Beginners Guide to Biking
Discussion
Basically i'm looking to get my bike test done this summer, hopefully in the next couple of months. I've been out with my dad as pillion a couple of times and had a real blast, but rather be riding than sitting on the back staring at the scenery. Just got a few questions to ask with regards to getting myself sorted.
Best biking gear for at a guess summer use, i can move up the cost ladder and look at getting winter stuff if i decide i'm going to ride through the winter as well later in the year. Got a helmet, just kinda need everything else! Best place to buy it, best make to buy?
Ridng schools, suggestions for doing a week intensive course (i'm in Aberdeen if thats any help)
What kind of bike should i be thinking of getting? Was thinking SV650, maybe Bandit 600, as much as i would love a sportsbike like a GSX-R i'd be off before i got it out of the drive. I'm not small (6ft and 16 stone) so something that i can fit on in a bit of comfort. Want something i can go out for a days riding on, not looking for something to go touring on (yet!)
Likely cost of insurance? I'm 23, though will be 24 by the time i get my test done, bike garaged.
Anything else i've missed feel free to throw ideas at me!
Cheers
Best biking gear for at a guess summer use, i can move up the cost ladder and look at getting winter stuff if i decide i'm going to ride through the winter as well later in the year. Got a helmet, just kinda need everything else! Best place to buy it, best make to buy?
Ridng schools, suggestions for doing a week intensive course (i'm in Aberdeen if thats any help)
What kind of bike should i be thinking of getting? Was thinking SV650, maybe Bandit 600, as much as i would love a sportsbike like a GSX-R i'd be off before i got it out of the drive. I'm not small (6ft and 16 stone) so something that i can fit on in a bit of comfort. Want something i can go out for a days riding on, not looking for something to go touring on (yet!)
Likely cost of insurance? I'm 23, though will be 24 by the time i get my test done, bike garaged.
Anything else i've missed feel free to throw ideas at me!
Cheers
I did my test four years ago, best thing I ever did!
If you're looking at getting it done, book now! Reason being that with the good weather around the corner, every man and his dog will be having the same idea. Get your theory booked and get it done. A great tip for that is the DSA's CD-ROM pack that you can get off Amazon or elsewhere. The theory test part is identical to the theory test you'll take (even the screen are the same) and the hazard perception on the DVD is harder than the one on the test, so that'll make you sharper for it too.
As for gear, if youre looking for comfort and you're aiming for a beginner type bike (Bandit, Hornet, Fazer etc) then I'd recommend a decent set of textiles. It's what I use as you can use them all year round. I went to Hein Gericke as they have a good selection and you can mix and match trousers and jackets as they all match together on the zip up in the middle. They also do good larger sizes (I've 5'11" amd weight more than you!
) So you'll have no problem in that dept! They areslightly more expensive than other brands, but then, they also last a long time (mine are three years old and there's not a mark or a tear ot stuck zip anywhere, apart from a few dead flies!) And the staff are very friendly and helpful when you're choosing stuff. Good thing about mine is that it has a thermal liner, which I can take out for summer and put back in for winter, although, I don't do that much winter riding anyway, but handy at the start and end of the season.
Riding schools will vary from place to place, your best bet is to ask around and see who has been to which school and get reports from other people. A recommendation from another human being beats a newspaer advert any day!
As for the bike... Well, the choice is yours. I went for a Fazer 600 as it was comfortable, a great all rounder and it did everything I wanted my first big bike to do (I've been touring through France to Le Mans on it already and have done two track days too AND was faster than some guys on R1s and GSXR 1000s, which surprised me!) and it's plenty quick enough for riding around on everywhere.
Suzuki's SV is a good bike, especially if you like the 'V-twin' aspect. Bandit, Hornet etc. Alternatively there are plenty of sportsbikes out there. And as for being down the road, they're only as fast as you twist your right hand. They're not animals, it's going to be down to how you ride it as to whether it spits you off! Best thing to do is wander round ALL of your local dealerships and have a sit on all the bikes you like the look of and see if you'll be comfortable on them. Then when you've got your licence you can test ride the ones you like and see where you are at that point.
Insurance will depend on the bike you eventually choose, where you live, NCB (which you won't have on a bike, but some companies now take it from te car and vice versa, so you might be lucky) etc etc. If you choose to buy a bike brand new at a dealer you can also sometimes get good deals on the insurance there too (I did with Yamaha in my first year, they were by far the cheapest quote, but I'm older than you anyway). But golden rule is to open up MCN or Ride and just ring round every company you can, you'll find vastly different quotes and you CAN play them off against each other.
Hope that's of help.
If you're looking at getting it done, book now! Reason being that with the good weather around the corner, every man and his dog will be having the same idea. Get your theory booked and get it done. A great tip for that is the DSA's CD-ROM pack that you can get off Amazon or elsewhere. The theory test part is identical to the theory test you'll take (even the screen are the same) and the hazard perception on the DVD is harder than the one on the test, so that'll make you sharper for it too.
As for gear, if youre looking for comfort and you're aiming for a beginner type bike (Bandit, Hornet, Fazer etc) then I'd recommend a decent set of textiles. It's what I use as you can use them all year round. I went to Hein Gericke as they have a good selection and you can mix and match trousers and jackets as they all match together on the zip up in the middle. They also do good larger sizes (I've 5'11" amd weight more than you!
) So you'll have no problem in that dept! They areslightly more expensive than other brands, but then, they also last a long time (mine are three years old and there's not a mark or a tear ot stuck zip anywhere, apart from a few dead flies!) And the staff are very friendly and helpful when you're choosing stuff. Good thing about mine is that it has a thermal liner, which I can take out for summer and put back in for winter, although, I don't do that much winter riding anyway, but handy at the start and end of the season. Riding schools will vary from place to place, your best bet is to ask around and see who has been to which school and get reports from other people. A recommendation from another human being beats a newspaer advert any day!
As for the bike... Well, the choice is yours. I went for a Fazer 600 as it was comfortable, a great all rounder and it did everything I wanted my first big bike to do (I've been touring through France to Le Mans on it already and have done two track days too AND was faster than some guys on R1s and GSXR 1000s, which surprised me!) and it's plenty quick enough for riding around on everywhere.
Suzuki's SV is a good bike, especially if you like the 'V-twin' aspect. Bandit, Hornet etc. Alternatively there are plenty of sportsbikes out there. And as for being down the road, they're only as fast as you twist your right hand. They're not animals, it's going to be down to how you ride it as to whether it spits you off! Best thing to do is wander round ALL of your local dealerships and have a sit on all the bikes you like the look of and see if you'll be comfortable on them. Then when you've got your licence you can test ride the ones you like and see where you are at that point.
Insurance will depend on the bike you eventually choose, where you live, NCB (which you won't have on a bike, but some companies now take it from te car and vice versa, so you might be lucky) etc etc. If you choose to buy a bike brand new at a dealer you can also sometimes get good deals on the insurance there too (I did with Yamaha in my first year, they were by far the cheapest quote, but I'm older than you anyway). But golden rule is to open up MCN or Ride and just ring round every company you can, you'll find vastly different quotes and you CAN play them off against each other.
Hope that's of help.
Hiccy! Is your standard answer ready yet? 
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