Full licence and cheaper first bike?

[highwayrider]

Ok, now after doing my CBT I'm completely hooked on motorbikes. I'd like to get my full licence and no have to ride around on L plates, and being 22 I feel I kind of should get the A2 and not have a 125. I slave away part time on minimum wage, therefore I have to be really carefull with my money. I've only budgeted around £1200 for the bike itself and about £300 for insurance and tax.

Do I buy a half decent 125 and ride on a CBT, or do I buy a cheaper bike and get my full licence? Getting a full licence will cost around £400 I reckon, don't think you can get it any cheaper, so that'll leave me with £800 for my first bike. Jut wish doing the training wasn't so expensive.

What do you guys think?

[noobRider]

For what it's worth: Spend most of what you have on a reasonable 125 and insurance and get experience on it. Save something for parts and gas and do the training when you have more money coming in.
____________________
Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[esullivan]

[highwayrider]

I guess. Just fancied the full licence.

[highwayrider]

I don't have a car licence either, so a bike will be my only method of commuting over the summer. That's why I fancy a bigger bike than a 125, even if it's just a 250 or something.

[noobRider]

My son says he had most fun on a NSR125, until it blew up

Maybe do DAS when you're 24 (that's still do-able isn't it?)
____________________
Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[highwayrider]

I need the bike for commuting aswell as play. Tempted to just pass and get something like a 250cc superdream. They are not too expensive.

[highwayrider]

[Wonko The Sane]

I'm 29 and got my licence in december but I'm still on my 125 as I can't afford and don't want a bigger bike just yet (come summer i'd like a bigger bike)

if you stick with a 125 be picky about what you get so that it meets your needs, my vadaero was chosen as it's a bigger bike for its engine size which suits me well as I have long legs and it can do 70mph.
I do try and avoid motorways tho

as you're not old enough to do DAS you could do the highest test you're able to / can afford to on test centre bikes and then have a small bike for a few years getting a bigger bike in a few years time.

Apparently it's easier to ride a smaller lighter bike in current bad conditions than a larger heavier bike (the vadaero is good at this)

[reed]

I'd do the full test, i only have a part time job and i get on just fine
____________________
Generic XOR 50, Gilera SMT 50, GSXR 400 GK73A, Ducati Monster 600, Honda Hornet 600.
Sold. Stolen. Written off. Sold. Current.

[Shinigami]

[Shinigami]

[Rogerborg]

That's a tough one. Realistically, you should expect to spend at least £600 on getting licensed.

It's £121.50 just for the tests (and that hasn't gone up in years), plus training / bike hire costs of about £150 a day. So £600 only gets you 3 days including a test day.

You'll have to speak to the local training schools to see if they can do better, but don't expect miracles.

In your position, I might very well stick with a 125 and start saving up for going straight to A at 24. Sorry.
____________________
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

[reed]

Some training places are pretty good with the price, where i did mine, they gave me as much training as they felt i needed and then booked the tests for me, i paid £400 ish and that included taking the bike home with me, several days of training, and more training after failing for the first mod 2 attempt (stupid reason)
____________________
Generic XOR 50, Gilera SMT 50, GSXR 400 GK73A, Ducati Monster 600, Honda Hornet 600.
Sold. Stolen. Written off. Sold. Current.

[highwayrider]

These guys do a full course for £240 and they're very close to me.


https://www.hinckleyrts.co.uk/

[reed]

[Derivative]

[Fem1]

wow that's really cheap

[highwayrider]

[TheSmiler]

They are a none profit organisation hence why so cheap, Teflon will say more when he sees the thread but apparently are really good at teaching and well worth it for the money they charge.
____________________
CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[highwayrider]

Could I get a reliable bike for around £800 though?

[highwayrider]

I'd personally rather have a full licence and a £600 bike and than a £1000 125

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301164937719/sort/recpriceascdefault/usedbikes/cc-from/200cc/body-type/roadster%5D%5Dretro/cc-to/300cc/postcode/le102js/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

[Derivative]

You need a maintenance budget, by the way.
Amount depends on how bad SHTF, but I reckon a few hundred just so that you don't end up riding with dodgy tyres 'because you can't afford new ones' is a good plan.

Tyres, chains, oil, brake pads are all cheaper on the smaller bike, to start with. Fuel efficiency is also far higher (close to double).

Gear if you plan on falling off, too.

[highwayrider]

Yeah I have the gear already. I've got some decent leathers and have 300 aside for fuel and maintance. The instructor who I did my CBT with has said £400 all in, and he's a really good instructor, too.

[sidewinder]