Intro from "newbie" returning to biking

toddmeister · L Plate Warrior Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Karma :

Hi everyone,

First post so might as well make it an introduction.

I'm 34 and looking to get back into biking after a 6 year absence (due to finances, buying a house, new baby, all the usual excuses). My old bike was an '03 CBR600F which I loved.
I don't currently have a bike and as I've been out of it for so long I'm not so up-to-date on the latest models.

Anyway, recently the biker within me has come to life so I'm looking to get back into it and will probably buy over the next few months, or at least before next summer.

Which has got me thinking which route to take. Sports bikes were always my first love, but I now also quite fancy an enduro.

I'm sure I'll have lots of questions about that later but here's one for starters.

I passed my full bike test in 2005 and had my bike for 3 or 4 years. Has anything changed with the licensing rules in my absence that I need to know about? I mean can I just go out and ride again on that license or do I need to update/pass any new tests that have been introduced since?

Probably sounds stupid but I literally have had nothing to do with bikes since I sold mine back in 2008

Thanks
TM

Taught2BCauti... · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Karma :

Might be worth asking at your local riding school about refresher courses. If you take both parts of your licence with you, they will be able to tell you what you can and can't ride.
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Morning. You're fine to just ride again. Well, I say that, check your license. It should have a "A" category on the back of it from a "From" date on it. If so, you're good to go.

Are you after an Enduro for Enduro...ing? Or as a general purpose commuter and fun bike? Also, what do you mean by "enduro"?

I ask because BMW insist on calling my GS an "enduro", which is a bit silly as the furthest you'll want to take it off road is the ~~Tesco~~ Waitrose car park. Can't really fault it for road use though.
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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

toddmeister · L Plate Warrior Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Karma :

Thanks for the replies.

I've checked my license and it has an A category until 2050 so I guess I'm good to go?

I've posted another thread in the off-road forum about the enduro. I won't be doing any competition riding or anything like that. Just looking for something I can use both on/off-road

Thanks again