Cost for an 18 year old to take up riding?

[andy.]

Hi there, I’m new to the forum so I’ll introduce myself first as Andy.

I’m currently 18 and I’ll be heading off to university later this year. I’ve always been interested in motorcycles but didn’t expect I’d take up riding until I was a fair bit older, however, because of the incredibly high prices for a young car driver (I have a full car driving license) it seems that it may be something that I’d benefit from doing earlier.

My question is, how much should I expect it to cost me from having no experience to passing my CBT and riding an taxed/tested/insured bike?

I’ve seen a few “learner legal” bikes for around about the £700-800 mark (Honda NSR125’s etc.) and third party fire & theft for around about £600. Are these reasonable prices for a first bike? Being a student I won’t have a lot of money, but I don’t mind having to save up for a bit longer if it means I can afford a better-quality bike.

On top of this, how much would necessary extras (helmet/gloves/jacket etc) come to? And would you say it’s worth learning how to ride at this age?

Thanks for any help,
Andy

[DiscoBiscuit]

Hi, I'm 18 and currently riding a 2005 XR125 but have just purchased a NSR125 too.

CBT cost me £120 with bike hire.

I paid £900 for my XR125 with 7k miles. Insurance last year (@17) was £435 TPO. After 1 year with 1 years no claims it has dropped to £210.

I can get insured on a NSR125 JC20 for £220 TPO with a non fault accident declared and 1 years NCB.

I think tax is £16?

As for gear I bought a helmet new (half price for £60). Expense is not everything, fit is.

There's lots of good, cheap gear on ebay. It is second hand but I'm prepared to wear someones old stuff for the massive saving in price.

Hope that's some help to you, Ollie.

[kerr]

Honda nsr's generally have a good reputation, the more sensible option would be a cg or similar.
Your looking at £120 -£140 ish for cbt.
As for gear, how long is a piece of string? i got my first kit fairly cheaply on ebay, all non branded stuff, 50 quid helmet, 60 quid jacket, 50 on trousers, 50 on boots and around 25 on gloves, i just got lucky that they all fitted me.
Best way is try on a lot of stuff in a bike shop to see what fits then see what you can grab on ebay second hand.
Just bear in mind bikes need a lot more attention than a car
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[TallPaul_S]

I'm in a similar situation to you, only a few years older

The Honda NSR125 ain't learner legal AFAIK.

as for total cost, you're looking at around £1500 minimum.

£800 bike (minimum)
£120 CBT
£200 for gear (again, minimum if you buy used jacket etc, DO NOT buy a used helmet)
£100 Security (again, mimimum - big almax chain for at home - you'll need that in a university city, 125's are very desirable to thieves)
£100 first insurance payment, if you're going to pay monthly
Then bits and pieces, like a water proof rucksack, extra visor (clear aren't great when it's sunny), bike cover, etc. They all add up.

I'm doing my CBT Thursday, won't be a month or 2 until I get a 125 but I'm looking to pay about £1k for a decent nick one, the ones under that tend to need some work/be in dodgy condition. Then kit I'll probably end up spending about £700 on (as I'll be doing the full bike test after 6-12 months on the tiddler and commuting in all weather on it I want decent kit), then insurance for the year of about £180 (32, zero no claims, 6k miles pa - the benefit of being old(ish!)). So about 2 grand all in.

[MC]

[andy.]

[MC]

Yeah, you'd be better off finding a restricted bike than trying to restrict a de-restricted one. Not really my area of expertise, but doing things like replacing an aftermarket exhaust for a standard one seems a waste.

You could always ride a derestricted bike, it's just risky if you have an accident & your insurance company refuses to pay out, or if your unlucky & get stopped by the one copper who actually knows about bikes. Your only a year away from being able to do your A2 license anyway so it's probably not worth it.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Lupo]

A few links that I have been hoarding regarding equipment, credit to the original posters that they know who they are.

Helmet:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nitro-F341-VN-DVS-Flip-Up-Front-Motorcycle-Motorbike-Crash-Helmet-4-colors-/321233923888?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Helmets&var=&hash=item4acb08af30&clk_rvr_id=536976715803

https://www.lidsdirect.co.uk/helmets/clearance-helmets/hjc-fs-11-emblem-white.html

Cannot find the one for the Spada jacket so full textile:
https://eviron.co.uk/product/black-hi-viz-textile-suit/

Trousers:
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/120410

https://www.ghostbikes.com/products/GhostBikes.com-Brands-Black-trousers/5063-black-hazard-motorcycle-trousers.html

Gloves:
https://www.spadaclothing.co.uk/productdetail.php?subcat=26&cat=4&product=563&productname=Blizzard%202%20WP

Boots:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/black-leather-motorcycle-boots

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austrian-Combat-Boot-para-boot-Latest-Generation-superb-quality-paratrooper-/130915433539?pt=UK_Men_s_Shoes&var=&hash=item1e7b2afc43&clk_rvr_id=545150381302

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GORETEX-PRO-BOOTS-BRITISH-ARMY-GRADE-1-ALL-SIZES-/300697411282?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&var=&hash=item4602f65ed2&clk_rvr_id=589908458353

I personally saved those links as they were a good compromise between quality and price, quality being dictated by the personal experience of people in the forum.
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A por ellos, que son pocos y cobardes.

[MC]

Was it the dolomite jacket? https://www.ghostbikes.com/products/On-Road-Gear-Motorcycle-Jackets/1646-spada-dolomite-textile-motorcycle-jacket.html
Note that Spada quality can be a bit hit & miss.

If I had to buy another helmet right now I'd go for one of these: https://www.ghostbikes.com/products/On-Road-Gear-Motorcycle-Helmets/2671-caberg-v2-407-hell-racer-2-motorcycle-helmet.html
Depends on if you want a flip-up lid or not, Lidl currently have some stuff in (with a flip lid for £40) and Aldi will have some stuff from this Sunday.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[simonjb]

I've ridden my bike for nearly 10 months now, taking it to uni with me in September! Bike itself was £1200, but it's in immaculate condition. I managed to get my CBT with hire for £115, I spent more on the gear than I could have because I let the guys at streetbike talk me into it. Helmet was ~£100, but it's a shark so super comfortable and great quality, can't remember how much the jacket was but probably around £80, I got a pair of textile trousers from ebay for £30 decent quality (check the reviews, some are good, some are awful). And I've been wearing cheap walking boots that cover my ankle for quite a while, though I managed to ebay snipe myself a pair of Oxford Cheyennes for £30 recently.

I went for third party only which cost me about £350 (£390 with legal cover), and spent the money I saved from TPFT on security (cheap tracker from ebay, disc lock, remote alarm, good chain) and I also fitted a good quality key switch connected to the sidestand switch circuit to act as an immobiliser.

All in all I think I paid about £2100 for the lot without serious budgeting, could probably manage it for a lot less if you buy cheap.
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Current Bike: 2008 Yamaha YBR 125

[SpuceLee]

[Alpha-9]

£1500
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Fzr-600 1999