You don't? Are you sure? That doesn't sound right, lol.

Speed is brill isnt it.. But you can still have a laugh in the corners on a 125, especially if youre just starting out.

It would bore me rotten now, but when youre just starting out and its all a new experience, i think power is a bad move.

Never owned a 125 myself (although I did spend 5 days on one to get my full licence). My first bike was a '75 RD200. With Ramair filters and no baffles in the pipes. Quiet it wasn't

Aha my dad did his test on one of those back in the day.

Only thing it wouldnt do is the slow pace (slower than walking) up a hill. Clutch was too snatachy.

But the examiner did recognise this and passed him anyway lol.

Clutch action was fine on mine, feet up walking pace pottering no trouble. And it had an electric start, such luxury, lol. Which was useful, after the kick-start output shaft sheared off...

Speed is brill isnt it.. But you can still have a laugh in the corners on a 125, especially if youre just starting out.

It would bore me rotten now, but when youre just starting out and its all a new experience, i think power is a bad move.

Too much power in the hands of a complete novice is definitely a bad thing, but anyone with an ounce of common sense and some decent training can be trusted with a bit more than 12bhp. I'm not suggesting for a moment that he should do his direct access then go out and buy a big bore sportsbike (even if he didn't kill himself he'd just be too intimidated by it to ever actually start to learn to ride properly, a mistake you see plenty of new riders making), but there's plenty of middleweight options that will be fast enough to keep him entertained for a long time to come, without breaking the bank, or his pelvis. If he wants my opinion (and I won take offence if he doesn't, lol), I'd say (budget permitting) - do direct access, buy an MT-07 and enjoy. And fit an offensively loud exhaust, obviously

A mate of mine has just done his direct access and went out straight after and bought an R6. 08 plate.

Hes absolutly useless. Hes been taking it back to the shop because its snatchy and horrible at 10mph round a bend. i followed him over a nice road the othrr night, he never got above 30mph, and that was on the straights.

Hes never wound it on, and never been above 5k rpm, and cant get his head around why the bike doesnt work.

Fact is, hes scared of it, and would be soo much better on a 125 whilst he learns.

You will get bored on a 125.

 

They also can struggle at motorway speeds, actually even at 60mph if it's a bit tired.

Jumping on a sports bike straight after your test is risky. Those things are fast.

 

But if all you can manage for a good while is a 125 then at least you'd have 2 wheels.

True. Id feel like im going to die on a 125 on the motorway. I just wouldnt do that aha.

Fact is, hes scared of it, and would be soo much better on a 125 whilst he learns.

He'd be better on a 600 bandit/sv or something. It's the type of bike that's the problem, not the engine size

I only say what I say about doing DAS and getting a big bike because I got fed up with 50bhp in 3 months, a 125 and I'd have shot of it in a week.

That twinned with motorcycle training teaching you more than just how to pass the test, even now I refer to things my instructor told me, I think if anyone's serious about getting out there on two wheels do it with the proper training and proper bike.

Edited 17 July, 201510 yr by matt1chelski

There is a whole load of useful/fun stuff between a 125 and a hyper/nutter/loon sports bike.  I think the sensible way is to try the 125 for the start and if you feel comfortable go for the DAS and then you have the choice of what you want to buy for yourself.  That way you can make a decision based upon your experience at the time rather than jump into one now and regret it later.  It may well be that you decide to do DAS but that doesn't mean you have to buy anything stupid you can always use your common sense.

 

Having instructed in the past (it has all changed now) if anyone came to me and was serious about biking then I would always suggest that DAS is the cheapest in the long run and in my opinion safer.  That way you learn to ride a bigger bike with instruction rather than progress to a bigger bike through the time route.  That way if you find yourself struggling with anything on a bigger bike the instructor will pick it up and help you solve the problem.  On your own you are...... well on your own!

Yeah, I think CBT, then if the biking bug bites, DAS THEN decide if you want to go back to a 125 after a week on a 600, you'll have an idea what it's like. If you're happy to go back on a 125 at least you've got a decent level of training to ride about with.

600 Bandits, Fazers, Hornets, Zs all all great bikes without being crazy fast or twitchy.

 

If you're not daft you could manage a CBR600 without a problem they're just so competent. But... very fast all the same.

600 Bandits, Fazers, Hornets, Zs all all great bikes without being crazy fast or twitchy.

If you're not daft you could manage a CBR600 without a problem they're just so competent. But... very fast all the same.

True that tbf.

Apparently a world of difference between a cbr600rr and an F.

Havent ridden either personally.

True that tbf.

Apparently a world of difference between a cbr600rr and an F.

Havent ridden either personally.

 

 

Got offered a shot of a F and an RR back to back but being a short arse I could only just get my toes down on the F and the RR was a non-starter or more like a non-stopper ;-)

 

They both just wanted a shot of my 400 after all.

 

Mate of mine tells me to get a 1200GS but I'd need feckin blocks on my feet (he's 6'5").

Edited 17 July, 201510 yr by Aspman

I started again on the CB600F something or other a few years back and it was OK.  Certainly would be a good cheap starter for a newbie and very easy to ride. As regards vertically challenged people (PORG) riding big bikes I recall when Kawasaki released their monster of a 1300 in the 80s and a bloke in town got one and he could 'just' reach the floor with one leg on tip toe. How he managed to handle it I don't know but he then bought a Honda CBX1000 6 cylinder beast that would not have been any easier.  He managed though proving if you want to you will I suppose.

Got offered a shot of a F and an RR back to back but being a short arse I could only just get my toes down on the F and the RR was a non-starter or more like a non-stopper ;-)

They both just wanted a shot of my 400 after all.

Mate of mine tells me to get a 1200GS but I'd need feckin blocks on my feet (he's 6'5").

Aha i know that feeling. Im 5,9 to not exactly that short, and i cant reach the floor on my dads GS adventure. Haha.

I started again on the CB600F something or other a few years back and it was OK.  Certainly would be a good cheap starter for a newbie and very easy to ride. As regards vertically challenged people (PORG) riding big bikes I recall when Kawasaki released their monster of a 1300 in the 80s and a bloke in town got one and he could 'just' reach the floor with one leg on tip toe. How he managed to handle it I don't know but he then bought a Honda CBX1000 6 cylinder beast that would not have been any easier.  He managed though proving if you want to you will I suppose.

 

My tall mate tell a story of one of his biking buddies that has a GS and has to pull up a kerbs to put his foot down.

I have actually pulled up in the road where there is a serious camber on the nearside where it goes into another road.  Put my foot down expecting the road to be where it would normally be only to find it is a couple of inches further.  That two inches don't half make you backside twitch!

True that tbf.

Apparently a world of difference between a cbr600rr and an F.

Havent ridden either personally.

Totally different bikes, chalk and cheese. As a real world road bike the F is better. But just too bland for me, I'd never want to open the garage just to look at it.

Aha i know that feeling. Im 5,9 to not exactly that short, and i cant reach the floor on my dads GS adventure. Haha.

Really? I'm only 5' 9.5" to 5' 10", but can get my feet down no problem on one of those. Never ridden one, only sat on one.

Really? I'm only 5' 9.5" to 5' 10", but can get my feet down no problem on one of those. Never ridden one, only sat on one.

Ive got short legs. Got it off my grandad aha.

Edited 18 July, 201510 yr by fabiamk2SE

Ive got short legs. Got it off my grandad aha.

Doesn't he need them back, lol? I think I'm the opposite, long legs for my height. Can't recall sitting on many bikes that I couldn't get both feet down comfortably on. My Bandit sits several inches higher than a standard one, but I can get both feet down flat, whereas my old riding partner in crime, at about 5'6" used to only be able to get one foot down on tippy toes if he sat on it.

Doesn't he need them back, lol? I think I'm the opposite, long legs for my height. Can't recall sitting on many bikes that I couldn't get both feet down comfortably on. My Bandit sits several inches higher than a standard one, but I can get both feet down flat, whereas my old riding partner in crime, at about 5'6" used to only be able to get one foot down on tippy toes if he sat on it.

Not really. He died :(.

Thats really handy thing though if youre into bikes haha.

Might just get on the GSA if its got a full tank of fuel and ESA set to sport. Id have to have another go haha

Edited 19 July, 201510 yr by fabiamk2SE

Lots of good avice already for Newbie Bikers.

Here's my 2 pennorth.

I've been riding regularly for 57 years, really!

I still have 2 old Brit 500cc singles, a Honda CB250RS, YamahaTTR250, HondaXL350 and a Burgman 400cc Scooter---cos I'm getting old! all those bikes are up and running and in frequent use.British, German Japanese, and Italian bikes, from 100cc to 1000cc with one exception I've loved them all.

My point is-------------they are all fun.  Going quick is fun, staying alive and safe is fun, feet up on the muddy stuff is fun, I found commuting was fun, (to start and finish the working day with a challenge and a bit of an adventure) travelling is fun, riding that is smooth, safe and hopefully stylish, is fun.

 

Get a cheap bike and some gear, yes a carefully chosen NEW helmet, and go out and enjoy.

If I had to start again, I'd find a cheap old MZ125, they are easy to fix, very tough and reliable, or maybe better, a Honda CG125, there's a cracker on EBay, a blue one for £900 in Norwich, from her advert, I'd buy that one unseen, and not lose money when/ if I wanted to move up to something bigger.

Good luck, whatever you decide, do it!

 

Enjoy and stay safe, remember, when you leave the kerb on a motorbike, you do become invisible!

 

Robin.

If I had to start again, I'd find a cheap old MZ125

Well, one of those would be awful enough to put him off bikes for life, and save him a fortune in the long run, anyway, lol.

remember, when you leave the kerb on a motorbike, you do become invisible!

 

You'd want to be invisible on an MT, imagine if anyone you knew saw you on one, lol.