Return to bike after a 15 year break

[MYOB]

I passed my DAS and immediately commuted to London on a VFR800, before moving onto a cbr600, and ended on a zx9r.

I only rode for 3 years but did lively ride outs, track days as well as commuted 100 miles a day getting to London, including in snow - all year round. I covered about 100k miles in 3 years, and yes, servicing and tyres costed me a fortune!

Thinking about getting back into the groove again. But how is it when returning to bikes after such a gap? Do you lose any skills?

I'm reluctance to buy a small bike, given I've never ridden one and would love a street bike, such as the cb1100.

I'm not looking for advice on what bike to get but more about how easy or difficult is it returning after a long gap?

Thanks all.

[bogie]

I reckon you will need a couple of thousand miles to get back into it, depending how/where you ride now e.g. doing hundreds of miles per week right away is a bit different to doing 50 miles on a sunny Sunday then putting it away again until next week.

In 2008 I had an enforced break from both driving and riding for 2 1/2 years and found some advanced training really useful when i got back on the road again, both in car and on the bike.

Statistically, recent test passed riders or riders coming back after a long break, are the highest insurance risk for the first 1-2 years. Hence the insurance may not be as cheap as you remember until you get a couple of years NCB.

[MYOB]

Thanks, I've always been aware of those statistics for those born again bikers. As for insurance, it was not exactly cheap insuring my previous bike given I had no NBC.

Advanced training is something I'm very keen on. I was previously assessed by police motorcyclists on the programme they used to run. Without blowing my own trumpet, I was a good rider.

My main concern is primarily on test rides. I'm not sure I would have the confidence to test ride a bike! Or if I buy new, how would I fare getting the bike home.

I suspect it will be a case of accepting there may indeed be a few wobbles etc!

[Prof Prolapse]

Where are you based? Surely a mate will let you have a go on their st old bike to get your confidence up?

Before I take a test ride I just make sure I'm prepared to buy it if I drop it, but I'm the paranoid sort.

[scorcher]

I had a break for 20 years before having another go. I booked a few hours with he local bike training mob. Rode one of their 600's to get a feel for it again, but you'll find you'll soon get back into it.

[FocusRS3]

I'm back after 10yrs off.

My bike is on the coast so i've mainly stuck to slow local routes apart from the occasional long A road blast out.

Take your time and remember your life saver looks and road positioning has proved invaluable for me coming back after such a long break

[MYOB]

I'm Kent based and don't know anyone else with a bike, lost contact over the years with my former bike mates.

Contacting the local training mob is a good suggestion to get a refresher session or two under my belt.

Thanks all.

[Dakkon]

It comes down to what you are like as a person, do you have self restraint?

On balance I would say buy whatever bike you fancy as it is you who has to ride it and you want something that puts a smile on your face. That said, perhaps buy something cheaper and ride that for a year and then buy something better?

[croyde]

Try renting a less powerful bike or a scooter just to get your road sense back.

I had a 6 year break after 20 odd years of riding.

I bought a low powered 600cc single brand new but soon got bored and took a pasting selling it 3 months later to buy something decent.

[A500leroy]

Get yourself a cheap 500 quid cheapy and do an advanced course, your 500quid bike will still be worth the same in 6mths time

[tonyinbrighton]

I was off bikes for 47 years and got back into it via a cheapy Chinese 125 scooter for commuting, then a Hornet 600 for 3 years (great bike) and now have a new CB1100EX. Bit heavy for the older rider but just brilliant for pootling around.
Have fun!

[baxb]

I had about 10 years off after selling my ZX6r & bought a Ducati 900ss when a mate was selling it. Didn't seem to take more a than 6-7 rides to get back in the swing of it, an evening session at Snetterton helped as well. Maybe try a Bikesafe course when you get it ?

[Esceptico]

I had a 16 year break. Was definitely a bit tentative at first (mainly because the last time on the road had ended in A&E). I joined the local advanced motorists group, went on their ride outs, took lessons and the test.

[Google [bot]]

MYOB said:

I passed my DAS and immediately commuted to London on a VFR800, before moving onto a cbr600

Sorry for the O/T, but would you be able to give me a quick summary/comparison on commuting on these 2 as a relative novice?

Thanks.

[MYOB]

Google [bot] said:

MYOB said:

I passed my DAS and immediately commuted to London on a VFR800, before moving onto a cbr600

Sorry for the O/T, but would you be able to give me a quick summary/comparison on commuting on these 2 as a relative novice?

Thanks.

Sorry, but I had the VFR 18 years ago and the CBR 17 years ago! However, both were great commuting bikes. I passed my DAS immediately after doing the CBT (where I rode for the first time). The training was on a CB500 and the very night I passed my test, I rode up to London on the VFR to suss out my route. Given my inexperience, I was surprise at the ease of riding this bike.

All I do recall, is that the VFR offered slightly better protection from the weather/wind, but the CBR was most definitely more fun. This was in part from the bike being lighter and thus easier to filter in. I probably enjoyed the CBR better given that I was able to use more of the engine capacity as opposed to the VFR, and it was more "flickable".

Only reason I got rid of the CBR is that I like big bikes, hence getting the ZX9R (the ZX10 was too small for me).

However, not sure how this helps given the lapse of time since then.

Edited by MYOB on Friday 27th April 15:38

Edited by MYOB on Friday 27th April 15:38

[Google [bot]]

Thanks, just loads of next bike dilemmas.