Hello from another noob!

[Scrumbag]

Hello folks,

After being a car driver for the past 12 years, I'd really like to learn to ride a motor bike.

I'd mainly be looking for "dirt bikes" as my other hobbies often take place "off-road".

Having said that, I might be living back in London so I might be thinking about commuting by bike as well.

All advice on types of bikes and licenses greatly appreciated, but what I am really looking for first is an intensive "learn to ride" course.

ATB and thanks in advance,

Scrummy

[mic]

hi

google DAS course in your area and phone em. prices will vary.
____________________
zzr600

[Rogerborg]

Afternoon.

Opinions will vary, but at your age I'd go straight to a full license and get it all out of the way.

Book your motorcycle theory test ASAP. Sadly, yes, you do need to sit one. It's almost identical to the car theory test, any supermarket will sell you a tutorial DVD. A pass lasts for 2 years and you'll need to have passed before you can book your tests.

Bag yourself a free hour or so via the Get On scheme.

Do your Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) which will cost about £100 - £150 for a day (or maybe two depending how you get on) of training and a shiny DL196 certificate which validates your provisional entitlement.

You can then buy a 125cc bike and ride it on L plates, but you don't have to and it doesn't get you any closer to a licence. There's also the hassle of buying and selling and insuring it - some underwriters only cover 125s and won't let you switch the policy to a bigger bike after you pass.

Instead, you'll want to book a training course with a training school. Find one where you can get on with the instructors, there's no sense paying some shouty twunt, and be wary about paying a lump sum up front without a written contract.

You can then do anything from 2 to lots of days of training on a big (600cc+) bike, and then sit your tests on it. Module 1 is offroad, wobbling and zooming around a car park. Module 2 is the on road test. Your instructor will steer you right on that.

It sounds like a lot of hassle, but it's worth it in the end. Bear in mind that just because you get a full A license, you don't necessarily have to jump on an R1200GS, there are plenty of smaller capacity bikes good for mucking around offroad and commuting on.
____________________
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

[Scrumbag]

Thanks folks, I shall look into those options for training.

Quite right on big bikes, not really my thing. (Also, growing up in North Wales, my Mum worked in an A&E department. The results of "big bikes" and "over confidence" were brought home)...

So, any advice on a bike that might do?

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[pdg]

[Sako]

Consider a supermoto, and a spare set off off road rims.

[Scrumbag]

Thanks folks, lots of food for thought there.

I have started making inquiries about courses... the things I didn't know I didn't know.

Be prepared for more noob questions!

ATB,

Scrummy

[Scrumbag]

Well folks, my move to London is finally confirmed after being off and on more than an Essex girl's bedroom light switch!

Just ordered my theory test CD Rom so here we go. Anyone recommend a riding school in either N. Wales or SW London (Putney)?

Cheers,

Scrummy

[Saltire]

Welcome

Personally I am just about to do my CBT again and continue through to the A2 license. A lot of people say do your full test straight away, but that is how people end up spending £600+ to get their license with all those additional lessons.

Doing my CBT and getting a cheap 125 means I've now got 2 years road experience and only need a lesson or two to get used to a bigger bike.

There are conflicting factors like you get less training and knowledge from a CBT but a lot or perhaps most people started off this way. Plus you sound like you only want a commuter or something to mess around in the hills with and 125cc is more than enough for someone with little bike experience in my opinion.

No doubt an unpopular opinion to have but you have mentioned big bikes not being your thing anyway.

Either way, enjoy your stay

[Scrumbag]

Thanks Saltire.

Will see what works out.

ATB,

Scrummy

[MC]

At the risk of summoning Tef', time on a tiddler is rarely wasted, however IMO that time should be months not years. Personally I'd recommend (the OP) going for your CBT, and see how you get on, then think about signing up for a full license course.

As for training courses, I'm going to quote Teffers again you buy cheap you get cheap, at least I think that's one of his. I used a training school in south(ish) London, and passed, but being a cheap course the bikes were old(er), and some of the training areas we used were IMO a bit dodgy.

For the high speed Mod 1 maneuvers we used an industrial estate, which had a suspect road surface, and high kerbs which's quite dangerous if you were to come off (it does happen). Also it was a live road so cars would come and run over the cones

Similarly for the slow speed Mod 1 stuff we used a car park, with you know that horrible loose almost gravel type surface, that when you fell over on as a kid cut you to pieces. Also that was a live car park, so we had to avoid the BMW parked in the middle

Maybe I was expecting too much, but when we went to have a look at the test centre we saw another training school practising on the pad, when my mate asked if we were gonna have a go we were told it used to be free but now it's £60 an hour. Our instructor was nice but I feel we passed due to our own skill/luck, hence why I wouldn't recommend or even name the school unless you had previous experience.






Bikewize
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Scrumbag]

Must admit I am liking this idea of a 125 first as looks like I won't have time for the intensive course.

Any suggestions of a good bike for round London that if I stuck some nobblies on would be OK for on some fields?

ATB,

Scrummy

[Rogerborg]

[Scrumbag]

[sabian92]

Don't let the "big bike = death" thing bother you. You can just as easily kill yourself on a small bike (and in some ways it's easier than on a big bike - you don't have any power to get yourself out of trouble). Yeah, some knobbers will hurt themselves on a big bike but they'd probably do it on a small bike or in a car anyway. Just on a bike the resulting accident is a lot more harmful to your skin

A lot of US riders in the motorcycle subreddit on Reddit tell people to start on 650s or even bigger than that for some odd reason and considering their training is shocking compared to ours (an MSF course, which is like a shit CBT course on 250s then they can ride anything they like, and it's not even compulsory in all states!), most of them end up not wrapped round a tree. Not sure how, that being said, because some people take that advice then get a GSXR750 and tear-arse about on it everywhere. A learner on a bike that's capable of 190+ is a bad idea

125s are great fun around town and are nippy from 0-40 but above that they're not fun on faster roads. Being 16st I'm often found on single/dual carriageways tucked right into the tank, throttle pinned and just touching 70. It's not fun, nor comfortable, and being that they weigh so little they get battered around by the slightest breeze.

Get your test out of the way and get something bigger than a 125 - you'll have to ride a bigger bike to pass your test anyway (unless you sit your A1 test, which only allows you to ride 125s and is as such a waste of money/time/effort), so get it out of the way and pick something that's more comfortable.

[Baffler186]

[/quote]

I hear you there Roger, more a question of time in my case.

Would like a ~650 at some stage I think just a question of stringing the time together.

And, as they say, he who has most toys wins![/quote]

Whatever you decide to do, bear in mind the insurance thing i.e. if you try changing bikes mid-way through a policy you will get twatted with the "admin costs and policy cancellation fee" hammer. Lack of planning on my part means that I've wasted a couple hundred on going from 125 > 600 > different 600.

My advice would also be get your full license sooner rather than later - funds permitting of course, but waiting for a theory slot, CBT, training etc may take longer than you envisage.

If you want to use your 125 for commuting and off-roading as well, remember it's not going to be as pokey as a 2 stroke 125 'crosser. If you have your full license you will have a far wider range of dirt bikes to consider. Search for some threads on here about which of the road legal 125's are "good" (i.e. separating the ones that are actually well built to handle dirt, from the not so good ones which may look the part but will suffer when punished).

Good luck

[j.silvs]

My advice:

Go for DAS

Buy what you want....

Also buy this book, it helped me massively with the test:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pass-Bike-Test-Great-Rider/dp/1906860122

[MC]