Calling all bikers!
 

After watching almost £40 in petrol disappear in less than day after driving my car a bit too hard, I've been thinking of getting a commuter bike. I'm not really after anything flashy, new or expensive, my budget will be around £300 - £400. I know I can ride up to a 125cc on a learner's license (as it will just be for work, I'm not all that bothered about passing my test) but was wondering what else I'll need to know. I'm aware of the CBT test, but how much is it likely to cost and how long does it take? I passed my driving test in 1993 so I've got a decent bit of experience behind me but have realised I know little or nothing of bikes. How does the insurance compare to that of a car?

Any relevant advice on what someone in my position should know would be gratefully recieved :)

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/rdmcy...0Specification

No idea about the costs, but there's a telephone number on there for further info.

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

CBT is almost impossible to fail unless you crash into a bus or something.
CBT cost varies from place to place, for e.g. in my home town alone the price varies from £70 upto £85, this must be retaken every two years until you get your full liscence (Takes about 5 hours to do) so I would really considder going for your full liscence before your first CBT runs out, since you have so much experience with the car passing your bike test should be easy and including the cost for lessons shouldnt be much more than passing the CBT again.

My insurance as a learner on my 100cc scooter costs £300 per year (thats including the subcharge for paying monthly) and road tax is £15 per year, though since you hold a full liscence and have done for a few years, aswel as beeing a fair bit older than I am :p: , im sure that will be cheaper for you.

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Cheers both, the above is the sort of thing I'm really looking for though :)

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Graham can probably answer that one :D :rofl: :naughty:



.....I'll get me coat.....

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

good idea :erm: :D :D :D :D

is this


any use to you :)

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Yeah it's cool, but I'm more after tips from the people who actually do it themselves :)

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Graham again....maby....you'll have to ask him :erm: :D

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

I agre with things said here, Insurance on bikes is a killer. The CBT is pretty straight forward, basically are you competant at handling the bike and are you safe to be let on the roads.

Holding your car license for x amount of years in my experience makes Jack difference to anything to do with a bike.

How far do you travel on a daily basis? can you get there by non motorway roads?
If so I'd stick with a really small 50cc automatic. If you need to travel on faster roads your better of with the 125.
It is possible to do your CBT in a day, but i'd say its more for people that have had theirs and had to resit etc. Poeple that have had a bike before.

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

while we are semi on the subject , i passed my sickle test 19 years ago , does that mean that i can legally ride anything i can buy or not :confused:

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

No :(

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

oh poo i thought it did :confused:

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

I'd check, as far as I know you cant.

Mate of mine had ridden Vespas for years, after a 10 year absence he had to do his CBT, even though he had never needed one before.

There is a clause in the rules, I'm not exactly certain of the regulations, but I think you would now need to take the test again.

Mind you I could be wrong.

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Make sure you have decent life and health insurance for when you come off and cripple yourself or end up as a vegetable on life support.

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

:erm: yeah ok , @ tw 2001 i have just checked my motheaten copy of my dl and it says i can , so unless the rules have changed i can , if you see what i mean :D :D :D :D
i might just make a phone call to the dvla first though ;)

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

?? I have had a full bike licence for yonks - despite having had a couple of breaks, its still valid - unless there has been some change very recently?

Edit: Russ, check out This for Insurance - I have just arranged mine, most excellent quote :)

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

a full bike licence from 19 years ago means you can ride anything.......until you try and insure it :) thats when they say you are a menace on the roads
i get my insurance from a firm called Hastings........for my 1200 bandit i pay about 200 quid for comp with free recovery.....every other quote i got was for over 800 quid

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

thanks for that , me goes for quotes first then :)

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Just a thought but it's probably a good idea to sign up to this if you're going to ride a motorbike/scooter ;)

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Thats just not funny :rolleyes:

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Wasn't meant to be. Bike riders are unique in that they typically suffer serious head injuries resulting in the brain stem dying BUT the rest of the body remains relatively unharmed (maybe a few broken limbs). Makes them perfect organ donors. It's socially responsible to carry a card - everyone should.

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

I mentioned earlier that I have had a bike licence for yonks - actually its 30 years now.

Can I just say, in all that time, I have never been killed? At no point in my moped/motorcycling career have I felt the need to rip open my spleen and donate one of my vital organs in passing.

In the event of my untimely demise, I carry a donor card, and whether I fall over in Tesco's car park, trash my CBX into an oncoming HGV (some of you will appreciate what I mean - yes its a CBX ;) ) or contract terminal hay fever, the powers that be can use any of my bits as required.

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

I think its best if you stay out of this thread then. I honestly cant obide people who try and scare everybody who likes something they themselves are scared of.

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

:Peaceman:

Don't be so sensitive! Jeeez :)

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Dont be such a scaremonger then!! Sheesh!! :p: :p:

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Unique is a tad inaccurate - by upsetting certain factions, it is entirely possible to sustain death as you have described above without having to ride a motorcycle ;) I suggest you endorse your card - DONOR - kindly do not gratuituously stomp on my remains.

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

I'm glad someone saved me having to post that...!! :D

Re: Calling all bikers!
 

Okay, okay :D Peace.


Point taken :)