Licenses on a budget

[Steelydan]

Evening all, sorry if this is a question that has been repeated over and over...

I'm looking into licenses and bikes as we need a 2nd vehicle and it doesn't justify us having 2 cars, also I have been bought up around bikes and it something I have wanted to do but finances have never allowed.

My question is, what would be cheaper; do a CBT buy a cheap 125 see how it goes and within the two years do the full license and sell the 125 and upgrade to a bigger bike. Or, go whole hog straight away?

Like I said, finances are limited, I couldn't justify shelling out for a full license and a bike (plus all the accessories etc).

Also, any tips on convincing the wife that me getting a bike is the perfect solution for everyone?

Cheers

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

How old are you?
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[Steelydan]

Late 20s.

I think I know the answer, just need someone to tell me

[bamt]

Also - what usage do you envisage? Is it a 5 mile commute in rural areas, 50 mile motorway commute, needs to carry shopping or just you,....

[Steelydan]

At the moment it's a 15mile commute which I can avoid the motorway, just me and a bag. I manage it on a push bike on the days the wife needs the car, but I can't rely on my legs forever.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Probably cheaper to just do it all straight away...unless you never intend to ride anything bigger than a 125.
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[Rogerborg]

Eh. 15 miles each way is do-able on a 125 especially if you're already cycling. You won't lose much money on it if you buy Japanese branded and keep it running. Buy bigger gear than you need, you will gain weight though. Not really "", I put on a fair bit when I switched from lycra to leather.

CBT first though, see how you get on with it.
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[stirlinggaz]

hi,
with a 15mile commute I'd definitely recommend a decent used 125 & cbt.
by decent I mean something you actually WANT not just whatevers available at the time.
of course I will suggest a sporty 2t (for the fun factor)
but the sensible option would be the usual 4 stroke suspects cg/cbf etc. (fuel economy blah blah blah)

if you can find one, get a varadero. probably the best 125 4t there is (discounting the newer bikes like mt etc) not built in the far east to a budget, unlike 99% of other 125's.
much more like a "proper big bike", can do round-the-world milage on original engine etc
unfortunately this means they command a higher price, even for sh*gged out examples.

whatever you buy (not including chinese) if you look after it, you wont lose much (if any) money when you decide to upgrade/go for big boys licence.

btw, im not suggesting you should avoid Chinese bikes, just approach them in a different manner.
ie buy new & treat as disposable, that way if you get 2yrs out of it (length of cbt), you can sell it with 1yr left before it needs a MOT (which it likely wont pass)
any money you get for it will be a bonus.

cheers,
GAZ

[Kal]

I'm going to throw down for a 125 too.

You are still looking at budgeting £750 after your CBT Five for the bike, a hundred for kit and one-fifty for on the road costs.

However I suspect a lot easier to get past your beloved than a £600 course that will still leave you ending to get a bike and kit. Assuming you pass first time.

A good quality, secondhand 125 should be saleable for pretty much what you bought it for as long as it's in good condition when you pass it on. After a certain point they just don't depreciate anymore.
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[Teflon-Mike]

Sorry, find myself at a loss for suggestion...
I am too traumatised by Roger's admission of being a MAMIL, and the image it conjurers of a Jockish Hobbit, with hairy toes in a Lycra kilt and spandex sporran, pedalling through my mind!
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[techsnap]

[331X2]

Factor in insurance costs, how much will it cost you to insure on a CBT vs full A? Think over a couple or three years and it might cover to cost of the test alone.

My first insurance when I passed was £70 fully comp for a Bandit 400, not recommending the bike specifically but more encouraging looking at the whole picture...

[Taught2BCauti...]

Lots of things to consider, but only you can supply the numbers.

Cost of insuring a 125 on a CBT, is probably a lot less that insuring a big bike on a full licence - but depends on a lot of factors.

Benefit in kind - such as having a cheaper way to get to work, whilst still having the car available for the missus.

Learning curve - if you have the money up front to do a DAS course, go for it - or you could spread your experience over the next two years whilst riding for cheap on a 125.

You might even decide that after your first winter that biking is not for you - in which case, forking out for a DAS course is going to sting a bit
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[stirlinggaz]

[Val]

[M.C]

Since when did BCF start recommending 125's and not going straight for your test(s)?

The problem with doing your test(s) straight away is that it gets expensive if you fail, and particularly with Mod 1 it's easy to make little mistakes (even ones you don't in practice) and fail repeatedly.

Also depends on what type of roads you're on avoiding the motorway, personally I never felt 'safe' on proper A Roads (NSL or dual carriageways) on a 125, but if you've been cycling anywhere near these then a motorcycle will be a hell of a lot safer

One final thing's you will on a 125 get the itch for something faster. How soon depends on the person, for me it was only took a few months but who knows, some people spend years on tiddlers. However upgrading mid-policy can be expensive (depending on the insurer etc.)

I realise that's some conflicting advice

[Rogerborg]