Any young motorbike riders?

[Mark]

Any young motorbike riders?

I'm turning 17 and whilst looking in to getting a car the biggest factor is the insurance which can be anywhere in the range of £1,000 to £10,000, (from what I've seen, mostly the later end of the scale).
So, I then went to plan B, a motorbike and I quite like the idea.

I was wondering if anyone has any previous experience with this, starting young and mainly the costs involved in getting up and running. Or general, experienced riders offering advice maybe on how not to get killed.

The plan: I've sent off for my provisional (£50) and I know I need to go in for my CBT (Around £100) but after that what's the average cost of purchasing a bike (125cc), insurance, gear etc.

:grin

[Drumm]

My advice, from no years experience. If a car is coming at you, Jump on it. No joke. What's softer, the road or their bonnet?

It's fairly easy to maintain your own motorbike from what I hear, easier than a car anyways. So you may want to look into how to maintain it to.

[T3hRogue]

It's a lot more difficult to drive Mark, a lot.
Not in the sense that steering or whatnot is difficult, it's more physically demanding. Just keep that in mind

[Mark]

It's a lot more difficult to drive Mark, a lot.
Not in the sense that steering or whatnot is difficult, it's more physically demanding. Just keep that in mind

That's certainly a factor to take into consideration, I'm sure loosening up comes after a few months of riding.

[latch]

Although I look a bit like a biker, I hate motorcycles! I can't stand the sound they make! Loud pipes save lives? Pffft! Loud pipes annoy latch! My heart is racing now because of the irritation.

[bigsharn]

Bicycles are better than motorbikes (or hairdryers with wheels, which is what you're limited to by your CBT) for shorter distances. I know I keep going on about it, but a decent bicycle will be a lot better for you at the moment from both a costs point of view, and a fitness perspective.

By the time you get all the bike gear and tax and insure the bike, you could easily have bought a rustbucket of a car and be put on your parents' insurance

[latch]

Bicycles are better than motorbikes (or hairdryers with wheels, which is what you're limited to by your CBT) for shorter distances. I know I keep going on about it, but a decent bicycle will be a lot better for you at the moment from both a costs point of view, and a fitness perspective.

By the time you get all the bike gear and tax and insure the bike, you could easily have bought a rustbucket of a car and be put on your parents' insurance

I have to agree with meatloaf on this one. Even a few miles on a bicycle is nothing. I rode a bicycle for over a year and went all over town. Of course, I installed a pump so I could use the pedal as a crank to inflate other tires until I installed 'solid' foam tires to avoid flats.

Anyways, you can be mostly mobile for a mere $100 and with the advent of backpack technology, you can haul stuff and get buff with Arnold legs! Then those mean bullies won't pick on you any further and you will be strong enough to fight off meatloaf's advances with Mr. Glassington(it seems to be wishful thinking that his sig is effectively calling you a fairy and you said, "let this be an end to that crap.")!

Maybe that should be a forum rule- no implying Mark is gay, semi gay, or curious!

[T3hRogue]

He's none of that, latch, he's straight up bi xD

[bigsharn]

I have to agree with meatloaf on this one. Even a few miles on a bicycle is nothing. I rode a bicycle for over a year and went all over town. Of course, I installed a pump so I could use the pedal as a crank to inflate other tires until I installed 'solid' foam tires to avoid flats.

A few miles? When I have a late start at work, I use an 18 mile (and bloody hilly) commute route to get there and I wouldn't even say I'm tired on arrival (breathless, maybe). Most folk with a decent level of fitness can do 8-10 miles on the flat without issue.

Anyways, you can be mostly mobile for a mere $100 and with the advent of backpack technology, you can haul stuff and get buff with Arnold legs!

I wouldn't quite go that far, if you're getting a bike for a decent length commute (for example, Mark recently got a job offer 15 miles away) you need a decent bike, preferably with lights, a good lock, comfortable saddle and a warranty for if it goes wrong, this for example would be a perfect starter bike for him.
(It also has a pannier rack, so carrying stuff is easier if backpacks aren't an option)
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Model...elID=36343

If you can't afford that, there will be plenty of places that do second hand bikes and supply a warranty, making it around the £150-200 mark.

[Mark]

although I look a bit like a biker, I hate motorcycles! I can't stand the sound they make! Loud pipes save lives? Pffft! Loud pipes annoy latch! My heart is racing now because of the irritation.

Smaller bikes can sound annoying, and those damn mopeds! They're bad. But Harleys are the bad boys.

Bicycles are better than motorbikes (or hairdryers with wheels, which is what you're limited to by your CBT) for shorter distances. I know I keep going on about it, but a decent bicycle will be a lot better for you at the moment from both a costs point of view, and a fitness perspective.

By the time you get all the bike gear and tax and insure the bike, you could easily have bought a rustbucket of a car and be put on your parents' insurance

For shorter distances, short being upto about 3 miles. Car insurance is stupidly expensive, if you can find me insurance for £1,000 - £2,000 then you're a magician, on a bike I'm probably looking at around £500.

.

Sharn's sig is rather worrying, although that fairy has a damn cute face.

Mark recently got a job offer 15 miles away

It wasn't 15 miles away, It was in Bolton which is another town..

I own a bicycle, I used to ride a bicycle when I was younger, I'm a big boy now and can advance on to things with engines. I have no interest or intention of riding a pedal bike, they're toys to me, that such as peasant carriers.