Newbie. How much to get started?

[tombaron]

This question is aimed mainly at bikerbabe18 and m1spw because you two are fairly newish to the biker world as far as I can gather.

How much did it cost you to get your bike, kit, licence, insurance etc.? I am twenty, been driving for three years, no claims/ points and am looking to get a bike for cheap transport through university. As I have ambitions to ride bigger bikes when I am older I am looking to go straight to a 125cc motorbike.

Can you help??

Much appreciated

Tom

[Rawwr]

£6,910 to go from being a know-nothing without a bike to a know-very-little with a 600.

That's quite depressing actually.

[YamR1,V64motion]

Rawwr said:

£6,910 to go from being a know-nothing without a bike to a know-very-little with a 600. That's quite depressing actually.

if it makes you feel any better you picked a damn nice first bike

[wackydo]

Tom,

My 18 year old son has just started.

Costs were approx:

Secondhand Honda CG125: £700
Insurance : £470
Kit: £500
CBT course : £can't remember about £100 maybe

So altogether: about £1800

cheers
Tony

[petclub]

Hi Tom,

My 16 year old and I both started this year. Apx costs were:

Aprilla RS50 £1200
Licence £ 38
CBT £ 75 (own bike reduction)
Insurance £ 500
Jacket £ 70
Gloves £ 25
Helmet £ 100
Fog City visor£ 35

For me:

Hyosung 125 £ 750
CBT £ 75
Theory £ 20
DAS £ 350
Jacket £ 50
Trousers £ 90
Boots £ 50
Gloves £ 25
Helmet £ 100
Insurance £ 75

When I passeed the DAS, I insured a Suzuki GS500E (£1000) and actually got a £5 insurance refund which really surprised me! Hope this helps a bit!

[Vitesse39]

For kit, if you can get yourself over to the Ally Pally bike show (details in MCN). I know it may seem a long way to go but I got a £275 Suomy helmet there for £140 not that you need to spend that much to get a decent helmet, but if you're buying helmet, boots and gloves or even jacket aswell it will be well worth your while.

What ever you do don't just go for a cheap helmet, personnally I wouldn't put my head in anything that was less than £100 RRP.

As for the training, if you do want to go bigger anyway try a complete DAS course 5 days and then you can buy the bike you want to end up with anyway instead of loosing money on an intermediate bike. Also I expect the insurance with a full licence will be far less for a bigger bike than it would be for a 125 just with CBT.

Edit:
Sorry Tom just noticed your 20 and the DAS thing is 21 and over - not your B'day soon is it ?

>> Edited by Vitesse39 on Friday 30th December 09:58

[stegefal]

Whilst Vittesse is spot on with his advice, don't write off the cheaper ones, especially at shows. I bought a top of the range Nitro (ACU Gold) and black visor for £80 at last years BMF show, ideal for track days!!

[Mikey G]

tombaron said:

I am twenty, been driving for three years,

First off check your licence to see if you have PROVISIONAL entitlement to ride a motorcycle, its either A or A1 if i remember, not all later licences have this on them and you need to apply to the DVLA for it before you learn to ride.

[tombaron]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll have to go assess my finances now!
Vitesse - I'm not 21 'til spetember, but I may need a summer job before I can afford anything anyway.

[Carrera2]

tombaron said:

This question is aimed mainly at bikerbabe18 and m1spw because you two are fairly newish to the biker world as far as I can gather.

M1SPW rides a scooter so probably can't help.

I'd say 600 for training
300 helmet
400 clothing
50 gloves
200 boots

Bike could be whatever you want to pay - lets say 3000 for a decent sports 600.

Insurance - 600.

Total so far: £5150.

But you could easily pay less for a good 600 and you could easily pay more!!

ETA: Bugger, just noticed you want a 125. Don't bother - do some training and get yourself a bigger bike - it's a lot lot easier than it looks!

>> Edited by Carrera2 on Tuesday 3rd January 08:45

[black-k1]

Vitesse39 said:

What ever you do don't just go for a cheap helmet, personnally I wouldn't put my head in anything that was less than £100 RRP.

While the price of a helmet may be some indication as to its ability to protect your head, it must be remembered that all helmets go through exactly the same testing routines. Thus, any helmet with the appropriate standards mark will provide the same minimum level of protection. Extra cost does not necessarily equate to extra protection. I prefer to purchase cheaper helmets and replace them more often. I use the argument that a 1 year old £100 helmet is likely to offer better protection than a three year old £300 pound helmet yet will cost no more over a 3 year period.

The most important point is that the helmet fits and is comfortable, regardless of price.

As regards cost of getting started. If you want to do it on a budget, keep an eye open for kit on the likes of e-bay and the local free papers. There is lots of very nearly new kit to be had for very little money if you’re not in a huge hurry and are willing to shop around. Last winter I bought full Frank Thomas (then) latest Gore-Tex two piece suit for £75. It was claimed that it had been worn once and by the condition of the suit I have no reason to doubt it. Just don’t but a second hand helmet!

[dern]

Vitesse39 said:

What ever you do don't just go for a cheap helmet, personnally I wouldn't put my head in anything that was less than £100 RRP.

There will be no difference in terms of its ability to protect your head between a cheaper lid and a more expensive one if they have been tested to the same level. What you do get for your money (in most cases) is better ventilation, better visor mechanism and better quality/adjustable/removeable/washable lining and possibly a quieter lid. Don't listen to people who've swallowed the marketting bullshit.

Unless you really want the latest thing then one of the FM range (or something similar) would suit you down to the ground and be much cheaper than the alternatives. You can counteract the steaming visor using a visor insert or a breath guard if you wear glasses (or you can rub whale sperm in it or one of the miriad of methods that will be suggested) and you can cut all the noise out with some ear plugs which you should wear anyway. A black version of the chosen lid will often be cheaper than a coloured one.

As has already been said, fit is more important than *anything* else.

As you're in Wilmslow you could do a lot worse than pop over to Northwich and visit J&S. They'll have tons of stuff on display that you can try on and if they don't have a sale on at the moment I'd be very surprised.

Good luck,

Mark

[bikerbabe18]

tombaron said:

This question is aimed mainly at bikerbabe18 and m1spw because you two are fairly newish to the biker world as far as I can gather.

Hey, here is a break down of what i spent (remember your insurance will be cheaper because of your age!)

I would recommend Carole Nash for your insurance

Suzuki GS 125: £1000
Insurance: £570
Kit: £240
Lid: £130
CBT: £80 (including bike and helmet hire)

Good luck. Let us know how you get on!