New to Bikes, New to the Forum.

[no.folly]

Hello,
I've spent the day reading through different threads on here and I thought I'd post up and say hello. I'm super new to getting on bikes and reading a bunch of stuff here has taught me a lot even before I get started.

I've yet to start going through CBT or anything and it's been a long time since I tried to get behind the controls of anything. I had a provisional license years ago when I could first have one, but never the money to learn. Now I'm 30 and it suddenly dawned on me to give riding a go. I remembered my Dad has a nice bike that he hasn't been physically able to ride since just before I was born, and that it's going to waste. I remember growing up around it (and other bikes) but it not being used. I called him up and said I'd been thinking of learning to get on a bike and he was more excited by the idea than me!

My plan is to get on and do CBT and then probably aim for a full license. Then get a smallish bike and build my way up to taking my old mans ride out without dropping it or sending it up a tree or something.

I live in south east london (Deptford area) so any tips on places to do courses or CBT would be great.. and yeah, thanks to everyone for building a resource like this forum.
____________________
. . . . .eh?

[-Matt-]

Hi mate welcome

Sounds like the best plan, do your CBT, get the theory out the way then at your age you can get right on with the DAS No point waiting around, even if you don't actually use the options of passing the DAS straight away, get it all done and under your belt and its one less thing to worry about, and its all additional experience that will help you on whatever bike you get anyway, and it might help a bit with insurance in some cases.

Any idea what your dads bike is

Might need a bit of work done before its running and riding nicely again if its been sat unused 30 years, just to keep in mind

[no.folly]

Cheers fella.

"at my age" haha. I definitely don't feel 30... is 30 even old? I guess it's kind of old to start riding, slightly! Thats exactly the idea though. Get it done and then at least I can work my way up without having to worry about future tests and such.

My Dads bike a 1974 Honda CB750 K2 in gold. It's been kept in a dry spot. I'm not sure if he's turned it over now and again as it's been around his workplace and I haven't seen it since I was little. It used to live in my grandads shed but it probably got moved to free up space and to go into a better and safer spot. Like you say, it might need a going over. My Dad used to ride around Southport and lives up that way still, but in the late 70's/early 80's (I can't remember exactly when) he was in a bad car crash. went off a road and into a tree. Broke his pelvis into three bits. Since then he's had a lack of feeling in the lower half of his right leg, so he's never felt comfortable getting back on that bike specifically, but he's never had money to get something more suitable since. As far as I know, since then it's just been sat, but looked after. He's never been interested in selling it. I remember sitting on it when I was younger.

I wouldn't ride it until I feel comfortable enough to. I guess its no longer considered a BIG bike but it's big enough to get a new starter into a lot of trouble really quicker. My dads probably a dab hand at the maintainance of it too. It'd be good to get into that side of it. Dig it out and learn a few things. He's got access to all the tools where he works too.
____________________
. . . . .eh?

[-Matt-]

[Rogerborg]

Your plan is sound, but in order to get a license to ride that CB750 you'll have to do your tests on a 595cc+ 40kw+ bike, and I doubt that you'll fancy stepping back down to anything smaller or much weedier afterwards.

Best not to plan too far ahead, just do the CBT and see if you enjoy it. There's no rush, I didn't start until I was 36 and I'm a spring chicken compared to some here.
____________________
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

[no.folly]

No offence taken! ha. I rip on my mates that are only one or two years older than me for being old and past it all the time. Karma.

Next time I'm up at home I'll have to ask him to show it me again. I was thinking earlier about what might need doing. Even it's been run on and off in all that time I imagine some rubber and plastics are going to have rotted or cracked maybe, and the other stuff you mentioned. Absolutely a good chance to get my head around working on a bike. I'd hope it would only need the minimum of spares rather than becoming a real restoration job.

I should ask him what else he used to ride. He was on a bike early on I think, but that CB750 is the only bike I really know about.
____________________
. . . . .eh?

[no.folly]