Help regarding A2/What do I do

[Connors13]

Hi there,

New to the forum.

I'm currently 21 (22 in January) and really want to get on a bike.
I have had experience of bikes however not on the road.
I rode speedway for A number of years and also owned a gas gas trials bike.

I've also been dribong since 17.

I am wondering what is best.

- Do I wait til I'm 22, then do my CBT and ride a 125 for 2 years then when 24 do the unrestricted test.

Or

- do CBT and A2 now, then unrestricted in 2 years time?

I don't particularly like the idea of taking the same test twice.

Any comments appreciated.

Connor.

[Stobo91]

[Rogerborg]

[markk21]

I'm in a similar situation. Passed my cbt in July. I turned 22 in August. I'm currently riding a 125 and it's fine around the city/town roads and most A roads but once you get up to 50mph it's not much fun to ride on. It's loud and not in a good way. It's also got literally no power in that situation; obviously you'd expect that with a 125.

I didn't have the time this summer to do my big bike test although I kind of wish I had made the time but I'm going to wait till summer 2016 when I'm 24. I probably wouldn't have the money to do it next summer and I'm going to Australia for a year in July anyway so I'm happy enough waiting till 2016.

However in your case I'd say do your A2 now as although I love my bike, 125's can be irritating especially when you can't overtake safely on dual carriageways and can't go on the motorway due to L plates and even if you had an A1 licence, I doubt it would be fun or more importantly safe, if you rode a 125 on a motorway. Yeah so if you know you can easily fund your A licence test when you're 24 then I'd say go for the A2 and get a nice bigger bike.

[Teflon-Mike]

Yeah... its such a ball-ache re-taking two tests that together take less than a hour of your life, and cost £90, after spending half a grand on a course, and gawd kows how much on a bike, insurace and riding gear!
Typical rider's bggest single annual expendature is Fuel, that usually runs into £1000's a year.... WHAT the fuck is £90 in that bigger picture, hugh?
Do A1 tests, even f you are over 19, its cheaper than a repeat CBT to continue L-Plating
Do A2 and you can possibly upgrade to full A on your 'Restricted' A2 bike simply pulling restrictor for self book tests; if ot, as an A2 licence hlder, returning to training school to get a bike under your bum for tests, probably only means a couple of test-lessons to take you to and from test center, and again, small-potatoes in bigger bag of costs.

Only thing holding you back here, would seem to be pre-conceptions, silly ideas and a very tight grip on your wallet.

What use is money if not to get you the things you really want?
____________________
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?'

[MCN.]

Pick the way which gets you on a Fireblade quickest.

[Connors13]

Well that was a somewhatt spirited response Teflon-mike!
However it does seem very true.

The money isn't the problem, it's just the simple fact that it annoys me that I would have to do the same thing Again on a slightly bigger bike.
Although when I think of it I probably wouldn't be bothered about taking my car driving test again if I had to now...

I kind of also think I wanted somebody to tell me that it's not stupid to do the test twice...

Thanks for the reply.

[Teflon-Mike]

[Connors13]

So get booked onto an A2 training course would be your suggestion?

[Teflon-Mike]

My suggestion, is whatever you do, do it wth a full licece; whether that's an A1 won on your own 125 after a short while of L-Plating, or after a course for A2, matters little.. your life, your money, your call.
I do advocate that time on a tiddler is rarely wasted, as limited power and light weight does demand some fine control and precissio to be mastered, where bigger heavier bikes tend to damp out clumsiness, while, view from a bike seat is very different to that fro a car, or push-bike and getting to grips with managing traffic from the saddle is not as easy a task as many with off-road bike or on-road car experience would presume; however, tiddling dont have to be for long, or before passing tests, 46bhp is MAX power on an A2 licence, no one says you have to get a full A2 quta bke straight off, if at all.. and plenty of very useful over 125's that can be cheaper to by and run, and do the same job as training wheels.

And I DO say that training is good. More you learn to do right, right at the start, less likely you are to have to learn by the school of hard-knocks, finding out what doesn't work so good from falling off, or getting to bad habbits you have to break for tests.

Take that advice how you will.... make up your ow mind... you don't get a phone a friend, ask the audience or 50/50 to hep you decide what to do when you is on a motorbike... you have to make your own decisions... What you gog to do at a T-Junction with a 45tonn artic bearing down on you while you wonder whether to pull out before or after? pull out your smart phone, take a picture and post a poll on here, asking what we'd do?
____________________
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?'

[PattJakk]

I personally waited until I turn 24 before taking the tests, although I had a considerably shorter time to wait (6 months from deciding that I was going to learn to ride. 2 months between doing my CBT and my 24th birthday).

If I were in your position, I would only consider doing A2, if you can find a decent bike and restrict it. That way, you have the potential of riding your bike to the test centre, restricted - de-restricting the bike - taking Cat A tests. Yes, this is two sets of test fees (which total £90.50 each time at present), but at least you're only paying for training, bike hire, etc. once.

If it helps, I found my riding on a 125 a valuable learning experience. The bike was very forgiving, which helped me as a complete first time rider. It may well be different from your previous experience though?

Best of luck, whatever you choose.
____________________
Past: Honda CBF125
Present: Honda CBR600F
CBT 18/03/14 | Theory 25/03/14 | Mod 1 21/08/14 | Mod 2 01/09/14

[MC]

You'll have 2 years to work out what bike will be eligible for your A test(s), which ones are easy to restrict/derestrict. Do your A2 license, buy whatever you want (remembering the restrictions).

You might find a mates willing to lend you a bike in a couple of years, rather than getting an SV just to do your tests on for example. I believe there's another rule change coming (in 2018?) with regards to the bike needed to take your A test, but that shouldn't affect you.
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Connors13]

I think I'll get my CBT and theory done first, calculate the cost of 125 + insurance etc etc vs 600 restricted or 250 and the A2 licence.

I think if prefer the A2 though.

Another question I've got...

Does anyone have any experience of parking their bike on the street outside their house?

Connor.

[Teflon-Mike]

[Connors13]

I do have the option of storing the bike in my grandparents garage about 45 mins away..
I live in the city centre in an apartment..
Not ideal obviously.
But I have a fair bit of disposable income and really want a bike. What's the deal with insurance if I get TPFT at the garages address and it gets stolen at my house if I leave it on the street for a night? Obviously locked up.

Connor.

[Teflon-Mike]

[Connors13]

A garage definitely seems like the best option.

How much will a course cost me, if I get CBT and theory out of the way?

Connor.

[Teflon-Mike]

[Connors13]

That sounds like a great thing to do.

Anyone know of anyone good either near huddersfield or sheffield?

Connor.

[Stobo91]

I used Triskellion in Chesterfield for my CBT and they were top notch. The reviews they received are incredibile and ill be going back when i turn 24.