Hi from another noob

[Tyson10]

Hi everyone, just thought i'd put my first post in here.

Been looking around the forum for a few weeks reading different info, been bebating doing my cbt/test this year.

Im 28 but have no bike experience really so im a complete noob. Its something ive always wanted to get into but never got round to it! The misses is telling me in having a midlife crises at 28! lol

Ive got a full driving licence, passed it in 2002 & got 6 years no claims so hopefully that'll make things abit easier. So my main question to you guys is shall i just go for it? As im a total noob should i get some lessons first or book a cbt and take it from there?

Thanks in advance for any helpful advice

[cb1rocket]

go for the cbt now and get a geared 125 and try and pass your test before 2013 asap!!

The rules after that means you will have to take lots of tests!

Go for it!

[anthony_r6]

[GreenPan]

[FerretFing]

Hi & welcome to the forum ....good luck with the biking

[waffles]

Tell your misses that 28 is nowhere near being old enough for a midlife crisis!

I did my tests at 27 after having driven a car for years. I did a year on a 125 then did DAS after that. Some people may tell you that DAS is evil and leaves you unprepared for riding a large bike in the big wide world, others will tell you that it's a great way to get the bike you want without waiting for restrictions to pass. Personally I didn't see the point of getting my licence and having to restrict a bike when I could forgo that completely.

You need to do some research here yourself. What do you want? Road experience on smaller bikes will boost confidence, however the new licence directives may hamper you further if you don't pass before Jaunary. Best advice would be to get your CBT under your belt first then decide after that. Or if you just want to see if biking is for you book a GetOn session with your local bike school. It's free and if the school is any good they should be able to advise you of how long/how many lessons you would need to get your tests done.

Whatever you choose - best of luck!
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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

[Tyson10]

Thanks for the replys! I think what i might do is do the cbt and see how i get on with riding a bike.

To be honest i'd be happy with a 125 to start off with as im not in a rush to jump on a big powerful bike as i obviously have no experience & i dont want to end up killing myself or someone else for that matter lol

At some point i think i'd like to do some off road aswell but as i said im a complete noob and i think doing some lessons/cbt would be a good starting point.....would you guys agree with that?

[Kingstondavo]

[J.M.]

Do your CBT first. You have to do that before you can take lessons because you need the CBT to validate your provisional licence to allow you to ride a bike on the road.

Having a car licence does not exempt you from this.

The CBT will also teach you the basics, let you get to know whether you enjoy biking and more.

Then after that you can decide:
- Do I only want to ride a 125 for ages
- Do I want something bigger

For the first option, just go around on L-plates yourself for a while. Get used to biking and get a few months experience underneath your belt.

Then you get two subsidiary options from that choice:
- You don't see the need for a rocket ship yet and you don't mind being restricted (33bhp) against what bikes you can ride. You sit the standard bike tests (commonly called A2) on your own bike, often with no lessons due to experience. Pass them. Sell your bike for pretty much what you paid for it and then purchase a larger bike. This is often the cheapest option, but ideally this needs to be done before January 2013 to simplify things for you.

The second subsidiary option, and the second option, are the same:
- You decide that you want a bigger bike without the restriction. You do DAS.

Now DAS falls under, yet again, another two categories:
- You self teach yourself on your own 125. Take a 125cc to 500cc conversion lesson and then hire a bike to sit the DAS tests on. (Cheaper).
- You enrol on a DAS course which includes lessons, bike hire and and conversion lessons and then use their bikes for the tests. (More expensive, but more comprehensive and common).

Of course, you could enrol on the DAS course straight away after doing your CBT and not ever need to buy a 125.

If I was in your shoes however, with a sensible head, this would be my choice:
- CBT
- Buy and ride a 125 for a few months
- Take conversion lessons
- Do DAS tests on hire bike
- Sell 125 and buy big bike

However, if I was being brutally honest with myself, I'd probably do this:
- CBT
- DAS course
- Buy rocket ship
- Require new underwear from "over-excitement" whilst riding

[Englishman]

Hi and welcome to the Forum! 28 years old for a MLC? I don't think so. Besides, ask your wife if she would rather you rode a motorbike or another woman? That should pave the way right there.
I'd recommend you get your CBT as soon as poss, just to see whether you like riding. If you do (and you will), have some lessons on a 125 and see if you like that, or want to go Direct Access and ride a bigger, better bike (and you will). It's all money dependant really - got enough to splash and you want a bigger bike, go DAS. Want to take it slower and pootle about for more experience, get a 125 for a few months and sell it for what you paid for it.
Do your CBT this month, and welcome to a new world!
Mark.
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INSTALLING SUMMER... ████████░░░░░░░░44% DONE. Installation failed.
404 error: Season not found.

[Tyson10]

Some great replys - thanks everyone.

I think the main obstacle will be the misses lol She really fears bikes altogether after reading about deaths from crashes and watching too much day time rescue shows ect

But like i say its something that ive always wanted to do so i think i'll get the cbt done & see if its my thing....im pretty sure it will be so looks like i'll have to be dangling some new shoes in her direction to get her off my case

[J.M.]

Tell the missus to stop trying to control your life. Everyone has a negative outlook on how dangerous bikes are.

It's like racism for bikes... bikism?!

The simply answer to the missus is that if you enjoy biking then do it. Do you really want to be with someone that tries to control what you do to the extent that you can't do something that you enjoy? Show her who's boss and take her up the gary.
____________________
2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Tyson10]

[cromwell]

Just remind the missus that she thought it was a mid life crisis after she has been on the back for the first time if you do your full test!
If 27 is considered mid life then I've only got 4 more years of being young
____________________
"unbelievable"
Current - Suzuki Bandit 600
Ex's - Yamaha YBR 125

[Sako]

[Tyson10]

I've read people get bored of their 125's pretty quick! The bikes I've been looking at are DT125, XR125 ect I could go the direct access route & get something bigger like a DRZ400 but I don't want to try & run before I can crawl lol

[waffles]

[Kingstondavo]

[Efes123]

Does she like horses? I'm sure Roger will be along shortly to give the stats, but IIRC you're 20 times more likely to have an accident on a horse than a bike.

I'm in my late 40s, and according to my wife, getting a bike was my 3rd mid-life crisis. Mind you, as she was my 1st crisis, she doesn't complain She was a bit apprehensive, but now any excuse and she's jumping on the back for a ride out.
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[Slacker24seve...]

[shazza65]

Go for it. It doesn't matter how you get there, just do it. I postponed for 20 years and yes I do regret wasting all that time before getting the licence. You will get bored of the 125 quite quickly, so aim for something with more guts but not too gutsy that you cannot handle it. A few years experience and some good basic training will set you on your motorcycling path. As for the other half, show her you are a safe rider and take her to a few motorcycling events to demostrate your interest in it. She'll soon lose that attitude when she realises that motorcycling is not as dangerous as the reputation makes out to be
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Adios to Bandit and Ninja. Hello VFR.

[stephen_o]

I had a 20 yr break and I do regret it. Since passing my test in April I have really enjoyed being out and about on a bigger bike. 125cc get a commuter chug and do the tests on it, or as others have said do das. i bought the 125 and did the tests myself as the 125cc was a test bed to get back to being used to 2 wheels and building up the gear and experience before chucking myself into the tests.
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current scoot 2009 Yamaha YBR250 + Current Pootle 2013 Nissan Leaf