Help & FAQs    Search BCF    Members    Groups    Events Calendar
Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


Buying a chopper and carrying a pillion.

 Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> New Bikers
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

thebarber
L Plate Warrior



Joined: 13 Aug 2013
Karma :
PostPosted: 06:59 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Buying a chopper and carrying a pillion. Reply with quote
Hi.
I have been driving 125 maxi scooters for about 12 years. I always thought about going bigger but having never used gears I thought it would take loads of training. Recently When I redid my cbt the guy did a mock test instead and said I would need just 1 days training to pass a automatic full test. I haver never liked sports bike and a while back I saw a chopper and realised you can pick up a amazing looking machine for minimum £2000. I am a very confident safe driver never had a incident yet and commute into London every day. I was looking at low rider choppers with or without ape hangers

My understanding is that on choppers a lot of the weight is low meaning you cannot throw them into corners but are great for cruising which interests me a lot.
My question is when does cc become a issue on a chopper as in whats the most that is ok to handle starting out. I have seen beautiful 400cc classics all the way up to 1200cc.

Also having done my cbt and theory and looked at mod 1 and 2 which I should be doing in a few weeks I have found no mention of carrying a passenger. Originally I wanted a full licence for that reason yet I find it insane that nothing covers it there is no training requirement. I would prefer a minimum age and a 1 day course but this does not exist so I am forced to do full licence for no reason
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Tungtvann
World Chat Champion



Joined: 07 Dec 2012
Karma :
PostPosted: 07:38 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
On passing your full bike license, you are allowed to carry a pillion. It is not part of the test to carry one, but you will cover the things you need to take into consideration when doing so, and what you are supposed to adjust.

Not everyone wants to race about on bikes, so if you are happy with a chopper bike, then go for it. I'd recommend passing your full license to allow you to get a big bike, get used to riding that for a bit, as it will be considerably heavier and different to what you are used to, then think about pillion.

Whatever you do, have fun!
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Rogerborg
nimbA



Joined: 26 Oct 2010
Karma :
PostPosted: 09:29 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Buying a chopper and carrying a pillion. Reply with quote
Passengers are fine as long as there's a seat and foot supports. Also, some insurers will offer a discount if you agree not to take one / punish you if you do (depending on your point of view), so be sure that you tick or untick the appropriate box and check your actual policy when it comes through.

thebarber wrote:
My understanding is that on choppers a lot of the weight is low meaning you cannot throw them into corners but are great for cruising which interests me a lot.

The exhausts and pegs ground out early, limiting the lean angle.

I had a nut-and-bolt copy of the Yamaha Virago / Dragstar 250 V-Twin. The engine was surprisingly smooth and pulled well low down, but it would not rev and had no top end at all.

Good enough for local trips when not in a hurry, but frustrating on NSL roads. I'd suggest that the minimum you'll want is something like a Virago 535 and I'd suggest that you go ahead and look at the 650s and 750s. Better to have some throttle in reverse than always be wanting more.

The riding position also wasn't that comfortable. I liked the feet-forward controls, but the reach to the bars was too long and it made slow speed manoeuvres in particular a real chore. After a while, it induced lower back pain as well, and I never found a truly comfortable position for the bars to sort it out.

Thing is, you'll be doing your tests on something like an ER6 or Gladius, so once you're licensed up you'll be in a far better position to know what you like and don't like in a bike.
____________________
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
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Cadbury
Crazy Courier



Joined: 05 Oct 2011
Karma :
PostPosted: 09:32 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Buying a chopper and carrying a pillion. Reply with quote
thebarber wrote:
Hi.
I have been driving 125 maxi scooters for about 12

thebarber wrote:
pass a automatic full test.


Keep in mind that if you pass an automatic test, you will be limited to riding automatic bikes only - no geared bikes. Also, you would have to take it on a 'full size' automatic. If you were to take it on a 125cc scooter, you would only be limited to 125cc bikes.

Yes, its very complicated! Smile

The whole mess of info can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/ride-motorcycle-moped/bike-categories-ages-and-licence-requirements

Admittedly I'm not too clued up on choppers, but I'd imagine most are geared bikes.
Not a huge choice of automatic motorcycles that aren't scooters - 2 I can think of off the top of my head are the Aprilia Mana and the Honda NC700, neither of which are very 'chopper-ish' Smile

If you haven't already considered it, I'd go in for your geared test. You may need a bit more practice, but it opens up your options immensely Smile
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Ribenapigeon
Super Spammer



Joined: 20 Feb 2012
Karma :
PostPosted: 10:07 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
With a "chopper" you also get free membership of the YMCA (its why they're called cruisers), whether the free membership extends to your passanger I don't know. Smile
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

CaNsA
Super Spammer



Joined: 02 Jan 2008
Karma :
PostPosted: 10:12 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Buying a chopper and carrying a pillion. Reply with quote
thebarber wrote:
...choppers ... interest me a lot.


If you buy a chopper then you will need to the following:-

Assless Chaps
Tassled Jacket / Leather Waistcoat.
Open-face Lid
12" black rubber cock.

But seeing as you're a hairdresser, just an assumption based on your name, you probably have everything on that list already.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Ribenapigeon
Super Spammer



Joined: 20 Feb 2012
Karma :
PostPosted: 11:43 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Buying a chopper and carrying a pillion. Reply with quote
CaNsA wrote:
thebarber wrote:
...choppers ... interest me a lot.


If you buy a chopper then you will need to the following:-

Assless Chaps
Tassled Jacket / Leather Waistcoat.
Open-face Lid
12" black rubber cock.

But seeing as you're a hairdresser, just an assumption based on your name, you probably have everything on that list already.


The most macho bike that parks up near my work is a Rossi replica R1, full on carbon mods including wheels and aftermarket exhausts, turns out it belongs to a hairdresser. Makes me think I chose the wrong carreer Smile
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

P.addy
Formerly known as
P.



Joined: 14 Feb 2008
Karma :
PostPosted: 11:56 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Buying a chopper and carrying a pillion. Reply with quote
Boozehawk wrote:
The most macho bike that parks up near my work is a Rossi replica R1, full on carbon mods including wheels and aftermarket exhausts, turns out it belongs to a hairdresser. Makes me think I chose the wrong carreer Smile


Total faggot.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Ribenapigeon
Super Spammer



Joined: 20 Feb 2012
Karma :
PostPosted: 12:04 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Buying a chopper and carrying a pillion. Reply with quote
Paddy. wrote:
Boozehawk wrote:
The most macho bike that parks up near my work is a Rossi replica R1, full on carbon mods including wheels and aftermarket exhausts, turns out it belongs to a hairdresser. Makes me think I chose the wrong carreer Smile


Total faggot.


Sounds like you need a sauna with president Putin.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha
World Chat Champion



Joined: 22 Nov 2012
Karma :
PostPosted: 13:39 - 14 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
*shudders involuntarily*
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 12 years, 188 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> New Bikers All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 
Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.07 Sec - Server Load: 1.06 - MySQL Queries: 14 - Page Size: 68.58 Kb