A complete biker newbie
Discussion
Hmm I suppose I need to update this now.
Went for my Mod2 at the beginning of the month and failed (nerves got the better of me and I b
ksed up a roundabout 
)
Went for my second attempt today. Got followed by an instructor in a Vauxhall Mokka and aside from stuffing up one of the questions at the beginning (which I am still really pissed about as I know the answer but just drew a blank at the time) I managed to get a pass with 1 minor (the aforementioned question).
Got back home, swapped the insurance over, got the bike taxed and got out on the road.
Got 30miles under my belt pottering around this evening (BONUS: Unlike the 125 it has lights that work in the dark
). It is a world away from the 125 (big surprise) and a lot twitchier than the CBF600 I had been riding for my test (narrower tyres and a less smooth throttle response). Will be taking it out to Aberystwyth tomorrow to go see the girlfriend so will get a proper chance to get to grips with it.
Went for my Mod2 at the beginning of the month and failed (nerves got the better of me and I b
ksed up a roundabout )Went for my second attempt today. Got followed by an instructor in a Vauxhall Mokka and aside from stuffing up one of the questions at the beginning (which I am still really pissed about as I know the answer but just drew a blank at the time) I managed to get a pass with 1 minor (the aforementioned question).
Got back home, swapped the insurance over, got the bike taxed and got out on the road.
Got 30miles under my belt pottering around this evening (BONUS: Unlike the 125 it has lights that work in the dark
). It is a world away from the 125 (big surprise) and a lot twitchier than the CBF600 I had been riding for my test (narrower tyres and a less smooth throttle response). Will be taking it out to Aberystwyth tomorrow to go see the girlfriend so will get a proper chance to get to grips with it.carmadgaz said:
Got 30miles under my belt pottering around this evening (BONUS: Unlike the 125 it has lights that work in the dark ). It is a world away from the 125 (big surprise) and a lot twitchier than the CBF600 I had been riding for my test (narrower tyres and a less smooth throttle response). Will be taking it out to Aberystwyth tomorrow to go see the girlfriend so will get a proper chance to get to grips with it.
How old are the tyres, and are they squared off in the middle? Congrats on passing your mod2 as well ). It is a world away from the 125 (big surprise) and a lot twitchier than the CBF600 I had been riding for my test (narrower tyres and a less smooth throttle response). Will be taking it out to Aberystwyth tomorrow to go see the girlfriend so will get a proper chance to get to grips with it.
Not quite Esceptico, about 20miles from the border but enough around here to make it fun
No idea, plenty of tread and no signs of age, just a little narrower than the ones on the Honda school bike and it's noticeable. Not quite as pointy as a new set but not squared off enough to need replacing. Judging by the dust worn off the tyres on the ride over to Aber today I can't see the chicken strips being challenged though
Had a good ride to Aber, sunny but I wish I'd left my winter glove liners in. That and the narrower seat on the GS500 meant certain parts got a little squished
Mr2Mike said:
How old are the tyres, and are they squared off in the middle? Congrats on passing your mod2 as well
Thanks Mike. No idea, plenty of tread and no signs of age, just a little narrower than the ones on the Honda school bike and it's noticeable. Not quite as pointy as a new set but not squared off enough to need replacing. Judging by the dust worn off the tyres on the ride over to Aber today I can't see the chicken strips being challenged though
Had a good ride to Aber, sunny but I wish I'd left my winter glove liners in. That and the narrower seat on the GS500 meant certain parts got a little squished
My little GS125 is sold 
. Took it for an early MOT this morning (would run out early July but wanted to sell with a full ticket). Clean pass (after a bulb change).
My boss was right, buy a second hand Jap, sold 'er for slightly more than I paid 10 months ago (allowing for the new battery, front forks and various other bits means it's cost me about £60 in all!)
Felt hilariously small after a week and 250 miles on the 500, I'm definitely glad I went on to do the DAS rather than stick on a CBT but I'll still miss the little toy bike when it goes. At least it's going to a mate so I'll still see it on a regular basis (yes I realise this makes me sound like a sad fk but 'er was my first!)
. Took it for an early MOT this morning (would run out early July but wanted to sell with a full ticket). Clean pass (after a bulb change).My boss was right, buy a second hand Jap, sold 'er for slightly more than I paid 10 months ago (allowing for the new battery, front forks and various other bits means it's cost me about £60 in all!)
Felt hilariously small after a week and 250 miles on the 500, I'm definitely glad I went on to do the DAS rather than stick on a CBT but I'll still miss the little toy bike when it goes. At least it's going to a mate so I'll still see it on a regular basis (yes I realise this makes me sound like a sad f
k but 'er was my first!)
Don't say that, I want the little un cherished
Had a small issue today, brake had seized on when it was stood and seemed a little stiff, being an idiot I thought "Ahh it'll free up after a bit of use"
Got it home today and thought I better take a look. I'm bloody glad I did!
I thought my old Escort had had them worn down to the limit but this was rather alarming
Had a small issue today, brake had seized on when it was stood and seemed a little stiff, being an idiot I thought "Ahh it'll free up after a bit of use"
Got it home today and thought I better take a look. I'm bloody glad I did!
I thought my old Escort had had them worn down to the limit but this was rather alarming
carmadgaz said:
My boss was right, buy a second hand Jap, sold 'er for slightly more than I paid 10 months ago (allowing for the new battery, front forks and various other bits means it's cost me about £60 in all!)
Good result 
Far better than dragging the rusty carcass of a Chinese bike down to the scrap metal yard.Cheers for posting your experiences - I'm in the same situation and have decided this is the year to get started on my licence. Managed to get a jacket, gloves, trousers and boots for £30 from someone at work so just need to find a helmet (any recommendations?) and do my CBT. Depending on how that goes I was planning to try and avoid buying a 125 to practice on and just go for an intensive 5 day DAS course before buying something in the 600 region to get some time on, but I'm keen to see what others think of that idea? Does the extra experience on a 125 make everything else easier?
darthdicky said:
Cheers for posting your experiences - I'm in the same situation and have decided this is the year to get started on my licence. Managed to get a jacket, gloves, trousers and boots for £30 from someone at work so just need to find a helmet (any recommendations?) and do my CBT. Depending on how that goes I was planning to try and avoid buying a 125 to practice on and just go for an intensive 5 day DAS course before buying something in the 600 region to get some time on, but I'm keen to see what others think of that idea? Does the extra experience on a 125 make everything else easier?
You're welcome DD, A little bloggy type thread came in handy for advice from some of the longer standing members of the 2 wheel community and I was hoping it might come in useful for people such as yourself 
A few comments over on this thread are worth a read too for someone starting out.
It all seems to be a very personal thing. I was quite tense on the bike at first and if I hadn't of had the time on the 125 it would of taken me a lot longer on my lesson. Another mate went for an intensive course, failed Mod1 2x and has just (literally 10min ago) trailered away my 125 so he can have some time getting comfortable on the bike before he goes for it again.
'tis also a nice feeling after 9/10months of riding a 125 to be able to then pass your test and jump on your 'big' bike feeling like you've earnt it
Go and try the lids on is my best recommendation. Different style lids (even with the same manufacturer) can adjust which size you need (My Nolan lid is a large but my mate's Nolan lid is a Medium and fits me just as well!)
Sure someone with more experience will be able to tell you more on the lid front, the SHARP ratings website is quite interesting (Like EuroNCAP for skid lids)
carmadgaz said:
Ahh yes "Don't touch the brakes" is a fun game to play until it becomes a necessity! I did it for 25 miles back from Hereford and I was glad to return to base! Coming back all the way from Spain sounds like hell 
Lucky the back brake is quite good on mine, used those pads up too oddly enough.Hooli said:
carmadgaz said:
Ahh yes "Don't touch the brakes" is a fun game to play until it becomes a necessity! I did it for 25 miles back from Hereford and I was glad to return to base! Coming back all the way from Spain sounds like hell
Lucky the back brake is quite good on mine, used those pads up too oddly enough. . I have tried to practice with the back brake in an emergency but I really need a longer pedal (or a bigger bike) as I have to consciously turn my foot in before I can use the rear brake on the 500 
Been out for a ride with a mate who has just bought a 125 (MY old 125) and really enjoyed it. He has already started on his DAS training and while he wasn't getting away from me he wasn't holding me up either. Glad the old girl has gone to a good home
darthdicky said:
Cheers for posting your experiences - I'm in the same situation and have decided this is the year to get started on my licence. Managed to get a jacket, gloves, trousers and boots for £30 from someone at work so just need to find a helmet (any recommendations?) and do my CBT. Depending on how that goes I was planning to try and avoid buying a 125 to practice on and just go for an intensive 5 day DAS course before buying something in the 600 region to get some time on, but I'm keen to see what others think of that idea? Does the extra experience on a 125 make everything else easier?
Regarding buying a helmet, they're a fairly personal thing so your best bet is to go to a shop and try a few on. Not all sizes and fits are comparable so you'll need to try some firsthand and see what suits you. If you're looking to keep an eye on the budget, there are plenty of decent helmets in the £100-£120 range. I think my Nitro full face helmet was about £120 and has some decent features (chin and forehead air vents, flip down sun visor etc etc). I've also got a Shoei Raid II that is about twice the price and comes with a pinlock visor, it's lighter but doesn't feel like it should be worth twice what the other helmet is - some lids punch above their weight! With regards to buying a 125, it really depends on what suits you best. If you're happy to take your time with learning, then they're a great tool. Commuting at over 100mpg with minuscule VEL cost will pocket you cash you can put towards a big bike in future and you shouldn't lose much cash, if anything, on resale. I rode a CG125 for almost a year before starting DAS because buying one was an easy stopgap for replacing the car I had sold. I definitely felt the benefit of a few thousand miles on that when I moved up to the big bikes, mainly because the big bikes are much easier to ride and your well practised drills on the 125 will transfer over. Riding my CG125 has been cheap and enjoyable for the most part, although now having ridden bigger bikes on the road, I don't have much affection for the 125 class and wouldn't want to ride one again in a hurry. So yeah, it was nice to be able to get going quickly on the DAS lessons without being in a fumbling panic about what to do with the bike, because it feels like you're just consolidating skills that are already learned, rather than learning off the bat on something big and liable to tip over with ease.
If it sounds like I'm staunchly advocating 125's, I'm not. If you're prepared to take a little longer on DAS and importantly, do some yard work before hitting the road again, you can skip that phase without too much worry. You'll probably start a DAS course on a 125 anyway and won't graduate to the 500 or 600 type bikes until you've shown you've got the basics right on the 125, so it may be a case of practice in your own time, or practice with an instructor.
They are a great stopgap though, and on the right roads can be fun. On an open D/C with lorries flying past you, they're bearable but dull. They aren't scary, or 'so slow they're scary' but they're not laugh out loud fun either. On twisty little backroads, you can really lean them down and muscle them about which is mildly entertaining, but mostly they seem to get used for commuting around town, for which they are ideal. If you find yourself at the top end of the age for a licence category and wish to get some riding in without having to do two tests, since you could feasibly buy a 125, ride it for a bit and sell it on easily once you're of age.
Cheers guys, that's really helpful. I did the CBT yesterday and the instructors advice was that I'd probably benefit from some more time on a 125 which I think I agree with. He let me keep the bike for the afternoon so I had a good 3-4 hours to head out and get more used to it and whilst I'm quite happy riding it, I think more time to get used to doing things instinctively rather than having to think it though will make the test far easier and give me more confidence when I'm being assessed. I've got a car that I have to use for work (lease scheme, business miles etc.) so it'll just be to go out and practice on but if I can get one at a good price (anyone in the South West selling one?) and sell it on for only a little less then it's probably worth it. Who's good for insurance for learners over the age of 30?
To be honest the 125 was quite fun on the roads out across Dartmoor upto about 40mph, beyond that it didn't feel so comfortable and it really struggled on the hills - in fact my Land Rover goes up some of those hills faster!
To be honest the 125 was quite fun on the roads out across Dartmoor upto about 40mph, beyond that it didn't feel so comfortable and it really struggled on the hills - in fact my Land Rover goes up some of those hills faster!
darthdicky said:
Cheers guys, that's really helpful. I did the CBT yesterday and the instructors advice was that I'd probably benefit from some more time on a 125 which I think I agree with. He let me keep the bike for the afternoon so I had a good 3-4 hours to head out and get more used to it and whilst I'm quite happy riding it, I think more time to get used to doing things instinctively rather than having to think it though will make the test far easier and give me more confidence when I'm being assessed. I've got a car that I have to use for work (lease scheme, business miles etc.) so it'll just be to go out and practice on but if I can get one at a good price (anyone in the South West selling one?) and sell it on for only a little less then it's probably worth it. Who's good for insurance for learners over the age of 30?
To be honest the 125 was quite fun on the roads out across Dartmoor upto about 40mph, beyond that it didn't feel so comfortable and it really struggled on the hills - in fact my Land Rover goes up some of those hills faster!
It can take a while to get used to it, that's why I did it the long way. A good little Jap bike shouldn't lose you any money (sold mine for £50 more than I paid!) and there are a few about sub £1k. I found at 26 HnR were the cheapest.To be honest the 125 was quite fun on the roads out across Dartmoor upto about 40mph, beyond that it didn't feel so comfortable and it really struggled on the hills - in fact my Land Rover goes up some of those hills faster!
Sounds like a dull 125, my Suzi would sit at 50 pretty much anywhere (but topped out around 58 downhill), certainly brisker than my Landie!
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