS125 and it was always going wrong, I wouldnt trust aprillias reliability

Darn right, they do always go wrong. One things for sure, he had more fun than you though

 

[L Plate]

Darn right, they do always go wrong. One things for sure, he had more fun than you though

Sorry, they dont go wrong (probably jinxed every poor little 2 stroke out there now though ).

They simply get ridden wrong and maintained badly

And Aprilia are nowhere near as bad as some when it comes to reliability, granted they arent Honda, but i havent had a single problem with my Mille in the year i have had it and thats a 99 model with over 25000 miles on the clock, ragged to death too

 

[L Plate]

Your'e thinking of cat A2 test, cat A is 125 without L plates, Cat A2 is no Lplates and 33BHP etc . So yes, if you are considering moving up in the future then you may aswell do your full test, but if you think you will be happy enough with a 125 for a year or so then have a laugh on one of them. Then you can pass your test at a later date with some expirience under your belt.
Alex

ahem

There are 2 types of full motorcycle licence to aim for:

A light motorcycle licence (A1) which restricts riders to any bike up to 125cc and a power output of 11kW. The practical test must be taken on a bike of between 75cc and 125cc.
A standard motorcycle licence (A) is obtained if the practical test is taken on a bike of over 120cc but not more than 125cc and capable of at least 100km per hour.
After passing the standard motorcycle practical test you will be restricted for 2 years to riding a bike of up to 25kW and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16kW/kg. After this you may ride any size of bike.

I was thinking of CAT A, in that do the test, stick to the restricted licence and then move over after 2 years, in the mean time having passed the test get cheaper insurance at least by a half to two thirds

 

[AlexG12]

2 strokes do need a lot of maintenance. The oil = v.expensive too. Used to cost 20quid a bottle and would last about 500 miles. BTW Lplate are you lateshift off Essex Bikers?

Just realised your right Lplate, I'm getting confused as my instructor was calling it A2 and the other one A1 Also Ebikeinsurance call it A2 :S

 

[L Plate]

yes matey, but i have been around here for well over 5 years too


how you getting on with the GSXR?

 

[MouseMat2004]

Please dont forget on a CBT licence they should all be under 14.6BHP, The RS125/NSR will be closer to that limit whereas the CBR125R is around 11-12BHP out of the tin, so unless you derestrict it theres very little difference apart from looks. Dont get me wrong, I had a RS125 and it was great but it is pretending to be something is isnt, looks like a 400/600cc sports bike bike goes like a 125 (duh) and imo sounds horrible the build quailty on the Aprilias isnt very good, mine was in a terrible state after only one winter, whereas my already 11 yr old 400 looked as good as new after 2 whole winters.

You can buy a RS125 for £3500-3800 new and in a year+ it's be worth under £2000, whereas you can buy a CBR125 new for as little as £1900 and you'll easily get £1300-1500 in a years time. You'll also need to maintain the RS125, it'll drink a £10-12 bottle of oil every 600 miles and should have the rings replaced after 8,000miles (or is it km?) It's not worth going for a second hand 2 stroke unless you can budget for a whole new topend.

In other words, if you are planning on using it as a stop gap to bigger and better things then buy a CBR125.