Motorbikes...

[Naetha]

Anyone here a biker?

If I was thinking of learning to ride a motorbike, where would you recommend I start? Would you suggest I do a CBT, buy a 125cc bike (Suzuki GS 125 or similar) learn to ride properly, see if I like it, then upgrade, or should I do a Direct Access course and go straight away for a 500cc+ bike? (Triumph Tiger….mmmm…)

Answers on a postcard!

(P.S. Don't tell Lee - the idea of me and a motorbike scares him for some reason )

 

[Mojo]

Anyone here a biker?

If I was thinking of learning to ride a motorbike, where would you recommend I start? Would you suggest I do a CBT, buy a 125cc bike (Suzuki GS 125 or similar) learn to ride properly, see if I like it, then upgrade, or should I do a Direct Access course and go straight away for a 500cc+ bike? (Triumph Tiger….mmmm…)

Answers on a postcard!

(P.S. Don't tell Lee - the idea of me and a motorbike scares him for some reason )

I am no Biker but I thought you could only drive 125cc or such while learning? After you pass then upgrade? Insurance may be a big factor also.

 

[Sollers]

Take a good hounest look at yourself and see how a responsible guy you are (in traffic) and answer the question yourself imo

You will crash a 125 CC bike as easily as a 1000 CC one with madman driving and you will keep them on the road equally easy if you're responsible enough (and got the physical strength )

Do keep an eye on legislation as to what is allowed for starting bikers.

p.s: Triump Tiger is a great bike

 

[Bahumat]

Take a good hounest look at yourself and see how a responsible guy you are (in traffic)

That may prove difficult...seeing as she's a girl.

/pedantic mode off

 

[Chronictank]

Motorbikes are a sin, god said so

 

[Naetha]

Motorbikes are a sin, god said so

I don't have a problem with sin

 

[Dukat]

Anyone here a biker?

If I was thinking of learning to ride a motorbike, where would you recommend I start? Would you suggest I do a CBT, buy a 125cc bike (Suzuki GS 125 or similar) learn to ride properly, see if I like it, then upgrade, or should I do a Direct Access course and go straight away for a 500cc+ bike? (Triumph Tiger….mmmm…)

Answers on a postcard!

(P.S. Don't tell Lee - the idea of me and a motorbike scares him for some reason )

I've been biking since august last year.

I took my CBT and bought a Honda CBR125 and have been driving that on a CBT licence ever since.

I dont have a full driving licence or a car, so my motorbike was my first road experience. I would imagine if you drive a car, going for direct access wouldnt be too bad, as long as you're careful, but for me I was kinda glad I was limited to a 125.

Admittedly there are times that I wish I had a bigger bike, however looking at things with a clear head I would say that the limitations have let me learn properly and eased me into both driving and motorbiking.

Looking at the tests themselves, I'm not sure how difficult the Direct Access one is(I'm lead to believe its not too bad), but the CBT is basically a guaranteed pass, its great if you want to be left to your own devices to learn to ride the bike and get a bit of experience on your own before going for the "big bike test". (I would recommend this approach).

However, the advantage of the Direct Access is obviously that you arent limited on how powerful your first bike is.

As Sollers said, I think it depends alot on you, your responsibility and your confidence on the road.

I'm not really that experienced, seeing as I've been riding for less than a year, but the learning process for me so far on just a CBT licence has been thoroughly enjoyable, I'm not really in any hurry to get my test passed and get a bigger bike - the CBT is fine for me so far.

One source of information I was lucky to find was Throdgrain (a person who posts here on FH/General). He's pretty much the local authority on bikes tbh, any questions and he should beable to help you, he helped me out alot when I was choosing my first bike.

Whichever way you go though good luck, and make sure you enjoy it!

 

[Dukat]

I am no Biker but I thought you could only drive 125cc or such while learning?

Depends, the CBT is done on a smaller bike and is not as comprehensive as a Direct access test, so you are limited in what you can drive. However passing the Direct access test gives you a full bike license with no restrictions at all.

There is also another test (that you are probably thinking of) where you take a test on a smallish bike and are limited to 125cc/33bhp for two years after you pass, after that point you aren't limited anymore, most seem to do the CBT and then go for the Direct Access though I believe, as it means you can move up to a bigger bike when you are ready, rather than having to wait a definate 2 years.

 

[Alan]

Im going direct access then a GSX-R600 (but not for another year or so) spoke to loads of people then and they all agreed a 125 is a waste for someone who can go direct access, you'll get bored of it within a week and feel restricted.

Was tempted with the R6 but as a first bike the suzuki is better and more forgiving apparently

Got a bit bore debt to pay off before saving for a bike tho... and some lbs to loose hehe

 

[psyco]

there screaming metal death traps, so sure.... go ahead

 

[Mojo]

Depends, the CBT is done on a smaller bike and is not as comprehensive as a Direct access test, so you are limited in what you can drive. However passing the Direct access test gives you a full bike license with no restrictions at all.

There is also another test (that you are probably thinking of) where you take a test on a smallish bike and are limited to 125cc/33bhp for two years after you pass, after that point you aren't limited anymore, most seem to do the CBT and then go for the Direct Access though I believe, as it means you can move up to a bigger bike when you are ready, rather than having to wait a definate 2 years.

Ah, that would explain that then

 

[Dukat]

to loads of people then and they all agreed a 125 is a waste for someone who can go direct access, you'll get bored of it within a week and feel restricted.

All down to the person, but I admit there are times that I cant wait to get a bigger bike, I dont find it much of a problem most of the time though, tbh my CBR will do the speed limit easily

Yes there are times that I want to be going faster(like when you're doing 70 and still have a white van trying to mount you from behind heh ), but probably untill I've gotten a little more experience its a good thing to have restrictions.

 

[Alan]

Well im 32... I want a mans bike to write off hehe

 

[Haggus]

Full driving licence is equivilent to a CBT isn't it ? I know you can drive a 50cc with a full licence. My step father used to be really into his bikes, not bike bikes but perfermance bikes. He had something like 23 bikes in 3 yrs or something stupid. Anyway, since then i've been in love with them and I had a little 50cc to get around when I was 16 just before I could drive. I've always wanted to get a big bike but never found the time as I have a car now and it's just too practical for me.

You hardly get any respect from car drivers and there's alot of wankers out there that will swerve as you go past just because there arrogant twats so I think you should really think to yourself if you really want to get into that kind of stuff. Specially as a woman and I'm quite sexist with the hole woman man thing but I have reasons.

I think getting a small bike and working your way up is the best thing to do. You need to give it time though and if your going to get a clutch bike before you take your test ride up and down your road loads starting and stopping to get used to it.

Have you driven before or been on the roads with other cars ? Another major factor is you need alot of road sence, like if you can't see a trucks mirror's then he can't see you and your chances are he will swerve into you. People get really scared when driving esspecially new drivers and if you panic or hessitate your proberly already too late and on the deck.

I wish you best of luck and if you ever come near Chertsey tell me so I can stay off the road for abit

 

[Dukat]

Well im 32... I want a mans bike to write off hehe

Ah yea - having 15 years of road experience (give or take) on me would make a bit of a difference there

My dad has a GSX1100, riding on the back of that a couple of times was what started me off getting a bike - less than 3 weeks after I'd been on the back of that for the first time I'd passed my CBT and bought my bike


About a month after I'd first started riding I did a trip from middlesborough to norfolk, and that was one of those times when I could've done with something a bit faster, but even then, I think it would have been dangerous for me to be zooming about with so little experience.

Like I said, definately depends on you and your level of responsibility and confidence on the road(imo).

Good luck with the GSX though make a thread and let us know how you get on!

 

[Lollie]

If its just for zipping about town then go for the cbt imo. Done my cbt 2 nearly 2 years ago, have to resit soon so tempted to do a direct acess and get a bigger bike, currently on a honda CG125 which is fine for going to work and such but i cant use motorways on a cbt/L plates which is a tad restricting if i wanna go any where further afield. Bad weather sucks for biking tho

 

[Naetha]

Cheers for the advice guys, me (and Lee ) are gonna do our CBT together (and assuming we don't hate it) buy a 125cc bike we can both use when the other needs the car etc. We'll probably keep it for a while then reconsider if we're going to go on to direct access. If we both really enjoy it then we'll both do the DA and get sizeable bikes, but at the moment its a fun/convenience thing. We still have our car (and a good 7 years driving experience each) for going places in the wet/dark etc but will be convenient to have that second mode of transport for when one of us has an evening meeting or whatever.

 

[Dukat]

Cheers for the advice guys, me (and Lee ) are gonna do our CBT together (and assuming we don't hate it) buy a 125cc bike we can both use when the other needs the car etc. We'll probably keep it for a while then reconsider if we're going to go on to direct access. If we both really enjoy it then we'll both do the DA and get sizeable bikes, but at the moment its a fun/convenience thing. We still have our car (and a good 7 years driving experience each) for going places in the wet/dark etc but will be convenient to have that second mode of transport for when one of us has an evening meeting or whatever.

Hope you enjoy it


Also, just incase it helps, here is my old thread about which bike to get, now that I've been riding a bit I agree strongly with what throd said in that post, as I said I went with what he said and got a CBR125, never regretted that for an instant, great bike hope it helps

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

There's only 1 bike...
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

 

[Naetha]

Well gonna book our CBTs for a couple of weeks time then consider the situation after that. For the sakes of about £400 difference in insurance from CBT only to full bike licence, we might as well do our full bike test asap, even if we just go ahead and get something liek a Honda varadero 125.

Although tbh gifv Triumph Speed 4

 

[Case]

Update for those that are interested

(tumbleweed.....)

Both passed our CBTs yesterday - had an excellent time, and just won a 6 month old Yamaha YBR 125 with 90 miles on the clock on Ebay for less than £1200 (bargain!). Gonna do our DAS's as soon as possible (likely to be May/June time) and upgrade to a FZ6 and a SV650S when we pass. I wasn't that fussed about getting a 125, but for that price we can probably sell it on for a profit in 5 months time.

 

[Lamp]

I'm a biker

Used to be terrified of them and only drove a car

Now I'm inseperable from my bike

Do a CBT and start on a scooter with L plates

If you enjoy that, then take your full test and buy a motorbike

You need eyes in the back of your head on a bike. You can never doze off like you can sometimes get away with in a car. You're exposed to the weather - especially the wind and rain. You gotta watch the road surface like nothing you've done before.

End of the day - you'll only know if you like it by doing your CBT and biking around for a bit

Takes a while for your muscles to acclimitise to the riding position.

Only you can decide. Try or don't try it. Its not for everyone.

 

[Bugz]

Aiming to take my CBT when i'm 17 and buy a nice 125cc bike ^^

 

[Dukat]

Update for those that are interested

(tumbleweed.....)

Both passed our CBTs yesterday - had an excellent time, and just won a 6 month old Yamaha YBR 125 with 90 miles on the clock on Ebay for less than £1200 (bargain!). Gonna do our DAS's as soon as possible (likely to be May/June time) and upgrade to a FZ6 and a SV650S when we pass. I wasn't that fussed about getting a 125, but for that price we can probably sell it on for a profit in 5 months time.

Well done, nice one, glad to hear it!

So how do you like riding? I guess you must enjoy it if you've already decided to go for the DAS Good luck!

 

[Naetha]

Well done, nice one, glad to hear it!

So how do you like riding? I guess you must enjoy it if you've already decided to go for the DAS. Good luck!

Fucking loved it!

Picked up our new bike this afternoon and rode it home in the snow and howling gales (baptism of fire ftl ).

Got it home to find that we couldn't get it through our front door (we're moving house in 2 weeks, were gonna keep it in the kitchen just until we move and get a garage) and then had a mad rush panic trying to get somewhere to keep it overnight and ended up riding all over Leeds

Got somewhere safe(ish) in the end (at least its inside) and even though I was riding in 30mph crosswinds and driving snow, I fucking loved every minute of it! Oh, and heated grips ftw!

Pic of bike (not actual, but same style/colour)

Gonna get our DAS's booked for May/June time - we're both hooked Already planning our first trip out to Whitby/Scabby when we get big bikes!

 

[Thadius]

Pic of bike (not actual, but same style/colour)

!

Fucking chavvy guildleader! Which house did you knick that from?

And have you tried selling it for 50 quid down the local pub yet?

You just need your kappa tracksuits now

Matching ofc!

 

[Lollie]

wish i had heated handlebars. heard a rumour its ileagle to keep a bike indoors tho

 

[Infanity]

Aiming to take my CBT when i'm 17 and buy a nice 125cc bike ^^

Get a car its much better.

Drove a derbi gpr 50cc till i was 17 around at my dads, Never did get to bringing it up home though so only used it like once a month for a few days at a time, Was stil handy! ;d

 

[Dreamor]

Excellent posts guys, been thinking of getting a bike myself.

Naetha, let us know how you get on... and you to Alan!

 

[Naetha]

Get a car its much better.

It depends - if you get good all weather gear (and don't mind riding in all weathers), can't afford a car (or the insurance) and most of your travelling is short-mid distance (i.e. no more than 100 miles a day) then tbh a bike is going to be much better.

If you're 18 and have a full licence, getting a car is going to cost you the cost of the car, plus £1000++ for insurance for a year, plus road tax (£90), plus petrol (20-50mpg).

A bike is going to cost you the cost of the bike (generally a lot cheaper than a car for an equivalent in mileage and condition), insurance (unlikely to be more than £500), road tax (£15), plus helmet and gear (£200) plus petrol (80-100mpg).

Also if you live in London, you pay no congestion charge on a bike, toll roads are usually much cheaper or free for a bike (e.g. dartford crossing), and parking is usually free.

There's pros and cons to both sides, but if I was 17 again I'd go for the bike rather than the car, especially if I was on the same budget as I was when I was 17.