Getting My First Bike

[j.h.thompson]

Hey,
Im new to here so im not sure how things work round here, ive tried looking for a forum with this question but cant find anything :/ sorry if there are already questions like this.

Basically I turn 17 in a month and am hoping to become one of you guys and get a bike Ive been saving up and have around half the money to pay but i am relying on my parents to pay the second half, (they have money saved up for me to get a car and lessons, but i have asked if id be able to get a bike with it.)
Now the problem is that my dad doesn't think i will be using it and making the most out of the money that he has to put to it, (he use to ride bikes and therefor safety isnt really an issue) but im finding it impossible to convince him that id be out on it all the time.

Which is why ive come here to ask you experienced bikers for your opinions and advice, any kind of reason why you love riding bikes and what make them such a great hobby would be appreciated,

I also need some advice on where to keep it (i dont have a garage and live on a main road) so anyone who is in my situation and doesnt have a garage, i would be very grateful if you could help me out as to what you do to store it

[MC]

Howdy, have you any experience of bikes? If not do your CBT when you turn 17, and see how you like bikes, also see how you like the cold at this time of year

Also when you say you've saved up half the money, is that half the price of a new or used 125?

At this time of year, and at your age I might be inclined to take the offer of the car/lessons from mum & dad, as driving's ruddy expensive, and if you don't start young car insurance can still be a killer when your older (I'm 26 and still can't afford it).

Generally bikes are massively more fun than cars, just because... It's like turbo-charged cycling. The downside is the cold, the danger (crashing hurts ), and at your age the crappy bikes your allowed to ride.

Depending on your finances, I'd be inclined to go down the bike route myself. CBT around £100, insurance will probably be £300-400 third party for your first year, a good used Jap' 125 around a grand, gear depends on how much you want to pay but I'd say £150-£300.

Also with the parking situation, if it's on the road you're going to want a strong lock and something to chain it to. IF you can lock it in your garden (even if it's the front), that's slightly better, with regards to putting a ground anchor/extra security in.
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[stevo as b4]

Do you actually need a bike to get to work, college or Uni? Is public transport going to hurt your pocket more than a 125cc bike+ lessons+gear+insurance+tests etc?

Or is it that you just desperately want to become a biker and have a bike for image/coolness and to join your mates or show off to them with?

If it's the above you could reasonably see that your dad has a good point. I don't like to generalise (I love to) but aren't most teenage guy's and girls more into social media, gaming, internet, Iphone's and other electronic devices, as well as the usual partying/shagging/getting pissed?

Your dad might think that helping you get a bike and put £££'s or ££££'s into it, that you will see it as a toy, or something for the nice weather and quickly get bored of it, or not want to ride it in the cold/wet/winter. If you leave it 6months unused and do other stuff/hobbies, whats to say your not going to be like quite a lot of teenagers that have bought or had financial help to get a bike, only to forget about after a few months, leave it in the garage and go off to Uni/college and develop new interests/distractions, that mean you have no time or desire to ride your bike anymore?

Sorry to be shitting on your plans, but you have got to appreciate the above is the story of a lot of teenagers these days who get a bike, and there's a lot of bikes left for months/years in parents garages, or sold on for a big loss to buy an electric guitar, or playstation, or for a lads holiday to Corfu etc. If you have or get a girlfriend and she is not into bikes, then there's more pressure again for you to stop.

Add to this the stats probably show that 50% of teenagers that get a bike or scooter these days see it as a short term stepping stone to a car, that until age 19-20 is out of reach running costs wise. What if you and your dad buy this bike for you and in 6months time all your mates have cars, with bodykits and stereo's and a big circle of car mates to hang out with and eager young girls/girl racers, wanting to jump in the back of a warm car for a bit of up and down?

If you need a bike and public transport can't serve you or is too expensive to be realistic then go for it. Otherwise if your parents cash could be better put towards driving lessons/tests for a car, then that could help you employment wise and it's something else out of the way for when your 19-21 and car's are getting to be a bit more affordable to run and insure etc.

[Musketeer]

You will be more lucky with girls if you have a car rather than bike. Especially in colder months. Fact.

All those stories that chicks dig bikes is a myth Some do, most don't
____________________
Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke

[MC]

Lets test your theory:

"Want a lift home love for some unprotected sex"

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Honda_CG125_01.jpg

"Want a lift home love for some unprotected sex"

https://media.fastcar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/p10102436-592x444.jpg

You might be onto something
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Barnoe]

If your parents are willing to pay for lessons and car test... do it!

At your age bikes ain't as much fun anyway, when your 19-24 do your bike thing then.
At that point you will have a car for bad weather and a bike for fun
____________________
You know you are old when you're told to slow down by your doctor and not the police.

[j.h.thompson]

thanks for the replies
in terms of what im using it for, its sort of half and half really, 50% it would be for transport, getting from mine to other peoples houses etc, etc,
just to save the money spent on the insanely high public transport fees,
the other half would be to have it as a hobbie, riding on a saturday/sunday out into the countryside.
Im hoping to get my cbt done soon but i dont really wanna spend the money without having the backing of my dad,
In term of getting driving lessons, its not really gonna be enough to cover lessons, insurance and a car, realistically, i can afford to have lessons and get a car but im then left with the 2000 pound insurance, so although thats what its meants for i cant really go ahead with it.
Picking up chicks isn't my main concern with getting a bike, as you said its more of a thing of trying to get onto the scene of biking because ive wanted to for the past few years.
Do you think its lightly to get stolen if its chained up in my front garden? it would be slightly hidden but if someone was looking for it they would be able to see it there.

I have saved up around half the money toward a second hand 125 and the insurance plus gear and was hoping that my dad would contribute the other half (around £1000)

thanks again for your replies (didnt expect this many) im new btw :/

[Wednesday Biker]

From experience Ybr 125's don't like to be left outside.
Some will say they had one and it never rusted but all I can tell you is me and my girlfriend bought 2 new ones and they rusted within 6 months.We kept them covered and regularly washed.Maybe keeping them uncovered might have been better tbh.But that's not something you want to do if its keep on the road.
Does it need to be on the road? or have you a garden you can keep it in. 125's don't take up much space.
You don't want anything too flash if its kept on the road.Lad round the corner leaves his bikes on the road and never seen them damaged in the 5 years I've lived here.But he always has old 600's with massive chains round them.
Maybe a trusty old CG 125 would be ideal.Not the fastest but reliable and not the sort of bike people want to nick,as a rule

[j.h.thompson]

I am hoping to get a Derbi GPR 125 and leave in in my front garden under a bike cover and tarpaulin along with two chains which will be anchored to the ground.
the problem i have is i live on a main road which although my front yard and the road is separated by a big hedge, if you was to walk alongside the pavement and look into my garden youwould most probably see it (obviously a cover would diguise it) do u think that would be a sufficient mode of protection?

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

A lot depends on the area - if it's number 1 Bourgeois Avenue, then it will probably be fine. But if it's Scroteville Central it might end up stripped and torched within a fortnight.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Wednesday Biker]

It should be pretty safe.
I always used to leave mine chained up under my mums kitchen window.
If you left it on the main road with no cover then maybe some chav might kick it over in the night or graffiti it but on your front covered and chained up you should be ok.

[MC]

If they really want it, they'll go through chains, and lift the bike into a van if they need to.

However I live on a dodgy estate, kept my bikes in the back garden with only a steering lock, and crappy padlock on the back gate and its been fine.

However part of my security plan's my room being round the back, so I'd run out in my boxers with a tennis racket (which would probably end well)

Also thieves know which bikes are easy to steal. I know someone with a Sachs Madass, he said he bought it without a key, just connected the two wires from the ignition and it started. 10 seconds to steal
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[rideslikean00...]

[thx1138]

[j.h.thompson]

thanks guys
i personally dont think id mind the idea of riding in the rain, for me its more the adrenaline and freedom of speed you get, but i havnt done it much so i may be wrong, I guess in conclusion i will probably be alright with locking it up outside my front door in my front yard with a cover over it:) do u think its worth getting one of those relatively cheap motion sensors that u attach to you bike?

[thx1138]

yes, cheap trembler alarm lock too

all helps

none will stop a determined thief, all will make a lazy opportunist go some place else

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Riding in the rain sucks ass. I got satched yesterday, and because my route was all back lanes, covered in shite, with blind bends making for slow cornering, it really wasn't much fun. At all. My jacket weighed about twice as much when I got in, and my boots were still wet when I put them on to ride out this afternoon. Believe me it's a drag. Yeah yeah you can get properly waterproof gear. But your bikes still going to be slathered with crud, and unless properly weather proofed, will be much the worse for wear after a few months.

That's not to say there's no good riding to be had between october and april - cos there is. At least this side of the pennines. But it's usually a bit steadier going even on the driest days - for one thing the faster you go, the colder you get. But also, there's generally more grit and debris knocking around - so even if you can easily pick a dry line, you've still got to take account of dodgy surfaces. Nevertheless, I put 12 months tax on all my bikes.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Slacker24seve...]

1. Do a Get On session. See if you like it: https://www.geton.co.uk/

2. When you've decided you like it, do a CBT.

3. Buy a YBR.

4. Get some good gear, a decent cover, some ACF50 and a big lock.
____________________
Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[j.h.thompson]

what do u guys reckon in terms of insurance, third paarty is almost 150 quid less than third party, fire + theft! do u reckon i save the 150 pound ir is it worth it???

[MC]

What's the excess?

Fire and theft comes with an excess, watch MCE as they have a large excess. TPO normally doesn't. Depends on the value of the bike tbh (and if it gets stolen or catches fire ).
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[grr666]

[j.h.thompson]

the excess is at 1000 pound for the fire and theft so concidering my bike will only be 300 quid more (hopefully) it seems kind of futile.
however although i will save 150 quid on just third party and i would hope i dont crash, is it worth the risk though?

[grr666]

[MC]

There was a thread recently on legal cover, most people didn't seem to think it was worthwhile, but it would be handy with the claim I'm going through atm.

[Wednesday Biker]

Man they screw young riders now.
I was 19 and had an RD that got nicked and excess was about 75 quid.Bike was only worth 900 but even so.