Buying first motorbike!

[Azurus]

For all the bikers out there can anyone recommend a good machine to learn on? I'm 18 and starting my lessons shortly.

 

[Haggus]

50cc ! Honda are good <3

 

[Lollie]

you sitting you cbt or doing a direct acess course ? i had a honda cg 125 for 2 years before doing lessons/test, damn thing was a chineese import so the gears were pubar'd, all the way up for neutral then shift down down down for gears, confused me a touch when doing lessons on the 1 down 4 up bikes. Best advise is shop about and test them and get a feel them

 

[fettoken]

Superbike..... supercrash.. learn to walk again.... yeah im drunk

 

[Dukat]

I got a CBR125.

Depends what you're after. For me I wanted something that looked the part (sports bike stylee) without being too powerfull. Something that had a bit of weight to it without being too big, and a bike that I could make the sort of mistakes that learners make without having the bike kill me.

I think the CBR is perfect for this. It struggles a litte with top end speed, mine tops out at around 80/85mph, however, it costs ~£5 to fill up, and does over 100mpg. I probably spend more on tax than I do on petrol lol.

I've come off my cbr twice, the first off aint worth mentioning, the second one was a little worse, put me out of running for a month or so, but the bike survived both with no problems at all aside from indicators, which needed replacing both times. Getting spares was no problem for me, even though I live nowhere near anywhere (norfolk), the parts seemed to be really easy to get ahold of, fairly cheap too.

The bonus with a CBR is that its a 4-stroke, as opposed to a 2stroke, which many 125's are. Being a 4 stroke its far more reliable, and requires only minimal maintenance, which I was concerned about, as i didnt at the time know a whole hell of alot about bikes, I wanted something that i could learn from without having to rebuild it every other week. It also doesnt have that stupid hairdryer sound that alot of small bikes suffer from, its got a fuel guage and engine temp, which while not being essential on 125's, are really handy to have when you're learning.

I had the CBR recommended to me by two people I look to for bike advice, one of them was on here - Throdgrian, a guy who worked in a motorbike shop, so he knows what hes talking about. The other recommendation came from my dad, who tested it out for me before I bought it, my dad's been a bike since he was 15, still has a GSX1100, so again, he knows what hes talking about.

I got my CBR for ~£1000ish second hand with 7k miles on the clocks, you should beable to find something similar for that sort of money I'd imagine.

I'd highly recommend the CBR as a starter bike, only thing I'd change is the top speed, but tbh when you're learning you really dont want to be going stupidly fast anyways.

EDIT1: here's the thread I made when I first decided to buy a bike:
https://forums.freddyshouse.com/general2/202040-motorbike.html

EDIT2: images!

Spoiler

Spoiler

Superbike..... supercrash.. learn to walk again.... yeah im drunk

Sorry, not funny

 

[eksdee]

4 wheels > 2!

 

[Hawkwind]

4 wheels > 2!

Reminds me of a famous quote from a BA pilot. When asked why BA still mostly fliew 4 engined aircraft over the Atlantic he simply responded, "because they have not built one with 5!".

Have to agree, never did trust myself on a bike. Too many stupid assholes on the road as well. Better off buying a car.

 

[eksdee]

haha, nice quote

 

[Dukat]

Strangely enough, I think I would feel totally unsafe in a car, if shit comes my way on a bike I can react, normally bikes are small enough to simply go around trouble if you spot it early enough, the same cannot be said for a car. There have been times when I'd have had a fairly serious accident if I had of been in a car, like when a guy pulled out on me the week before last infact, had I of been in a ar I wouldnt have been able to move out of the way as I did, and there simply wouldnt have been room for a car to get through the route I was forced to take.

I know the statistics show that you're more likely to survive a crash in a car than on a bike, however, I believe the same statistics show that you're more likely to have an accident in a car in the first place, so I guess it swings in roundabouts.

I hate the idea of driving a car though, strikes me as dangerously boring, I know this is a point of view formed from riding only motorbikes for 2 years, and I'm really not so stupid that I cant see that what I am saying is very biased on my own personal preferences, I just cant help the way I think, in terms of the enjoyment I get from riding it, I wouldnt swap my little 125 bike for any car.

 

[preacherboy]

Honda 100 first bike, good to learn on, not as fast

 

[Mey]

How much is the insurance like on one of those things?

 

[Coolan]

Depending on what course your doing either cbt or direct access will give you access to different bikes, i started off with my cbt myself, once i had passed that i got a yamaha ybr125, yamahas version of a honda cg125, pretty much the same so not much to go on, i found this to be a fairly good starting bike, not much to damage or repair if you drop it.

All depends what your going to use it for and how long your going to keep it for, also if your going to buy new. If you do go new but only plan on keeping the bike a year i would advise the cg or ybr as £1500-£1700 new and a year down the line if youv'e kept it in good condition it should resell for £1200-£1400, where as a cbr125 is closer to £2500-£3000 new and will only resell for the same as the cg/ybr.

If however you are doing the direct access course and have your mind set on a sportsbike, gsxr's are imo the way togo, having said that if you dont mind older bikes 1999 r6's are very good for the money i paid £2400 for mine, 13k on the clock and it was in mint condition.

Thats just my advice, good luck whatever you do and choose to go with.

Just to add in make sure you get proper protection whatever bike you ride, i broke my shoulder the day i did my cbt, still passed it, hurt like hell, and shattered my kneecap the day before my full bike test, whats worse neither of those times i was on a bike

 

[Exioce]

My first bike was a SV650S and I had great fun with it, but for an 18 year old the CBR125 mentioned above would be a much better idea.

 

[Dukat]

How much is the insurance like on one of those things?

For me ~£200ish TPF&T, first year was around double that.

 

[Mey]

Ok then, I'm 20 years old and have a full driving licence (car) what do I need to do to be able to ride a motorbike legally?

 

[Dukat]

Ok then, I'm 20 years old and have a full driving licence (car) what do I need to do to be able to ride a motorbike legally?

CBT for a bike up to 125cc, I think the other contraint on CBT licence is 15bph, but these can easily be derestricted, although 15hp on a bike isnt too shabby, seeing as you dont have all the wieght you get in a car.

CBT courses cost £60-£100 depending on where you go, I got mine for £80 and it was a 'guaranteed pass', that is, if I fuxxed up I got to come back and try it again at no extra fee, but its stupidly easy and you really have to cause a major accident to fail it I think.

After the CBT you're good to go on a 'learner legal' bike, as long as you put the L plates on. to go for a bigger bike after Age 21 you can do direct access, which involves taking a thoery like a car (I've done this, its pretty easy really) then do a practical test, which is a little more tricky I hear (havent done mine yet), after that you can ride anything.

 

[Mey]

So I have to be 21 till i can drive big boy bikes?

 

[Lollie]

they are planning to change the pratical test for motorbikes this year to make it harder so the sooner you do it the better tbh, think my insurance for my little 125 was 150ish only payed 800 quid for it off a mate as well, i personally wouldnt but a new/expensive bike for your first one coz the odds are your gonna come off/drop it.

 

[Exioce]

If you're under 21 and have got your Standard Motorcycle Licence you can ride a big bike if it has a 33bhp restrictor fitted. Then when you reach 21 you can take another test on a bigger bike, and take the restrictor off.

 

[Lamp]

The CBR 125 would be a good choice - and it looks really nice

 

[Ezteq]

i suggest you get one of these bad boys, get some steppenwolf on the ipod and youll be cookin!!!

YouTube - ethan 4 yrs old pw50 dirtbike
[youtubevid]1NIuB1_6-Us[/youtubevid]

 

[pez]

I'm doing my CBT on Saturday and hoping to get my first bike soon afterwards. There one on ebay I like the look of, a Jinlun 125 however its not taxed and I have no way of picking it up in a van. Anyone have nay suggestions about how would be the best way to get this thing home if i buy it, ideally by riding?

 

[Dukat]

I'm doing my CBT on Saturday and hoping to get my first bike soon afterwards. There one on ebay I like the look of, a Jinlun 125 however its not taxed and I have no way of picking it up in a van. Anyone have nay suggestions about how would be the best way to get this thing home if i buy it, ideally by riding?

Do you have any friends with motorbike licenes who could ride it back for you? I've done this for a friend and for my brother before, I got a lift out there and just followed someone home each time

Getting the thing in a van can sometimes be awkward too, depending on the bike.

 

[Lamp]

You can fit a C90 in a shoe box!

 

[pez]

Do you have any friends with motorbike licenes who could ride it back for you? I've done this for a friend and for my brother before, I got a lift out there and just followed someone home each time

Getting the thing in a van can sometimes be awkward too, depending on the bike.

surely they still couldn't ride it due to the no tax. Unless I completely misunderstood motorbike law I thought you only needed your CBT to ride up to 125cc?

 

[Dukat]

surely they still couldn't ride it due to the no tax. Unless I completely misunderstood motorbike law I thought you only needed your CBT to ride up to 125cc?

I meant "motorbike licence" meaning any licence that allows you to ride a motorbike, rather than a full licence So yes someone with a CBT would be fine, aslong as thier insurance covered them on other bikes(eg. fully comp) and they knew what they were doing.

I also didnt realise it didnt have Tax.

Edit: Also, have you seen/test ridden the bike? or gotten someone to do it for you? Some of these chinese bikes are a bit notorious for being somewhat less than reliable. I dont know about that particular make though, it may well be fine Just worth thinking about.

 

[soze]

I hate bikes and some bikers.

They always make out everything is arsehole drives faults mate rides and bike and went side on into a car he got away virtually un hurt. He said the guy just pulled out but it turns out my mate was going 50 down a 30 road so if he had been doing the limit the car would have been long gone before he got there.

I have also got in a fight because a guy speeding in a 30 tried to over take me though a traffic island and when there was not enough room he had to brake and go behind me.

I know most bikers are prolly fine and more often than not its the cars fault but it still pisses me off I also hate that look look and look again for bikers advert where in the first video there is not a cunting bike there .

 

[kiliarien]

Strangely enough, I think I would feel totally unsafe in a car, if shit comes my way on a bike I can react, normally bikes are small enough to simply go around trouble if you spot it early enough, the same cannot be said for a car. There have been times when I'd have had a fairly serious accident if I had of been in a car, like when a guy pulled out on me the week before last infact, had I of been in a ar I wouldnt have been able to move out of the way as I did, and there simply wouldnt have been room for a car to get through the route I was forced to take.

I know the statistics show that you're more likely to survive a crash in a car than on a bike, however, I believe the same statistics show that you're more likely to have an accident in a car in the first place, so I guess it swings in roundabouts.

I hate the idea of driving a car though, strikes me as dangerously boring, I know this is a point of view formed from riding only motorbikes for 2 years, and I'm really not so stupid that I cant see that what I am saying is very biased on my own personal preferences, I just cant help the way I think, in terms of the enjoyment I get from riding it, I wouldnt swap my little 125 bike for any car.

Fair enough that you see your bias - I'm the same in terms of bias as I just wouldn't feel safe riding (as in driving) a bike. Have you considered however the fact that you were on a bike was the reason why someone pulled out on you, because they don't expect a bike coming due to size etc.? Especially if they were turning right and you pulled out (they do have the right of way).

Get a good car, and it's never dangerously boring - again that phrase sits uneasily, are you suggesting that you need to push limits (and I don't mean speed) to keep things interesting? That puts me even further off bikes if that's the case.

Your idea that there'd be less accidents if people ride bikes is mostly unfounded tbh - that can't be emprically proven, although you have raised an interesting point indirectly; a lot of elderly drive cars feeling safe and have reduced reaction times which can cause accidents (and that is a fact). I wonder how many of them would don leathers and take to a bike? Not many I would think.

I know most bikers are prolly fine and more often than not its the cars fault but it still pisses me off I also hate that look look and look again for bikers advert where in the first video there is not a cunting bike there .

Lol I agree with this, I said he couldn't be seen - someone then argued to me 'No he is there, but in the first shot he's obscured by the driver's head' to which I obviously replied 'You cock, it's a third person shot, I'm meant to be the fucking driver and I'd see him!!'. What a muppet.

Good luck on your riding though Azurus

 

[Dukat]

I hate bikes and some bikers.

They always make out everything is arsehole drives faults mate rides and bike and went side on into a car he got away virtually un hurt. He said the guy just pulled out but it turns out my mate was going 50 down a 30 road so if he had been doing the limit the car would have been long gone before he got there.

I have also got in a fight because a guy speeding in a 30 tried to over take me though a traffic island and when there was not enough room he had to brake and go behind me.

I know most bikers are prolly fine and more often than not its the cars fault but it still pisses me off I also hate that look look and look again for bikers advert where in the first video there is not a cunting bike there .

The problem is, there is no way of finding out the proportion of dangerous bikers to dangerous car drivers, I mean, what defines "dangerous"? When does 'bending the rules' become breaking them?

This sort of discussion normally goes nowhere because its down to everyone's own perceptions and point of view.

I find car drivers dangerous because they either seem to be trying to race me at every oppotunity or they're so dopey they seem hardly aware of anything on the road. This is a gross exaggeration I know, but again, so much of it depends on our own point of view, I suspect very few people on the road actively drive badly on purpose, but some people just dont know when having a little fun becomes dangerous driving.

I also agree with that "think bike" advert - to me it seems like the biker is driving stupidly. As long as cars indicate properly there is little excuse for a biker to go into the side of someone like that.

 

[pez]

I thought my minor query didn't warrant a brand new thread but in hindsight i probably shouldn't have necroed this.