Hello all...newbie here!

[icespeedway.co.uk]

Morning all!

Having mulled over the idea for a few years, now approaching the ripe old age of 31, I have decided to go for my bike test (DAS probably), but would please like some advice from somebody far more experienced than me on the following...

- Is it actually worthwhile staying on a 125 for a year or so to get comfortable with general bikecraft and road riding?

- What is the best 'larger' (i.e. 500cc perhaps) bike to move on to after passing the DAS - i.e. most comfortable riding position, decent economy but still managing to avoid being altogether slow and boring!

- What will insurance be like at my age with my novice status?


Many Thanks!

Sherif
____________________
The World's only website dedicated to the World's most dangerous motorsport!

Ice Speedway UK - www.icespeedway.co.uk

[Rogerborg]

Heh, all of the above "depends".

I rode a 125 for a year by choice. Actually, between CBT and getting a bike, I rode a pushbike for a year as well to get my head around the idea of being invisible and never having right of way. I do believe that it was a sensible route, and I am serious as cancer about understanding that you won't be seen and you should be prepared to take responsibility for your own safety.

But... bigger bikes are just so much more enjoyable. It's not even the power or speed (most of the time :shify:) it's the stability and flexibility. Once you get on anything 500+ you're not going to want to get off.

Since we're blowing our own trumpets, I'm struggling to find much wrong with my GPZ500S as a first "big" bike. Cheap to buy (I swapped a Chinese 125 for mine), insure (£0 cost swap from the 125), run, plenty of parts, as quick as you'll need it to be on UK roads. But you can say the same for the CB500. Or ER5. Or GS500. I don't think there's a bad 500 twin, just pick a good 'un in budget and get grinning. Or a Divvy or an SV650 or a Bandit or an ER6...

Insurance, well, get a cheap bike, go TPO or TFPT with a big excess (and no intention of claiming) and you're looking at £100 or thereabouts at your age. Perversely, 125s can be more expensive than 500s to insure, particularly as you get older.

Whichever route you go, I would encourage you to start off on it. It really is a brilliant way to get around.
____________________
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

[Matt-]

i think it's worth it staying on a 125cc for a year but some people have very mixed opinions.

it's not all about " your good enough to pass the test " it's no good passing your bike test with no confidence or road sense, having a 125cc for a year or when ever you get to grip's with the road, will boost your confidence in so many way's, and you will have so much for knowledge on how to handle different situation's.

My advice would be get a 125cc for 6 Month's, and get some road sense