...to learn to ride a bike???

I'm a 30-something now and this is something I've always wanted to do, but have always managed to talk myself out of it or allow others to talk me out of it (g'friends, wife, family etc).

Got the bug again now, but a sh!tfaced biker nob i talked to in the pub recently was of the opinion that I'm now too old.

I think he was talking out of his ar$e, but what d'you think???

Cheers

Kev

To old at 30 B****cks - what a prick who told you this.

Pass your test and pull up outside the pub on your brand new R1/Gixer/Blade

do a burnout spitting rubber in his face and roar off sticking two fingers at him!

its nothing to do with how old you are its how your trained!

Why on earth would you would you therefore take any notice of a sh!tfaced biker nob? Course you're not too old.

As above - Training is the key, there are plenty of bad riders out there who have been riding for years, my m8 is 50 now, has 2 x ZX6Rs (one for track, one for Road) and only passed his test 3 years ago.

Good training and good kit (clothing) are more important than the latest/biggest bike.

The 600 class is a good one to start from and many riders keep returing to it after riding bigger stuff.

Your never to old, i know a bloke in his seventy's who only passed his test about fifteen year's ago, and now he ride's an R1.

I sincerely hope not! I can barely remember my 30's.

The most important thing is training. Not just "paid up off you go" DAS but self taught "how to ride a bike" training. Before you take the plunge, why don't you get a cheapo trail/dirt bike and wazz around offroad for a while. You'll soon learn about bike control and also what it's like to crash - and how not to.

These skills will come in very handy when/if you jump on a streetbike. Most top road racers workout on dirt bikes, to hone their skills as much as to tone the body (regular offroad riding will get you fitter than a butchers dog). Ask Troy Bayliss...

Screwd.

Your never to old, i know a bloke in his seventy's who only passed his test about fifteen year's ago, and now he ride's an R1.
The f**king rum cnut! good on him i say!

Hehe!! Cheers chaps. Good advice up there.

Been toying with the idea of doing just that, Screwd - buying a cheap offroader to get the basics sorted before taking things further. Don't plan on having any crashes, though :D

So I'm not too old, then. The above mentioned knob was one of these sharp-intake-of-breath merchants. You know they're usually talking bo!!ocks, but there's always a niggling suspicion that they know something you dont. Cheers for clearing that up ;)

Kev

Hehe!! Cheers chaps. Good advice up there.

Been toying with the idea of doing just that, Screwd - buying a cheap offroader to get the basics sorted before taking things further. Don't plan on having any crashes, though :D

So I'm not too old, then. The above mentioned knob was one of these sharp-intake-of-breath merchants. You know they're usually talking bo!!ocks, but there's always a niggling suspicion that they know something you dont. Cheers for clearing that up ;)

Kev


Is that one of the Knobs which turn up at the NEC bike show in their cars and then proceeds to don their bike gear in the carpark :D

Just done DAS at 42. If that's too old then my cock's a kipper.

Go and do it.

Cheers
Kav

Just done DAS at 42. If that's too old then my cock's a kipper.

Go and do it.

Cheers
Kav


Dear Mr.Kippercock.....:D Only joking honest, Congratulation's now go and enjoy the performance and freedom that only motorbike's can offer.

Go spend £100 on your CBT - you'll know if biking is for you or not :). Age is irrelevant - it's what you do on the road that counts.

--Rich
(Passed a month ago and loving it!)

Just done DAS at 42. If that's too old then my cock's a kipper.

Go and do it.

Cheers
Kav


PMSL!!! :D :D :D

You've inspired me :notworthy

Kev

My Dad has just passed his Canadian licence at 74 and has a 1550 Harley along with his 46 year old wife on her 1450 Harley. :D There is hope for us all!!

Dear Mr.Kippercock.....:D Only joking honest, Congratulation's now go and enjoy the performance and freedom that only motorbike's can offer.

;)

Fazer, SV650 or VFR750? I've got about £2500 to spend.

Cheers
Kav

PMSL!!! :D :D :D

You've inspired me :notworthy

Kev

Thanks mate - you've just got to do it.

Let us know how you get on. Like most areas on SN, there's loads of helpful people who know lots of stuff they're willing to share so make sure you ask away if you get stuck.

Cheers
Kav

;)

Fazer, SV650 or VFR750? I've got about £2500 to spend.

Cheers
Kav
VFR-750FL-FP. Lovely, timeless look, very easy to live with gentle and boring when you want but precise and quite nimble when the mood takes you. Excellent spares availability both new and second hand, and they tend to be very well made.

You'll spend £1800 or so on a good one - I paid £1150 for my FL with 49k on the clock, bags of history, full stainless exhaust - and it's in better than average condition. Fairings are tidy but obviously have minor scuffs on them - but at the right price, who cares?

http://www.madgamers.net/rich/comments.php?id=00176

100bhp, that lovely, unique V4 noise, and the super-cool single-sided swinging-arm. And old enough to qualify for classic insurance too...

Arguably the nicest looking VFR ever, IMO. The later 750's just looked wrong to me, and I'm not a fan of the styling on the latest and greatest 800 in general, though a couple hgave caught my eye in dark colours.

--Rich

VFR-750FL-FP. Lovely, timeless look, very easy to live with gentle and boring when you want but precise and quite nimble when the mood takes you. Excellent spares availability both new and second hand, and they tend to be very well made.

You'll spend £1800 or so on a good one - I paid £1150 for my FL with 49k on the clock, bags of history, full stainless exhaust - and it's in better than average condition. Fairings are tidy but obviously have minor scuffs on them - but at the right price, who cares?

http://www.madgamers.net/rich/comments.php?id=00176

100bhp, that lovely, unique V4 noise, and the super-cool single-sided swinging-arm. And old enough to qualify for classic insurance too...

Arguably the nicest looking VFR ever, IMO. The later 750's just looked wrong to me, and I'm not a fan of the styling on the latest and greatest 800 in general, though a couple hgave caught my eye in dark colours.

--Rich


The 750 VFRs are a bit lardy, and they do look dated now, Even though the engine is good for 100k, the cycle/suspension parts will begin to get tired by 50k
The SV650 is IMO a better bet for a total newbie and are lightweight, very nimble and cheap to insure and service. As you have to work a bit for the performance, you are less likely to get yourself into bother as easily with the Gatsos

Id recommend the SV650 for the same reasons and have just put my money where my mouth is and bought my newly tested son one as his first real bike.
Took it out for a test drive and didnt want to bring it back!!

I would agree with the SV650 option as well, although VFR's are indeed very good bike's, as Drunknorgy quite rightly point's out, by 40/50k there going to need a full chassis re-build, with swing-arm bearing's, head bearing's etc,etc, although nothing wrong with this in principle, for your £2500 you will get a much newer and lower mileage bike with the SV650, if your going to use it for commuting or any sort of distance riding i would go for the half faired SV650s, just make sure to have a good look around, because there's plenty of them out there for that sort of money, you should be able to pick up an 01/02 bike privately for that sort of money, and go for a completely standard one (not one with all sort's of tat and anodised ****e bolted on it), it'll make an ideal first bike, friendly enough to gain experience and confidence, yet fast enough to have some fun (and possibly scare yourself) when you get the hang of it! Oh by the way i would also consider the benefit's of taking some advanced training, remember, they only taught you to pass your test, you will learn so much more and gain confidence a lot quicker with some proper advanced training, and may even get a reduction on your insurance premium. Good luck with your choice of bike, enjoy and ride safely.:thumb:

Good point mate, thanks and well noted.

No votes for the Fazer then?

Cheers
Kav

Good point mate, thanks and well noted.

No votes for the Fazer then?

Cheers
Kav

You're never too old - did my DAS at 33 (I'm 36 now), took me a while to actually becoming a proper biker but last year bought a new Fazer 600 and commute to work on it every day (except when it's snowing). :)

2004 Fazer is v.good but quite revvy, I understand that the prev model is just as good

Thanks mate

The 750 VFRs are a bit lardy, and they do look dated now, Even though the engine is good for 100k, the cycle/suspension parts will begin to get tired by 50k
The SV650 is IMO a better bet for a total newbie and are lightweight, very nimble and cheap to insure and service. As you have to work a bit for the performance, you are less likely to get yourself into bother as easily with the Gatsos
It depends on what you're looking for from a bike though - with 100bhp they're plenty fast enough, and whilst they're a big old bike they aren't really lardy - fair enough, they weigh more than something like an R6 but they are far more comfortable to use.

Lots of mid-range grunt as well, which makes for easier riding. It's not like you're waiting for 9k+ for all the power to become available - they pull very, very cleanly from 3k right the way through to the redline.

Individual preference at the end of the day. IMO they are a good compromise between something that'll give you a huge grin when you yank it open, and something that you can live with on an everyday basis. I've done 300 miles in a day without aching or having sore wrists...

As with any bike, they get to a certain age and need x/y/z bearings doing. But they cost less to buy than anything newer, and are - generally speaking - given an easier lifestyle than many other bikes. Many owners are meticulous with maintenance - I picked mine up for £1150, and it had a new rear tyre, stainless system throughout, new front, rear and head bearings - all within the last 5k or so.

Buy right and you'll have a great all-round bike with plenty of money left over. As a first bike, a drop of some description is rather likely. Much cheaper to have a good old bike on TPFT(much cheaper insurance for a new rider) that you're not too scared of dropping - you could easily spend more money repairing the fairings on a newer bike than I did buying mine.

Horses for courses at the end of the day. :) I wanted something comfortable, faired(I do a fair few long runs), and with decent build quality. I've no complaints so far.

--Rich