Clueless about how to get licenced.
Discussion
CBT one day with riding school self certifying at the end of the day all done on cheap 125cc bikes/scooters.
MOD 1 and 2, 3 to 5 days on bigger bikes with 2 external exams (excluding Theory) to pay for in fee (£35 and £65 approx for MOD 1 and 2 respectively) so on a day by day training basis with fees and bikes included most work out similar. £600 minus test fees £100= £500/4 (average) = £125/day.
£135 for CBT
£600- £700 for MOD 1 & 2.
Re licence issues; the old gits like me that used to have the right to ride 250cc on L plates as a provisional this disapeared decades ago, and I believe no one can ride a 125 without a CBT, though because of my age I could have ridden a 50cc.
The OP clearly stsed that he had a full car licence therefore did not need to apply for a new provisional licence. Yes its a provisional through the stated sections included in teh paper supplement, but he doesnt need to 'apply' for e new 'Provisional' licence.
MOD 1 and 2, 3 to 5 days on bigger bikes with 2 external exams (excluding Theory) to pay for in fee (£35 and £65 approx for MOD 1 and 2 respectively) so on a day by day training basis with fees and bikes included most work out similar. £600 minus test fees £100= £500/4 (average) = £125/day.
£135 for CBT
£600- £700 for MOD 1 & 2.
Re licence issues; the old gits like me that used to have the right to ride 250cc on L plates as a provisional this disapeared decades ago, and I believe no one can ride a 125 without a CBT, though because of my age I could have ridden a 50cc.
The OP clearly stsed that he had a full car licence therefore did not need to apply for a new provisional licence. Yes its a provisional through the stated sections included in teh paper supplement, but he doesnt need to 'apply' for e new 'Provisional' licence.
I wonder how this thread would have gone in 1979:
Turn 17, get a prov licence, buy a Honda 250 Superdream and stick on L plates.
Book your test, get a date within about 2 months, try not to die in the interim period.
Turn up for test, drive round the block, don't fall off.
Bloke will step out to test your emergency stop skills, but because he knows you have none and he doesn't want to die, he'll step out about 200 yards ahead. Accelerate towards him before you do your stop or he won't see it.
Get pass certificate, buy Honda CBX. Moan about paying £150 for comp cover. Reduce to tpft but don't tell finance co.
Die, leaving finance co to hassle loan guarantor for the money owing on the bike.
Turn 17, get a prov licence, buy a Honda 250 Superdream and stick on L plates.
Book your test, get a date within about 2 months, try not to die in the interim period.
Turn up for test, drive round the block, don't fall off.
Bloke will step out to test your emergency stop skills, but because he knows you have none and he doesn't want to die, he'll step out about 200 yards ahead. Accelerate towards him before you do your stop or he won't see it.
Get pass certificate, buy Honda CBX. Moan about paying £150 for comp cover. Reduce to tpft but don't tell finance co.
Die, leaving finance co to hassle loan guarantor for the money owing on the bike.
Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Sunday 21st December 19:44
mini1380cc said:
Thanks guys all very helpful. I'm limited to 125 at the moment until i convince my girlfriend i wont go crashing through the pearly gates, which given my car history is quite possible. Its only to commute through Edinburgh at this stage anyway.... that is until the bug bites.
Anyone bought a 600cc then used a heat gun to take off the stickers in a vain attempt at convincing your other half you still have a 125?
Send your girlfriend over the Forth Bridge to me and I'll convince her. Anyone bought a 600cc then used a heat gun to take off the stickers in a vain attempt at convincing your other half you still have a 125?
Seriously - I see she's prone to the usual fallacy of small and slow = safer. This is not the case, especially if you're riding on Edinburgh's cobbled streets in the wet and avoiding getting stuck in tramlines. Also, you've made no mention of your physical size. If you're anything approaching a big guy, you will, as an old friend of mine used to say, look like a cowboy riding an Alsatian. In any event, you'll be safer and more comfortable on something a bit bigger with proper sized tyres and brakes and with decent lights and a bit of road presence. For commuting and bopping around Edinburgh, a 500 cc twin would be a good place to start; possibly a Honda CB500 or 500S if you can find one. Edited by Schtum on Sunday 21st December 23:40
Schtum said:
a 500 cc twin would be a good place to start; possibly a Honda CB500 or 500S if you can find one.
Good shout to be fair, I had one as a 'first big bike' and loved it. Kinda like a 125 on steroids, it went well when wound up but below 8000rpm it'll plod along nicely without doing anything to surprise you or catch you out. Light and easy to chuck about, enough power to get you up to a steady 80-90 without fuss so will handle faster roads with ease. I was considering a 125 when I wanted to get back on two wheels but when I looked about anything half decent that haddnt been shagged was £1000+ Even then, I'd be looking at a basic YBR or something small, for something larger I would be looking at nearer £2000. After looking, I got the CB for £750 and paid £600 for the DAS I ended up only spending a bit more than a cheap 125 would have been but no more CBT every couple of years and no more stuck at 55mph into a headwind. Nigel Worc's said:
Is it the case that EVERYONE without a full motorcycle licence needs to do a CBT before they ride a bike on L plates ?
See No. 2 - https://www.gov.uk/rules-motorcyclists-83-to-88/mo...
Schtum said:
Also, you've made no mention of your physical size. If you're anything approaching a big guy, you will, as an old friend of mine used to say, look like a cowboy riding an Alsatian.
I'm 6'1, normal build weighing 13 stone. Checking the classified has made me realize there are so many choices. I think i'm in the minority that likes the look of the Suzuki Van Van. I would look like a gorilla riding a kids trike around the circus stage though.Are Yamaha DT125's just a stupid idea for road riding? I like them too.
My OH is finding the idea of a 125 hard enough, so much so she wants me to get proper life insurance and get my will sorted out........ and she finally gets the puppy she wants.
Edited by mini1380cc on Monday 22 December 10:21
mini1380cc said:
I'm 6'1, normal build weighing 13 stone. Checking the classified has made me realize there are so many choices. I think i'm in the minority that likes the look of the Suzuki Van Van. I would look like a gorilla riding a kids trike around the circus stage though.
Are Yamaha DT125's just a stupid idea for road riding? I like them too.
My OH is finding the idea of a 125 hard enough, so much so she wants me to get proper life insurance and get my will sorted out........ and she finally gets the puppy she wants.
A female friend of mine had a Van Van when I met her. She used to commute from SQ into Endiburgh on it. It took me a while to prise her off that onto a BMW F650 GS twin which she loved. I had the misfortune to ride an old CB 125T recently. Back in its day it was the quickest 4-stroke 125 and reputed to do 80 mph. I was appalled at how slow it was, struggling to hold 60 mph on anything but a level road. Let me reiterate - you'd be much safer on a bigger bike that goes, stops and handles better. 125's are far too subject to winds, road surfaces and aren't quick enough for you to get yourself out of the way of idiot drivers when necessary. Are Yamaha DT125's just a stupid idea for road riding? I like them too.
My OH is finding the idea of a 125 hard enough, so much so she wants me to get proper life insurance and get my will sorted out........ and she finally gets the puppy she wants.
Edited by mini1380cc on Monday 22 December 10:21
Having ridden for over 40 years, I like to think I know what I'm talking about. When I started, in the 70's, you bought a 250 fitted your L plates and rode away from the dealers with them fitted until you decided to do your test. I bought a new Ducati 250 single which was good for just over 90 mph and very soon I was flogging it mercilessly just to stay ahead of traffic and to maintain a reasonable speed up hills and into headwinds on regular trips up and down the A7 from Edinburgh to the Borders. I was young and fit and a bit wild but it certainly wasn't a relaxing way to ride a motorcycle. Your OH seems to have a naïve equivalence that larger capacity = more dangerous. She's wrong.
mini1380cc said:
I'm 6'1, normal build weighing 13 stone. Checking the classified has made me realize there are so many choices. I think i'm in the minority that likes the look of the Suzuki Van Van. I would look like a gorilla riding a kids trike around the circus stage though.
Are Yamaha DT125's just a stupid idea for road riding? I like them too.
My OH is finding the idea of a 125 hard enough, so much so she wants me to get proper life insurance and get my will sorted out........ and she finally gets the puppy she wants.
OP, I'm the same size as you (well, 15 stone) and did my CBT a few months back so I'll tell you what I know.Are Yamaha DT125's just a stupid idea for road riding? I like them too.
My OH is finding the idea of a 125 hard enough, so much so she wants me to get proper life insurance and get my will sorted out........ and she finally gets the puppy she wants.
Edited by mini1380cc on Monday 22 December 10:21
The CBT is easy, really easy. Get a decent instructor and listen to their advice and you shouldn't have any issues. Most people struggle with two things; balance and low speed cornering. Get those sussed and you'll be away.
Do it on a manual; 100% the best thing to do. I've done my CBT twice and it was far more enjoyable on a manual. It also doesn't limit your options like an auto.
If you really really must have a 125cc for a while, have a look at a Honda CBF125. We used these as our training bikes and it was just the right size for someone my height and build.
In all honesty though, once you've done your CBT, look to do your DAS. I did my CBT in September and my DAS is booked for early Feb 15. My instructor reckons (as do many others) that a bigger bike is a fair bit safer than a 125.
I did similar - CBT in March this year, bought a varadero 125 in April (I'm 6ft 3in, 12 stone), racked up 5000 miles before doing a 3 day DAS in October (passed first time) and I've done over 7000 miles on the baby vara now since April. I'm chopping it in for a CB400 super four VTEC (52bhp) in a weeks time. Had test rides on a Ducati Monster 821 (112BHP) and also rode an NC750, MT07 and ER6N on my DAS.
Do I regret spending 6 months on a 125? Not at all. Doing 200 miles a week brought my riding on loads, on the 125 I'm confident filtering through tight gaps and I'll happily sit on the motorway for a couple of hours on it. However, after so many miles, the lack of performance and somehat dodgy overtakes you end up doing if you want to make progress take their toll, and you'll give anything for a bit more power.
I've gone for a cheaper bike and the CB400 in particular as insurance is cheaper than my 125, running costs are cheap too (50+ mpg) - come summer I'll probably look at a second "weekend" bike to go alongside the fun & cheap commuter.
Do I regret spending 6 months on a 125? Not at all. Doing 200 miles a week brought my riding on loads, on the 125 I'm confident filtering through tight gaps and I'll happily sit on the motorway for a couple of hours on it. However, after so many miles, the lack of performance and somehat dodgy overtakes you end up doing if you want to make progress take their toll, and you'll give anything for a bit more power.
I've gone for a cheaper bike and the CB400 in particular as insurance is cheaper than my 125, running costs are cheap too (50+ mpg) - come summer I'll probably look at a second "weekend" bike to go alongside the fun & cheap commuter.
mini1380cc said:
I'm 6'1, normal build weighing 13 stone. Checking the classified has made me realize there are so many choices. I think i'm in the minority that likes the look of the Suzuki Van Van. I would look like a gorilla riding a kids trike around the circus stage though.
Try one, I had a Yamaha TW125 when I was 17, same kinda style bike. Not quick, done about 50 flat out but reliable and comfortable. Although it had a low seat hight I didnt look silly on it, basic cheap motoring. Edited by mini1380cc on Monday 22 December 10:21
6'2" and 13 stone here and currently pootling around on a Suzuki GS125 with no issues
CBT is easy enough once you get the hang of where the controls are. Did mine a few months ago, now got my theory booked for the 29th (down to £25 now) and I've been quoted £515 for a 3day DAS test in the New Year (inc. test fees).
Mate has fallen off his a few times, I came off mine once at 0mph but all of that was due to rider stupidity rather than 'bike being dangerous
CBT is easy enough once you get the hang of where the controls are. Did mine a few months ago, now got my theory booked for the 29th (down to £25 now) and I've been quoted £515 for a 3day DAS test in the New Year (inc. test fees).
Mate has fallen off his a few times, I came off mine once at 0mph but all of that was due to rider stupidity rather than 'bike being dangerous
Local Yamaha dealer is doing CBTS for £99 just now so I'll be calling them tomorrow, possibly with doing the full DAS. After an entire day on bike dealer and youtube I have somehow got more confused and looking at ninja 300's and honda cbr 500r.
That's right I have bugged her past the point of caring.
That's right I have bugged her past the point of caring.
mini1380cc said:
Local Yamaha dealer is doing CBTS for £99 just now so I'll be calling them tomorrow, possibly with doing the full DAS. After an entire day on bike dealer and youtube I have somehow got more confused and looking at ninja 300's and honda cbr 500r.
That's right I have bugged her past the point of caring.
Bargain (to both parts) That's right I have bugged her past the point of caring.
I had a GPZ500. Bloody marvellous bike it was. Wish I'd never sold it now.
Not that the NC700 isn't better for what I need, but the trade in was basically f
k all.
Look for a Gen 2 GPZ if you do go for it. The front wheel's slightly bigger and the alternator magnets don't fall off and ruin the engine. Also I hear the gearboxes are stronger.
Not that the NC700 isn't better for what I need, but the trade in was basically f
k all.Look for a Gen 2 GPZ if you do go for it. The front wheel's slightly bigger and the alternator magnets don't fall off and ruin the engine. Also I hear the gearboxes are stronger.
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