Got my first bike (need some tips)

[Yarri]

Hello everyone, i'we just bought myself my first bike which is Honda NSR 125 (1999). I didn't ride it yet as i'we got my CBT following Friday and i am still looking for a decent insurance company. Thing that is worrying me most is that majority of new bikers crash a lot on their bikes because they don't have much road experience, i am 17 and i never been on a bike before, when i get to start my bike in my garden it scares me all the time. I also got couple of questions:

1. This is a bike question, well it's not all hot and sunny now and i find it really hard to start my bike, i don't think it's a bike problem but it seems it just wouldn't start in the morning by simple press of the button, the guy who sold me this bike told me that i need to try to play with my choke which will help, i did as i'we been told and after 1-2 minutes of trying i get to start it 'sometimes' otervise i flood the engine. Anyway when i get to start it and run it for good 20-30 seconds and rev it a bit it's easy to start it with a simple push of the starting button. Can anyone give me some useful tips on how to properly start my engine without it getting flooded, for example how much of a choke do i need to open to get the best chances of starting it? (i'we been told something like half way up)
2. I do not have a proper bike cover yet but i am thinking of getting one as it rains a lot those days, can rain actually do any damage to my bike? (i meen some bad rusting ect)
3. As i said i am still looking for a good insurance company and it would be much better for me to pay monthly, i am looking for a Third Party/Third party fire and theft, norwichunion quoted me something like 910 pounds with excess of 170quid and further 80quid a month payment for 3rd party fire and theft. Prices are high for me as i am new to biking and only 17, may be someone know some good monthly payment insurance companies for 3rd party only? would be really nice

Sorry for making you read but it's really important for me
Cheers, Yarri

[stinkwheel]

Don't touch the throttle when you're starting the bike. Conciously keep your hand off it. I see loads of people twist the throttle slightly as they try to start their bike and flood it. They don't realise they are doing it. You shouldn't need to touch the throttle until the engine catches.

EDIT: Insurance-wise. Buy a copy of motorcycle news and phone round EVERY insurance company listed in it. This will take some time, you can play them off against one another. Occasionally one of them comes up with an amazing quote totally out of the blue.

[dransy]

www.rampdale.co.uk or .com is good for new bikers on 125's
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Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles

[Pops_D6]

^ what he said! My NSR was insured through Rampdale. Can't remember how much for but I know it was a lot cheaper than other quotes I got!
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Bikeless until we move and I decide what to get next!

[ncrn]

your nsr looks very similar too mine, is your choke just a lever that you pull out?

anyway the best way to get it to start i find is to put the choke on full, turn on the fuel line, turn off the kill switch (if its on) and press the start button for a second or too, normally the bike will then fire.

if its really cold it will sometimes try to die, you can stop that by using the throttle, but don't use the throttle till it starts running.

with regards to a rain cover, your bike will probably suffer without a cover, so it is best to use one.

and for insurance, get either a MCN, or a bike trader, or a bike mag, go to the back and there will be a hundred motorcycle insurers advertising, phone all of them, you will find the deal you want in the end.
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Past: 55 Sym Jet, 91 ZZR250, 03 NSR125R. Present: 97 ER-5.
https://www.nsr125.co.uk - NSR Owners forum.

[shorty]

Blimey, a well written, spelt and punctuated post by a 17 year old - don't see them very often . Wheres the karma button for that?

Would agree with stinkwheel in the sense that giving your bike throttle at this point in your ownership won't help, but as you get to know it you will figure out if it needs any throttle and how much to give it. I had an old Pug 405 that was a bitch to start until you had "the knack" and knew exactly how much throttle to give it and when!

What I would say would be to experiment with different choke settings until you find one that works. It's a long time since I've had a vehicle with a manual choke but from what a recall the best method is to start with a minimal amount and slowly increase towards maximum as you press the starter. I would be surprised if it would ever require full choke to start.

Covers are always good, rainwater won't do as much harm to your bike as salty roadwater but it's always better to keep it dry and warm!

Welcome to BCF!

Shorty
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Triumph Daytona 675 Triple
Triumph Tiger Sport 1050

[Yarri]

Thanks guys, i think i have now figured out how to start my bike even if it's freezing cold and rampdale quoted me quite a nice number

[smartwhitelig...]

Could also try www.moneysaving expert.com Jump to the insurance section. This guy gives great advice on how to try and reduce your insurance. I am in process of renewing my car insurance (bike not due 'til next year) but he also give tips on bike insurance too.

[i_am_tim]

iv just been through excatly the same insurance thing as you!

before you take up that offer give choicequote a call, they guarentee to beat any uk quote, if you elaborate slightly you can get a brilliant deal, got me down from £570 with ebike to £440
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previous bike: 2000 Aprilia rs 125 - SOLD

current bike: 2001 Yamaha R6 - sweeeeet

[Yarri]

By the way the other thing that worries me is a fuel tap, i just simply cannot figure out when it's on reserve and when it's on properly.

For example if to use 12 o'clock scale my fuel tap is off when the both ends are on 3 and 9 hours, from there should i turn all the way left or right to get it on proper fuel tank?

[ncrn]

if you are standing on the left side of the bike looking at it, you turn the tap right, it should be marked on your tap on off res, what ever is at the top is the setting you have chosen
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Past: 55 Sym Jet, 91 ZZR250, 03 NSR125R. Present: 97 ER-5.
https://www.nsr125.co.uk - NSR Owners forum.

[syl]

Ring all the companies in MCN. At least give the big ones a try (MCE, ebike, Bennett's, Carole Nash, MotorCycle Direct) and any that say they specialise in young riders. Play them against each other - let them know what your lowest quote so far is (and artifically lower it by £10 or so before you tell them too). Get some security fitted to lower the quote, but don't go overboard as it'll not lower it by much. You can pick up Alphadot, Smartwater or Datatag on EBay for about a tenner and that usually pays for itself a couple of times over. Get your full licence, that will help lower your quote - especially after you've had your licence for a while.

Yes, your bike will rust. It'll rust whatever you do but there are things you can do to help prevent it. Treat any rust that's already there. After riding in winter, wash the bike (gets rid of the salt the gritters put down). Use ACF-50 or FS365 on your bike.
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Current bike: Kawasaki Z750S