How long does learning take? what motorbike storage?

[jibelli wobble sock]

Hello

How long would it take to be able to drive 70mph on fast roads?

I am not really interested in a 125 bike because I would want to travel on fast roads and i do not want the hassle of selling the 125 bike to get a faster one.

I am a complete beginner, never really been on a bike. I am in my mid 20's. how long would all the tests take concerning booking the tests (waiting list?), sending off for paper work, doing the theory etc... are we looking at 1 month or 2 months?

part 2 of my post

if 125's can travel on dual carriage ways, then that sounds good. would it have to be an expensive 125?

i have a few more problems. storage. i don't have a garage or access to the back garden. i live in a decent street but i assume keeping your bike outside the front door is a no no? i have a front study room with double doors, but there are two small steps up to it.

can someone break down the prices for me?

so far i know cbt is £60 -100
intensive courses can cost about 400
clothing will cost about 1000

i have been looking at metal bike sheds but they look too big for my front drive/garden. i can't find a small one like my friend has and i can't find plastic ones either. this seems like a very expensive option where my 125 would cost 500 or my more powerful bike costing around 1000£

[Kingstondavo]

If you already have a provisional license then you can do it in under a month...

If not add another month for some DVLA fucking around.

Many will say it's not the right route, but I went from never having ridden to full DAS (unrestricted) test pass in 3 weeks from the day I passed my theory test, 5 weeks from the date I booked the theory test.

Cost was about £700 for CBT, 5days DAS training and all test fees.
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Current Ride - 2010 Hornet 600

[Englishman]

I did my CBT in October 11, the first time on a bike. Theory test a week later and could have had the full license on Nov 21st, but failed mod 1 and sturggled to get a retake slot until Dec 7th or so. Passed mod 2 on Dec 13th.Basically 6 weeks from motorcycle virgin to riding my 650. Not long, and have been learning and practicing ever since.
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[Dazbo666]

I went from zero bike experience thru to theory test, CBT, practical lessons, and DAS test in a very short time too...
(although I'd had a car licence and a number of years of road experience before that)
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Englishman]

[Sako]

won't take you long going down the DAS route as others have said aready.

[bikertomm]

[Rogerborg]

Book your theory test tonight. Start calling round local training schools to see when you can get a CBT booked. After that's it's down to when they have pre-booked test slots (and an instructor to chivvy you to them) available. The actual training can be done in a few intensive days.

Just keep your head and understand that your real learning begins on your first solo ride, whether it's with L plates and a CBT, or a fresh A license.
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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

[Recluso]

You don't HAVE to do DAS in order to ride something capable of hitting 70+.

If you've never ever been on a bike before, then you might want to consider going the restricted route. My XJ6 is restricted to 33bhp and trust me, it's got no problem climbing up to 80+. The last thing you want to do is end up as another 'R1 in a tree' statistic by doing a completely unrestricted license just because you *can*. You might prove to be Rossi reborn, but as a complete newbie, it's NEVER bad to consider crawling before you try running.

I'd also consider seeing if you can find one of these 'get on' sessions or see if any of your local instructors do a taster session. You might find you don't even enjoy it which is the last thing you need if you throw x amount of thousands of pounds at something.

Get your license sorted (if you haven't already and get your theory done ASAP as that's valid for 2 years. Whilst you're waiting, like others have said, ring around and see what's available in your area.
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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[Teflon-Mike]

[jibelli wobble sock]

if 125's can travel on dual carriage ways, then that sounds good. would it have to be an expensive 125?

i have a few more problems. storage. i don't have a garage or access to the back garden. i live in a decent street but i assume keeping your bike outside the front door is a no no? i have a front study room with double doors, but there are two small steps up to it.

can someone break down the prices for me?

so far i know cbt is £60 -100
intensive courses can cost about 400
clothing will cost about 1000

i have been looking at metal bike sheds but they look too big for my front drive/garden. i can't find a small one like my friend has and i can't find plastic ones either. this seems like a very expensive option where my 125 would cost 500 or my more powerful bike costing around 1000£

[Themightyimp]

Instensive courses can be £600 plus.
I paid £600 for my DAS course.

[recman]

As far as storage goes, it looks as though your only options may be to go for an alarm, a decent cover and a ground anchor + substantial chain and lock.

[jibelli wobble sock]

[jibelli wobble sock]

A ground anchor, my drive is a paved with bricks, this could be a problem?

[kernow24]

[Rogerborg]

[jibelli wobble sock]

that is surprising. just to double check what you said - if I buy a more powerful bike than a 125 it will be in total cheaper to buy the nice back AND to insure it than it will for the 125? saving maybe £100?

a bucket of cement sounds like a brilliant idea, how big of a bucket would be needed? a regular sized cleaning bucket? i suppose one of those could be dragged away but would make it more slightly more difficult

[Rogerborg]

[Teflon-Mike]

In the 'Big-Bike' world, there are a lot more bikes, and a lot fewer people qualified to ride them, so more choice and more realistic prices.

Bigger bikes also tend to be more durable; they are not engineered down SO much to a minimum weight or price, BUT more 'sophisticated' they are, then the more expensive they tend to be to maintain.

Insurance wise, 125's are loaded, becouse they are ridden most often by no-nothing inexperienced numpties, who crash a lot!

For me, my CB750 is actually cheaper to insure than the DT125, Same Rider, Same address, Same security, Same value.

But there are no hard & fast rules; some more sporty or desirable 125's will be a LOT more to insure than many bigger bikes, but then many bigger bikes will in turn be more expensive than them.

You have to compare apples and oranges!

Eg: an Aprillia RS125, is a hot snot sports two-stroke, that de-restricted can deliver about 28bhp. It's MPG is dire, and uses expensive two stroke oil on top, and has service intervals about the same as my 750, where instead of replacing the oil filter... book says to replace the piston! Ie its NOT a cheap bike to run!

A Suzuki GS500, is a pretty mundane, four-stroke middle-weight commuter. Delivers 45bhp as supplied, but easily restricted to 33bhp for restricted licence holders. Its not a very inspiring bike to ride, but its faster than a de-restricted RS, and a lot more comfortable, and cheaper to look after.

Both these bikes fall in insurance group 7, but quotes on GS's usually prove it to be a LOT cheaper to insure.

Quote on a ZX6R, a full fat 100bhp 600cc Sports-bike, and NO, it wont be cheaper to insure than the Aprillia RS.

Yamaha YBR125, is a regulation Learner-Commuter, I think its insurance group 3, and fairly 'reasonable' on insurance, so stepping up from a quote on one of those, chances are, the 'like for like' GS500's insurance would be higher... but probably not much.

Roger, having just lost the restriction on his 33bhp licence and stepped up to a 500 commuter twin, is rather mourning having done it the long way and served his time on a 125, then a 33bhp machine, rather than doing DAS and getting the 500 straight off, and that is SORT of where he is leading you with these comments.....

I STILL Say, get a 125, as your starting point and use it to LEARN something.

They are NOT toys; and they are great teaching aids. They demand a lot of the rider to get the best out of them; and in THAT they are very very good at instilling GOOD basic machine control and balence, and a bit of 'road sense'.... when you cant 'blast past' you HAVE to look around you for whatever idiot is trying to KILL YOU and be ready for them!

Dont mean you cant 'do DAS' to get your licence... but even THAT doesn't have to be an expensive Intensive DAS course.

DAS is merely two provisions of the RTA that allow a provisional licence holder over 21yrs, to ride a bike over 125cc on L-Plates IF under supervision of card carrying DAS instructor, and to take self same tests for self same licence (jkust without 33bhp restriction) on same big-bike.

You DONT have to do a course, you could, if you have a car with an insurance policy that provides 'any vehicle' 3rd party extension, and a 'mate' with a 750, who could pillion you to the test centre, give you a letter of permission to show the examiner with your car insurance cert, and attach L-Plates to the bike while you were in teh waiting room, test under DAS on that....

So get a 125, DONT RUSH, remember?

Book some lessons to 'dress' your riding early on, and get yourself on the learning curve. Every Hour of lesson in your first month is worth a DAY a year later... simply becouse you learn the RIGHT stuff, right at the start, and if you have frequent short lessons, there is chance to dress and coirrect mistakes before they become habbit, or get you hurt.

You can then 'practice' what you are tought to your hearts content between lesons basically for petrol money. If you Do-DAS, big chuink of what you are paying for is MERELY for the hire of a big-bike, and an instructors time to fullfil legal requirement to 'supervise' while you wobble about..... and you could be doing that on a tiddler for pence.

Once you have the basics 'nailed'; have your Motorcycle Theory in the bag, and are ready to take Practicals THEN you can choose whether you want to do it, on your own 125, for just the cost of the tests, OR if you want to take a lesson or tow to 'Convert' to a DAS bike, and test under DAS.

Make THAT decission when you have to, not before. 125 as said is capable enough for what you need, and time spent getting to grips with one is TIME WELL SPENT, and verry ecconomical time too.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Rogerborg]

[_Iain_]

How long would it take to be able to drive 70mph on fast roads?

48 hours with a boggo 125 commuter. It scared me quite a lot so i diddnt do it again for quite some time (a few weeks..)

If you were a bit of a loon with more money then sense im sure you could do a CBT and the same afternoon be twatting it around on a derestricted RS125/Mito at somewhere around the 100mph mark.

My betting is that you get out on the road on the 125 that isnt quick enough for you, open the throttle for the first time and shit yourself somewhere around 30mph.

Bit of a silly question realy!!

so far i know cbt is £60 -100
intensive courses can cost about 400
clothing will cost about 1000

Try again,

Cbt 110-160
Intensive course can cost over 1k
Tests £31 theory, £15 mod1 £78 mod2 or thereabouts.
Clothing is a case of how much you want to spend. minimum is about £20 for a bargain basement lid. £400 saw me a lid, full leathers, boots and gloves, whereas with some brands £400 wont even see you a jacket!

i have been looking at metal bike sheds but they look too big for my front drive/garden. i can't find a small one like my friend has and i can't find plastic ones either.

Ground anchor, wall of the house, big fucking massive chain, very loud alarm. Sorted. Look at hein gerickes website for prices, but a ground anchor/decent chain can be had for £100. Alarm fitting, DIY off ebay £15, fancy dealer fitted datatool £350+
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340