Wow this kicked off! Just wanted to say thanks for the input everyone. Im still thinking the 125 and cbt route is better for me to begin with, not too fussed about top speed, and it's not going to be used for commuting. See how I go for a while and save up for the full test and a nicer bike. At least that way I can see if it's something I want to do more of. Wouldn't go for a sports bike, would be a cruiser/chopper style I reckon.
@boblo I'm 28.
Whatever you decide to do, enjoy it. It's great 8)
That way it's a win win, he gets to keep up to date on his NCD, you get to ride a bike, he gets to ride a bike again.Once you then decide biking is for you, get on with taking your test etc.
I think you'll find that riding without a licence invalidates any insurance, and claiming to be the licence holding mate is asking for a few weeks free b&b courtesy of HM.
I'd go down the CBT/DAS route, 2 reasons for his being
a - get off a 125 sooner rather than later. Being 6'2 I found them too small and totally underpowered for anything other than scooting round town (and granted they are pretty good for that) but not much else). But out of town, you'll want something more powerful and more comfortable.
b - motorcycles are dangerous and a week's course will help develop your riding skills before you hit the open road (hopefully not literally)
At 28 you should (hopefully) have the good sense to be able to control yourself.... I did the one week course, test on Friday, picked up 750 on Saturday. I'd never sat on a bike before the course. I was about your age then too (ahem, some time ago now).
125's are pathetic compared to bigger bikes. The fun is in the acceleration not necessarily top speed. On a 125 you don't really get that. You'll also get to bait the naysayers on here as well which is an added bonus 🙂
I think you'll find that riding without a licence invalidates any insurance, and claiming to be the licence holding mate is asking for a few weeks free b&b courtesy of HM.
It's a stupid idea for sure, but this is horseshit.
[url= http://www.southyorks.police.uk/node/1584 ]http://www.southyorks.police.uk/node/1584[/url]
I'm in the same boat, been planning to get a bike for years but never seemed to get round to it. Grew up around bikes and my family are mostly all been into bikes for as long as I remember (uncle was a motorcycle courier, still alive although he did go through something like 20 bikes)
37 now and it's generally the first thing on my mind these days. After an extensive chat with the girl who works in the local Suzuki garage she made it very clear that it's not Donnington out there, but it is what you make it.
My advice for what it's worth would be look at the [url= http://www.geton.co.uk/ ]Get On Scheme[/url] , lot's of good advice aimed at novices and you can search for places where you can go and have a go without any pressure to see if it's for you (generally round a car park....but you get the idea) and I believe it's also free.
for the nay-sayers that think it's all about sports bikes and wannabe Rossi and Stoners, the tide has turned towards the adventure bike market, in fact the most amount of new bikes sold last year were in this group.
If you go mountain biking, do you follow the herd or do you buy and use what you want? this is no different. And yes, get a donor card, but not because you'd be getting a bike, but because it makes sense.......you're just as likely to die from falling face first into a fry up.
Boba - Amen to that! 🙂
mmm moto guzzi griso se... nice
Kid brother had bikes all his life (works for Honda in Aus) yet I never bothered. Anyhoo, thought I'd surprise him on a visit down under, so did my CBT on a 125 and straight to direct access. Went along to dealership and bought a Monster, rode it for 3 years and now riding a Multistrada. Great fun, but only do about 3000mls a year (more on my pushbikes 🙂
Also done cornering clinics, been to track etc.
Agree with the comments above about the 'larger' bikes, the 500 on the direct access course was a breath of fresh air after the brief spell with the 125 - more stable, more comfortable, safer really.
My 2p. Have fun with whatever you do, and ride carefully. We all see a lot of eejits out there, remember you're on public roads.
I think you'll find that riding without a licence invalidates any insurance, and claiming to be the licence holding mate is asking for a few weeks free b&b courtesy of HM.
It's a stupid idea for sure, but this is horseshit.
Struggling to see why this is horseshit?? - the custodial bit, perhaps???
try the same logic for four wheels - does it work?
Or is it still driving whilst uninsured / unlicensed???
[b]stevewhyte - Member
Make sure you get an organ doner card and talk it over with the nearest and dearest for when they have to use it.[/b]
What a stupid statement, I have been riding bikes since I was 17 at the age of 18 I had a Honda CBR900F, I am now 51 and currently ride a 1000cc GPZ, in all that time I have never come off on the road, I have travelled all around Europe and have no intention of giving up bikes.
Bikes are perfectly safe as long as you show them respect and ride with in your limits.
Im 37 and I really fancy getting another small Learner Legal bike to potter around on. I cycle around to work etc right now but increasingly can't be arsed to pedal these days
Annoyingly though, I'll have to do another CBT as I got rid of my last bike when it ran out and never converted it into a test.
Get your CBT, get some experience but convert it to a full licence before you have to do it all over again
We all see a lot of eejits out there, remember you're on public roads.
This. Living close to the North York Moors and Dales I see a fair few idiots on the roads and they drive me up the wall. Still doesn't mean I don't want a bike and have thought about it on and off all my adult life. I just worry I would end up riding like a dick like so many I have seen in the past.
MF - try looking for the good, sensible riders. There's a LOT more of them but they are harder to spot as you don't notice them! 🙂
If it's just cheap pootling around you're after then i'd definitely go for 125cc to start off with. Ride through winter and see if you like it as the biking ideal changes somewhat when its pissing with rain and cold outside. Saves dropping a fair bit of cash on direct access to find out you only like riding a bike for 6 months of the year (unless your aim is only to use it when its fine outside). If you like it come spring do the full test. If you're only doing short distances then i'd have a look at a supermoto as an option, mine were great for nipping round London and imo is probably the most nimble thing should you need to avoid anything.
Unless of course the OP only wants to pootle about in summer in which case why bother trashing a bike by riding it through the salt and rain of winter and having a totally miserable time in the process?
fair weather riding isn't illegal you know
Nope never said it was, ride when and where you want. Merely suggesting that if his plan is to ride all year round then given that we are getting closer to winter it might be worth seeing if he actually likes it before dropping more cash on DAS where in reality a car would be a better option.
MF - try looking for the good, sensible riders. There's a LOT more of them but they are harder to spot as you don't notice them!
Actually I do notice the good riders - I can normally tell them by their road positioning, reactions to other road users and speeds relative to other traffic. And I don't *for one minute* think all bikers are idiots.
If you really want to just jump on a 125 then I say go for a trail style bike. Although a little slow on A roads a 125 is plenty to have fun up the woods and around a few bridleways 😉
edit: that is cheeky bridleways as adding the word cheeky makes it OK, OK?
Bikes are perfectly safe as long as you show them respect and ride with in your limits.
Whatever you say grandad. 😉
Anyone noticed how the OP hasn't replied yet and has not stated what type of bike he wants/is interested in swinging a leg over.
No pictures too, to inspire him, poor lad, no wonder he hasn't replied ;d
Err I've replied about 3 times? 😉
Ah I must have missed the ever enticing questions regarding 125's then 😛
Seriously, what height and weight are you and what type of bike would you prefer.
Custom, Sports, Supermoto, Enduro, Tourer etc...?
[edit] to point out the obvious, what's the BUDGET if you are serious as biking is a serious game to start with then it becomes better with age like a fine woman or is that wino. 😛
After my CBT ran out I got this: (You can ride it on a car licence)
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8284/7782532674_c4f022a78f.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/51529898@N08/7782532674/ ]232_16522361718_2607_n[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/51529898@N08/ ]Dancake2010[/url], on Flickr
Its only a little 250 and even With Performance tweaks like jetting/ filters/ exhaust wouldn't make it much past 60MPH. They are silly fun though - especially in the wet (wheel spacers are a must, however)
Safe? I dunno.
I replaced this with a 660 raptor but didnt have it long as it was knackered
6ft 3 and 12.5 stone. My plan to start with is cbt and 125, ride for a bit and see if it's for me, then get my test done. I want a chopper style bike of some sort, just for cruising about on. I haven't decided really what yet, it's still early stages! But I'd be saving for that (not a middle management I.T type!).
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-Lowrider-Chopper-GSX-600-/200805978630?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item2ec0f81206 ]Liking this![/url]
Buy a cut off and become a bro 😐
I bought my first motorbike at the start of the year and its been great, got it to save me some money on my commute , 23+ miles each way .... I did the CBT and got a 125 cc Honda Varadero .... absolutely brill bike and a good size compared to regular 125 cc ... its more than fast enough for me and I recently did some touring in the lakes with it with all my camping stuff and still got over 90 mpg over 600 miles !.... which im very happy with 🙂
will do my test when funds allow but for now its fine[IMG] 
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Nice, Stumpy. Looks like it should have a bigger engine than a 125 if you know what i mean. I like that!
Tom83, if you like that, [url= http://www.bikeexif.com/ ]prepare to spend more than a few hours on here[/url] (I've got a thing for Cafe Racers)
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Incidentally Stumpy, really like that Varadero, never seen one in that colour before
Boba, loving that third one, will check that link out. Cheers.
Lovely bikes boba
@boba fatt ..... it actually looks more bluey in that pic ...... it is the standard grey metallic honda use
My previous Cafe racer
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@stumpy_m4......well either way it's a nice bike. Been looking at the Varadero myself for commuting duties (15 miles at midnight) Cheaper than my car and probably more fun too
Boba Fatt - Member
@stumpy_m4......well either way it's a nice bike. Been looking at the Varadero myself for commuting duties (15 miles at midnight) Cheaper than my car and probably more fun too
Only issue Ive had is sticking brake pistons which have been a pain in the A**E !! ..... I rebuilt the calliper but still get sticking pistons now and then !!!!
Apart from that they are ace 🙂 ... and i always get 85-95 a gallon on my commute which is ace 🙂 .... if you want more Varadero advise , check out the Varadero forums .... loads of useful info 🙂
http://www.125varadero.com/forum2/index.php
