Doing Direct Access - bought a 125 anyway...

[dan0h]

Well, with CBT passed a few weeks back, and my Direct Access lessons well over a week apart (its a seriously busy school), I decided that with 125's being so cheap to own and run, I'd run two bikes My car is officially going up for sale soon - I'm committed to 2-wheels!

Of course, I can ride a 125 now, and was missing being able to practice between lessons, so I bought myself (despite some mixed reviews/opinions/experiences) an '08 Derbi Mulhacen 125, its a tidy enough little thing with 6000 miles, I gave just over £1k for it, which I'm happy with. I pick up on friday for a trial-by-fire first ever un-escorted 85 mile ride from the Midlands to Merseyside, via the A5 and A51.

I'm carrying on straight from CBT with Direct Access (done a couple of lessons now), which has been awesome so far, plan is that if I get through Mod 1 & 2 without issues, to find a nice SV650 or Aprilia Pegaso 650 as my "bigger" bike, and do my 3 mile commute on the little Derbi.

Exciting times
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CBT: 9/5/11 (PASS) - THEORY: 15/6/11 (BOOKED) - MOD1: ?? - MOD2: ??
Commute weapon: 2008 Derbi Mulhacen 125 (3/6/11)

[Hyaon]

I regretted buying a 125 as I was already in the big bike mindframe but it's your life As for selling your car....you planning on riding through the winter? where I live, that just wasnt possible with the ridicolous snow and I was glad I kept hold of the car...
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Mod2 Passed 30/03/2011!
CBF125>GSF650 Bandit K8>B-King 2008+R1 2002

[Nexus Icon]

Should be a good little bike. Is it the air cooled or liquid cooled 4 stroke engine in that? We had a Cross City (air cooled) and a Terra (liquid cooled) for a couple of years with zero problems, so you should be good either way.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[dan0h]

I'm committed to using the 125 to commute, and as soon as I get through with Direct Access I have some savings to buy a bigger bike, so when I get the urge I will have something more substantial to ride, and for when I want to ride for pleasure. For me the move to 2-wheels is financial in the first instance, I cannot justify paying double car insurance this year (which is what its gone to), its a happy coincidence that I am enjoying riding now! Thankfully my (3 mile) commute is all stop-start 20/30mph town traffic, so if anything a nice light 110kg 125 should be spot on

Thanks Nexus, its the same engine as the Terra, liquid cooled 4 stroke, I bought it as I did CBT on a Cross City 125, and found it quite a funky little bike, the other great positive for me is that my local bike dealer (2 minute walk away) are a Piaggio/Derbi/Aprilia dealer, so they assure me that the Derbi's are actually very little trouble (they use a fleet of them for CBT) and most issues are normally user error!

For winter months, I move over to Mountain Bike, hurts a lot less when it falls on me in the ice!
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CBT: 9/5/11 (PASS) - THEORY: 15/6/11 (BOOKED) - MOD1: ?? - MOD2: ??
Commute weapon: 2008 Derbi Mulhacen 125 (3/6/11)

[Rogerborg]

Pre-emptive tl;dr version of Teflon-Mike's inevitable novella:
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[sbeeland]

I'm doing my CBT on a coss city 125 with Aprilia Merseyside. Looking forward to it BIG TIME!!
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It's time for a bike

[dan0h]