jamesmark Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Apart from the obvious CBT, theory and test. Is there anything else? Whats the best route to take? Looking to ride appx 600cc am not interested in superbikes more cruisers. A few poeple say it is a very hard thing to get is your bike licence? Any advice really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Beast Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Firstly, how old are you? This will determine whether or not you can take direct access. How long have you had your car licence and do you have a provisional bike licence? The best place for this question is motorcycle news, as they have all the links to point you in the right direction, but yes you are right it is getting more and more difficult to get your licence. Mr Shadow Beast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 insurance is deadly for first time bike buyers from what i hear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 insurance is deadly for first time bike buyers from what i hear i've been looking into this too and the online quotes i was getting from Devitts Insurance were i thought cheap even with a provisional license....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 29 held my licence for 11 years, I have provisional licence with my current one as I got in before the law changed again, I passed my test 4 days after the law changed where is you passed you car test it allowed you on any size bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 OK - I've just done all this. The route I took was the following; £90.00 for the CBT £21.50 for the theory test After the CBT I went out and bought Hyosung Comet 125 and rode around on that for about 2-3 months to get used to riding. I bought the Hyosung as it is the same size and weight as a 400 and at 6'2 and not being the smallest of chaps I didn't want to look like a bear on a circus bike, if you get where I'm coming from. On a whim I bought a Suzuki GSX600F, again for £1000 so that it would spur me on to do my restricted test. That afternoon I booked my test and was told it was about a month away but I could possibly get a cancellation if I phoned back each morning. I phoned back at 9.00am the next morning and ended up doing my test at 10.40 that morning, a little unprepared but no time to worry about it. £60.00 for the restricted test I did the test and passed with no faults, so binned the L plates and can now ride my 600 as long as its restricted to 33bhp. After two years of experience I can bin the restrictor and ride anything I like. Makes more sense to me than direct access where you basically have 5 days experience and then ride anything. Insurance on my 125 was £102 a year, roadtax £15 a year, fuel saving using it instead of my Aristo for a month was noticable, £12 a week instead of £60 a week. Insurance on my 600 is £140 a year and road tax £45 (I think) a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Beast Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 bennetts are one of the best for bike insurance, they advertise all over the place and do good deals. so with any luck you can do the direct access course and get your 600! you might be limited to 33 BHP for 2 years but i can not remember if this applies to you or not. price wise from what i can recall you are going to be looking at about 500 quid for the training and test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 If you do direct access you can ride anything. This basically means that you take your test on a 500cc rather than on a 125cc. The test is identical, only real difference is that to do the test on a 500cc you will need to be accompanied to the test centre by an instructor. Here's some useful infor about the test; Test manoeuvres During the test specific manoeuvres must be carried which include: * emergency stop exercise An emergency stop is given on every motorcycle test and can be given at any time during the test. The candidate will be told the route to take and the examiner will demonstrate the signal that will be given. * wheeling / stand exercise The candidate will be asked to position the machine alongside the kerb and put it on its stand, then take the machine off the stand and wheel it across the road in a 'U' turn. (Either a centre or side stand is acceptable, but a machine without a stand is not suitable for the purposes of the test). * U-turn exercise Via the radio, the examiner will ask the candidate to ride the machine back across the road. The candidate will be asked to move off from a parked position and to turn the machine around to face the opposite way, within the road width. * slow ride exercise If the candidate has not had the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to control the machine at slow speed e.g. at junctions, they will be asked to ride as if in slow-moving traffic as a separate exercise. After the practical part of the test the candidate will be asked a question on 'balance when carrying a passenger'. And the test questions at the end could be any of the following; At the end of your practical test you will be asked a question about carrying a pillion passenger. It could be any of the following. Q. What must your bike have to allow you to take a passenger? A. A proper seat Foot rests for the passenger You could also add that the passenger must have a British Standards Approved helmet Q. What would you tell an inexperienced person who was going to be your pillion passenger? A. The correct attire to wear. Hold on to the grab rails or the bottom of your jacket. Straddle the bike - don't sit 'side-saddle' Put their feet on the foot rests. Don't look behind or make hand signals for the rider. Lean with you as you take corners or else the bike will want to go in a straight line. Q. Before carrying a pillion passenger what would you consider adjusting on your bike? A. Tyre pressure - inflate the tyres according to the makers recommendations Suspension - increase the pre-load on the rear suspension to allow for the extra weight Headlights (with a passenger the headlights will point slightly higher) Mirrors Even the chain for a heavy passenger. Q. How would the handling of a bike be affected by carrying a passenger? A. Longer breaking distance. Also, under heavy braking all the weight is transferred forward and the pillion may push into the back of the rider resulting in control difficulties. Slower acceleration so look for larger gaps in traffic when pulling out at junctions and roundabouts. Steering becomes lighter because there is less pressure on the front tyre. Cornering. The motorcycle may lean into a corner more than you think, so you must compensate for this. Balance. Especially at low speed, balance is affected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Mate who is 23 just passed his direct access and has only ever ridden a moped before. Got a quote on a bandit 600 for about £300 f/c. Its not that hard getting a bike licence its keeping it thats the hard part Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 If you do direct access you can ride anything. This basically means that you take your test on a 500cc rather than on a 125cc. The test is identical, only real difference is that to do the test on a 500cc you will need to be accompanied to the test centre by an instructor. Here's some useful infor about the test; And the test questions at the end could be any of the following; Bloomin hell I dunno those questions lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 Its not that hard getting a bike licence its keeping it thats the hard part Thats one of the reason I do not want a suprabike, just a cruiser plus I prefer the cruisers. Harley Wideboy style (slighty out of my price range) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Thats one of the reason I do not want a suprabike, just a cruiser plus I prefer the cruisers. Harley Wideboy style (slighty out of my price range) I do like cruisers too. 1st bike i ever rode and learned to ride on was ye olde yamaha FJ1200. Slow as, but very easy to ride and comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Bloomin hell I dunno those questions lol lol - I've listed all the possible correct answers underneath. You just need to bone up on them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 lol - I've listed all the possible correct answers underneath. You just need to bone up on them Your a bad man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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