New to Motorbikes, basic advice would be awesome :)

[Feedtheinferno]

As much as I love my A6 and S5 I am going to be doing some changing to keep things interesting, so the S5 is going to be traded for a R33 GTR as I miss my old one and I will be doing a CBT.

 

I have never ridden a motorbike before but I am 25 so I am sure that allows me to (once passed the CBT) ride a 125? If so does anyone have a suggestion as to what bike to get in regards to something good to learn with for a year or so?

 

That also being said, is there a best brand/s to go for in regards to protective gear? All easy stuff I am sure but I am totally new to the two wheeled m'larky.

[53HRA]

As much as I love my A6 and S5 I am going to be doing some changing to keep things interesting, so the S5 is going to be traded for a R33 GTR as I miss my old one and I will be doing a CBT.

 

You have good taste in cars

[Feedtheinferno]

You have good taste in cars

I wish the wife agreed with that! But yeah I love my V8, but I really miss the inline 6 RB26DETT, they are honestly the best engine I have ever encountered.

[RCbutcher]

A mate of mine started biking on a suzuki 125 road bike it looked comfy but not cool not one bit a year later tho he was on a gsxr600 a year after that gsxr1000 so we all forgot about his first bike lol. It was probably the best start bike tho simple basic easy same sort of thing learning centres give you to use in geared lessons. Road/tourer type bike with 80s styling.

[PraetoR]

Well the way I see it is there's no point in getting a 125cc "sports" bike, because they're just too darn small and underpowered to be rightly considered as such. With the exception of the old Aprillia RS125 two-strokes, but they're more hassle than four-strokes, need much more maintenance, less reliable, sound irritating to most etc.

 

I LOVE sportsbikes, but for my first bike I bought a Yamaha Virago 125, which has enough "big-bike" presence to be respectable, without trying to be what a 125cc really cannot be. Plus it looked great. I'm not much into cruisers, but cruising is something a 125 is pretty capable of.

 

I would recommend one. It was incredibly reliable- I left it for two years when I went travelling and after two years I charged the battery and it fired-up straight away. Conversly, someone I knew had Suzuki's equivalent bike, which would spit its dummy every winter. Be warned, though, it's sloooooow!

 

I'm going to buy a Kawasaki ZX-6R next year, but I wouldn't change a thing I did, previously, and the learning experience of being on the road on a 125cc first is invaluable.

 

You can ride a 125cc on road with the CBT, but you cannot do motorways (dual carriageways are fine) and you must have an L plate visible front and back.

Edited July 28, 2014 by Praet0r87

[RCbutcher]

It looked like this but could be an older vesion suzuki gn125

http://www.motorstown.com/imgs/25813-suzuki-gn-125-3.html

I think my uncle started on a bike like the chopper style above it was pretty cool the clocks was in the tank. You can always get stickers that say my other ride is a GTR lol. These bikes would learn you better I think having more steering reliability maybe too.

I want to start off with a supermoto I think but I won't ride it far or on motorways so dont think ill need more until later then ide like a 400cc something and my dream bike a 600 from yam , kaw or suz. I do love bright green bikes tho.

Edited July 28, 2014 by RCbutcher

[-BEZ-]

Why don't you consider doing a direct access course?

 

If you are to go the 125cc route get something you feel comfortable with avoid sports bikes for a first bike as they are less forgiving and the stance makes them harder to control at low speed maneuvers that are required to pass the test

[Feedtheinferno]

Thanks for the advice guys, for a starter I actually really like the look of that Virago, I know now though with a name like that the guys at work would call it a Viagra lol.

 

I was thinking about the direct access course however as I want to buy the GTR and then buy a 125, money wouldn't be there to pay for direct access too. The CBT allows me to get the experience before going to get my full licence and I don't even know if I would enjoy it yet so the lower the intial outlay the better in regards to starting off

[Bigjimknickers]

I've had about 50+ bikes from a Fs1e to a gsxr 1000, when I did my test I did a direct access scheme, so I was straight on a big bike, I did my test on a 500cc. As for gear I'd go for a 2 piece dianese if your slim, helmet Arai IMO is the best, I've had a few, roof make nice lids too, make sure its got a gold sicker on it though.

As for bikes, IMO I'd never go bigger than a 600cc sports bike, anything else simply is excessive.

My last bike was a triumph street triple 675, I traded my gsxr 1000 as I was using 1st & 2nd everywhere!

Any questions fire away I'll try to help.

[Nitroholic]

First off .... take a long hard think about your budget. How much do you want to spend overall.

 

Also, consider whether you just want a runabout, or whether you intend to pass your test and ride a proper bike in the future. No point, in my view, of pootling about on a twist'n'go if you want to ride something bigger, as it will not teach you the right habits and reflex reactions.

 

Also...if you only plan on keeping it for a limited period, don;t spend too much on it. Learner bikes depreciate faster than beachfront property in a tsunami zone. Whatever you do, though, AVOID the cheapo Chinese stuff. It's just not worth the hassle. So many issues on the ones I have seen.

 

Kit is VERY important in my eyes. I have taken the odd trip down the road in my time, and the extent of injuries can be seriously reduced by the right gear. I also will not ever ride, whatever the weather, without a full set of gear on. It's just not worth it. Having been taken out by a Rover 800 that drove through me, threw me 15' in the air, and landing on the upturned handle bar end.....if I had been wearing a pair of jeans or shorts....I'd probably have severed my Femoral artery and bled to death before the ambulance got there. Riding in shorts and T-shirt may be cool....but skin grafts and amputations are not.

 

So...lets start at the top.

 

Helmet.

Expect to pay around

[Oh How Original]

Well the way I see it is there's no point in getting a 125cc "sports" bike, because they're just too darn small and underpowered to be rightly considered as such. With the exception of the old Aprillia RS125 two-strokes, but they're more hassle than four-strokes, need much more maintenance, less reliable, sound irritating to most etc.

 

I LOVE sportsbikes, but for my first bike I bought a Yamaha Virago 125, which has enough "big-bike" presence to be respectable, without trying to be what a 125cc really cannot be. Plus it looked great. I'm not much into cruisers, but cruising is something a 125 is pretty capable of.

 

I would recommend one. It was incredibly reliable- I left it for two years when I went travelling and after two years I charged the battery and it fired-up straight away. Conversly, someone I knew had Suzuki's equivalent bike, which would spit its dummy every winter. Be warned, though, it's sloooooow!

 

I'm going to buy a Kawasaki ZX-6R next year, but I wouldn't change a thing I did, previously, and the learning experience of being on the road on a 125cc first is invaluable.

 

You can ride a 125cc on road with the CBT, but you cannot do motorways (dual carriageways are fine) and you must have an L plate visible front and back.

 

You don't need an L plate on the front, just an FYI.

I never did, according to the person who I did my CBT with, you don't need one and always asked coppers when speaking to them and they all said by law you don't have to have an L plate on the front.

Edited July 28, 2014 by Oh How Original

[PraetoR]

Yeah I didn't run one either, but my brother-in-law's instructor said you did, so we researched it.

 

I don't know if they've changed the law recently, or whatever, but now it seems you need one.

[Nitroholic]

As for bikes, IMO I'd never go bigger than a 600cc sports bike, anything else simply is excessive.

My last bike was a triumph street triple 675, I traded my gsxr 1000 as I was using 1st & 2nd everywhere!

 

Makes me feel old.... no such thing as Direct Access when I did my test!

 

When it comes to big bikes, though, size doesn;t always equate to power. Nor is all power delivered in the same way. A GSXR600 kicks out the same power as a 1200 Bandit .... but the Bandit will have a lot more torque and be a lot easier to ride. Won't need the revs, or be as fussy about what gear you are in The fli pside...it will weight a lot more and be a lot more of a handful in the corners. I like bigger, lazier motors. Less stress to ride, and always got enough power to go when you want to.

 

Never got into cruisers though. Feet forward just means a cold draft up your trouser legs! Coule that with overly long wheelbase, bouncy handling and poor brakes, and that's enough for me. Then there is all that chrome to polish.... not for me!

 

To put my taste in persepctive .... best bike I ever owned was a GSX1100 Katana. Closely followed by a brace of aircooled GPzs and a Guzzi LeMans.

[Bigjimknickers]

My favorite bike was my gsxr 750K1, best leather dianese, when I was slim, best helmet Arai chaser, I always have alpinestar gloves, & boots, sidi also do decent boots. Apparently you either ha e a shoei head or an Arai, Ive also had a raid, didn't get on with that.

[Feedtheinferno]

Yeah that was going to be my focus, spend good money on all of the protective gear as frankly I don't want to get hurt any more than is necessary and I especially won't be one of those idiots I have seen multiples of at the moment riding around in shorts and a tshirt.

 

Thanks for the advice though, around

[Nitroholic]

I'd agree on the Arai Chaser too... mines been excellent. I had the Original Shoei Raid...which I really liked. Was going to buy another, but found out htey had been discontinued. I tried the Raid II ... and really didn;t like it. Shape, fit and visibility all felt wrong. The salesperson suggested I tried an Arai...and that was that. Just felt 'right'.

 

Gloves...Alpinestar Jet Road ( black not flouro!!! ) Leather palms for protection...but the textile backs mean they dry quicker if they get wet. Goretex lined...which matters to me now

 

Boots ... I have had a few pairs of Sidi Courier.... but Alpinestar Tech 3 look nice. Was looking at a pair on Sunday as I have worn the big-toe area through on my right foot. Too many rapid traffic light getaways ( left foot handles the gears...right boot is the last thing to leave the deck....by which time you are already rolling!) 

 

Just replaced my horrid old trousers with Alpinestar Andes ones. Feel good so far. Old stuff was cheapo Frank Thomas rubbish. Breathable....not. I've sweated less in a Sauna! Alpinestars feel a lot nicer already.

Jacket is still the old FT one, which seems to do the job, but stinks like a dead badger on a hot day.  I've gone to textile for both, as they can be cleaned easier, and don;t require the attention leathers do. That and the fact that middle aged spread looks less embarassing when not crammed into race replica one piece leathers 

 

Morale of the story....don't dress like Valentino when shaped like Pavarotti!

[Oh How Original]

Yeah I didn't run one either, but my brother-in-law's instructor said you did, so we researched it.

 

I don't know if they've changed the law recently, or whatever, but now it seems you need one.

 

Could wel have changed since I did mine, it must be quite recent though because I was actually talking to a copper about this not too long ago when I was on about doing my bike test.

He's a bike cop as well.

[jake1*2011]

Yes you do need an L plate not the front of your bike, if you don't and you go for your test its an automatic fail because you are not prepared for the test. Police can stop you and fine/give you points for not displaying. The second bit is what the policeman on the bike said to me when i asked.

As far as bikes avoid anything Chinese/korean i.e. Hongdou, lexmoto, pulse, kymco, ajs, junling etc. You will only have problems and they will go wrong.

[Oh How Original]

Must have changed now then, I never had one and never even got told to put onen on, let alone fines/points etc... Rode round for over a year with just a rear one.