Is it worth it?

[Pacifier]

Hey guys.

Recently did my CBT and obviously want to get into biking.

Im 19, and at university. I just wanted some opinions on what you would all do in my situation.

I want a bike...ive wanted a bike for nearly 2 years now, but being in a home were they are frowned upon it wasn't until i had my independence and some money in my pocket (student loan ) that i could do anything about it.

If i were to have a bike, the commute to university is under 2miles one way.....beats the 25min walk. Then town ect, its all super close to my accommodation.

Basically asking you if it is worth it?

Its a pathetically short distance, in which a push bike could get me there in a decent time, while also doing exercise.

Also there is the cost. Ive got the gear (bought it for CBT, was on the cheap but nevertheless i got the gear). A non shiny bike will set me back £1k, going for a newish ybr/cg whatever i can get in budget, would love a bigger budget...but i cant. Then £350 or so for insurance, TPO/FT whatever is cheapest,

If you haven't worked out from my badly worded waffle above, im thinking of getting a 125. For the distance/running costs ect, and the fact im a noob, im sure a 125 will do me good.

What im worried about is the expense of the up keep of a 125, i am a poor student at the end of the day..... All this is pointing me in the direction of not getting a bike, saving my money.....

......BUTTT i really want a bike, and i dont think i can bare another 2 years (till uni finishes) to get a bike.


Help needed pl0x?


Cheers guys.

[gfrancisdev]

fiver for a litre of oil every 2000 miles, fiver for a can of chain lube (or just use engine oil) every 2000 odd miles, and probably a fiver for a basic set of spanners

then new tires, chain etc when needed, tyres being the most expensive (though that's 80 ish for semi-decent ybr tyres)
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ybr125(07 silver)-killed 2013/4/3 on some ice
ybr125(06 blue), KE100(89 green-black-puke)

[haroman666]

I'm a... Sorry, I was a piss poor student and I bought and ran a Bandit 400 which, if you don't know, has it's "quirks".

And by quirks I mean faults. And by faults I mean problems. And by problems I mean... You get the picture.

It wasn't so terrible that it spent more time in bits than time on the road; when it ran, it ran well. But in comparison to a CG/YBR; it cost me much much more.

Don't feel you have to justify getting a bike. If you want one, fucking get one!! Your budget sounds okay, perhaps a tad optimistic, but definitely not out of reach.

Go for it dude.
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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[J.M.]

No.

Get a bike if you want one, but I wouldn't commute 2 miles on it. Get it for enjoyment, if you can afford it.

Seriously, by the time you've locked the bike up at both ends, geared up and down at both ends and got the bike started, you could be at University already by push bike. The push bike is much cheaper to run and has less maintenance costs associated along with it. You'll also be unable to drink whilst at University, have gear to lug around with you and boil during the summer.

You'll almost be guaranteed to open the throttle during those 2 miles too, which will damage the engine considering that it isn't warm yet.

I personally have a bike and commute 5 miles on it. The engine hasn't really warmed up by the time that I arrive at my destination. Next year I'm living 1.5-2miles away from the Uni and I fully intend to walk/cycle instead of using the bike.

More money in my pocket, more comfortable at Uni and more opportunity to socialise with my friends without major forward planning.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Ayrton]

Im in a sort of similar situation as im going to uni next year and had to decide if its worth doing my full license and taking a bike with me, or selling my 125 and waiting until im sure i can afford it.
I decided after that there really is no point in having one in university. No point waisting all that money for a journey you can walk.
I used to commute for about a 2 mile ride a couple of times a week before and its not enjoyable at all. You will also probably take longer putting your gear on and warming the bike up before you set off, then chaining it up afterwards than you will riding.

Running costs for a 125 wont be too bad though. Tires seem to last a while if you dont go hard on them and petrol will last forever. £1k would get you a decent bike though, no need to spend any more, but decent bikes can be had for far less if you look around.

[Pacifier]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.


As i was intending to get the bike for the commute as well as the enjoyment/ride out prospects the news on the practicality side ect is a shame.

So ill get the pushbike for day to day sh!t, and use the bike purely for enjoyment....sounds good.


Thanks for all the good advice

[J.M.]

[Pacifier]

[haroman666]

[Ayrton]

[J.M.]

[Pacifier]

Top reply lads, i have a good 2k savings, and plan to work during my 2nd year (finishing first year as we speak ).

My parents are anti-bikes, so i won't be getting any funding off them, although there happy to throw money at driving lessons fuarkk dat shit.


I think that sounds like a solid plan, if i can get some money of parents (very unlikely) then it should go all smoothly this summer and ill have a bike.

A quick question, ill be back in London over summer, say i buy a bike, what address do i insure it under? my london address or university address? Or just address it to the london address and switch when i get to uni, i can just see lots $$ and hassle when i need to switch.


Again, thanks for the help.

[haroman666]

I've had my bikes insured at my home address.
I believe you're meant to have the bike insured to whatever address you're living at even if for 8months.
If they ask why you were in wherever you are, just say you were visiting a mate.
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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[Pacifier]

[Teflon-Mike]

No
If you cant make up your own mind... then No.
If you wanted it enough..... you'd have done it.
You wouldn't give a flying fuk what we thought.
Only person that can tell you whether anything you do is 'worth it' is YOU!
So answer your own question, kid.
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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?'

[Pacifier]

[AaronCooper]

To be honest, it depends on what other things it allows you to do.

If you get in a relationship, do you really want to catch the bus to hers or vice vera?
You can stay out later without worrying if you'll miss the bus.
You can go to a gym, etc which would normally be out of the way from your daily commute.
You can start towards your no claims now so you'll make savings in the future (you said biking was for you).

There are a lot of benefits you get from being mobile, those are just a few. If the weathers nice, nothing's stopping you from walking or taking the push bike, however when it's raining the quicker you can get home the better.
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Honda CG 125 04' Blue

[Teflon-Mike]

[Shinigami]

if you're just using for the 2 miles to uni then just get a bicycle,

If you plan on using it for fun and riding further afield, get a busa
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[PaulS]

For 2 miles I would rather walk instead of push bike. Safer, little concentration needed, means you can think over your life, what you have planned for the week, listen to MP3 player etc. - and still won't take long to get there.

Push bike will do 2 miles very quickly for when you're in a hurry.

You could get a motorbike for weekends and journeys further afield if you want to though.
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CBT: 16 Feb 2012.
Theory: 2 Sep 2013 - failed the *#!@ Hazard Perception!!
2012 Yamaha YBR 125 (5 Apr 2012).

[redAnt]

[haroman666]

[Teflon-Mike]

[yaigi]

Don't spend your student loan on a bike, you need it for your rent. And if you think you'll just get a part-time job, prepare to fuck up uni. Speaking from experience Had to split my final year over 2 years because I took on a job to pay my rent cos I blew my student loan on a kick arse car stereo system and shoes

Especially if you're only planning on commuting 2 miles - someone has already mentioned, by the time you have got all your stuff on/off you would have been there already.

Personally I'd see what you manage to save after all your rent, food etc. is paid and take the slow route into getting a motorbike.
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What would you do in life, if you knew you could not fail?
Currently own - Fazer 600, 2000, Red. (But no riding as baby on board atm)

[haroman666]