Some questions from someone considering learning to ride

davestar_delux

davestar_delux

davestar_delux

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Hi,

I want to learn to ride a motorbike for the experience/fun of it.

Once I learn, I will probably use it as my main transport as well though.

I know roughly the process is CBT, theory, full test but what is the price of going through it all and getting a bike and all equipment?

Also, I am a bit of a worrier and despite being a really careful car driver, I wouldn't like to trust myself with a throttle that I've heard of on bikes that are super-fast, what kind of bike/CCs should I be looking at?

Hope this make sense and appreciate any helpful replies.
 
Unfortunately I can't help you with current costs, I think it'll be in the £600-800 range but that may be well out.

Order is usually;
CBT
Theory
Mod 1 (Test not on public roads)
Mod 2 (road Ride)

As to bike, best bet is to test ride and see what you like.

As for kit, be prepared to shell out for decent stuff (Decent doesn't always mean expensive!)

Get 1 set for summer & 1 For winter at a minimum, do NOT try to get a 1 set does it all as it'll be compromised to a certain extent.

Buy a helmet that fits you well, and always brand new.

Leathers / Textiles can be bought 2nd hand for a reasonable price.

Any bike can get you in trouble, bigger CC just tends to mean get you in trouble faster if you ride like a prat. If you're sensible then any bike will be fine. Personally I'd recommend a 2nd hand upright bike for 3 reasons;
1) They tend to be cheaper to fix if / when you drop it
2) Someone else will have taken the initial showroom hit
3) Cheaper insurance

Something like the FZ6, Hornet et al are all good bikes.
 
Good work fella!

From no licence to full licence id set aside 600 to 700 quid - all depends on how fast you learn and how many DAS lessons you need.

Bike - 2k will get you a GOOD reliable 600 of year 2003/2004, a grand will get you that too but higher mileage and older e.g. 30/40k plus and 1999 to 2001(maybe).

Inswerants - from 200 to 400 probably depending on your bike/age/location...

Gear - id say full price:
150 for lid
300 for jacket and trousers of good to average quality
75 for boots.
Gear wise if you shop at GeorgeWhites online could get the gear cost down to 200/300 quid for ok gear, wont last a lifetime but should get you a few seaons of wear.

Bike type - look from a style perspective as in what do you want to do? Upright tourer, sports or inbetween?

Personally I ride a 2002 Suzuki GSXR750 and a 1990 Kawasaki Gt550, chalk and cheese!
The kwak is sit up and way comfy, I can ride all day no that with no issues and I commute on that all weathers and between 7miles and 35 miles each way depending where i travel from.
The Suzuki is bonkers fast and ok in comfort but I need a break every two to three hours to stretch.

A good thing to do would be look for meetups in Glasgow and head along, always best to get oppinion from locals and be able to look and sit on may bikes.

HTH chap!
 
You see you have to options:
1. DAS which lets you ride anything you want straight away. It cost about £600 to do.

2. Get restricted license (first 2 years you can only ride up to 33bhp then anything you want), you can do CBT then get a cheap bike and do the rest training yourself saving you a lot of money but then you are restricted to 33bhp for 2 years.

It's all about what you want to do and how much money you have. Bare in mind if you are young and want to do DAS and then get a sports bike then the insurance will be very expensive.

You need to provide us with more information (what sort of bike you want, what cc, 125, 250, 600, 1000, what you want to use it for, how much money you got to spend, your age) as motorbiking is quite complex as it is atm.

Edit: You can ride up to 125cc bikes after doing CBT only for 12 months. This is the cheapest way to experience motorbikes but not the most exciting one though.
 
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I'm booking my CBT tomorrow, costing a ton. After that, the DAS is gonne cost about 400, but you have to shop around for the best prices. I'm 24, the only reason I'm doing the DAS is because my dad has a spare bike, sat there, willing me to ride it :P
Otherwise I'd probably look at getting a cheap 125 for a bit after the CBT, if nothing more than getting used to riding and controlling the bike better.
 
apatia77 said:
Was it always like that because I though it was for 1 year only :)
Click to expand...

Pretty sure it was always 2 years ever since they changed the rules in 2001. My bro used to be able to ride anything up to a 125cc on his car license, when the law changed he did his direct access straight away rather than have to do a CBT test every 2 years.

http://www.lightningpass.com/jkcm/THE+LAW/CHANGES+TO+MOTORCYCLE+LAW

To the OP: I did an intensive for about £500 all in over 4 days, it was probably one of the most enjoyable things that I've ever done. That was back in 2002 mind you, no idea what it would cost now :confused:
 
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Firstly, well played OP. Excellent decision to learn to ride. You sound like an ideal biker, cautious and doing it for experience and such.

I'd be worried if you were 17, got 6 points for speeding, looking to pass straight away and wanting to buy a 'busa!! (Not that this is possible, but you get my drift).

You will do a CBT on a 125cc, which seems fast when you first ride. After a day you will be bored though and if they take you near any road that has the slightest of gradient then you will experience pain like no other :)

I think for a new rider, after passing DAS and being qualified no more than a 650cc will be needed whilst you get the day to day experience in commuting and general riding. This is what I got and its MORE than enough, everyone is different but as said earlier; less powerful bikes are a bit more forgiving should you make a whoopsie.

Recently, I've been researching into getting a bigger bike and I've been on my 650cc since I passed 3 years ago. Riding it daily pretty much, all weather. Mainly because I want something different with a bit more kick.

No idea on prices these days. Don't skimp out on budget gear, stay within your budget but buy the best you can realistically afford. You will be thankful if you ever come off.

Good luck, it will be one of the best things you ever decide to do!
 
I'm 26 now and didn't start riding until last year. Dad rides a BMW R1150RT and I've watched the bike racing on the TV for years, so I guess it was obvious that I'd get the bug eventually. I couldn't afford both bike and car lessons at 17 and I needed to lug band equipment around, so car it was. Now I'm in a steady job and have the money (and storage capability), I'm exploring two wheels.

I've done my CBT and I have a Yamaha YBR125. It seems fast when you first ride a 125! I haven't quite reached boredom yet on mine as I'm still working on my confidence in the corners. My lean angle is probably a fraction of a degree at the moment! Unfortunately haven't been able to get out lately because of the weather but hopefully I can get back out soon.

I decided early on that it would be better for me to get completely comfortable on the 125 before even considering anything bigger. I know what I'm like, so I'm going to take my time. I've got two years before the CBT runs out so there's no rush.
 
MatteH Oxford said:
Pretty sure it was always 2 years ever since they changed the rules in 2001. My bro used to be able to ride anything up to a 125cc on his car license, when the law changed he did his direct access straight away rather than have to do a CBT test every 2 years.

http://www.lightningpass.com/jkcm/THE+LAW/CHANGES+TO+MOTORCYCLE+LAW

To the OP: I did an intensive for about £500 all in over 4 days, it was probably one of the most enjoyable things that I've ever done. That was back in 2002 mind you, no idea what it would cost now :confused:
Click to expand...

Yep it's always been 2 years, even back when i done my test when it was part one and two.

After passing part one you had 2 years to pass full test or retake part one :)
 
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