CBT and general bike tinkering
Discussion
Afternoon all,
I've always fancied a bike, as a younger man I didn't trust myself and now in middle age I'm not sure I trust everyone else however in the current climate I've been thinking that there is no harm in doing a CBT. If I like it and want to take it further then that's great, if I'm not sure then that's OK too and I will have learned something new which is never a bad thing. It may be a while before restrictions are lifted that allow the local instructors to start work again but I'm in no rush. Annoyingly I sold my old crash helmet when I stopped doing trackdays but there are some pretty reasonable ones out there that will do for now. Are there any decent resources to look at before I look to book in? I've done the RAC mock theory test (passed) and looked at a couple of bits on youtube but there is a lot of content out there.
I've also found myself looking at some motorcycle salvage places for a bit of a project, I'm reasonably technical and have done a lot of my own car maintenance in the past and would like to have something to tinker with that's a bit different, doesn't take up too much space and again, I'd like to learn something new. Size or type of bike doesn't matter too much at the moment, I don't need to make a profit from it but not too much of a loss either, I just fancy something to keep my mind and hands occupied while "normal" life is on hold for a while. Are there any bikes that are fairly hardy that aren't going to need significant rebuild work and more care and maintenance? I would have thought any of the Japanese bikes would be a good start, if it's a bit older then I suppose I would have to get myself familiar with carbs but I suppose that's part of the fun. Part of me thinks either a 125 to get used to riding if I do like it after the CBT, the other part thinks a naked 5/600 would be fairly easy to move on as a commuter bike if I want to sell or would be a handy one to have if I want to go for the direct access.
I've always fancied a bike, as a younger man I didn't trust myself and now in middle age I'm not sure I trust everyone else however in the current climate I've been thinking that there is no harm in doing a CBT. If I like it and want to take it further then that's great, if I'm not sure then that's OK too and I will have learned something new which is never a bad thing. It may be a while before restrictions are lifted that allow the local instructors to start work again but I'm in no rush. Annoyingly I sold my old crash helmet when I stopped doing trackdays but there are some pretty reasonable ones out there that will do for now. Are there any decent resources to look at before I look to book in? I've done the RAC mock theory test (passed) and looked at a couple of bits on youtube but there is a lot of content out there.
I've also found myself looking at some motorcycle salvage places for a bit of a project, I'm reasonably technical and have done a lot of my own car maintenance in the past and would like to have something to tinker with that's a bit different, doesn't take up too much space and again, I'd like to learn something new. Size or type of bike doesn't matter too much at the moment, I don't need to make a profit from it but not too much of a loss either, I just fancy something to keep my mind and hands occupied while "normal" life is on hold for a while. Are there any bikes that are fairly hardy that aren't going to need significant rebuild work and more care and maintenance? I would have thought any of the Japanese bikes would be a good start, if it's a bit older then I suppose I would have to get myself familiar with carbs but I suppose that's part of the fun. Part of me thinks either a 125 to get used to riding if I do like it after the CBT, the other part thinks a naked 5/600 would be fairly easy to move on as a commuter bike if I want to sell or would be a handy one to have if I want to go for the direct access.
Donbot said:
Edit - didn't read it was for a project bike. In that case prepare to pay through your arse for replacement parts.
Is it a strong market for secondhand parts? Always thought the more mass produced the bike the cheaper it would be, I could understand it for the stuff in low numbers.Edited by Donbot on Tuesday 5th May 13:34
OverSteery said:
if you aren't already familary with it you should google "sharp helmet ratings" before buying a helmet. Cheap(ish) and safe can go together.
For a CBT school, do some research first. I have been involved in teaching CBT for a few months now. There are some top school out there, but there are also some awful cowboys. I'm lucky to have landed on my feet and have much praise for the school I work for, but we get some real horror stories from students with bad previous experiences from some other schools.
Whereabouts in the country are you and you may get some recommendations here.
Personally as a car man until my 30s, I now choose 2 wheels over 4 at every possible opportunity.
100% right on the helmet, I've heard a few stories from people I work with about test failures so it's not something I take lightly.For a CBT school, do some research first. I have been involved in teaching CBT for a few months now. There are some top school out there, but there are also some awful cowboys. I'm lucky to have landed on my feet and have much praise for the school I work for, but we get some real horror stories from students with bad previous experiences from some other schools.
Whereabouts in the country are you and you may get some recommendations here.
Personally as a car man until my 30s, I now choose 2 wheels over 4 at every possible opportunity.
I'm in central Bedfordshire, from my initial research there does seem to be a few that review well on google and also have decent facilities. Any thoughts and recommendations you have would be appreciated, I've read a few that have had the experience soured by either poor or careless instruction with the course done in a few hours rather than a whole day.
Donbot said:
Yep. The more common the bike, the easier parts are to find. But usable parts tend to be quite expensive. If you are looking to do a common 125, then it will be a lot cheaper, but it's still best to stay away from Chinese pattern parts, no matter how cheaply tempting they are.
The less parts to replace the better then! Pattern parts have always been a bit mixed, many years ago I seem to remember changing drop links every 6 months on one of my cars, my wifes Fiat 500 went through 3 sets of rear shocks in about 3 years.V8RX7 said:
I don't mind tinkering - but on ebay at least anything needing work is currently selling for almost the same as a non damaged one.
I suspect local papers / facebook groups might be the way to go.
SV650 is fun, cheap and plentiful.
The prices do look a bit on the silly side at the moment, I can't work out why people are expecting that kind of money, I know it's a different market from the last time I was looking in to bikes but I can't see what has changed so much.I suspect local papers / facebook groups might be the way to go.
SV650 is fun, cheap and plentiful.
A friends brother had an SV650 for his commute and absolutely loved it, it's a nice looking bike too.
Now things are moving again I have managed to get a CBT booked for next weekend, that will be the test to see if the reality of riding a bike is for me. If it is, and I suspect it will, then hopefully I'll be able to get a theory test booked and move on to some lessons for the A license. I would hope that the dvsa would put something out in the next week as the closures were until june initially.
Bike prices seem to be strangely high, I've kept an eye on auto trader and Ebay but pricing seems to be strong, even for the toughest looking example. I've been looking at copart to see if there was a cheap project I could pick up but again the money is quite strong. Given the way the world is going you would expect prices to drop but it's not got there yet, most "luxury" items you would expect to have a reduced demand for. I would imagine the sports 600s to be the area most likely to retain some value but it does seem elevated from the last time I was looking at prices around 5 years ago.
Bike prices seem to be strangely high, I've kept an eye on auto trader and Ebay but pricing seems to be strong, even for the toughest looking example. I've been looking at copart to see if there was a cheap project I could pick up but again the money is quite strong. Given the way the world is going you would expect prices to drop but it's not got there yet, most "luxury" items you would expect to have a reduced demand for. I would imagine the sports 600s to be the area most likely to retain some value but it does seem elevated from the last time I was looking at prices around 5 years ago.
arcticGT said:
Theories have been pushed back to June 21st earliest now (emergency tests can be applied for if your a key worker)
That's a shame, would like to get that done but cbt isn't until next weekend anyway, perfectly understandable though. If I can take a few lessons on a 600 prior to getting a date for the theory that should set me up for mod 1 & 2.Well, cbt is on sunday, decent chance of rain so should be an experience.
I think the way the year is going it's likely a DAS will be pushed back a bit, probably just in time for the weather to turn but could allow for a winter project to keep me amused. I've also got a new car coming on the next week that I used the man maths for so will need a few more months and to get past the family holiday to free up enough cash. This is also on the assumption that we get to go away, it's been moved once already and there is no guarantee Cyprus will be wanting to accept people from the worst performing country in Europe on to their shores.
I think the way the year is going it's likely a DAS will be pushed back a bit, probably just in time for the weather to turn but could allow for a winter project to keep me amused. I've also got a new car coming on the next week that I used the man maths for so will need a few more months and to get past the family holiday to free up enough cash. This is also on the assumption that we get to go away, it's been moved once already and there is no guarantee Cyprus will be wanting to accept people from the worst performing country in Europe on to their shores.
ruprechtmonkeyboy said:
I'm doing very similar. I've got an old GSXR 600 SRAD that I've been fixing up as a project and plan was to get my test out of the way earlier this year. Had everything booked up and then the lockdown came along.
So as my lessons have stopped for the foreseeable I decided to buy an old YBR125 to practice on. Having the time to go to a car park and practice u turns, etc is proving invaluable plus the experience of being out and about getting used to riding by myself. Should put me in a good place for getting my test passed!
I'm quite interested in hearing more about the srad, it's one I have looked at. So as my lessons have stopped for the foreseeable I decided to buy an old YBR125 to practice on. Having the time to go to a car park and practice u turns, etc is proving invaluable plus the experience of being out and about getting used to riding by myself. Should put me in a good place for getting my test passed!
ruprechtmonkeyboy said:
They are easy bikes to work on and there are tons of parts available cheaply due to the sheer amount being broken. It's amazing how well these things were built in the first place as I haven't encountered any stuck fasteners or broken screws, etc. You don't really see any 90s sports bikes about any more so it's certainly something different and probably considered a classic these days!
That's kind of reassuring, I spent a lot of my 20's working on french cars that had their quirks and iffy build quality so something relatively hassle free would be a bonus, especially as although mechanically minded I haven't tried before. Still, it's good to learn new things. My wife might see things differently but she knew what she was getting in to when she married me.As someone who can get quite focused when I have an idea in my head it may be a bit frustrating with the delays due to covid and our relatively short season of decent weather, but there are many bigger things going on in the world at the moment so if I have to wait until next year to get everything on place then so be it.
Did the CBT yesterday, nice morning for the manoeuvres but absolutely pissed it down for the road ride in the afternoon. Despite the rain I actually had a great time, I was a lot more comfortable on the road than the other person on the ride so ended up going a slower pace while he led for the first part but managed to carry a decent pace when I had my chance to lead. I need more practice on the manoeuvres to get it as smooth as I would like but all were done without any real fuss. I got more confident as the day went on as it started to feel more natural, overall I'm happy with how it went as before today I had never ridden a motorbike before. Lots to work on before I would do the mod 1 and 2 but definitely something I'm going to pursue.
Krikkit said:
Good to hear, the further up the ladder you get the nicer the bikes get too which really does make it easier. A bigger bike with more weight is easier for everything except pushing.
I think I'll be booking in for a 4 hour lesson in a few weeks, would like the weather to pick up a bit before upping it to a larger bike. You could be a bit more ham-fisted with a 125 without getting in much trouble but I think a larger bike with more torque and weight would be better for the manoeuvres. Depending on when access to theory and module dates become available again it wouldn't be the worst thing to have a 125 to practice on, for someone new to it I quite enjoyed the experience rather than it being dependent on the power available (although a rather heady 50mph was reached). Obviously this will change over time as my competence increases but in the early stages I just enjoyed the feeling of freedom that being on a bike gives.With theory tests being cancelled all over the place and no information from the dvsa I decided to look for a 125, enjoy the summer and actually learn to ride, the DAS can come at a later date and I can get some more experience of the low speed manoeuvres and road riding. I've bought an MT 125 that should do quite nicely, nice looking bike, service history, 1 owner and shouldn't lose much money if any when it's time to move up. Just waiting for confirmation of when it will be delivered.
In the interim I'll be off to get a helmet and some other gear tomorrow, I'll just have to deal with the annoyance of L plates for a bit.
In the interim I'll be off to get a helmet and some other gear tomorrow, I'll just have to deal with the annoyance of L plates for a bit.
I suppose September is also on the assumption that there's no second wave, from the letter it seems like the health of the instructors is also a fairly large consideration and if there are quite a few that are in the high risk category I understand that. Perhaps some effort to allow those that can work to do so would be good, it doesn't seem like the most agile organisation.
Salted_Peanut said:
Pete, I know you bought an MT 125, but I recommend keeping zzrman’s advice in mind. (For future reference, I’ll give a quick plug to BikeSafe, BMF Blue Riband and Rapid Training.)
While I began two-wheeled life with a 125 for commuting, I learned a finite amount from it. After DAS, it was advanced training that boosted my skills significantly and saved my neck on more than one occasion.
It's certainly in my plans, I've looked at bike safe and rapid training as something for the future, also IAMs. I would imagine it's a lot like driving, you get taught how to drive to pass the test but the learning comes after that. I'm not in it to get one the fastest bike for the speed and acceleration but I do want to ride safely and swiftly where the road allows, I can get taught some control of the bike and basic road safety to pass the DAS but if I'm left to work out the rest on my own then improvements will be slow. My younger self probably wouldn't have that attitude. While I began two-wheeled life with a 125 for commuting, I learned a finite amount from it. After DAS, it was advanced training that boosted my skills significantly and saved my neck on more than one occasion.
I have been looking for some other stuff on road craft so when I am on the bike I can try to out it in to practice, if you have any recommendations for blogs, websites, YouTube or books it would be appreciated.
I have heard that theory, mod 1 and 2 tests are going to be starting again in July, there is some hope for those of us in this thread that are going through the process.
After a couple of days of doing odd jobs on my bike I finally got out for a little ride, everything feels good but will need to check the abs sensor seating front and back as they might be contributing to the speedo being somewhat erratic, if it's not them then it's likely the speedo rings which will be a ballache of a job. Still, finally some time in the seat, even if it was a couple of laps of the village, top up with petrol (£7) and to pick up a lettuce at the wife's request.
I will try to go a bit further next time and start to get a feel for it, it's a nice road up to Triumph in Woburn and only 15 minutes away, if the cafe is open for a drink and a little look around then it should make for a nice stop.
After a couple of days of doing odd jobs on my bike I finally got out for a little ride, everything feels good but will need to check the abs sensor seating front and back as they might be contributing to the speedo being somewhat erratic, if it's not them then it's likely the speedo rings which will be a ballache of a job. Still, finally some time in the seat, even if it was a couple of laps of the village, top up with petrol (£7) and to pick up a lettuce at the wife's request.
I will try to go a bit further next time and start to get a feel for it, it's a nice road up to Triumph in Woburn and only 15 minutes away, if the cafe is open for a drink and a little look around then it should make for a nice stop.
I've been out for a couple of hours tonight, with tests and theory still hard to come by I'm in no rush and just enjoying getting out on the bike. I've found a good little industrial estate in the back end of nowhere that's perfect for slow control stuff so spent some time doing slow speed and figure of eights to get a bit more comfortable. I'm getting more comfortable with carrying some more speed through bends and piecing together a series of bends to keep the momentum, the 125 isn't exactly blessed with torque. Lovely evening to get out for a ride.
Well, with seemingly endless lockdowns this took longer than expected. I passed my mod2 this morning so I can be free of the L plates and start bike shopping, it's a mixture of happiness and relief after my previous attempt I got bogged down with nerves and didn't ride how I ride.
Now the tricky bit of navigating what is a really weird bike market at the moment and battling with insurance to get something more suitable.
Now the tricky bit of navigating what is a really weird bike market at the moment and battling with insurance to get something more suitable.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff