Help with motorbike license

[ashdry]

Hi all,
I want to start my bike test,I'm over 25 and have held a UK driving license for 4 years but never done the bike test not even the CBT.
What is the best way to get on the road with a decent bike?
Any other useful info would be appreciated also.

Thank you

[MrsMiggins]

Depends how much of a hurry you are in and how much cash you want to throw at it.

You have to make sure you have provisional motorcycle entitlement on your licence, so check that first.

Then arrange to do CBT, then Direct Access, pass your test and you're done.

[SprintV8]

www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/rdmcycle.htm

[ashdry]

Ok,quite obvious really.
Thank you MrsMiggins for clarifying, I want to get through the test as soon as possible so direct access it is!.
Cheers for the link SprintV8.

[cyberface]

Quite a few years ago I decided to do the bike test... in a hurry so did a 3 day direct access course in Tunbridge Wells.

The first half of the first day was messing around with a 125 and doing the CBT just after lunch. The rest of the day, and the next, was learning how to ride on a 500.

The last day involved loads of road work and the bike test. It was incredibly intense, and to a bike virgin, bloody scary. Doing the course in February was also a bad idea as it was bloody cold.

However the instructor did a good job and I passed the test. I'm not sure I'd recommend doing it this way - I was licensed to immediately go out and buy a Fireblade at the time, which would have been utterly stupid with only 3 days riding experience. I instead rode a 180cc scooter around for a year and then bought a Ducati Monster (which wasn't fast anyway). I'd probably recommend a 5 day course so it's not too rushed... even so it's not enough bike experience to justify buying a proper fast bike immediately!

If you've got good self control then do a fast test, and get a sensible bike for a while to build up your skills and road awareness. Jumping straight from a CBT to any modern sports bike is crazy, the boggo bikes available these days are incredibly fast and do require some skill...

[ashdry]

I agree Cyberface some good points made!.
I appreciate the skill involved in riding a very fast motorbike safely, and have respect for people who can.
By "a decent bike" i meant not a 125cc, although i know there are some quite cool ones available, its a tough choice deciding on a first motorbike I was thinking of a used suzuki gsx 600, thought considering your comments maybe a Enfield would be a better option.
A 5 day course sounds like the way to go for the test!.
Thanks.

Edited by ashdry on Sunday 30th July 02:54

[muffles]

i think quite a lot of people get a 600cc for their first bike, i wouldn't worry too much about that - fireblade's kind of different obviously

personally, i got a suzuki sv650s, which is going ok so far (3 months and a couple of days )

[FunkyNige]

ashdry said:

By "a decent bike" i meant not a 125cc, although i know there are some quite cool ones available, its a tough choice deciding on a first motorbike I was thinking of a used suzuki gsx 600, thought considering your comments maybe a Enfield would be a better option.

Bikes only go as fast as you twist the throttle, just treat it with a bit of respect and be very aware of not trying to keep up with other bikes for a while.
All the manufacturers make a naked 600, have you thought about one of these? e.g. SV650, Bandit, Hornet, Fazer, etc etc.