Where do i start?!

[DJ Peperami]

Hey all.

I'm getting closer to my 40s and just reconnected with my son whos 15. him and his mates have been raving about bikes and its sumthing i always wanted to try. how long and how much should doing my full test be and whats a good bike gonna be for sumone my age.
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never to old - never to young

[Minty]

I passed in my mid 30's and bought a Fireblade.

Cost dependant on area and how much training you need. Find a local training school, google reviews of it, ring and discuss.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[RedPanda]

Budget? What bikes do you like the look of? What are you hoping to do with it, ie track days, touring, commuting?

Do a CBT and get a provisional licence. That'll cost circa £100 including kit hire, then you'll know if you want to commit fully.
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CBF125 (2013) -> CBR600F (2001) -> 'Ninja' 300 (2014)

[Minty]

He will want a bike what pleases 15 year olds as that is the reason for going on this journey.

Only oddballs want a touring/commuting bike at 15.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[Andy_Pagin]

Before you can ride anything, even on L plates, you need to complete a one day Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) session.

I'd suggest you do this before over thinking anything else. It'll give you a much better idea about what biking's all about.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Teflon-Mike]

You start by contacting a motorbike school in your area.

You will need to do a CBT or 'Compulsary-Basic-Training' course to gain a DL196 form to 'validate' the provisional entitlement for motorcycles, of your driver's licence, to ride anything, so that is your starting point.

If your Lad's 15, he will be able to do the same course, but only on a 50cc moped, (when he is 16 & has sent off for and received his provisional licence) but could be some nice Dad & Lad time, if he's not embarrassed to be seen wobble with you....

Courses tend to be in the region of £120ish depending where you live, and you dont need to know anything before you start, or have anything to take with you, apart perhaps from a packed lunch.

Bike hire is usually inclusive unless you specify other wise and want the hassle of getting your own bike to and from the school without a licence to ride it there (and back, if you don't 'complete', within the day)

Kids are likely to fly through it; they know it all, you know But a more mature person may find it a bit more of a struggle, old-dogs and new tricks and all that; so just approach with an open mind, and try have fun. You'd likely be doing it on a geared 125, rather than a twist and go.

For the money, its a very good value way to begin, and see if you like it... (try and get a sunny day before the weather turns, or plan to book in those few days of promice we oft get at the beginning of spring!)

You'll be taught pretty much all you need to know to get started, and instructors will be on hand to answer any and all questions, sensible, silly or otherwise.

After that? well, you can take it where you want. As a more mature person, chances are the scholl will try and sell you on a Direct Access course, to get you a full, ride what you like licence in a week... I still call them kwik-krash-Kourses... they get you a licence, but.. there is a lot more to riding big bikes than you can be taught in such a short time.... It may be the way to go in the end, B-U-T, personally I'd say do the basic CBT on its own, and see how you go from there.... there's no rush if you have waited this long, is there? And rushin' be quick way to get hurt when it comes to bikes.... so take your time, and one step at a time.

CBT.. see what goes; complete and get a DL196, you may, ride a 125cc machine, unsupervises, on L-Plates; which is good enough for many, and all 17-19 year olds may do regardless. If you expect to be doing this with your lad, that may be worth some thought. Otherwise, a DAS course would be the logical next step, to get a Ride-What-You-Like-Licence... THAT accomplished THEN we might start thinking about buying a bike... but before THAT, you'll want to be thinking about buying 'kit' to wear on the bike, and security to lock the bike up so when you do get one, it's where you lefdt it when you wake up in the morning!

So like I said, start at the beginning, which is a CBT course, and take it from there, no-rush, one step at a time.
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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?'

[Val]

[-Matt-]