This is a handy link for before you take the theory test:-

https://www.gov.uk/practise-your-driving-theory-test

 

It's defintely the bike on the quote. When I passed, I had 3 bikes insured 3rd party F&T for £259. I didn't bother with comp as I could get most things fixed for less than the £500 excess.

I only passed my test 4 years ago. Done trackdays for the last couple and may be having a go at racing this year. Also did a run to Jerez in Spain in 2010, 3000 miles in 10 days. Fantastic experience!

It is very addictive and enjoyable. Highly reccommend anyone that can afford it, get on with it. You'll wonder why you left it so long!

 

My story.

I did the "big" bike test last year, and bought a CBR600F as my first bike, in fact Ive just sold it on ebay lastnight http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2811112491...84.m1587.l2649

https://www.scoobynet.com/bikers-37/...on-please.html

I did:
CBT for £100
Theroy test £31
MOD1 and MOD2 £440 using the instructors equipment and bike.

I have decided to sell only to make room for another Subaru, and to be able to now move up to the next bike once im done with the said Subaru.

The CBR600F was rapid, and good looking by the time I had finished it, and I would say by far the best first bike to start with. Everything about them from a newbie is appealing.

For example for me at 35, £200 fully comp insurance with zero ncb on bike, £45 per year tax (i think), the bikes are cheap to buy, and if you look at the one Ive sold there easy to make look newer with parts that are readily accesible.

If you book your lessons via an organisation they will accomidate any possible failures as they will book up the tests in advance, as they can be transfered to other learners, or cancelled in advance.

Rob

 

Hi Rob

I think a CBR600 is going to be a practical and realistic starting point providing i can get through the test, like you say its a powerful bike in its own right.

I was browsing the bike trader earlier and their are some very nice examples, i like the Honda racing colours so something like this would deffo appeal to me

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1501?logcode=p

 

That looks very nice, but to have that amount of money in a first bike for me was a

Its all too easy to over egg everything, when realistically you can get a very nice clean example bike for £1500+ and get use to it for a year or so, becuase inevitably (like a new driver in his/her car) you will be put in a pickle at some point, and its how you deal/react to the situation. Now we all know that its likely that the new "driver" is more likely to be at fault, where as a very experience "driver" newly "riding" his bike isnt, as he will have built up years of hazard perception etc, and I learnt that although I fell very confident behind the bars of a bike, and lucky to say I have never dropped or crashed it, that I have more "incident" than I can count on two hands in 9 months. Now these are everyday issues for most bikers, and they deal with this through experience, but as a novice it takes some gumption and ***** to decide what to do, and do it quickly.

Whilst travelling along a road only a few weeks ago when we had that bit of sun, I was riding towards a turn off on my left, I was going straight on and the little old dear in the car at the junction looked my direction (appeared to see me 20yrds away), looked the otherway, so i'm now thinking this isnt good and moved to the middle of the road slowing down a little, looked back my way (now felt comfortable she had seen my bright white bike, Green helmet, and Repsol Leathers) when she pulled out! A quick snathc of the brake and I stopped alomst instantly, fortunatly without the back end lifting or skiding. Now I ended up stopping in front of her car slightly on the double white lines waving my fist and swearing behind my helmet (she couldnt hear me).

Scenario's like this happened in the past too, inc getting cut up on the motorway by another biker!

My list is endless, but if you have your wits about you, then you'll be fine, well on a bike as listed you need to be, otherwise you'll wonder why your insurance had quadrippled!


It has to be said its one of the best things I have done, and selling my bike will be one of my biggest regrets, but with other things on my list, needs must!

I will defintaly be back, and with something like what your buying later this year, or into next year as a project (I enjoy getting hands on).


Get it done, and enjoy the experience. Get as many hours in as you can before your test, as each time I went out, things change, bus lanes, school runs, empty roads, weather changing, different bikes (first bike was fecked).

The CBT is all about confidence as you really dont do much. In and out of some cones along with some evasive style manouvers and slow crawl speed, its a doddle.

The Theory is quite simple really, there an app for it on apple, its around £2 I think, it worked for me

The Mod 1 is probably more daunting than tghe Mod 2, as its similar to the CBT but on a Big Bike against a "regulated instructor". If anything like the place I took my test, they dont tolerate much in the way of minors, they go about scoring you down like their on commission! I fortunatly passed first time, the hardest thing for me in my own mind was remembering not to brake "very" hard for the emergency stop, you need to stop in a reasonable fashion, in a "controlled" stop, so after a few tries on practice, there is actually quite a lot of room to stop, so there is no need to over do it, and remember to use the rear brake, yet dont if you know what I mean. The rear locks up in no time, but you need to brake somewhat with the rear in order to pass the test.

The Mod 2 is simple although I failed first time round for being over cautious. This I think is simple as this is all you have down during your lessons for say 40 hours. Simple riding around town and country roads, taking eveything in, its a doddle.

Hope this helps
Rob

 

Best bit of advice ever - treat every car driver like a monkey. Saved me on countless occasions.

In a car you assume they won't pull out, on a bike assume they will.

It'll save your life guaranteed many times.

I was on the A48 once, bus ahead with a queue of cars behind. Nothing coming, off I go overtaking the cars. Get a feeling about the last car before the bus, out she comes right into my path. Luckily nothing coming still, so I overtake the car overtaking the bus. Alongside the car look over and car driver nearly shat herself. Shake of the head, off I go.

Anyway, you get used to this as a biker - again treat every car driver as a monkey and you'll last longer.

A CBR600 is a nice bike. When I passed my test I bought a Fazer 600 as a compromise, nearly stacked it a few times, got used to it and then I was fine.

 

Nice bike the faser, I passed my test on a faser, there quite forgiving bar the leaning over, the pegs catch the floor lol (oops did he see that )

 

Good post above Rob

I watched this last night, its just the test and what you'll be up against. With me i'm all about confidence like a lot of people are, if i turn up confident on the day the test seems pretty straight forward but a few nerves can make it a lot harder.

 

Bloody ipad!

I've just written a lengthy post and pressed back button by accident lol

If your lacking a bit if confidence give me a bell, I can talk you through mine as its fresh in my mind, and the moral I was going to be getting at is join a related forum, such as CBR6ers as there is some very helpful folk on there. Then at least you can ask who to use for the bike lessons etc.

Rob
07522020500

 

This was the cause of my delay in passing, as the site was closed for investigation.

Fortunately she survived the damaged spleen, chest bone, arm and leg.

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk...wing_accident/

Rob

 

When you are approaching a side turning with a driver waiting to pull out, if you look at his eyes you can often see if he is about to do that regardless of the fact that you are approaching him.

Les