New motorcyclist looking for some advice

[LFNE]

Hi everyone,

Hope this is the right section to post to but would be nice to get some opinions.

I have just turned 19 and live in the UK(not sure where everyone on here is from) and have been wanting to start riding for a few years but didn't see the point of doing 3 tests just to get my full licence.

I have just passed my CBT and I am looking to do my DAS soon for my A2 licence.

Would you recommend getting a small 125 (Grom, YZF125 etc) to buy and insure while I do lessons for the DAS or is it just a waste of time and money as I would learn enough from the lessons themselves?

Edited by LFNE on Tuesday 3rd April 19:58

[MrGman]

Do you drive?

If you do and have a couple of years experience on the roads I'd just do your DAS and get a A2 bike.

If you haven't got any road experience then a Grom could be a good idea to give yourself a little time to build up some knowledge and experience of the roads.
A Grom won't really lose any money if you have it for 6 months or a year and they are also quite good fun.

[LFNE]

Yeah had a car licence for around 1 1/2 years now with my own car so road knowledge/awareness isnt as big of a problem.

[SVS]

LFNE said:

Yeah had a car licence for around 1 1/2 years now with my own car so road knowledge/awareness isnt as big of a problem.

In that case, I'd go straight to DAS. Once you've passed DAS, however, then I'd also get myself booked on a BikeSafe, IAM or RoSPA course to boost your bike skills and avoid those new biker crashes

[crofty1984]

SVS said:

In that case, I'd go straight to DAS. Once you've passed DAS, however, then I'd also get myself booked on a BikeSafe, IAM or RoSPA course to boost your bike skills and avoid those new biker crashes

Avoiding crashes is very important. Do as much of this as you can.
Otherwise you risk dying or even worse - DAMAGING YOUR BIKE!

[evil len]

Whilst doing DAS I did buy a little s/h Yamaha 125. There's no doubt that having something to potter around on in an evening DID improve my riding skills and help. But that doesn't mean you couldn't pass without that extra practice. In the end I had it about 3-4 months and when I went to part-ex it back in once I'd passed, the dealer gave me exactly what I'd paid for it.

Ultimately it depends on how cash rich you are :-)

[LFNE]

SVS said:

In that case, I'd go straight to DAS. Once you've passed DAS, however, then I'd also get myself booked on a BikeSafe, IAM or RoSPA course to boost your bike skills and avoid those new biker crashes

I will have a look into them! Thanks for sending me the link, would rather keep my skin and bike intact for at least a little while

[Pothole]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Ho Lee Kau]

crofty1984 said:

SVS said:

In that case, I'd go straight to DAS. Once you've passed DAS, however, then I'd also get myself booked on a BikeSafe, IAM or RoSPA course to boost your bike skills and avoid those new biker crashes

Avoiding crashes is very important. Do as much of this as you can.
Otherwise you risk dying or even worse - DAMAGING YOUR BIKE!

Or the worst of all, getting paralyzed...

[Pravus1]

I had a mate try to go straight through the a2. He failed a few time then bought a 125, did loads of miles and got really comfortable being on a bike. Went back and passed the next time

[dibblecorse]

Ho Lee Kau said:

crofty1984 said:

SVS said:

In that case, I'd go straight to DAS. Once you've passed DAS, however, then I'd also get myself booked on a BikeSafe, IAM or RoSPA course to boost your bike skills and avoid those new biker crashes

Avoiding crashes is very important. Do as much of this as you can.
Otherwise you risk dying or even worse - DAMAGING YOUR BIKE!

Or the worst of all, getting paralyzed...

You're all joy you are ... complete and utter prick ..... like we need reminding of the risks ......

[Lazermilk]

I was lucky to do my test not too long before the new rules came into place, I had been driving a car for many years first and so went with the DAS option to get the full licence straight away.

Passed first try and immediately went and bought a CBR600rr Hannspree

I had ridden lots of smaller bikes before off road but this was quite the leap from the CB500 I learned on! I was very careful getting to know the bike and *touch wood!* so far have not had any issues a few years/bikes later!

I always say its the other road users you have to be careful of, you can be the best rider in the world but it just takes one careless driver to pull out in front of you to cause an accident, had plenty close shaves like that but thankfully always avoided/anticipated it happening.

Strange how sometimes you just get the gut feeling someone is going to be a tt!

[LFNE]

Lazermilk said:

I was lucky to do my test not too long before the new rules came into place, I had been driving a car for many years first and so went with the DAS option to get the full licence straight away.

Passed first try and immediately went and bought a CBR600rr Hannspree

I had ridden lots of smaller bikes before off road but this was quite the leap from the CB500 I learned on! I was very careful getting to know the bike and *touch wood!* so far have not had any issues a few years/bikes later!

I always say its the other road users you have to be careful of, you can be the best rider in the world but it just takes one careless driver to pull out in front of you to cause an accident, had plenty close shaves like that but thankfully always avoided/anticipated it happening.

Strange how sometimes you just get the gut feeling someone is going to be a tt!

Yeah my dad being an ex-traffic cop (so as you can imagine he is not very excited for me to start riding) I’ve heard the horror stories but he has always said the same. Its the other dicks on the road not you as long as you drive/ride properly!

[crofty1984]

Lazermilk said:

had plenty close shaves like that but thankfully always avoided/anticipated it happening.

Strange how sometimes you just get the gut feeling someone is going to be a tt!

That's the point right there. Well done you. So many people think they can just absolve themselves of all responsibility and "it's all those mad car drivers, init? Nowt you can do"
There is, good observation and planning would stop a lot of accidents, regardless of the other guy being technically at fault. The moral high ground's worth fk all when you're lying on the road hurt.

[Lazermilk]

LFNE said:

Yeah my dad being an ex-traffic cop (so as you can imagine he is not very excited for me to start riding) I’ve heard the horror stories but he has always said the same. Its the other dicks on the road not you as long as you drive/ride properly!

Yeah I can imagine his point of view, but as long as you ride carefully should be fine, definitely the best way to start off in a car anyway, so at least you know the rules of the road and some experience what others can do within the safety of the car, different when you don't have that extra safety around you.

What bigger bike are you thinking of getting? (I personally would go straight to the bigger one and drive extra careful to begin with, although I do like the look of the groms, they look great fun!)

crofty1984 said:

Lazermilk said:

had plenty close shaves like that but thankfully always avoided/anticipated it happening.

Strange how sometimes you just get the gut feeling someone is going to be a tt!

That's the point right there. Well done you. So many people think they can just absolve themselves of all responsibility and "it's all those mad car drivers, init? Nowt you can do"
There is, good observation and planning would stop a lot of accidents, regardless of the other guy being technically at fault. The moral high ground's worth fk all when you're lying on the road hurt.

Yep exactly, better to be safe than sorry!
The most common for me is people joining the motorway and not checking properly when merging, or immediately trying to switch to MLM mode after joining, then not spotting you have moved into the middle lane in order to let them join into the first!

[LFNE]

Lazermilk said:

LFNE said:

Yeah my dad being an ex-traffic cop (so as you can imagine he is not very excited for me to start riding) I’ve heard the horror stories but he has always said the same. Its the other dicks on the road not you as long as you drive/ride properly!

Yeah I can imagine his point of view, but as long as you ride carefully should be fine, definitely the best way to start off in a car anyway, so at least you know the rules of the road and some experience what others can do within the safety of the car, different when you don't have that extra safety around you.

What bigger bike are you thinking of getting? (I personally would go straight to the bigger one and drive extra careful to begin with, although I do like the look of the groms, they look great fun!)

Yep exactly, better to be safe than sorry!
The most common for me is people joining the motorway and not checking properly when merging, or immediately trying to switch to MLM mode after joining, then not spotting you have moved into the middle lane in order to let them join into the first!

Yeah he is in the view of all bikers must be a little insane but to be honest it keeps me a bit more wary on roads etc. Every little helps!

I was thinking of a Honda CB500f or even a restricted MT07 but want to have a good look around first. Insurance will be my main concern as I am determined to pay for everything myself!

[bogie]

LFNE said:

Lazermilk said:

I was lucky to do my test not too long before the new rules came into place, I had been driving a car for many years first and so went with the DAS option to get the full licence straight away.

Passed first try and immediately went and bought a CBR600rr Hannspree

I had ridden lots of smaller bikes before off road but this was quite the leap from the CB500 I learned on! I was very careful getting to know the bike and *touch wood!* so far have not had any issues a few years/bikes later!

I always say its the other road users you have to be careful of, you can be the best rider in the world but it just takes one careless driver to pull out in front of you to cause an accident, had plenty close shaves like that but thankfully always avoided/anticipated it happening.

Strange how sometimes you just get the gut feeling someone is going to be a tt!

Yeah my dad being an ex-traffic cop (so as you can imagine he is not very excited for me to start riding) I’ve heard the horror stories but he has always said the same. Its the other dicks on the road not you as long as you drive/ride properly!

At least your dad has a sane, pragmatic view of the situation. Take some post test training like RoSPA or IAM and get plenty of practice. There is so much training available now if you take time to do it, it can accelerate your learning and help you avoid many of the common new rider mistakes.

Statistically there has never been a safer time to be a motorcyclist on UK roads, many people still think its like the 60's when thousands were killed each year ...with no training, no helmets and 100 mph bikes, it was no surprise. These days just a few hundred per year die out of more than 1.5 million riders. Still too many, but the fact is that we have some of the safest roads on the planet.

Good luck with your test

[Pothole]

Ho Lee Kau said:

crofty1984 said:

SVS said:

In that case, I'd go straight to DAS. Once you've passed DAS, however, then I'd also get myself booked on a BikeSafe, IAM or RoSPA course to boost your bike skills and avoid those new biker crashes

Avoiding crashes is very important. Do as much of this as you can.
Otherwise you risk dying or even worse - DAMAGING YOUR BIKE!

Or the worst of all, getting paralyzed...

Or even worse, not damaging your bike quite enough for it to be written off!

[Lazermilk]

LFNE said:

Lazermilk said:

LFNE said:

Yeah my dad being an ex-traffic cop (so as you can imagine he is not very excited for me to start riding) I’ve heard the horror stories but he has always said the same. Its the other dicks on the road not you as long as you drive/ride properly!

Yeah I can imagine his point of view, but as long as you ride carefully should be fine, definitely the best way to start off in a car anyway, so at least you know the rules of the road and some experience what others can do within the safety of the car, different when you don't have that extra safety around you.

What bigger bike are you thinking of getting? (I personally would go straight to the bigger one and drive extra careful to begin with, although I do like the look of the groms, they look great fun!)

Yep exactly, better to be safe than sorry!
The most common for me is people joining the motorway and not checking properly when merging, or immediately trying to switch to MLM mode after joining, then not spotting you have moved into the middle lane in order to let them join into the first!

Yeah he is in the view of all bikers must be a little insane but to be honest it keeps me a bit more wary on roads etc. Every little helps!

I was thinking of a Honda CB500f or even a restricted MT07 but want to have a good look around first. Insurance will be my main concern as I am determined to pay for everything myself!

CB500f would be a good call, they are often used as the 'big bike' for learning on, its what we used at least (Older version) and they were good to learn with, enough power to start out and comfy and easy handling around town.
Not tried an MT07 yet but heard they are also good value.

There is so much choice now since they changed the rules and manufacturers started developing the mid range bikes to suit the new licences.

I now have a tuned Yamaha XT660x that I use for commuting and its great fun, perfect for around the city and good fun on twistier roads without going silly speeds...