New Rider

[guards red]

Hi biking chums,

I have never ridden a motorbike in my life but, as I am losing my car parking space at work, I was thinking of purchasing a motorbike.

I'm in my early 50's and have driven car for most of my adult life so over 30 years. I consider myself reasonably road savvy and drive defensively assuming my fellow road users are likely to anything at anytime.

I don't particularly want to spend ages going through the various sizes and want to take an intensive course that will allow me to ride anything at the end of the period. Direct Access I think they call it. About £1200 including the loan of a bike. Is this a reasonable idea?

I would like to get a decent bike from the get go as I'm likely to keep it a while, perhaps a BMW of even a Ducati. Is this the height of stupidity? What can I expect in terms of insurance?

Welcome any thoughts, please be gentle as the above may be properly foolish for those of you with experience.

Cheers.

[Dog Star]

Get what you want as long as you're happy with it and appreciate that if you are commuting on it then it might be a bit of an arse with regard to maintenance eg. Ducati and tyres.

Someone will be along and will try and talk you into having some dull as ditchwater urban shopping bike "to start with" with the justification that "you will drop" your bike. No you won't, unless you are weak, or a midget.

[black-k1]

Doing direct access is certainly the best way, assuming the finances allow. While it's nice to think about what bike you might like, don't get too attached to anything just yet. Wait until you've had a change to try a few different makes and a few different styles.

[Dakkon]

Yes, do your direct access, you just have to do your test on a bike over 500cc to then have a license to allow you to ride any bike.

Also consider that you will likely have to do your theory test again and that will include a separate hazard perception test as well, so allow time to get that done as well as the practical bike test.

As for bikes, honestly, just buy the bike you like best. You are far more likely to enjoy riding if you are on a bike that you like.

If you are going to be commuting year round then gortex gear is best, but there is a price premium for it, so buy as budget allows.

Do it, bikes are awesome

[anonymous-user]

guards red said:

Hi biking chums,

I have never ridden a motorbike in my life but, as I am losing my car parking space at work, I was thinking of purchasing a motorbike.

I'm in my early 50's and have driven car for most of my adult life so over 30 years. I consider myself reasonably road savvy and drive defensively assuming my fellow road users are likely to anything at anytime.

I don't particularly want to spend ages going through the various sizes and want to take an intensive course that will allow me to ride anything at the end of the period. Direct Access I think they call it. About £1200 including the loan of a bike. Is this a reasonable idea?

I would like to get a decent bike from the get go as I'm likely to keep it a while, perhaps a BMW of even a Ducati. Is this the height of stupidity? What can I expect in terms of insurance?

Welcome any thoughts, please be gentle as the above may be properly foolish for those of you with experience.

Cheers.

Do it, and buy the bike you like the look/sound/feel of. Life is short, have some fun.

I did it this year at 35, haven't ridden anything over a 50cc scooter since I was 16.

I did an intense CBT/DAS course over the summer. Booked my theory test (and felt 17 again revising on the train or wherever I had a spare 10 mins!). Passed the theory first time. Had fun on the 125cc CBT day, but it wasn't until my first Mod 1 training day on the big bike that it clicked. The bigger bike was so much easier to ride, more stable, better brakes, obviously quicker.

A memory that will stick with me forever... My second Mod 2 training day with my instructor (ex-military, and Ducati fanboy) was following me on a wide, well sighted A-road. Bluetooth radio'd up, we were coming up to a Doris in a Nissan Micra pottering below the speed limit. I'd positioned myself for an overtake, checked ahead and behind were clear, but hesitated because I wasn't sure if I should be doing it on a lesson, and whether my instructor would approve.

A fraction of a second later I get a 'We're clear, DO IT' in my earpiece, my instructor had predicted exactly what I wanted to do and was happy that it was safe. I didn't need a second invitation, and that was my first experience of third gear wide open throttle on a 650cc bike. I haven't felt acceleration like it, and from that point onwards I was hooked.

I passed my Mod 1 and Mod 2 first time, and went out and bought a Ducati Monster.

Life is good

[RizzoTheRat]

If you've never ridden before consider doing the CBT first to check it's for you before signing up for an intensive course, or see if there's anywhere near you doing the "Get On" scheme to have a short go on a bike.

If your main purpose is for commuting then I second the above advice about goretex. Make sure you budget enough for decent kit as there's nothing that will put you off rising as fast as being cold, wet and uncomfortable.

Also consider the type of bike, something with half decent weather protection is a must for commuting IMO, a Monster or Street Triple might be an awesome bike on a nice day on the right road, but on the M25 in February you'll want a reasonable faring Try and get a decent test ride before buying as different people favour different riding positions. If I were to try commuting on a sports bike I'd be spending more on chiropracters than on insurance, but others find them perfectly comfortable.

[mattwade24]

Go for it! £1200 seems fairly reasonable considering you've never ridden before.

In terms of bike, go and get whatever you fancy or feel comfortable on, the Ducati may become quite costly to commute on though, but if that's what you want...

Even the "lesser powered" bikes you learn on will still feel bloody quick compared to cars you've driven.

I done my direct access at 24 earlier this year and against most advice I went straight onto a GSXR K8 1000cc, no problems.

Good luck with it all if you go for it!

[SR7492]

This is what I would say as this is the approach I took:

Do your CBT
Buy a 125cc until your pass your test
Pass your Theory
Mod 1 lessons & Test
Mod 2 lessons & Test

(Last two can be done as a combined DAS course as mentioned)

Once passed, sell the 125cc and get a bike you like (I bought a 2011 GSXR750 :-) )

Riding the 125cc will give you good experience on the bike i.e. ride sense/filtering etc but don't get too attached to it - bigger bikes are much better/more fun but equally more dangerous.

Good luck!

[RichTT]

Mac. said:

haven't felt acceleration like it, and from that point onwards I was hooked.

Hah similar story to me. Just been riding for two years now, instructor was keen on a lot of NSL back roads that I just loved, and the first time I was on the dual carriageway, and rather swiftly took the bike up to 70, had me hooked.

[Lee_sec]

Go for it! you wont regret it - I went through my Direct Access having never ridden this year and love being on my bike...

£1200 is a lot for a DAS course- mine was in the £650 region all in (bike hire, kit hire etc) with a CBT on top of that... or are you looking at a one week compressed version? still seems high...

[anonymous-user]

My DAS price breakdown was as follows:

- CBT Day £100
- Theory Test £23
- Mod 1 Training (1 Day) £150
- Mod 1 Test £65.50
- Mod 2 Training (2 Days) £300
- Mod 2 Test (£125)

Total £763.50

This included bike hire, fuel, insurance and equipment (although I chose to wear my own helmet/gloves/jacket)

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 5th December 13:43

[Gavia]

guards red said:

Hi biking chums,

I have never ridden a motorbike in my life but, as I am losing my car parking space at work, I was thinking of purchasing a motorbike.

I'm in my early 50's and have driven car for most of my adult life so over 30 years. I consider myself reasonably road savvy and drive defensively assuming my fellow road users are likely to anything at anytime.

I don't particularly want to spend ages going through the various sizes and want to take an intensive course that will allow me to ride anything at the end of the period. Direct Access I think they call it. About £1200 including the loan of a bike. Is this a reasonable idea?

I would like to get a decent bike from the get go as I'm likely to keep it a while, perhaps a BMW of even a Ducati. Is this the height of stupidity? What can I expect in terms of insurance?

Welcome any thoughts, please be gentle as the above may be properly foolish for those of you with experience.

Cheers.

If this mainly for commuting, as you’re losing your parking space, then what sort of bike do you want? It’s all well and good saying a BMW or a Ducati, but they make a wide range of bikes, from the pretty much unsuitable sportsbikes, through naked bikes and onto the huge tourers, which I don’t think are particularly practical either.

It’s st to ride at this time of year too, there will be 3 months of the year at least where you have to be a masochist to want to ride and then there’ll be the usual storms, even in summer.

There won’t be a problem getting your licence, hopefully. You will have to do theory tests though amd other new fangled things, as well as CBT and the two modules. Being a car driver is about as relevant as having baked some cakes in your teenage years

Insurance will be pretty good, but more than you’re used to paying on a car due to lack of experience. Unless you’re in London, in which case it will be obscene amd your shiny new bike will be stolen before the end of the first week’s commuting.

[moanthebairns]

You could always get the bus

[Dakkon]

moanthebairns said:

You could always get the bus

Bus wker

[thatdude]

Any bike can be fun, so go and look at lots of them. I think for the every day commute something "sensible" is a good option, maybe something japanese (cheap to maintain, reliable). But if I were in a position to buy a new bike, I think I might be looking at those BMW R-nine-T's. Very cool.

If you go down the route of getting a bike, one of the really important things for the daily commute is riding kit - consider textile (goretex) stuff. You can wear it comfortably over your work clothes (I do), and in the summer you can take out the inner linings and be a bit cooler.

[shoestring7]

Well worth you checking out BMW's scheme:

https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/Offers/RookietoR...

I'm pretty sure they also run a Direct Access for >24s too, last year the bike was an F800R.

SS7

[mgv8]

It's your call, but as a first bike, I would not go for something basic. Once you get the feel for what you like and then you will know what works for you. My path was 600cc for just over a year then 1300cc. You can go out and jump on a S1000RR but just not much point and being new to riding there is a good chance is will be on the ground at some point (even if its as stilly as being on soft ground when putting the stand down). Its more about getting something while you work out what you realy want.

[Gavia]

Dog Star said:

Get what you want as long as you're happy with it and appreciate that if you are commuting on it then it might be a bit of an arse with regard to maintenance eg. Ducati and tyres.

Someone will be along and will try and talk you into having some dull as ditchwater urban shopping bike "to start with" with the justification that "you will drop" your bike. No you won't, unless you are weak, or a midget.

Amd here is said someone, with a load of st advice.

mgv8 said:

It's your call, but as a first bike, I would not go for something basic. Once you get the feel for what you like and then you will know what works for you. My path was 600cc for just over a year then 1300cc. You can go out and jump on a S1000RR but just not much point and being new to riding there is a good chance is will be on the ground at some point (even if its as stilly as being on soft ground when putting the stand down). Its more about getting something while you work out what you realy want.

1300cc what? Are you one of those can’t ride for st Hayabusa owners?

[crofty1984]

Worth having a proper think about what you're going to use it for and get your favourite bike of the dozen or so that fit the bill.
I've got three classics and while I COULD commute on them at this time of year I'm in the car. Corrosion/reliability/no fairing or heated grips/the faff of kick starting at 7am in the cold and dark...
Therefore next year I'm selling one to get something a bit more practical. I like the look of the gsx650f. Basically a bandit with a fairing.
That said, a bike is a heart over head purchase for most of us, so you still need to buy something you WANT, not some sensible committing solution.

[ozzuk]

SR7492 said:

This is what I would say as this is the approach I took:

Do your CBT
Buy a 125cc until your pass your test
Pass your Theory
Mod 1 lessons & Test
Mod 2 lessons & Test

(Last two can be done as a combined DAS course as mentioned)

Once passed, sell the 125cc and get a bike you like (I bought a 2011 GSXR750 :-) )

Riding the 125cc will give you good experience on the bike i.e. ride sense/filtering etc but don't get too attached to it - bigger bikes are much better/more fun but equally more dangerous.

Good luck!

This is my exact approach, I have my mod 2 next week. Started the process in September, takes ages due to test availability (and failing mod 1 first time). I'm glad I got a 125, its a crap lexmoto but meant I could easily rack up some bike time and figure things out for myself. Not sure I'd fancy a week long course - if you do then check what happens if you fail mod 1 as its really easy to fail! There is a 10 day period before you can rebook (at least at my test center).

I was originally going for a laid back bike - the Kawasaki Vulcan S, zero apr at the moment. But after learning on a suzuki sv 650 I decided I liked the upright position so I've put a deposit down on a new tracer 700 with full winter pack. Its got very good reviews, and a lot of bike for not a lot of money (6K).