Read loads about bikes being crashed now I'm looking into it more. Are bikes that easy to crash then? Is the main reason too much speed in a bend?

Read loads about bikes being crashed now I'm looking into it more. Are bikes that easy to crash then? Is the main reason too much speed in a bend?

They are easy to crash if you don't have experience and try to be the next Rossi. It's too easy to get yourself in trouble very quickly, and if you get it wrong on a bike it's not as easy to sort it out.

Too many people go out and get litre sports bikes as a first bike, which is just too much. A 600 is more than enough for a first bike, and even for experienced riders. They are still insanely fast.

I think a big problem people have is when it all goes wrong and they realise they've gone in to a bend too quick, they just panic. People get target fixation and just start staring at the scene of the accident. Do that, and it's where you'll go.

The advice I always give to new riders, is learn on a mid size bike, ride to your own limits, learn at your own pace, DON'T try to keep up with your mates or anyone else. There is ALWAYS someone faster than you. Don't try to be a hero.

Edited 5 February, 201313 yr by JB-)

I have no delusions of being Rossi so I should be fine. I presume when they teach you they will let you know how to balance the bike, positioning, etc. The rest would then come with practice

Read loads about bikes being crashed now I'm looking into it more. Are bikes that easy to crash then? Is the main reason too much speed in a bend?

Cagers are a massive factor too.

As JB said though no running before you can walk, even if an instructor says your a natural and you feel totally confident take your time. Nice wee solid weighted bike with some nice low down torque etc are always ideal.

I have no delusions of being Rossi so I should be fine. I presume when they teach you they will let you know how to balance the bike, positioning, etc. The rest would then come with practice

I am pleased you are being so sensible in asking such questions Depending how much you want to spend on lessons and how fast you want test done will depend how much wisdom a good instructor can pass on to you. I would highly recommend looking at advanced lessons ROSPA or IAM etc Police all over the UK do 'Bike Safe' courses too where you go and rid about with them they give advice on your riding position etc etc and people always come back having learnt something. You then have track days etc novice ones are ideal to help learn a little more about your bikes handling, its not all about setting lap records.

I have no delusions of being Rossi so I should be fine. I presume when they teach you they will let you know how to balance the bike, positioning, etc. The rest would then come with practice

Yes they teach you the basics, then it's down to you to get experience. A good thing to do is BikeSafe with the police. It's not expensive and they give you useful advice.

FUBAR reminded me of one other important piece of advice. Assume everyone else on the road is going to try to kill you. Assume every car will pull out on you, lots do. Always be looking for your escape route in case it happens.

Police all over the UK do 'Bike Safe' courses too where you go and rid about with them they give advice on your riding position etc etc and people always come back having learnt something.

Beat me to it.

You then have track days etc novice ones are ideal to help learn a little more about your bikes handling, its not all about setting lap records.

Yes track days are also good. You learn a lot about how to go quick, and how to stop too, but in a safer environment.

I have seen people mess up in a corner on a bike on track days and just not have the confidence or experience to correct it or if not possible at least make the best of a bad situation and ditch their own way. People can panic and make it ten times worse.

First bike I didn't spend a lot on as being a new rider with no experience I knew I would be more likely to drop it through my own inexperience, never happened (that came much later and in style!).

I would think generally risk of an accident from rider messing up is obviously higher initially when just passing test, that would improve with time and be less likely. But as above from the very first minute you ride to the last time you ever do, cagers will always be there in their 1.5ton metal cages not bothering to look as bikers are not worth the effort of using their mirrors or turning head etc before making any maneuver.

This vid makes me feel so bad for the guy collecting his brand new gixxer and I doubt he just passed test the day before (despite the state of him)

I always do a advanced course every time i change bikes , always learn something or realise bad habits have drifted in

I always do a advanced course every time i change bikes , always learn something or realise bad habits have drifted in

lol I would spend half my time on 2 wheels on courses at that rate I really need to find a bike to settle down with for a while. A very clever idea though!

I have seen people mess up in a corner on a bike on track days and just not have the confidence or experience to correct it or if not possible at least make the best of a bad situation and ditch their own way. People can panic and make it ten times worse.

First bike I didn't spend a lot on as being a new rider with no experience I knew I would be more likely to drop it through my own inexperience, never happened (that came much later and in style!).

I would think generally risk of an accident from rider messing up is obviously higher initially when just passing test, that would improve with time and be less likely. But as above from the very first minute you ride to the last time you ever do, cagers will always be there in their 1.5ton metal cages not bothering to look as bikers are not worth the effort of using their mirrors or turning head etc before making any maneuver.

This vid makes me feel so bad for the guy collecting his brand new gixxer and I doubt he just passed test the day before (despite the state of him)

Gutted.

I'm up for doing some advanced courses on the bike. Growing up all I watched was F1 and car racing so knew the theory of lines, understeer, oversteer, braking points, etc but it's completely different on a bike and it's the no experience bit that I need to sort. Being taught what to do would help. But there's plenty of time for all that. I haven't got CBT yet let alone passed. I'm also not buying a bike until I do pass just not to put any extra pressure on myself. The only people I told is you lot and my mother. No one else will know and only I will know when my test will be for the same reason. I'm looking forward to it

Gutted.

I'm up for doing some advanced courses on the bike. Growing up all I watched was F1 and car racing so knew the theory of lines, understeer, oversteer, braking points, etc but it's completely different on a bike and it's the no experience bit that I need to sort. Being taught what to do would help. But there's plenty of time for all that. I haven't got CBT yet let alone passed. I'm also not buying a bike until I do pass just not to put any extra pressure on myself. The only people I told is you lot and my mother. No one else will know and only I will know when my test will be for the same reason. I'm looking forward to it

Will be better to get bike after test so you can test a few different types from final short list see which fits you best

Gutted.

I'm up for doing some advanced courses on the bike. Growing up all I watched was F1 and car racing so knew the theory of lines, understeer, oversteer, braking points, etc but it's completely different on a bike and it's the no experience bit that I need to sort. Being taught what to do would help. But there's plenty of time for all that. I haven't got CBT yet let alone passed. I'm also not buying a bike until I do pass just not to put any extra pressure on myself. The only people I told is you lot and my mother. No one else will know and only I will know when my test will be for the same reason. I'm looking forward to it

Good way to do it, instead of the silly way I did it. Bought a bike before I took my test, nothing beats turning up on test day thinking that if I don't pass ill have to go home and cry on my stationary and not yet rideable bike... But I passed :p

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Don't do what I did ie go from a 50cc moped to a 1200cc turbo'ed drag bike , race for 6 years before doing a DA course

Year on a 550 Zephyr and then onto an 1100:)

Don't do what I did ie go from a 50cc moped to a 1200cc turbo'ed drag bike , race for 6 years before doing a DA course

Year on a 550 Zephyr and then onto an 1100:)

Joey Dunlop was racing for years for Honda before he bothered getting licence

Just stole this from bakebook

This is why road racing rules!

CBT booked but guess it depends if it snows or not if I can do it.

One thing I've been looking at is clothing, gloves, helmet, etc and lots of it is expensive. I guess you get what you pay for and I'll spend where necessary. My bike helmet was over £100. Is there any places I should be looking for bargains, brands to go for, whether I should go textile or leather, etc.

You don't need the best. I started out with a lid, textile jacket, gloves and boots. Got a leather jacket and jeans later.

Strangely riding a motorbike isn't actually like riding a push bike. Some people get the balance and positioning right away. I didn't and it took me a while.

Are bikes easy to drop, yes. Especially at low speed. At speed they're really quite stable you're only going to come off in an extreme event.

At low speed the knack is to look where you want to go not where you are. Your head and shoulders follow your eyes and that affects the balance of the bike. If you look down you'll tip over. On the road you move around the bike and transfer you weight from peg to peg as you corner. It's nothing like a car where you plant your arse and wiggle your arms.

You don't need the best. I started out with a lid, textile jacket, gloves and boots. Got a leather jacket and jeans later.

That's what I'm thinking. Might get a nice lid but was thinking textile for everything else.

This is my stead and I love it I have just serviced her and waiting for the weather to pick up well maybe not the weather just the temp lol

This is my stead and I love it I have just serviced her and waiting for the weather to pick up well maybe not the weather just the temp lol

Edited 8 February, 201313 yr by greengoddess69

CBT booked but guess it depends if it snows or not if I can do it.

One thing I've been looking at is clothing, gloves, helmet, etc and lots of it is expensive. I guess you get what you pay for and I'll spend where necessary. My bike helmet was over £100. Is there any places I should be looking for bargains, brands to go for, whether I should go textile or leather, etc.

High street places are dying fast nice if you can help them by going in most will haggle a bit too, sometimes beat online prices. But overall still go for best you can afford and fingers crossed it never gets put to its ultimate test. If textiles will suit your needs more than leathers go for them, if commuting etc leathers would not be practical for most etc and not any good in rain (can get waterproofs for over top though). Ideal world have everything..... (never going to happen)

My first helmet was about same price but have spent more each time I have upgraded each bit of gear, as buying 1 item at a time you can generally afford more, starting out having to buy it all from scratch has its toll on your wallet. I am due a new helmet current one is fantastic I really like it (Shark S900) nothing wrong with it at all but its been through all conditions and environments for 3-4 years so I am going to retire it. New one Shark Vision-R I am thinking.

http://www.2wheeljunkie.co.uk/ Has a good range of stuff and tbh I think they are going to go under soon, been having back to back sales for ages and some really good bargains on there at moment. Check them out first!

http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk has a good range of ..... everything!

http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/ Been in trouble lately but still going and do some really good gear, I am not their biggest fan but bought a pair of kevlar trousers last year from them and knee armour.

I think when I started out I spent about £250-£300 on gear (lid, boots, textiles and gloves). At moment if I was to go out for a blast in summer I would be putting on about £2K's worth. It's amazing how you can end up spending a fortune over time.

I am very serious on boots personally I would have lost my lower leg if I had not of been wearing what most would have said was overkill gear for touring and I am very aware of that fact every day as I limp on (bone fragments ended up inside my boots which held together tightly). My current boots were £350 odd when I bought them. They offer very high protection and are not too restrictive. There were more expensive ones out there but I couldn't find any that matched my needs and offered same protection so made my choice that way. I wrecked my fairly budget leather gloves (£39) new ones were £129 but then had 50% off in a sale, the difference in quality is staggering when you look up close.

The difference in spending £120 on a set of half decent textiles on offer and £4k on leathers if you come off and slide at speed is only ever going to be a matter of a few seconds more protection unfortunately but I still lean towards as much as I can afford to spend to have no regrets in the event.

Guys

Those after cheap kit the mcn bike show starts on the 15th at London excel

I got a set of bks leathers for £250 and a shark lid for £80

Well worth a look

Guys

Those after cheap kit the mcn bike show starts on the 15th at London excel

I got a set of bks leathers for £250 and a shark lid for £80

Well worth a look

Top tip of the day right there. I have not been before but everyone I know who has seems to come back with some cracking deals! Often the best deals on leathers at events seem to be the colour coded stuff as they are slower selling than neutral colours, but savings make it worth it to clash bike and gear colours.

Thanks this is just what I was after. It's only to get an idea of costs for now and knowing what I'll need to spend and want to spend.

Tickets in advance £17 and that includes an arena show