Best motorbike for a 6' tall 24 year old

duckmaster

Hello!

I have always wanted a motorbike and looked into doing a direct access course. My local bikeshop told me I'd be better just doing my CBT first since a direct course is very expensive, and then if I like it I can go on to do my test after some practice.

So I've booked my CBT for next week :j

This means I want to start looking for a bike now, but a bit lost about what to get. I want something cheap (since I will only have it for about six months, hopefully), that looks a bit snazzy and is road legal for a CBT, so about 125cc.

Ideally I want something like an Aprillia RS125 or a Honda CBR125, but they are just over my budget of £1000.

I am under the impression that these bikes can be restricted so I can ride them with just a CBT, and then de-restricted so I can do a full bike test and then ride them de-restricted with a licence. Is this accurate? This would be most cost-effective I think.

Any advice?

Charliekehoe

Sounds like good advice getting a 125 and some road experience first.
It will make learning on a bigger bike later on a lot easier.
Both bikes you mention are not ideal for someone of your height, you'll save money by getting a non sexy commuter style bike.
Most taller people find the sat up position of something like a Yamaha YBR125 or even an older trail style bike may be more comfortable like the DT125.
You should be able to find either within your budget in better condition than the more expensive bike going cheap because it needs a bit of work.
The bike show is on soon so if you can hold on till then you can go sit on all the bikes to get loads of freebie bags and brochures too give you a better idea of what you'll feel at home on.

Rolandtheroadie

Do your CBT and ask your instructor the best way to your full licence.
After my CBT (hadnt really been on a bike at all, C90 stepthru at 16 for the fields)) my instructor recommended lessons instead of direct access. Straight onto the 500 and 5 lessons later I had my licence (I failed 1st time with a foot down on the U turn, the 5 lessons include retest)
My first bike was a CBR1000f which was a great starter bike due to me being 6ft 2 and near 300lbs at that time. It only goes as fast as you want it to.
TPFT was around £140, I was 33 though.
After 18 months I got a Hayabusa.
DONT buy a bike to learn on. You'll probably end up buying high and selling low with penalties on insurance for changing within a year.

Cash-Strapped.T32

Charliekehoe wrote: »

Most taller people find the sat up position of something like a Yamaha YBR125 or even an older trail style bike may be more comfortable like the DT125.
You should be able to find either within your budget in better condition than the more

Lots of people I know swear by DT125s as excellent starter bikes, reliable if the basics are looked after & with enough poke & handling to be worth your while being on a bike.
However, being a 2-stroke crosser, they sound like a 2-stroke crosser.

I only ride a 125 myself so maybe I'm a bit biased the DT idea sounds good to me.

Ps: Riding a small bike as an alternative to a car is entirely doable all year round, more so on a bike like the DT which on a very few days was probably more valuable than most cars considering the snow last winter..


You ask about the various tests;

* You can take your CBT on pretty-much any bike & it will not affect your later options; Take it on a 50cc scooter if it's cheaper to hire from the instructor..

Don't rush-buy your bike to fit the CBT timetable.

The CBT (compulsory Basic Training) is just that - it's training, not a test.
Of course if you're utterly stupid they'll not pass you, but the idea is that they have to bring you up to the required level of competence.
It's not the other way round like the Test, where they judge if you are *at* the required level of competence.

Don't forget that fact on the day mate, I know you will because we're all human, but don't think of it as a "test".


* Once you pass the CBT, you can ride on L-plates for up to 2 years.
In that instance, you will need to either stick to a 125, or ride a "big" bike that is restricted-down to something like 12 or 20 bhp.
(L-plate restrictions include no motorways, no passengers, & no bigger than a 125)


* At any time after passing the CBT you can take the test.
Either the "basic" A-2 test, which consists of Theory, Module-1, & Module-2.

CBT £90-110 < Training, a full afternoon or morning's session
Theory £30/£35 < Similar to driving theory-test, but not cross-compatible for your purposes
Practical Mod-1 £30/£35 < "Manoeuvres" test in a DSA-centre carpark, 15 mins tops
Practical Mod-2 £75 < "Classic" road-ride test with instructor, 40-45 mins

All the different components can be booked independently of each other, in any test-centre in the country that is convenient, but have to be taken in order.
You will get a certificate at the end of each module that you have to present at the start of the next..

3 day re-booking limits, but other than that if you fail any module, you only have to re-take that part & then continue.
With some small exceptions, the whole lot has to be done within 2 years (assuming you do it on only one CBT & no re-takes).


After passing Module-2 you can move up to any sized bike, as long as it is no more powerful than 33bhp.
Translates to different CCs on different bikes, I dunno, around the 400cc mark? Guessing.

This limit lasts for 2 years, after which there are no restrictions of any kind.

Obviously, unlike a car, once you get pass your CBT & get those L-plates you're effectively free to learn by doing all day long - I commute to work so I got 2 years' worth of experience, commuting 5 or 6 days a week in varying conditions on my L-plates before I took my test.

I was able to book each component in my own time(ish) over a few months, and without going through an instructor.
That is by far the most cost-effective way of doing things, since the lessons are massively expensive when you weigh up how much courses cost versus the bare test-fees.

However, I was lucky & in the event, my major worry was that I would bring in bad habits from my 2 years' experience, but that's by far a better position to be in than most learner-drivers who get mere hours' worth of experience before taking the test..

If you do not plan to spend much time on L-plates before you take your test then I might consider a lesson or two (that's the way they seem to book them, unlike driving where you tend to sign up for a course of x-number of lessons).

If you don't plan to be on a bike at all for long, then don't bother with a test at all. :rotfl:
But seroiusly mate, consider it as a viable alternative option to driving & is dead cool..



* Alternatively to the A-2 route above, at any time after passing the CBT & Theory-test, if you're over 21 you can take the "Direct Access" test, which for most people they take in the form of an intensive week-long course. I don't know much about this one tbh..

It's not cheap, but at the end you're considered "competent" to ride any sized bike from day-1.
People take their practical bike tests on like 400 & 500cc bikes when they take the Direct Access route.

It doesn't however count in your favour in any other way, like better insurance premiums.


Hope some of this info helps you out matie, all the best with it. :cool:

ozvaldinho

DT 125r. Tried, tested reliable and fun. I did my test on one in 1987 and it was still running well when I sold it four years later.

RS125 Aprilias are fantastic, but are very high maintenance and highly risky to ride...they only like to go very fast, head down, bum up knee out throttle fully open. No low down power at all. Great for shortarses, at 6' it will be cramped and uncomfortable.

missile

I would not agree with your local bike shop.

Direct access is not expensive when compared to what it will cost you to buy and insure your own bike. For example £899 for bike hire and unlimited training to pass your test @ http://www.lets-ride.co.uk/courses.htm#2

You will very quickly outgrow a 125cc even after it is derestricted.