Another new rider thread - Passed :D

[bacon]

Hey guys, im 24 and been driving for 6-7 years. Decided i want to get a bike! I've never even sat on a moped before so everything is new to me.

Iv booked myself for a cbt on the 20th january, then my theory test a week after that. then ill be looking at the DAS shortly after assuming everything goes well.

Bike wise i was hoping to get something like a bandit 600 (with fairing) or a fazer 600, good choice? what are the alternatives?
Im fairly short, 5ft 6", hopefully it wont make too much difference. Am i on the right track for a decent do everything first bike?

As for protection, helmet ill do as suggested on the threads iv read here, get a good fitting one over anything else. Are there any particular makes to avoid? i dont mind spending £200 or so, more if necessary, to protect my head.

As for leathers, again any manufacturers to avoid? Any to reccomend? Dont mind spending a total of say £4-500 (again more if necessary) for jacket, boots, trousers and gloves, rather buy new, just want to protect myself as much as possible for when or if i come off (more likely than not!)

but yeh, heres to my first post, and in just over a week my first go on a bike!

Cheers guys

[Itchy]

Fazers are good but the old ones based on the thundercats are better than the newer ones based on the R6, bandits are also good but the fazer is more of a missile, both easy to maintain..

Though you might want to put some crash bars on them though as fairing is expensive to replace and you WILL drop your bike.

Leathers HG is good and currently doing 2 piece leathers for <£200 avoid like the plague:

Dainese / Alpinestars, single stitching (last time I looked) weak zips thin leather non reinforced areas , fashion over form tbh.

Helmets anything that fits well I wear for commuting a plant pot Nitro and for weekends a shark RSR2I race. which is light very and pointy ,


Oh don't forget the ear plugs either 20p a set prevent you going deaf and are reusable if you are cheap skate like me.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[arry]

hi mate

Bandit's are a bit cheaper than fazers nowadays - mate of mine got a really clean 98 teal 600S with about 20k on the clock for £925!! Bargains to be had. They're a good bike, a bit heavy but you will get used to that - they are well balanced and pretty quick too, and they sound nice IMO

As for gear - for leathers, check out Hein Gericke stores; they've often got a sale on, i got a set of their leathers for £170!!

Helmet - just bought a HJC for £70, with removable lining, decent vents, chin wind protector etc - pretty light, and well made. That's where I'd start personally.

Boots - I've just learned they're NOT cheap. Buy right once and they'll last you, I spent £110 on a pair of Bullsons from Hein Gericke - well made, protective and reasonably waterproof.

Best of luck with the CBT etc

[bacon]

cheers for the advice, i assumed dropping the bike will be an inevitible event hehe

will look more serously into the bikes once i have the cbt out the way, for now ill stick to cruising autotrader, anywhere else good for looking?

couldnt find Hg leathers, maybe im not looking hard enough! will check out Hein Gericke stores too

thanks! im hoping the cbt will be a breeze once iv gotten the hang of everything, then roll on the DAS

edit: Hein Gericke is HG by any chance? noob error

[ajb]

Once you've done the CBT and have established you like being on a small two-wheeled vehicle as opposed to in a metal cage, then get yourself the gear you need and bike. (pointless spending hundreds on gear only to find out you hate it).

Textile clothing is probably better and more practical to begin with.
____________________
CBR125R '05 > CB500 '00 > CBR600F '99

[arry]

[arry]

[bacon]

[ajb]

[Itchy]

[tutton]

[Jaloopa]

What I heard about leather/textiles is that leather will slide further before it's ruined but textiles will stop you sliding sooner.

I have a leather jacket and textile trousers
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mattsprattuk wrote: but at least the lifan could do like 104mph in 3rd gear

[bacon]

spoke to a friend of mine today, who has been riding 3 years, previous to his cbt/DAS he had never ridden a bike, his instructor suggested he get a cbr as he wouldnt want or need another bike for years. he still has the same bike (cbr600) and hes dead happy with it. He just took it very easy while he got used to it and built up his experience

He has suggested the same to me and i like the idea off to fowlers today to have a look at everything and drool

i think i will get a leather jacket, gloves, boots and trousers, maybe an extra pair of textile trousers for short trips. would that be a good plan?

really cant wait to get this cbt, theory out the way and get my DAS done!

[CaNsA]

HG have a cracking offer right now, buy the jacket and get the pants FREE!!!!!

CBR600's are great bikes, i have a mate on here who has one and he has done miles and miles on it as he goes to wales to see his folks every weekend.

As with all bikes, make sure its the right height for you, and keep on top of maintaining it.

As for what gear to get,
I have textiles for the winter and commuting, planning on getting leathers for the summer and weekend hoons. Get an extra back protector as the ones that come with jackets are usually made of cheese or bread.

Oh yeah, dont skimp on boots. Even though i spent 40 squiddies on my Nitro boots at the NEC show and they are really good, really water prrof and very warm. While im freezing my cock off, my feet are toasty and warm.

Gloves - get some with armor on the knuckles as they help to deflect the wind chill from your hands.

Get heated grips aswell. Hook them up to you brake light so they switch off when u turn the ignition off.

Good luck matey
Peace out

[bacon]

went to fowlers, cbr600 was fine for height, seems a low bike. i want one haha

Had one of the lads show me pretty much everything, he was really helpful. He showed me some weise leather/textile mix jackets (psycho?) and trousers as well, comes to about £250 for the pair. waterproof etc but looked shit hot. Anyone have any experience with these? as good as all leather for protection?
Was going to go to HG store as i was in bristol anyway, but i couldnt be assed with the traffic, tho i need to have a look by the sounds of it if i can get a 2 piece for less than £200


tryed on some helmets, shoei ones felt good, arai felt amazing. Chaser was a perfect fit, found some on the net for £275 to £235 depending on the patterns on them. bargain, must be last years?

also looked at some leather gloves with the knuckle armor like you suggested, they felt quite stiff, tho very comfortable, think it was some weise ones again. some weise textile gloves there with the knucle pads too, but seemed less protective.

anyway, my findings of today!

[bacon]

ok completed my CBT. I was back at the bike shop getting my certificate stamped by 12.15 and it started at 8.30

he said he would have given me the nod much sooner but you have to be on the road for 2 hrs compulsary, but yeh he was very happy with my riding and booked me in for the DAS friday feb 13th, 14th, 15th and test the monday 16th

welll pleased

edited

[Kal]

https://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/Kal_hybrid/Bike/Gear/100_0812.jpg

60mph body slide down a crash barrier. Fishermans jumper underneath was unharmed and I didn't even get a bruise. Quality leathers for the win.
____________________
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

[arry]

[bacon]

[bacon]

anyone ever used biker bargains?

https://www.bikersbargains.co.uk

I want to get the arai chaser helmet after trying some on, this one fits perfect, and its £100 cheaper here than in my local fowlers/ HG store. Slightly worried about shipping and whether it will take any damage, anyone bought helmets online before? or from biker bargains?

cheers

[Roachy]

I have just bought an Arai Chaser and it was shipped direct from Phoenix as the shop had none in stock (it's an XS in the Frost Grey).

It cost £299.99 (with "free" extra visor, visor bag and helmet bag) because Arai (or Phoenix) have just put their prices up yet when it arrived it's stamped Oct 2006 on the chin strap.

I've complained to the shop who are willing to refund in full and Phoenix who have said because I don't race it doesn't matter.

I understand a helmet has a shelf life of up to three years but I don't expect to be receiving new stock direct from the UK distributor and for it already to be well over 2 years old!

I expect being an XS has something to do with it but surely they have an idea of how many sell and order accordingly.

[bacon]

think i might try for a discount in store then, might cost £60 but sounds like it could be a better idea

I also keep finding that leathers jackets, the neck part always seems to dig into my throat if i lean forward as if sitting on a bike, i really want leathers over textiles, and will wear a waterproof over suit if necessary, just the fit around the neck seems uncomfortable on a lot of HG and weise jackets i tried

oh and put a deposit on a bike, pick it up saturday! £2450

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2001-HONDA-CBR600-FS-1-SPORT-BARGAIN-CBR-600-SPORT-L-K_W0QQitemZ330300530000QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycles?hash=item330300530000&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A7|39%3A1|240%3A1318

insurance £315tpft (nearly 800 for fully comp, 300 compulsary excess) with my buddy on it as a named rider as hes riding it home for me, not so bad

[bacon]

little update for any interested

passed my theory today, revised yesterday reading the highway code book and a dvd my cbt instructor lent to me for the hazard perc, the motorcycle related questions weren't in the highway code book, from what i can tell, oh well, luckily common sense got me through it, easy enough tho

so the last stage is the DAS in 2 weeks or so time. I have the bike in the garage and im in love with it, really cannot wait to pass test and get on it

bought some leathers the weekend, went into HG, tried loads on, the 2 piece for under £200 unfortunately had none in my size for the trousers so i had to skip them, the rest of the HG range felt really stiff at some place or another, dug into my wrist, guess i have short arms, i couldnt find any trousers to fit tightly to me either (as well as only being 5ft 6, im only 10stone so quite thin in comparison to most filled out adults).

Went through plenty with no luck and ended up trying on some arlen ness gear, man this stuff is so comfortable, ended up buying a set of leathers, it was expensive but im happier being 100% comfortable instead of buying something cheaper that doesnt fit perfectly and rubs at my wrist (short arms i guess), got some HG 5 fingered winter gloves too

dead pleased! tho slightly skint, just a helmet left and the DAS to pay for and im all good, someone give me a loan ?

[issey9090]

[bacon]