Best way to move forward

markk21 · Nova Slayer Joined: 25 Feb 2014 Karma :

So my CBT lasts until July 2016. I'm currently 22 with my birthday in early August. I want to of course get my bike licence but I have two options in which way to get it.

First option:

Take my A2 licence test this coming summer, as soon as I graduate from Uni in early July although I'm due to go to Australia for a year in late July. Obviously I'd be restricted on what bike I can get. The date of going to Australia could be pushed back but I'd rather go ASAP after finishing

Second Option:

Take my A licence test in summer 2016 after coming back from Australia however I may have a new job set up for when I come back from Australia and may have to start as soon as I get back, making it hard to do lessons/test.

I'd rather do the second option as I'd prefer a unrestricted licence but at the same time I think I'd be happy for the foreseeable future on a bike around 600-700cc so maybe I'd be happy on a bike that would okay on the A2 licence so as it looks to be less risky to do my a2 test considering the possible time restrictions of doing it in 2016; but then again I may suddenly want a bigger bike later on in life and it would be a pain to have to do another test again.

What would you do bearing in mind that I think I'd be happy on a 600-700cc bike for the foreseeable future?

Also, I'm trying to work out what bike I'd like to get for after passing my test. So I thought I'd do a poll. This is just for fun so it's really what bike you prefer and which ever one I get will just be used on a Sunday/ sunny day and it will be very unlikely it will be used for commuting or anything like that.

Thanks in advance

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

If I were ye, I'd work out what a 'restricted' licence means for you in Australia. If it means you can still get a ride or two over there, then I'd do it.

If you're not going to be able to ride over there and you're just going to have to do it all over again anyway in respect of tests, for nothing, then I'd not bother.

Fisty · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :

FireBlade.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

TL:DR.

Boring but 'sensible' - £1k SV650.

Fun buy may cause death - £1.5k R6.

Keep the rest for coke and hookers, holidays, trackdays, whatever.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

Get restricted licence, buy supermoto.

Within power limits, can do mild offroading with no hassle at all and not quick enough in top speed terms to get you in the shit. Good brakes & sticky rubber combined with low weight makes for an excellent confidence booster.

Then again, I'd just want to be on a big bike ASAP & couldn't trust myself not to de-restrict something if I got something with more than legal powers & my reasoning is based as such.

The non supermoto 46bhp bikes are all a bit lacking. Fun, really enjoyed the Ninja 300 & I'd highly reccomend it if you're going to go supersports, but lacking nonetheless. I can't help but feel it's trying to pretend to be something it isn't. GS500, ER-5 are nice & cheap, but the poor brakes & suspension will ruin confidence & they're not as easy to sell on when you go to Oz. ER-5's more reliable & seemed better handling than the GS500.

Tl;dr, Big bike licence ASAP, ER-5 if you're tight, DRZ if you've got some dollah to spend.
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Seb · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Karma :

A 'fun' bike is highly subjective frankly. Some people want motorway crushing horsepower, others want razor sharp handling. Personally the most enjoyable bike I've owned was also the crudest and least powerful. It was fun because the gearing was low, the revs were sky high and the ground clearance was plentiful. You could hustle it along and feel like a GP hero without the need for triple figure speeds that modern sports bikes crave.

Personally I'd be getting the tidiest 400cc IL4 I could find with enough change for a suspension refresh.
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Highwayman · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 17 Nov 2013 Karma :

Why you no 'onda

talkToTheHat · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Feb 2012 Karma :

Just get on with the riding. A2 now, and ride, A when you can, will be no problem if you've been riding in the meantime.
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DrSnoosnoo · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2012 Karma :

Best way to move forward.

Clutch in, first gear. Slight throttle, maybe 4k revs, release clutch slowly. Cool

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markk21 · Nova Slayer Joined: 25 Feb 2014 Karma :

Thanks for the advice guys. I don't have the money at the moment to even do the a2 test so I'll have a few months to think it over. It also seems that bikes are really expensive over there. It also seems that you can only ride a bike in Australia for 3 months when you're on a working holiday visa (I might be wrong though)

talkToTheHat · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Feb 2012 Karma :

In some states of the former penal colony, joining two people you barely know for a ride is some kind of criminal offence. I think my evening would have got me thrown in solitary for years if I'd have done anything like that in aus. Thankfully my local independent motorcycle mechanics where we set out from and the cafe at the other end are within the boundaries of Yorkshire so none of that nonsense applies.
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Bandit. does. everything.