Another new guy.

[Ruttager]

Hi all, I've been lurking around in these forums for the last few weeks soaking up all the useful information and advice. I've decided to sort myself out with a bike this year and have booked my CBT and (annoyingly) my thoery test. I'm a little annoyed at having to resit my Theory as I've been driving for almost 12 years now. Oh well.. as long as I don't fail it!

I've got a first biked lined up which will bea f650gs. I've been told thats its a good bike to start with? Leathers and gear will be sorted out after CBT is done though I have no idea what to get.

My wallet is going to take a real beating over the next 2 months:

CBT + Theory + DAS + Leathers + Gear + Bike + Insurance = OW!

Rutts

[gsfrontera]

best of luck with the test. good choice of bike aswell, my mate had one and it never missed a beat. a good bet for cheaper kit is the bike shows such as mcn weekends and gmex.

[y2blade]

best of luck to you

welcome to the forum

[IsMad]

Well it may be expensive but it is worth every penny, Good luck with the CBT etc and this is one of the best forums around Welcome.

[RemaL]

good luck and welcome

[Chilli]

Good luck mate, you know it makes sense.

[Sossige]

Good to have another newbie around. I've spent a frightening amount of cash on kit, lessons and tests so far. In fact, it's probably best if I don't add it all up!

Good luck with your CBT, theory test and lessons.

[RizzoTheRat]

Suprised me when I learned to ride a bit just how many things in the highway code had changed since I did my car licence 8 years earlier, so having to do the theory test when you've already got a cr licence isn't as silly as it seems.

You getting the older 650cc single or the new F650, which bizarely has a 800cc parallel twin engine in it?

Head over to http://www.ukgser.com/forums/index.php if you want to learn all things GS.

[Ruttager]

Thanks for the comments.

I'll keep an eye out for any bike shows that are coming up. A quick google didn't bring much up but with a little digging I'm sure there are plenty around.

The bike is the single 650 (2000). The reason that I'm getting that one is simply that it's owned by a mate at work. I don't know a great deal about bikes yet so I know I'm not going to get ripped off or sold a duff. The reviews I've read all seem to be fairly positive.

Rutts

[SplatSpeed]

good luck and welcome

[hiccy]

A warm welcome buddy, and congrats on your plans!

The bike is as good a first choice as any I reckon; won't matter much as you true intentions will become clear over the next couple of years. Should be cheap to run so will make for a nice summer commuter. You might even want to use it all year round.

I would recommend that you don't skimp on the kit; fancy paint jobs on lids don't matter, and don't get hung up on brands either, but get yourself some really good textiles, boots and gloves so you can ride comfortably whatever the weather. Good leathers feel good too and are more comfortable in summer if they have decent ventilation.

Pretty sure I did things all the wrong way round, when doing DAS I used mostly borrowed kit and pieced my stuff together, but I'd recommend helmet, gloves, boots, jacket in that order. I did it exactly the other way around.

[Ruttager]

I'm definetly not skimping on my gear I have around 1K to spend on kittin up and it's going to be leathers all the way, no question. Plenty of jackets that I really like, its the trousers that are messing me around. I'm off shopping this weekend to find sizes and try on different leathers. It's going to be an experience. I'm fortunate that I have a friend that can get me some huge discounts on a particular brand. I just need to try some on and work out what size I am, what type/colour/whatever I want and all manner of other things. Roll on the weekend and more so, roll on next weekend when I start learing to ride properly (CBT).

Cheers,

Rutts