general musings about starting out

Disco Boy

Disco Boy

Disco Boy

Soldato
Joined
4 Aug 2009
Posts
5,310
Location
London
So, I've been car-less for about 18 months. I moved to Oxford to start my PhD and sold my previous car because I knew I wouldn't need one often, and would rather have money in the bank. I was insured on my girlfriend's car for this time so that worked well... Until we broke up, cheating bitch...

Anyway, having no transportation is getting me down. I don't need any, but I can afford some if I want it. So I am thinking "why not?".

I am 22 (23 in August), so DAS to a big boy's bike is out, which is frustrating. I'm considering doing my CBT and seeing how I find a 125. Then potentially getting a 125 to tool around on/ learn how not to kill myself, until I turn 24 and can do DAS if I still want to ride.

So I see the costs of getting going as this:

CBT: £120

Helmet: £150
Gloves: £70
Boots: £100
Jacket & trousers: £300

Then a bike:
~£2000 on a CBR125/CBF125 (will return ~£1500 when I come to sell)
Security: £100
Misc, luggage etc: £100
Insurance: ~£600 from a quick quote, hopefully lower

So that's £1500 plus the bike, or £2k when you factor in depreciation on the bike, purely on stuff. Not factoring in anything breaking (or rather, me breaking stuff), consumables or road tax.

Then if/when I want a full license, it'll cost around £420 for the extra training and tests.

So those are my general musings. If anyone has any thoughts or comments would be much appreciated.
 
I See you have posted this same thread on another forum.... ;)

on security i would spend a bit more and get an almax chain then you dont have to get a better one when you get a big bike.

helmet, personally i wouldnt use a 150 quid one, my cheap one is a arai chaser

if you want to spend that amount on jacket an trousers, again personally my jacked it about 350 quid and trousers were about 200 something, an they zip together round the waist. i really do feel a hell of a lot safer in my 2 piece leathers than in a hoody and jeans, or even textiles.

and have you seen the CBR125? skinny as a push bike, have you looked for a yzr125 or a NSR125, they are both proper big bike sized and the NSR is a 2 stroke, so altho it will need more maintenance and require a bottle of castrol TTS (i think) every 6-8 tanks of fuel, it will be able to reach 100 if its derestricded (if your not hugely fat that is), and if you keep to normal speeds and revs when riding round towns and only open it right up on duel carrige ways away from police they will never know.
 
manic mushroom said:
I See you have posted this same thread on another forum.... ;)

on security i would spend a bit more and get an almax chain then you dont have to get a better one when you get a big bike.

helmet, personally i wouldnt use a 150 quid one, my cheap one is a arai chaser

if you want to spend that amount on jacket an trousers, again personally my jacked it about 350 quid and trousers were about 200 something, an they zip together round the waist. i really do feel a hell of a lot safer in my 2 piece leathers than in a hoody and jeans, or even textiles.

and have you seen the CBR125? skinny as a push bike, have you looked for a yzr125 or a NSR125, they are both proper big bike sized and the NSR is a 2 stroke, so altho it will need more maintenance and require a bottle of castrol TTS (i think) every 6-8 tanks of fuel, it will be able to reach 100 if its derestricded (if your not hugely fat that is), and if you keep to normal speeds and revs when riding round towns and only open it right up on duel carrige ways away from police they will never know.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of two piece textiles with a zip together, so I'll see how much a decent set comes to new/ second hand. Helmet wise I put that down as an idea, I'll try a few and see which fit.

I can't really be doing with the faff of a two stroke tbh.

I've not been on a CBR125, no. But a 125 is a low powered bike, so I don't see an advantage to getting a bike which looks more powerful than it is, or is bigger and harder to manage than necessary.

wazza300 said:
you can ride a 50cc scooter on a car license
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Thanks for the information, but I have no interest in riding a scooter...
 
Dont be fooled by stupid prices of helmets.

They all have to pass the same UK testing to be saleable on the high street.

A £50 helmet will be just as good as a £150 + helmet, for a first timer just get the bare bones, without spending a massive amount of cash.
 
SPG said:
Dont be fooled by stupid prices of helmets.

They all have to pass the same UK testing to be saleable on the high street.

A £50 helmet will be just as good as a £150 + helmet, for a first timer just get the bare bones, without spending a massive amount of cash.
Click to expand...

That is one of the stupidest things I've ever read. Whilst I agree that some helmet prices are daft, the most important thing for a helmet is for it to fit properly. Cheaper helmets are not "as good as" more expensive helmets for anyone, let alone a "first timer". The UK testing is a lowest common denominator and is NOT an indication of relative safety.

OP you will need to try on different brands to find a helmet that fits the shape of your head. Somewhere like Hein Gericke will help you find something that fits, then it's a case of finding a decent price. Also have a look on http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/ to see helmet safety ratings.
 
wazza300 said:
you can ride a 50cc scooter on a car license
Click to expand...

Without a CBT only if you passed your car test before Feb 2001.

Do it, it's a lot of fun especially when filtering past cars stuck in traffic :D

As for the helmet, get one that fits your head shape nicely. HJC must have a model of my head at their factory as they fit me perfectly and I have 3 of them.

What I do is buy last years model when the new ones come out. Huge discounts and I've never spent more that £100 on a helmet that a year previous was far more expensive.

Here's the governments website for helmet testing. It gives you an idea how good a helmet is and quite a few cheaper ones fair better than some big brand expensive ones.

http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/

Decent boots are so important. In 1990 I had an accident where some stupid bint decided she couldn't care less about giving way to her right on a roundabout and went into my left side. My boots, which my mates had taken the **** out of me for, saved me from far greater injury considering she hit my left leg with her car.

As you're a young bloke maybe fashion and labels mean something but you can get gloves a lot cheaper than that and they'll be fine.

Yes, you'd get good jacket and trouser for £300 but consider you may need summer and winter gear. I have a winter jacket, a leather jacket and a summer jacket that is like a giant tea bag so it lets air through without sacrificing too much safety (all the armour is there though). I have kevlar jeans and winter textile trousers. Summer and winter gloves.

As for the bike, and because you seem to have your head screwed on and don't want to be a perpetual L plater, just get something to ride for 18 months which you can sell for a small loss when you've done your DAS.
 
SPG said:
Dont be fooled by stupid prices of helmets.

They all have to pass the same UK testing to be saleable on the high street.

A £50 helmet will be just as good as a £150 + helmet, for a first timer just get the bare bones, without spending a massive amount of cash.
Click to expand...

A £50 helmet won't last as long or be as comfortable, but yes, it has to pass the same safety tests as a £500 helmet, so I personally wouldn't spend a fortune on a first helmet.
 
Disco Boy said:
I am 22 (23 in August), so DAS to a big boy's bike is out, which is frustrating. I'm considering doing my CBT and seeing how I find a 125. Then potentially getting a 125 to tool around on/ learn how not to kill myself, until I turn 24 and can do DAS if I still want to ride.
Click to expand...

I've just done my CBT last weekend which was great fun however for me the 125 was to slow. The bike was a 2007 Honda CG with almost 40k on it. Honestly, I couldn't see myself on such a machine. I'm 25 so going for the DAS is no issue, I'm doing just that when I get my confirmed week off work in May :D
 
bloodiedathame said:
That is one of the stupidest things I've ever read. Whilst I agree that some helmet prices are daft, the most important thing for a helmet is for it to fit properly. Cheaper helmets are not "as good as" more expensive helmets for anyone, let alone a "first timer". The UK testing is a lowest common denominator and is NOT an indication of relative safety.

OP you will need to try on different brands to find a helmet that fits the shape of your head. Somewhere like Hein Gericke will help you find something that fits, then it's a case of finding a decent price. Also have a look on http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/ to see helmet safety ratings.
Click to expand...

You've been taken in by the marketing. A £150 helmet is as safe as a £400 helmet assuming it fits properly. It might not be as plush, or as light, but it will do the job....and I use a Schuberth C3
 
You can get cheaper gloves than that, Gore-tex as well. Pretty sure I paid £50 for a winter pair. Don't forget you'll need both winter and summer gear at some point.

I wear Gore-tex walking boots (Berghaus). I don't see the point in spending money on something you don't want to walk about in. I also wear jeans for local journeys, it's a risk I'm prepared to take.

£300 will buy you a reasonable textile jacket and trousers. Be prepared for them to let water in at some point though, mine lasted 12 months.

I started off with a £70 helmet and ditched it fairly quickly for a Shoei which I got for £300 (RRP £370). The cheaper helmet was just not comfortable long distance, make sure it's as light as possible.
 
Another tip, Gore-tex is a complete waste of time on a motorbike, save your cash there as well, but you will end up with 4 pairs of gloves anyway.

Summer
Winter 1 Soaking wet
Winter 2 Soaking wet
Winter 3 for when you have forgot to put winter 1 or winter 2 on the radiator to dry out :)
 
Sagalout said:
You've been taken in by the marketing. A £150 helmet is as safe as a £400 helmet assuming it fits properly. It might not be as plush, or as light, but it will do the job....and I use a Schuberth C3
Click to expand...

And I wore a Caberg V2R. That was the most expensive helmet I ever owned, because it is what fit and what I could afford. So no, I've not been taken in by marketing. If you can afford to spend £400 to save your head then great.
 
edd1e said:
you seem to have a lot of tips, so far I agree with none of them.
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Good for you, i wont lose any sleep over it but a fact is a fact.

A Gortex jacket/ gloves will not breathe when hurtling down the road at 50mph, the air pressure prevents the fabric from working correctly especially when its raining. There is plenty of stuff on net regarding this and bike clothing. But if it makes you feel better and safer and i guess its all good.
 
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