New to biking

[Mackie1]

Hi, new to BCF and looking for advice (which has probably been covered somewhere) I own a '71 Dodge Challenger which due to running cost and lack of storage for it (due to house move) is now being sold. Therefore I am now looking for a change of interest to the two wheeled variety. I am 32 with only AM on me licence but have zero experience of riding motorbikes! I'm torn between CBT then a ugh 125cc for experience or just straight CBT N DAS then on to the bike I'm looking for just unsure what to do due to my lack o experience 🤔 cheers

[waffles]

Get your CBT under your belt and then see how you feel. You are in the wonderful position of making the choice of either sticking with a 125 on L plates for a couple of months/years or stepping straight up to DAS.

Personally I would do my CBT and DAS as soon as. But you might be the sort of person who needs to get comfortable riding something small and getting used to that. You can't make that choice until you have taken the first step though so give a few local bike schools a bell and see what you can get.
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Mackie1]

Cheers for the reply I've been looking through the different schools around and one of them are offering a free hour on a bike within their grounds as a taster type thing, I was thinking taking this offer up then it might help with the decision, personally I would like to CBT then DAS as well but I want to be sensible about, but yeah good advice thanks.

[arry]

Challenger pics required

[KnightsFall]

I got a 125 to ride and get used to gears. I'd have to say that it did help, as I already knew what I was doing with gear changes, clutch slipping, etc when I began DAS training. That said, it is likely that this would have added no more than a lesson or two had I gotten straight down to business. I've definitely also picked up some bad habits riding on my own, so that it another reason to consider skipping the 125 by yourself.

Oh and believe the hype. Big bikes really are easier and more confidence inspiring to ride. I'm learning on an er6-n and its really very docile at low revs but is also a lot more stable feeling than my YBR and yet still feels surprisingly light once it gets going. A 125 is still pretty nice for traffic and suchlike but it is also definitely a plus being able to comfortably hit NSL, rather than having to eke out every last bit of performance and likely still fall short.

[Mackie1]

Arry pic attached (hopefully) it's the only one I have in my new phone she is a beauty I rebuilt it with my dad from a wreck it's a real shame to let her go but time to try a new passion I can keep and I suppose 🙂

Knightsfall that's what I was thinking about picking up habits and not being able to get out of them which I am prone to doing, and not knocking 125's but you are right about trying to strangle every last bit of juice out of them all its life whereas the big boys would be more enjoyable and dare I say more confidence inspiring and safer like you say. I think it's just all a bit daunting given its something I've never tried but everyone cotta start somewhere just looking forward to getting stuck in 😊

[Mackie1]

Arrrgh I'm using iPhone to post and it doesn't seem to like attaching photos of my dodge for u arry sorry I'll figure it out 🤔

[Val]

Find decent school do the CBT, after it any good school will give you 20 minutes free taster big bike ride.

Based on that you can decide do you want bikes or not.

If you are filthy reach splash £295 for BMW CBT Plus course - it includes larger bike ride too: https://www.bmwridertraining.net/rider-training/cbt-cbt-plus/
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Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[Alpineandy]

IMO
Don't buy any bike yet.
Find a local bike school.
Do your CBT (geared bike!) with them.
Then discuss with them.
Most people seem to find the jump from 125 to school 500/650 isn't difficult and within an hour they wonder why they even considered getting a 125. The weight is different (but more stable when moving)but the power is only whatever you ask the twist grip for.
IMO better to do some extra sessions with a school than waste money on a 125. Even if you don't want a 750-1000 etc (which you probably will eventually) a 250-500 is so much easier to ride than a 125.
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[Silver_Fox]

I was put on a 650 Gladius 30 minutes into my CBT when I was doing the cones/Figure 8. It was actually easier to manoeuvre and more stable than the YBR125 I'd been on...

Haven't been on a 125 since. The weight is only an issue if you potato and drop it. Even then, you're a man. You can pick it up


*Edit* Pics of the Challenger man

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Ste]

If attaching photos to your post doesn't work for whatever reason then you can (hopefully) upload them to www.imgur.com and then put the pictures in your post.

[stevo as b4]

Can't think of a single modern bike that Id like even remotely ad much as a 71 Challenger, but imagine they aren't the easiest of vehicles to find room to park store in most drives or garages.

I wouldn't swap a BMW HP4 drizzled in carbon fibre for one, but the way my mind works if converting to 2wheels I'd need a proper rare classic or something to make it viable.

A sanctuary CB1100R or Z1300 turbo might work though?

[M.C]

NSFW picture to make up for the lack of photo's in this thread... s3.amazonaws.com/auteurs_production/images/film/vanishing-point/w856/vanishing-point.jpg (not even linking given my ban history ).

On topic, do your CBT first, see how you find it. You might feel you're Marc Marquez and want to jump straight on a big bike, or you might decide you need some time on a tiddler. Chat to the instructors although they'll probably want to sign you up for a DAS course regardless.

[Silver_Fox]

That chick in the film also rode a bike, so you see, you need a bike AND a challenger. They just go together

[arry]