Practice bike advice

[BRUN]

Hi guys, new on here, looking for some advice

Im 38 and during lockdown did my CBT, ive never had a bike before when I was younger, or any experience around bikes whatsoever before doing it

I passed that and have started my DAS lessons, ive done 3 lessons so far, my instructor has recommended getting a 125 for some practice on in between lessons, my father in law has an old 125 I could use but it needs an MOT and its kick start which puts me off being new, I dont want to stall at a junction and be messing around with a kick start, just dont want the pressure

I have started looking at buying one, the cash isnt the issue, I have money put to one side for my proper bike at the end of the DAS, and I am thinking of using some of that to buy a 125, then trading it in against my bigger bike after my tests, or selling privately

I want to lose as little as possible on the 125, and I have been looking around and it seems to be the likes of a Honda or Yamaha will lose less than some of the cheaper ones like Keeway/Lexmoto or things like that, but the Honda/Yamaha or obviously more expensive to buy at first

Can I have some advice on what to do, would I lose less on a proper 'brand' ?

It doesnt seem you can pick anything used up, in any kind of decent condition for under £1200 or so, £1500+ for anything in good condition

[NJD]

Wouldn't bother if I was you, sounds like a poor finical choice; and even when you're up and running you're still going to have to spend more money to change the bike over on the insurance and then risk and increased premium in the process (especially being a first time rider, but probably not as much as younger counter-parts in the same situation).

I'd just wait it out and once you've passed the tests get whatever you desire. You're basically half-way towards the license anyway.
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The do it all, T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶l̶u̶m̶p̶,̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶N̶o̶o̶d̶l̶e̶

[KiwiBob]

Get yourself a Honda CG125 or a Yamaha YBR125 for somewhere around 750-1000 and then you can sell it when you've done for roughly the same money.

[BRUN]

thanks for the replies

the main reason for getting the 125 for practice is their can be 2 week gaps between my lessons, i have to fit them around my work so an intensive course wasnt an option plus i dont think it would have been right for me either, their is still a backlog on tests i believe too from covid

i think it would be good to practice in between lessons, it could even cut down on the total amount of lessons i need so may save me some money on those, which would balance out some of the losses on the practice bike

ive got my eye on a Honda CB125R at the moment which is £3000, 2018, what do you think its value might be in say 6 months, im expecting the weather to start impacting my lessons/test very soon

[dynax]

Get the one from your FIL, nothing better than getting hands on experience with fixing a bike, it might not even need that much doing to pass an MOT

Ps, kickstarts are just as reliable as an electric it's just a knack to do it right
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Mike.
Bikes: Xena, Bridget,Florence
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmihUc0xXxYbR4_0l-F1FzA/videos?view_as=subscriber

[Easy-X]

I sympathise with the worrying at junctions & stalling. I have an old kickstart bike and have been in the exact same situation. The good news is that once warmed up most bikes start very easily on the first kick and small displacement engines require very little effort to kick over.

Petrol goes here, oil goes there, let's look at these tyre treads, etc. whether it's an old 125 or whatever bike you get in the future it's well worth getting stuck in with basic maintenance.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[KiwiBob]

What is your father in laws 125? Get that or buy cheap! .. I certainly wouldn't be paying 3,000 for a bike just to practice on .. If you fall off its value may plummet!

[BRUN]

Bob iirc its a 1990 Honda CG125 but i may be wrong

[dynax]

[KiwiBob]

Get the cg125!

Mine's a 2005 and as dynax says they run forever and parts are dirt cheap.

[BRUN]

i would have to give it back once ive passed

[dynax]

[Ste]

If it was an easy fix than the owner would get the MOT done and the kickstart replaced themselves.

Find a bike that doesn't just need a part replacing and the MOT doing.

[BRUN]

the kick start works, i just wanted to avoid a practice bike with a kick start

the bike had been SORN due to health issues, and its not his only bike

[Peanut_Butter]

Hello and Welcome!

[BRUN]

thanks for all the replies

found a 2017 Yamaha YS125 with only 700 miles on it, so I have bought that, wouldnt think id lose too much selling it on afterwards

[ThunderGuts]

I am slightly dubious of the benefit of riding around on a 125 between lessons to be honest, even with a 2 week gap between them. A 125 handles completely differently to a big bike, particularly slow speed stuff. Furthermore, assuming you drive a car, you'll already know how a road "works" so things like practice with understanding junctions etc. that a 17 year old might need to get to grips with won't be needed.

If your work is that intensive, would you even get any meaningful time on the 125 between lessons anyway?

I'd just stick with the DAS lessons personally and save the cash. If determined to go with a 125, that CG125 will be a good bet and as for the kickstart element, it'll only feel awkward until you're used to it - so just practice in a car park or even on your drive until you've got the knack then go for it.

Good luck either way.
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TG.

[carbon90]

[Evil Hans]