Completely New to Biking and Just Need Advice... (F/18/UK)

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[Teflon-Mike]

For my four-penneth, I'll suggest doing NOTHING bike-wise until after at least Christmas.

Starting Uni is a big leap, and 'free money' is a quick way to get into financial grief, and a motorcycle is an expensive liability and an even quicker route to a couple of months of baked beans on toast suppers, when the grant-cheque runs out......

Plenty who start uni, don't make it past the first two terms; nearly all freshers will be in the same boat, lacking personal transport getting about by Shank's, and making promises until the grant cheque arrives, living it up for three weeks when it does, then making excuses and pleading phone calls home, from then till the end of term.....

With that looming, get that done, dusted, and your early learning of college life out the way, before you heap up the plate with anything else like motorbikes.

A2? Big biggest are a great way to waste money even faster... especially as it will likely beg a £1000 course to get the licence before you begin! 125's at least have the advantage they 'may' be reasonably cheap wheels.... and they do the job.. and they can be as quick as anything, of any other capacity, is legally allowed to go on this country's roads...

It's a daft thing that no-one says to learner-car drivers, "Oh no don't get a 1.1 Fiat Panda, you'll be bored within a month! Soon as you have passed tests you can drive a Ferarri.. THAT'S where its at!" its ridiculous.... and shows more the aspirations and expectations of the typical 'biker' than anything.... but still...

As a cheap way to lectures, a 125 can be a fantastic tool; I ran one for two and a half years of my student days, well beyond gaining my full 'Ride-What-You-Like' licence with the thing (in the days you could!) and being younger, dumber and rather a lot numb-er, trecked far and wide on the ruddy thing visiting mates at Uni's 250 miles away and daft things like that! I cant say recommend it.... but... if you are young enough, dumb enough and numb enough... err... yeah, what the heck.. I can thoroughly recommend it! Certainly suits a bakes bean budget.. B-U-T.. you'll likely be eating a lot of baked beans and making excuses for not going on the 'excursions' others have planned pleading poverty watching the direct debits.... 125's are still a financial liability, you don't 'need' if you don't NEED.

IF you 'need' do sums carefully, they dont pay for themselves, and when you are living in a world of subsidized or discount student accommodation, student rail cards, bus-passes, and NUS mini-busses, it is likely NOT going to be something that does pay for itself in savngs, even if you work to find them, and don't just use it to the limit, and a little beyond of the pennies in your purse.....

Get the first term and a half of your new student life out the way, learn a few things along the way, like what;s what, how others 'cope' get by and get around, and THEN ponder whether a bike is a) useful, b) economically viable c) financially doable.

Life is L-O-N-G.. don't rush! Rushin' be fast way to hurt when it comes to motorbikes! Deal with the imedietes and gong to uni is a BI life change, a big eye opener, and a lot to take n board, as well as get things, especially income 'settled'.. take it a step at a time, and TAKE your time.... explore, experiment, indulge.. BUT... don't expect o even try to get it all here and now before you begin AND get it right first time...

Christmas should bring bounty, and wet wild weather probably wont have you wanting to be biking, especially with New-Years student party hang-over! Come March? Suns starts to show ts face, course work with have become routine, and start backing off towards 'revision' for the EOY's THEN you ca take stock, and think whether it REALLY is worth it....

Until then, it is probably 'just' more hassle and more expense you probably dont need, that is likely to be less than useful....

GO.. dress down, stay up, get wrecked, drink too much, eat bad, moan about teachers expecting you to do oooh 'wurk?!'.. have the time of your life.... THAT'S what Uni is supposed to be about, and there is SO much to chuck yourself into, BKES can wait... they really can... IF you can fit them in some-how in the mean time, great.... but stick 'em bottom of the list, certainly for now and the next few months.... just worry about getting past Christmas without suffering a nervous breakdown or alcohol poisoning!!.. or on second thoughts... maybe they should be the ambitions of the first term! either way.. BIKES CAN WAIT!.... for now. Remember, life is long! Don't RUSH! Old age catches up quick, believe me!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[NickyG]

[NickyG]

[DrSnoosnoo]

BCF. Am disappoint.

Pics or GTFO
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[NickyG]

[NickyG]

[NickyG]

[NickyG]

[MattE]

Im 17 and in pretty much the same position as you but you said you want the bike for commuting and visiting parents. The only problem you might have with a CBR is it will be a bitch to insure. People have been suggesting me supermotos like an SMR125. My personal favourite though is the YBR as there is a custom version that gives it a cruiser look/feel but still has decent enough power. Shop around after you have done your CBT and find a bike that you like the look of though and look into insurance as it could play a huge part
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Current>> BSA Bantam D1 1949 + Suzuki GSX600F 1993 + Kawasaki ZX6R '99
Previous>> Yamaha YBR125 (2010) > Yamaha YBR125ED 2012

[Rogerborg]

[NickyG]

[MattE]

[NickyG]

[angryjonny]

My wife had a YBR when she was learning.

After years on 600-1000cc bikes, to me it felt like riding a BMX. She loved it. Still misses it, several bikes down the line.

[owl]

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[AshWebster]

[NickyG]

[NickyG]

[NickyG]

[haroman666]

[NickyG]

[Wonko The Sane]