Midlife crisis?

[Mags885]

Hey guys,

I may just be having a midlife crisis, but then I might have just seen the light so to speak. I am just getting into the biking market starting right from the beginning and wanted to find some good advice before I commit to anything or worse, give up on one day riding a Harley Davidson.

Im 29 with no idea of the steps involved no matter how much I read online online. I know I need to do a theory and CBT, but what does the CBT entail and do I use my own bike?

What bike would you recommend for an older starter wanting to ride cruisers?

Thanks for any help!
Mags.

[Riejufixing]

[waffles]

The CBT is your basic training, if you meet the standards set out in the training then you can ride a bike up to 125cc on any non-motorway road as long as you display front and rear L plates. You are not allowed to carry a pillion. No prep is really needed for the day but its a good idea to have a flick through the Highway Code to familiarise yourself with it as part of the training will involve things like signs.

When you book a CBT you will do it through a school and can use their bikes as part of the cost of your day, you don't have to buy your own bike. Its a good idea to have your own kit though as you don't know who has used the school stuff before!

Get your CBT sorted first and if you like the school you can go on to do your DAS or Direct Access and get rid of the L plates to ride any sized bike on any road. You need a valid CBT certificate and Theory Test for that.
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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

[TbirdX]

Whereabouts are you, folk here will be able to recommend a decent school.
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VFR800X - CFMoto 450MT - TTR250

[Mags885]

Lincoln, I am sure a google search will help me out nicely.

Thanks for the replies everyone! It seems more simple now I have seen these rather than what I have read online!

[Andy_Pagin]

Make sure you have a provisional motorcycle entitlement on your licence first.

After CBT you'll know if its for you or not. I'd get past that stage before thinking about what style of bike to go for. Cruisers tend to be slow, heavy and not handle well, especially so called 125cc cruisers.
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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

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Do not learn on a cruiser.

You want easy control and bikes like the ybr125 will run rings around a 125 cruiser, and go and stop quicker....and lighter to pick up.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Sister Sledge]

29 and midlife crisis? If that's the case then I'm Skeletor!

What folk above said. Head over to YouTube because there are plenty of videos showing what CBT is etc.
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CCM 404 DS

[Pjay]

Incoming wall of text from our resident author Teflon Mike.

He will TL:DR you, but he will basically tell you to take your tests at a pace you are comfortable with and that a CBT isn't a licence.

As suggested, chat to your local CBT trainers, they should also do DAS courses that get you where you will want to be. Worst ways you spend £100 on getting a CBT, best ways you get to live the dream*

*Weather permitting.
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struan80 - I'll go first - satisfied tick 1

[M.C]

[Pjay]

[Teflon-Mike]

Snowie put her shorts on today....

the UK summer must have come early.

I expect it'll snow next week, and they'll start the Christmas adverts within the month.

Even the mad-march-hares have been buzzing the block!

See links in sig-bar, starting with: Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

And Twenty nine is NOT 'Mid-Life'... if it is, I am at least twice over the limit, and should be dead by now!!!!
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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?'

[Travis Bickle]

[Nobby the Bastard]

Only the very short, women (on account of being shorter than men as a general rule) and homosexuals (something to do with arseless leather chaps) ride hardleys.

Do you have any potatos for sale?
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

^^^Robby rode a Harley.

So can we include psychopaths in your list.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[M.C]

My list of Harley riders is considerably shorter...

fatties.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Unfortunately my brother-in-law is neither gay, short or fat. He loves his Harley, did the 2 stroke 50cc to sportsbike exploration in the 80s and 90s.

He just likes that American big bike thing.....and the wind pushing his fat fanny lips apart.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Pjay]