Noob! Biking basics, car/bike insurance overlap + other Q's

[jw191]

Noob alert!!

I've been toying with the idea of getting into biking for some time - was a keen cyclist when I was younger, and although clearly theres a big difference between motor and pedal power I know what fun can be had on two wheels.

Anyway, I'm afraid like most noobs I've got quite a few questions and no-one I know to ask so I'm looking to you guys for help. I've searched these forums but haven't been able to find answers to my queries so I hope you can shed some light (apologies there are rather a lot of q's)

1) I am pretty short for a bloke (5'8" to 5'9") and being perfectly honest I'm not particularly strong or heavy. I've been looking at the weight of full size bikes (500cc+ etc) and they seem typically to be 150-250kg's. Am I likely to get myself into bother with machines that weight that much? I'm fairly confident if I dropped a 200kg bike for example I wouldn't be getting it up again without some help!

2) I'm 24 and have a drivers licence (3 points and one claim thats about to close in my favour). Do car and motorcycle insurance policies overlap. For example will my 3pts for speeding in my car effect by bike insurance and vice versa? DO claims on one policy effect the other?

3) I know the range on insurance is likely to be significant, but if I were to buy a 600cc (70bhp), £3k, parked in a shared garage in Basingstoke, fully comp with above points what it likely to sting me - just ball park (e.g. less than or more than £500)

4) was looking at Ducati Monsters (probably a 620 or similar) - what are your thoughts on this for a first bike? I've heard they might be quite unreliable?

5) What mileage would you typically expect to get out of a bike, as 20k+ would seem to be high from the classifieds I've looked at?


Sorry theres a lot there, hope I'm not repeating other threads too much (I don't think I am). Cheers for any help you can offer.
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I'm new, don't hurt me!

[iooi]

1, your about average and a 600 bike, while not easy to pick up can be done without much strength..... I know i've done it... Once moving the weight is not a issue.

2, Points on your licence affect both. Claims affect ANY policy.

3. Hard to say, try a online qoute and see what you get. Too many things affect ins.

4, Mmm, well each to their own, but thats a lot of bike for a new rider. Better to stick to something a bit tamer till you get the hang of riding. Unlike a car where if you get it wrong you can bend metal off a wall on a bike its, well not the same outcome as body parts tend not to be so forgiving.

5, Bike milage is still low at 20K many people do that a year.....
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[deanoet]

Welcome to BCF


First step:
Get yourself booked in for a CBT at a riding school
You may not like it

That will give you an idea of how much bikes weigh and more importantly whether you like it or not, they will use a 125, probably the CG125 or the YBR125
Each one weighs about 110kg

It does feel heavy when you first take it off the stand, but after a while with it you stop noticing the weight

With the bigger bikes on my DAS i used a GS500, and apart from the initial "damn that is heavy" i noticed my CG being lighter, rather than the GS being heavier.


You dont have to be a body builder to ride a bike. Extra weight just makes them more stable in winds really. Apart from when stopped and pushing it around you dont notice the weight

My current bike weighs near enough 200kg, i am an average 28 year old bloke, bit out of shape and by no means an athlete. I can stand in front of my bike, and push it backwards into the shed up a small ramp with no effort what so ever. Even tipping it slightly left and right to get the mirrors through the door it isnt a problem



At 24 you will be able to do the unrestricted license, if you go straight to a bigger bike dont under estimate the power.
Mine is a 600, cost just over 3k, will do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 135mph.
Mine isnt a sports bike, you can get quicker, much quicker.

In short, dont become a statistic, if you cant trust yourself with that much power, dont get that much power to start with. In a car you are likely to hurt someone else if you crash, on a bike you are coming of very much second best

Factor in helmet, jacket, trousers boots and gloves into your cost as well.
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[jw191]

Cheers for the advice guys, I will book my theory test and then organise the CBT (you need the theory for the CBT?)

I'm pretty sensible (very sensible) as far a 24yr olds go (my first car was a rover 75 lol - which promptly blew up and was replaced with a C1), although I have a bit of a speed addiction which is a little concern. I'm pretty confident that I'll be sensible enough not to do anything stupid (although I'm not naive enough to assume I won't have an accident).

My main concern with a 500 or 600 at the moment is the weight rather than trusting myself with one, so I will organise some first hand experience.
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I'm new, don't hurt me!

[FerretFing]

[deanoet]

Yup, CBT first, about £100 using their bike and stuff, plus or minus a tenner or so

get that booked and if you like it enquire about DAS courses, they vary in price, i paid £375 for 3 days, test on 4th day.
if u are in the blackpool area i can recommend Raceways Rider training in fleetwood
(if not join your regional area down the bottom of the forums and ask for recommended ones)

Your theory test is £28.50 i think unless it has changed



Once passed get on a few test rides, see which bike you like, which one feels comfier for you. Test it on the roads you will be using it on, no point getting one that you dont like on motorways if your daily use is from london to edinburgh.

The choice of bikes out there is massive.
The general consensus is to get an older bike to start with, which doesnt have the expensive plastics on it so if you drop it when inexperienced it doesnt cost you a fortune.
It is of course your choice at the end of the day. No point getting a recommended bike that you personally hate

What the CBT Consists of
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[Bendy]

[apple tango]

I am 25, the same height as u, and weigh about 10 stone. I am a skinny bastard.

When i was looking at big bikes i was also concerned about the weight of them, as i am not strong either.

I ended up getting a Bandit 600, which i thought was bloody massive and would weigh a tonne.

But it isn't really a problem. I havnt dropped it (yet) in the space of 4 months. The only problem i have is if i park on a very slight slope and i have to push the bike backwards. Just gotta try remember to park the bike facing down the slope instead.

You will easily get used to the weight of any bike, in no time.
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CBR125 -> Bandit GSF600 '99 -> SV650 02

[faddius]

Bikes will last a long time. I remember reading an interview with a mechanic from Hondas design studio and when asked how long a typical motorcycle engine will last his reply was - "We believe that they should last as long as a car engine, but we have had little real life feed back from the consumer market, because most bikes are crashed and written off before 30,000 miles"
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Children in the back of cars cause accidents : Accidents in the back of cars cause children
Riding since OCT '05 - Sym Jet 50cc, Honda Varadero 125cc, Suzuki GS500, Honda VFR750, SV650s current & in posession of Aprilia RS125, Honda NS125R

[Barker-CBR 600]

[apple tango]

[tutton]

I probably do this wrong,
but in the space, on hills etc i park my bike

------------------
me here l
l
l
------------------

I park horizontally so my front wheel it touching the kerb?
leave it in gear, stand on, hasnt fell down yet?

Maybe im just silly haha
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Kal]

[ruffriders]

first day i got my bike i sat on it and the weight pulled me over i looked like a right mong trying to lift it in the i remembered watching a program and put your back agaist the bike and use your legs to lift up the bike then it sliped on my hands and broke the brake lever and indicator tryed it again and got it up woop cost me £60 to respray the fairing tho oops

[Kal]

I suspect you were using the wrong technique there rr

Article on lifting motorcycles
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[ruffriders]

well i did it that way and it worked but thanks for the reference if it happens in future proberly will

[Kal]

I'm not entirely sure what you said there...
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[rovens]

I wouldnt worry about picking a bike up. Im only 5'4" and 8stone, and i can quite easily pick my ER-6 up from the floor.

[jw191]

I went to a bike store at the weekend and convinced myself to book the CBT. Booked in on Sunday so will know if this is something I want to pursue thereafter
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I'm new, don't hurt me!

[deanoet]

Have fun on Sunday
You wont know till you give it a go

EDIT
You see any bikes you liked the look of while there?
Try sitting on a few to feel the weight of them?
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[jw191]

[kiers]

i wouldnt worry too much about the weight mate, youd be surprised how strong you are when youve got 10 drivers and a petrol station employee looking at you
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'but this wasn't any ordinary clio197.this was the SUPER DUPER version.
ooh i can't wait for the next instalment of superluke and his tales of skullduggery.' - lurker 27 sep 2008

[deanoet]

I can either get 1 full foot down on the hornet or tip toe it if i put both feet down.
Only time it has been a problem was back peddling it at a petrol station up a slight hill. Few pushes back, foot slips, back to the start again.


When you start your DAS on the 500 you will be surprised at how quickly the weight just disappears and you stop noticing it

I thought it was heavy in the car park just getting started, we rode 5 mins to a bigger car park to practise turns, and emergency stops and even arriving there it felt normal when putting my foot down, not heavy
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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