Sports car to Bike

[Nersha]

I'm running an Integra dc5 type-r at the moment, but due to work this is getting a 500 miles/week added to the clock. I'm considering selling up and buying a bog standard diesel as a workhorse, then a bike for fun and good weather.

I've had it instilled into me from a young age that motorcycling will result in an untimely death or maiming - so I'm wanting to do this in the safest way possible. Looking at doing a course like http://www.ridertraining.biz/staged-access (direct access is off the cards as I'm not 24+).

I'm just after a bit of advice or recommendations for someone in my position, what you wish you would have known, best steps to learn properly etc.

Cheers
Matt

[Nersha]

Mastodon2 said:

I sold my EP3 to take up biking. It was without a doubt the best motoring decision I've ever made. How long would you have to wait to do DAS? I think you'd be better off going for DAS, less hassle than doing A2, buying an A2-friendly bike and then having to do another test for a full licence, and then selling the A2 bike.

Just under 2 years before I could do DAS. Was thinking more along the lines of a 600 with restrictor to conform to A2 license.. Should be plenty fast enough for the first couple of years? Then the option of losing the restriction or changing bike.

[Nersha]

Thanks for the replies.. I'm gonna book the 6 day course and go for the a2 license. I don't think a 125 would keep me entertained for 2 years so I won't be waiting for direct access.
Regards to the bike, an unrestricted aprilia rs125 sounds fun but the reliability concerns me. Don't want to be rebuilding the engine all the time

What about gear choices? I'm thinking of going full alpine star / dainese despite the price as I value my limbs..

Lastly integra performance or sports car w.e you wanna call it just wanted a decent topic title!!

[Nersha]

FunkyNige said:

What can you ride on the A2 licence? When I first had my SV650 it was restricted to 33HP (they were the rules back then, I haven't kept up to date with the changes) and that was still faster than most cars on the road at legal speeds. Above 90 it started running out of puff but it certainly felt quick up to then!

In terms of gear I'm not sure the big brands offer that much more protection than the mid-range stuff, the Hein Gericke own brand clothing used to get decent reviews (my HG boots are still going strong after about 6 years). If you can get to Peterborough on the 17/18th May there's the BMF show that's got loads of stalls all in one place so you can try on lots of gear and see which suits you best.

A2 licence is 47bhp and under a certain power/weight ratio. And if the bike is limited it can't have over 94bhp in standard form.
As to the bike.. I've always liked the look of KTMs, and as suggested earlier in this thread I've got my eye on KTM Duke 390. Like how it's lightweight so should be easy to handle as a newb, and has enough power to keep me going for 2 years while learning. This has ~43bhp but due to it's low weight has to be restricted by a meager 1.5bhp to conform to the power to weight of a2 licence.

I'm away on holiday mid May so won't be able to make that show unfortunately.