Edinburgh Newbie Advice Needed

[Gaz2180]

Hi all,

Gary, 29, from Edinburgh here. Had my car licence since 17 and for the past 5 years have been using the entitlement on that to use a scooter quite happily around the roads of Edinburgh. I've never ridden a geared bike.

I used to live in Moffat and still have family there and spend almost every weekend driving the A701 - some of you may know this road as the Devil's Beef Tub.

I think it's about time I upgrade from the scooter and get a bike so I can enjoy the A701 on two wheels as opposed to four!

So, I've booked my CBT for 2 weeks and do my theory next week.

I'm then wondering, do I buy a 125 to get used to a geared bike, then do the DAS, sell the 125 and get a bigger bike? Or, with the 5 years experience on two wheels around Edinburgh (albeit on a scooter), should I just get a couple of lessons on a 125, then do the DAS almost straight away, get a bigger bike and not bother with a 125 at all?

What would you do?!!
Cheers

[ollieholt]

well, i opted for the buy a 125 and then do das sell and buy a big bike. this worked for me, if you buy right then it will also work for you.

i rung around all the local garages looking for cheap as your like 125cc geared bikes, cg125 was perfect. they wanted £400 for it but it was tatty, ran perfect just had a load of new bits on engine i.e. exhaust spark lead etc it had just had new front brake etc etc.

i got it, used it, spent some time polishing rusty wheels and getting the body work shiny and not hanging off, no money spent. got 585 for it on ebay after owning it for two months, not a bad proffit lol. insrance was £90 for the year at 21 so should be pence for you squire, well worth it, just gives a little more practising room on your shoulder checks and other tedious bits that you need to get right every time. for test and for after.

i passed first time with NO minors because i practised practised practised. alot of people just do a couple of days training and away you go, works for most. i got the cg just to fuck about on to be honest lol just wanted to lark about on a bike for a bit aswell as use it for experience.

good luck, ull do fine im sure
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[Gaz2180]

Cheers Ollie - seems like a plan... Will see if there are any cheap 125's going near me.

Ta

[ollieholt]

if you spend less then 500 on a cg125, genuine honda not a chinese fakery, then if its in good order you will always get your money back, there are always learners looking for a 125 especially hondas.
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< This? Well this is just a day brightner.

[MadeOfStone]

Obviously this is your decision at the end of the day, and do what you feel best, but.......

I did my CBT in March after 17 years driving and toyed with the idea of the buy 125, practice then sell, then buy big bike.

However, when you think about it, if you're doing DAS as an intesive then you're gonna be riding a 500 every day before your test so I decided to use the money to pay for extra lessons instead.

This worked for me because I passed Mod 1 and Mod 2 first time and now I don't have to worry about selling anything - I am off out to buy the bike I want.

Gears will come with practice and a days tuition costs about £100 -so you could have 5 days tuition on a 500 for the same price as buying a 125 - as there's no guarantee of what money you will recoup when selling the 125.

The more tuition you can have, the more chance you have of passing your tests.
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