First Bike help needed

[Hank21]

Hey all! Been reading through the forums for a few days now, but have just decided to register and join in. As of course we all need help haha!
Right, since a young age I've always been fascinated by Bikes, my uncle used to race a 250 dirt bike which I would go and watch once a month when I was about 4/5. I then got into Speedway and went every week for about 12 years! I've always wanted to get a bike and had decided once I turned 17 I would hop onto a 125 (never liked that horrible sound of a 50) Anyway as my birthday grew near my mother's voice became more and more outspoken on the subject of not getting a bike. Until eventually she insured me on her car and paid for half of my test! It's now been 4 years since then as I turned 21 last week. I love my mum and value her opinion but I feel that her fears are over exaggerated and I feel it's time for me to do what I've been longing for so long and buy a bike!
The problem that I now face is getting the money for one! I've got rent and bills to pay which until you have to you never understand! So I've set myself the goal of saving up as much as I can each month for tests and eventually a bike. I could quite easily do the CBT next month, but would I need lessons for this? I've also been told by several people to do the DAS. But I've never ridden before! Should I just stick with the CBT or look to do the DAS? Should I go for a 125 or something slightly bigger? I'm not stupid enough to jump on a massive bike btw! I also want to do my own repairs checks on any bike but have no experience. Is this a good move?

Congratulations to anyone that read that spill! Don't think I could even re-read it myself! Thanks for any replies to

[Englishman]

The CBT is training, designed for people who have never ridden before. Pay attention, do what you're told and you'll get the certificate easily. After that, see how you feel about riding - you might not like it, or like me you'll love it and come back from your CBT grinning from ear to ear. If you have shown any kind of aptitude, you can then do a Direct Access course and be trained on a bigger, easier to ride bike. I did this, and the 8th time I was ever on a motorbike was riding my 650cc kawasaki into work one dark rainy morning.
Go for it if you can afford it - the important thing is to get your full license as soon as possible. If you wait now, you'll have to wait three more years to get a full license to ride any bike you want from Jan 2013.
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INSTALLING SUMMER... ████████░░░░░░░░44% DONE. Installation failed.
404 error: Season not found.

[Jersum]

You have to do a CBT for a DAS course, so either way you have to do one.
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Full Licence acquired December 2011.
1st bike Honda CG125 '04 in silver, 2nd Suzuki Bandit 600S '96

[Hank21]

Oh I didn't know about the January 2013 thing! Clearly need to do more research! Going to book in my CBT for hopefully next month then was just hesitant if I'd need lessons first!

Yeah, I'm aware of that one thank you Jersum. I think my rambling may have confused my post I'm curious whether I should stop at the CBT or quickly continue? But with the change in law I might have to do continue on so I have it under my belt then hopefully get a cheap bike to become accustomed with.

What is everyone's views on buying salvaged bikes?

Also many thanks for the replies

[Rogerborg]

It's an entirely personal decision which route to go.

CBT Theory buy your own 125 : arrow: sit the tests on it ('standard bike') get an "A <= 25kW" license that automatically upgrades after 2 years.

Pro: cheaper (in the long term after you sell the 125), you can learn at your own rate.
Cons: takes longer, that 25kW limit gets old really fast, ongoing licensing and insurance niggles because the DVLA and insurers are utter cretins who still haven't figured out how the 25kW system works 21 years after it was published.

CBT Theory pay a training school for training on a 35kw+ (500cc+) bike sit the tests on it ('big bike' aka DAS) get an "A" license that lets you ride anything you like - and you don't have to get a balls-out sportsbike, or ride everywhere at full throttle.

Pros: should be quicker (you can be licensed in a week), simpler insurance and licensing, no need to deal with buying and selling a 125.
Cons: costs more, will likely only train you to the test.

There are other options, like an extended training course while you ride around on your own 125, but they'll take longer and cost as much unless you find one of Tef's magical riding schools who will train you for a tin of biscuits and a Thank You card. You could also slam through the tests ASAP then check out the local IAM / RoSPA for some relatively cheap further training.

In both case, the first step is CBT and Theory test, so get them booked ASAP. After that, you'll be far better placed to make your decision.

And do try and get a license, any license, before next January, the short story is that it's only going to get worse for you them.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Teflon-Mike]

Start here:- I want to Ride a Motorbike: Where Do I start?
Thoughts for you:- Motorcycling is DANGEROUS! Will I REALLY kill myself?
AND mummy:- My Mum/Dad/Girlfriend/Boyfriend/Husband/Wife HATE the thought of me riding a bike! What Should I do?
125 or DAS?
TIME ON A TIDDLER IS RARELY WASTED!
Intensive DAS Courses' What's the score?

For 'starters' at least. all on my webby, and sorry, some of its still being written, but plenty for you to work with if you follow links.

1/ GET MUMMY ON BOARD
Follow advice in the link. You have to recognise that her fears are 'real' and her reasoning 'emmotive', you will NOT argue her down or allay them, or change her mind; BUT if you want to do this, last thing you want is the contention hanging over you, so read, consider, and talk it through with her, and let HER know how important it is to you, and use the learning to ride a push-bike example, to try and get her to get the risks into relative perspective, and find a way to rationalise them. YOU respect her fears! Its becouse she loves you!

2/ START on a 125.... if you want a decent start.
Lays down a decent foundation, and DOESN'T preclude 'Doing-DAS'.

3/ Best Value for money Learner-Bike out there, and its is ONLY a stepping stone, is a 3-4 year old Yamaha YBR125. It ent glamorouse, but it does the job. Aprox £1250 for one. Double that to get riding gear, CBT, further training, insurance, and tests, to get a full licence with it.

BALL-PARK, you are looking at around £2500, 'all in' to get a full licence, and have a £1000 bike to go with it.

Can be done more cheaply; but with savings come risks, and they are, that you skimp on training, so DONT get such good foundation skills to start big-biking, or you skimp 'kit' and suffer cold and possibly hurt. Or you skimp on the bike... which can be short term expedience, but often ends up costing more longer term as savings eroded by inevitable 'repairs'.

Can be done a lot more expensively, and £1000 for a DAS course will take a chunk of wanga out your budget, and not give you THAT much for it, even if you pass first time.

So follow 'The-Plan':-

1/ Book & Do CBT
2/ Buy 3-4 Year old YBR125 & some basic riding kit
3/ Get some EARLY training to put you on the right path and dress mistakes before they become habbits
4/ Get your motorcycle Theory 'Done'
5/ DECIDE whether to test on 125 for 33bhp restricted licence, or do a DAS conversion and do it under DAS rules.
6/ Book & Do Tests
7/ Licenced up - re-evaluate where you are and what you want to do.

Adapt plan to suit your circumstances!
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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?'

[Englishman]

[Hank21]

Woah thanks for the responses guys absolutely amazing! I've picked out three training schools around me and am visiting all three on Friday. I've spoken to all three about it and I've decided I will book with the one that I feel will give the best training. Once I've done my CBT I'll book my theory and assess either a 125 or potentially taking lessons on a biker bike once a week to do the DAS.
I'm overwhelmed by the level of excellent replies as I'm sure you get the same questions all the time. So thank you all!

[Teflon-Mike]

[HJM]

[Themightyimp]

You chose the right forum to join to get PROPER advice from.
Listen to the TEF his lectures are awesome.
This site helped me out no end,in my run up to my tests.
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1998 Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer
Now turned gay and got a cruiser.

[Hank21]

CBT booked for 15th July after some negotiations Can't wait, so excited!!