Getting a motorcycle

missile

ts_aly2000 wrote: »

You MUST wear a condom


.

That is the most severe case of carpet burn I have seen :rotfl:

horza

dizzybuff wrote: »

Experiance comes with time. Did you do your CBt on a 125 or a twist and go . If it was a twist and go there will be restrictions on your licence . A 125 motorbike opens new teratory.

Hi,

Sorry to disagree but the CBT has nothing on it reference gears, if you complete it on a twist and go it is perfectly valid on a geared bike.

Obviously if you did your test on an auto that would be different but CBT is fine either way.

Cheers

Mike

Cash-Strapped.T32

Can I be the first (I think?) to say to the OP - Nice one! :cool:

Personally I won't be posting any 'orrible pics of injuries (although it's always a wise thing to keep in mind), I'll just say best of luck mate.

For what it's worth, I'd say geared is always the better option for flexibility, but scooters are getting more & more common (the new Pug range look more like cars than bikes imo) - Personally I ride an auto 6 days a week, on a 30mile round trip on mainly 50/60-limit A roads in Nottm/Derbyshire, and it is totally doable as an option.

Most modern 4-stroke autos are every bit as reliable as those Japanese geared bikes with thier bullet-proof engines (barring those obscure chinese one that just confuse me) - Hell, mine's Italian & it's only let me down when the "consumables" have worn out over time, like rubber bushes, or the odd split rubber manifold, etc..



Let me tell you a story..
2 years ago at 26, having never driven before (I began to learn at 17, but without having parents who could fund the project, I had to give it up shortly after my theory test - I had bought an old Panda car for £100, re-furbed & then sold it for £300, but even back then that kinda money didn't take me nearly far enough), I decided to get myself a small 50cc moped just for work, and rode it on L-plates, replacing it with a 125 then another 125 in the intervening years.

That was about this time '08, and on Monday I this week I passed part 2 of my practical test on my 125 bike. (first attempt, 2 minors - booyah)


I'll be 100% upfront, it was purely a financial compromise; no romantic dreams of the open road here (not when I begun restricted to 40mph on my 50cc ) - A compromise because I could never hope to go through the whole car-lessons process on the wage I was bringing in, plus it might take me months to learn to drive, and in all that time I could not use the car for it's purpose - Going to work.

The bike was the only option that would me learn as I went, and having a little bit of prior experience off-roading as a kid, and as much experience as you like with A&E from my years of mountain biking & tomfoolery, I was fairly confident in my ability to endure pain, if not my skills..


Since then I have used a bike of some kind every day for work, 6 days a week with only the normal days off.
That includes the *terrible* winter we just went through, many days I could have been riding a snowmobile for all the difference it made.



Anyway, I don't write this long & possibly boring post just to say look at me ain't I cool; But to show you that there are people out there that have done just the same kinds of thing, that it *is* a viable option to use a small bike on L-plates as a low-cost alternative to driving; And considering the nature of this forum my experiences seem fairly pertinent.

My bike allowed my to transfer out of the 2, 3 day a week job I had to a semi-decent full time job with considerably more security even in the current circumstances, and while I won't sugar-coat it (winters are *C-O-L-D* unless you dress for it), if it hadn't been for my totally left-field whim purchase of a 50cc kid's moped, this recession would have hurt me a lot more than it would have done.

Anyway, sorry for the massively long essay, but dinner is taking longer than expected to cook, and I thought at least some of this info might help, or at least won't put you off.

All the best with it & the very best of luck.

tbourner

Thanks for that, I think a lot of people I speak to are sportsbikers and don't give the same kind of info as someone who has a scoot and is happy with it.

Although having said that, I'm leaning towards a geared bike much more now I've realised my stupid big head means my stupid big helmet won't fit under the seat!! grrrr. CG125 with top box for sale?

dizzybuff

horza wrote: »

Hi,

Sorry to disagree but the CBT has nothing on it reference gears, if you complete it on a twist and go it is perfectly valid on a geared bike.

Obviously if you did your test on an auto that would be different but CBT is fine either way.

Cheers

Mike

Arnt most twist and gos autos ??? I did mine on 125 then DAS so I have no idea about moped / scooter . i know some mopeds are geared

tbourner

dizzybuff wrote: »

Arnt most twist and gos autos ??? I did mine on 125 then DAS so I have no idea about moped / scooter . i know some mopeds are geared

Scooters are 'step through' style bikes which are 99% auto (no foot pegs so no gears!). Hence they are called 'twist and go' as that's what you do:

These can be anything from 50cc up to 650cc!! Bigger engines are generally called Maxi-Scooters or Touring Scooters.


Motorbikes are 'leg over' so you straddle it, these are 99% geared (AFAIK?):

These can be anything from 50cc up to silly 1400cc (or probably more), they range from naked to fared, touring, sports, supersports etc. etc.


Anything that is 50cc is classed as a moped, whether it be a step through or a leg over! Don't confuse moped with scooter. For the CBT they say you can use a 125 of a moped, it should really say a 50cc scooter or a 125 geared bike.

adouglasmhor

tbourner wrote: »

Scooters are 'step through' style bikes which are 99% auto (no foot pegs so no gears!). Hence they are called 'twist and go' as that's what you do:

These can be anything from 50cc up to 650cc!! Bigger engines are generally called Maxi-Scooters or Touring Scooters.


Motorbikes are 'leg over' so you straddle it, these are 99% geared (AFAIK?):

These can be anything from 50cc up to silly 1400cc (or probably more), they range from naked to fared, touring, sports, supersports etc. etc.


Anything that is 50cc is classed as a moped, whether it be a step through or a leg over! Don't confuse moped with scooter. For the CBT they say you can use a 125 of a moped, it should really say a 50cc scooter or a 125 geared bike.

As ypu say 99% each way, this is a scooter and it has gears.
You get auto bikes as well (but rare and bloody dangerous - I had a shot on one last year a "hondamatic" CB750 from the late 70s)

tbourner

adouglasmhor wrote: »

As ypu say 99% each way, this is a scooter and it has gears.

Yeah I was thinking the Lambretta had gears, wasn't sure though, must be my age!

andygb

tbourner wrote: »

Also, I do appreciate the advice, I'm not a clown honestly I am taking it on board. Just when you see people on pushbikes doing 25 without anything it seems odd that adding an engine makes so much difference. My average speed on route to work is 22, like I've said if I get a bike (eventually I'll go for a 250 and maybe more later) I'll get the best kit I can, at the moment I think I'll do a few commutes and see how it feels. Another thing putting me off is having to get changed at both ends!! Maybe some kevlar jeans that I can wear at work? Or are they too uncomfortable?

I have raced on bicycles, motorbikes and cars, and let me tell you, that what hurt the most, was coming off a bicycle at around 30mph in a road race.
If you come off your scooter at 30mph, and you are not wearing protective gloves, top and jeans, then you are going to be very sore for weeks after, and the scars will never go away.

kev.s

speaking from experience, i've had an off at 30mph after being side swiped by a golf, broken foot and toes and heavily bruised leg, = wearing leather jacket,armour gloves, but jeans and cat boots, promised myself never again!

my 2nd off( and hopefully last) was at 85mph when i hit loose gravel coming out of a bend,hit the verge thrown 40ft ended up face down in a ditch with my bike on top of me, result? - smashed ankle,leg broke in 3 places, broken thumb,collar bone,wrist and 2 fingers,swollen bollock(caught the bar). = wearing alpinestars leathers,sidi boots,arai lid,alpinestars gloves, the damage was relative to the speed, my point in mentioning the brands was you get what you pay for in respect of quality, i bought the best i could afford at once, my sidi boot saved my leg being amputated as i could actually stand on it(painful tho) but when i was taken to hospital i would not let them cut anything so the pain was extreme getting them off, anyway my foot just flopped as it was not supported by any bone. i'm glad i had my full kit on that day as god knows if i would have even survived, my leathers look cool with some battle scars no too. what ever you ride PROTECT YOURSELF.. my nephew has a 125cbr and wont even contemplate going out not fully leathered up, maybe looks funny but he realises the implications.
ride safe