40yr old wanting to get into biking

[vp1977uk]

I don't really have any biking experience apart from hiring a 50cc scooter for a day in Corfu.

Local schools are charging around £700 for CBT/Theory/MOD1 & 2 spent over 6 days. This includes Tests/Gear/Bike/Insurance.

Is route worthwhile doing or should i do it as separates. Do CBT and Theory then get a 125CC to practice alone ?

Only thing is i don't know when id really buy a bike after getting a full license.

Do people pass on these type of quick training without spending months practicing on a 125cc ?

[Howling Terror]

Hi,

Yes and no.

You ride a pushbike? You confident on it?
You got money to splurge? Go for it you could be riding a Dusaki by the end of week.


If at the time I did have the money to 'gamble' on a week course I wouldn't have. In fact I did the opposite in part due to being tres skint but mainly because I really needed to clock up the confidence miles.
I self taught and passed after riding 125s for almost 4 years.

Said it before but there is a slim chance you may not even like it.
____________________
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The Harry Turner Project

[pinkyfloyd]

If you have never ridden a bike before then I would suggest doing just a CBT, You never know, you might not actually enjoy it.
____________________
illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[M.C]

Do the CBT and see how you get on, you might need a bit of time on a 125.

[vp1977uk]

If i book it as separates CBT first and if i like it they would charge £500 for MOD1 & 2 tests/training on their bikes.

Question is can a MOD 1 and 2 be passed with a few days training without owning/ridng my own bought 125cc in between ?

[M.C]

[vp1977uk]

Normally id buy a 125cc to practice on for a few months then take MOD1 /2 but i don't know when id actually buy a motorbike. So far i like the idea of having a full license.

Guess i'll do the CBT first and make decisions after that.

[pinkyfloyd]

[vp1977uk]

What CC bike would i need to do mod1/2 on if i was using my own ?
If i did it on a 125cc would that restrict me to a certain size ?

[arry]

[Rogerborg]

Also, don't be discouraged if you take more than 1 day to complete the CBT. It's training, not a test, and it's not a 1 day course, it's as long as you need to reach a minimal standard of competence.

Sammy Seventeen can blaze through it in a day because he's made of energy and over-optimism. You might need longer to assimilate it.

When you are done, see if you can blag a quick go on a 600cc+ training bike. It might save you from wasting time and money on a tiddler.
____________________
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

[stevo as b4]

I'd also have a good think about what you want a bike for, and what sort of use you might have planned in mind for one?

Most will say this don't matter, as you'll follow the try a bike- get hooked- pass tests- want to ride as much as possible for fun and a hobby- try out lots of different bikes- work up to a big bore superbike etc.

While I'm sure this does still happen for some, and bikes become a huge hobby and interest, it's not like it used to be out there.

Roads are busier, and in a worse state sometimes. People are still careful with throwing money at toys in the current climate, and riding habits and interests have changed generally. Also the bikes are much more samey, and there's less of a mass bike scene in some cases.

If starting out today, I'd want a good reason in my head why I needed or really wanted a bike in 2017. The big groups of mates having a Sunday blast thing is done for me, and if I had a bike and a day off I'd have to think if I wanted to spend £20 on fuel for a breakfast in a Welsh cafe, and then ride home to clean the bike.

[vp1977uk]

Being a keen traveller who likes to get off the beaten path, I'd like a bike to do European trips or further a field eventually.

I had a day with a scooter in Greece and that opened things up for me.

Been watching Youtube videos and got a thing for the Suzuki V-Strom 650 loaded with panniers.

[kerr]

Personally i would steer clear of crash courses and just take lessons at your own pace like you did with your car licence (im assuming you have one)
Thats the way i did it, albeit with a couple of years 125 experience, iirc i spent a good chunk less that 700 notes all in, and i sold the 125 on for more than i paid for it

[Wheezybiker]

I'm 40 odd
I did my cbt then did my DAS after passing my theory

Cbt was 120 with bike hire
Theory was 35 ish
DAS was 500 quid for 3 days and test fees and bike hire
Had to redo my mod 1 extra 100 quid with bike hire and a couple of hours practice
Passed mod 2 first time

All in CBT to full licence 6 months
No 125 experience in between
Did my DAS over 2 weeks
Total cost 750 ish with bike hire

If I had to do it again I would space the lessons out more and not rush it
Hope this helps

[biker7]

No one has really told you how great biking is! Fly past cars in a city jam. Wind in your face, seat of your pants thrill on the open road - better than cars by a long way for not a lot of dosh. Bike fits into a small space at home. Mates think you are are hero. Women swoon! Go to a bike shop and sit on them all and tell me you are not excited. I rode small bikes for years, passing my test at 21...ok nothing I rode was really exciting. Then I retired at 60 and got the big bike bug. Now pushing 70 I ride one of the fastest and love it. If you spend your last days regretting not doing things in life.....being a biker will be near the top of the list. Go for it mate, anyway you feel comfortable. Pick the bike you want to end up on as your dream machine, as the driving force and everything else will click into place, even if it takes a month or two. They say only bikers know why dogs like to ride with their head out of the car window. Even a 600cc motorcycle can accelerate as fast as a Ferrari. Even a modest V-Strom will do 0-60 in less than 4 seconds (I've had two and they are brilliant all rounders)

New Year's Resolution for you mate - I will be a full blown biker by Spring '18.
Let us know how you get on!


____________________
Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[almostthere]

get your full licence then go for something fun like an Aprilia tuono or if you want something sporty get an rsv4 these bikes are quite docile so you'll need to rag the fuck out of them for maimum fun
____________________
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www.mfairco.uk

[vp1977uk]

Am just gonna do my CBT spring next year then take to from there.
If the instructor says am good enough to go for the DAS mod1/2 then i'll do that then get a proper bike if not then i'll get a 125cc for a few months to practice then do mod1/2.
Guess am trying to just get onto a 650cc as quick as possible at the lowest price for training etc.

[Rogerborg]

[Teflon-Mike]

[Rogerborg]

Of course, Mike does make a good argument for why you should avoid training schools as much as possible.
____________________
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

[M.C]

[Bozzy.]

[Rogerborg]

[recman]