Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

I'm thinking about doing a motorbike course and test to try and get a full licence, what steps do I need to do in going about this ? Can you go straight for the full test or does it have to be done in stages like lower CC bikes first, ive ridden a bike before but it was a while a go.

DYK

New EU laws that came of January 2013 means you now have to be age 24 yrs before you can have full access to ride any cc bike,under 24 and you have to do it in stages.
If you're over 24 then just go for the direct access,which will give you the licence to ride any cc bike.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

CBT and theory, then modules 1 and 2 of the practical test.

The bikes you can ride depends on your age and the size of the bike on which you take your test. It's complicated and the rules keep changing. The current regulations are here:

https://www.gov.uk/rules-motorcyclis...e-requirements
http://www.bikelicence.co.uk/

If you're 24 or older, your best bet if you can afford it is to do Direct Access, where you'll learn on a suitable machine (at least 595cc capacity and 53.6 bhp) and only need to take one test in order to get an unrestricted licence that allows you to ride whatever you like.

Taking a test on a smaller bike might be cheaper, and could be all you need if you plan to commute on a small machine, but the automatic upgrade you used to get after 2 years no longer happens. You now need to pass a test on a big bike in order to get an unrestricted licence, so you may as well make that the only test you ever do.

Have a look for bike schools that are a member of the Get On scheme - you can get a free hour's introductory session with them, and they'll take you through the process.

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

Thanks chaps

I'm 44, its something ive always wanted to do and i'll regret it if i don't. I think Direct Access is the way to go, whats the cost these days of doing the test to get to pass level ? I'd use their equipment and bike.

Ive just rung a place near where i live and they can do the Direct access course for £650, that includes the theory and CBT and everything else including test fee etc. How does that price compare to other prices ?

DYK

Price is about right,have seen them going for about £530.00 but that does not include the theory and to book actual test fee.

BTW

Is that price for a full 5 day course because some places charge that price for 4 days,do they have a website you can look on..

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

Its a 5 day course, it works out as follows. Day 1 is the CBT, days 2-4 is your training, day 5 is the part 1 and part 2 test.

http://www.cbtwarrington.co.uk/

Leslie

You won't regret it once you have done it.

I would advise from experience, sometimes painful, that you get yourself a good set of protective clothing. I saw a bloke yesterday riding in shorts and a short sleeved lightweight shirt. Bit of a Nutter I reckon!

Having experienced the pain of gravel rash, especially when it goes septic, as a lad when I used to fall off from time to time, I can assure you that pushing your luck in such a way is just not worth it. At least modern tyres are very much safer on the corners than the older patterns but even then it is better safe than sorry of course.

Les

Ste RB5138

I am in the process of doing the same, I passed my theory in Feb, which was straightforward with revision and my CBT in March for £100.
Hopefully go for module 1 & 2 one week in the summer.
I cant believe people ride around in shorts & T-shirts, with the amount of people texting when driving etc

This is a good website as well

http://www.geton.co.uk/

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

Cheers for the pointers Leslie

Its something i'm gonna look forward to doing, always fancied a powerful bike to go for a blast down some nice quiet, twisty country roads. Its one of them things that i'll probably regret it if i don't do something about it.

Leslie

Well I certainly enjoy it!

Les

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

Ive got a question about bike insurance, having not insured a bike for over 20 years which was only a 125 anyway i don't have a clue about the costs of bike insurance.

How much roughly would it be for me to insure a CBR1000 Fireblade ? I'm 44, i have no convictions on my licence, the area we live in is ok, only prob is i don't have any no claims for a bike.

StiX

iTrader: (4)

Bike insurance is cheaper than you think.

I'm 44 (well on Friday!) and it's £180 Fully Comp for me on an Aprilia Tuono 1000 with 3 yrs NCB, no points good area.

I think it was £200 with zero NCB when I first had it.

As a comparision my WRX is £510, and the bike is three times as quick

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

Thanks StiX

I'd presume that people that have only just passed their bike test it would go against them with insurance companies when they ask how long have you held a licence for.

StiX

iTrader: (4)

Possibly. I passed my bike test in 2001 and I think it was pretty expensive then but I was 32 also?

Try an insurance comparison, I think you might be pleasantly surprised though.

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

Will do mate, thanks for your input.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

You might find it's even more of a random lottery than car insurance prices, though. I remember when I was looking for insurance on my first 'big' bike I asked for a quote on a ZX-6R and nearly fell off my chair.

I ended up on an FZ6 Fazer instead - same size engine, only a fraction less power, but (presumably) since it's not deemed a "sports bike" it was a great deal cheaper to insure.

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

I just rang one insurer to get an idea on price, these

http://www.bennetts.co.uk/motorbike-.../#.UaX7okA2Ork

I gave them the details as a 2011 Honda CBR1000, just passed my test with zero no claims bonuses on bike insurance.

No results came back, he said its probably due to just passing a test and having zero no claims on a bike. So the first one couldn't insure me lol, i'll try another, i just need a rough idea.

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

It doesn't look as though anyone is going to insure a person that has just passed their test on a Honda CBR1000.

I just tried

http://www.bikesure.co.uk/

All their searches came back with a blank, the lad was very helpful, he said that basically its because of just passing a bike test and having zero no claims. I said would being 44yrs of age go on my favour, he said it doesn't really with bikes, it comes down to the power of the bike in in-experienced hands and obviously its value to a thief.

I said what if i dropped down to a CBR600, he said it would be the same even though its 400cc less as its a very powerful bike in in-experienced hands.

I said how much for a Honda C90 then ?

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

I finally managed to get someone to quote me, its with Aviva

£877 fully comp, that includes a like for like replacement bike if yours needs to go in for repairs and like for like replacement leathers and helmet if needed etc.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

So, how much for a C90 then?

daz031178

iTrader: (1)

God bike test have gone up! I did mine in 2000 when I was 22 and it cost me £350 for everything. Don't get me wrong cads are great but they are not even close to my 2011 yec tuned R1, 198 bhp on the dyno and only weights 189kg **** me it's an adrenaline rush !!!!

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

The quotes were crazy mate, they wanted the same amount in insurance as the actual bike costs, who is gonna pay £40 to insure one of them

I rang 3 companies this morning, a couple of them transferred you to other brokers on their network that would call you back with 2 other insurance companies to speak too.

In total i'd say i spoke too 7 insurance companies, 5 wouldn't quote me on a CBR1000 with having zero no claims on a bike and i would have only just passed my test.

Only 2 companies gave me quotes on that bike, Aviva was £877 fully comp, the other quote i got was £1700.

StiX

iTrader: (4)

It's the bike mate, not so much NCB or when you passed your test.

Just did a gocompare using me but with 0NCB and passing test two months ago.

Thought I would give it a go, as feeling guilty about saying it was cheap!


Details:

Me - 44, zero claims/convictions

0NCB

Passed test 2 months ago

Bike standard and garaged

Tried my bike first, then 2012 Blade and finally 2003 on FZ6.

£311 Aprilia Tuono 1000 worth £3k

£1771 2013 Fireblade 2012 on worth £9k

£437 2003 on FZ6 worth £5k.


Hmm, for some reason my Tuono was cheaper than the FZ6 (value?), but clearly they don't want to insure a Blade for someone with no experience!!

Hope that helps. Try gocompare matey, and try different bikes as I just did?

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

Thanks again StiX

I agree with you on the blade, like you say they don't want to insure someone that has just passed their test on a CBR1000 which i guess is understandable, it was similar dropping 400cc to the CBR600. The guy i spoke too seemed to have a lot of knowledge in this area, he said even though its a 400cc drop its still a very powerful bike.

Its something i have to do, when i was younger i said i'll have a Lancer Evo one day, i saved hard and ticked that box. Then similar with an impreza, its now the same with passing my bike test and owning a superbike, i can't do things in half measures lol,just don't have it in me. It has to be all or nothing hence a blade or i may now look at the Yamaha or Suzuki equivelant, i think it will be the Honda though as a Fireblade is just something ive always wanted to ride and own.

StiX

iTrader: (4)

Blade is a nice bike, mate of mine has one in Repsol colours looks the business.

Up to you I suppose, if you can afford it then go for it!

If it was me though I wouldn't pay £500 more a year for a blade over my bike but I suppose I would say that wouldn't I.....

Rob_Impreza99

iTrader: (3)

MCN rang back about tea time with a quote, they want £1392 to cover a Blade based on my details.

Ive got all the info i was after, basically they don't want to cover you on such a powerful bike if you have only just passed your test with zero no claims. I'll believe that Aviva one when i actually see it in writing if i go down the Blade route, right next step is to get the wheels on motion to do my tests. I'll see how that goes, if i pass i'll look at bikes then as you don't want to get your hopes up too much just incase you fail

StiX

iTrader: (4)

You'll be fine. My brother has just passed his test and he's 47 with no bother at all.

My bike is a litre sportsbike based on the Mille just with higher bars and a smaller fairing. 126bhp and 189kg. Plenty fast enough.

So why is it a sixth of the price? I guess it's mainly down to reputation and amount of claims - blades, R1s, S1000RRs etc will cost you big time it appears.

I bet if you tried a quote on a K1300R or a Blackbird it would be a lot cheaper but they both have over 160bhp.

Good luck

StiX

iTrader: (4)

Ok as soon as I posted that I had to know, so I edited the quote for the Blade.

Only change was to swap it for a BMW K1300R (173bhp).

£470.

So Blade 178bhp - £1700

K1300R 173bhp - £470.

Seems I was correct?

Cockney Wideboy

iTrader: (2)

some great info in this thread...as with Rob_Impreza99 this is an itch that I'm wanting to scratch...have always wanted a bike but never had the money to run one...now I'm in a position to do it...the lure is very strong.

Also a few friends have started getting into bike track days and its looks amazing fun...much more so than a car track day...and its a lot cheaper

My ideal bike would be an R6 but as Rob_Impreza99 is finding out, insurance is a killer...new rider, powerful sports bike...its a bit like a 17year old trying to insure an Impreza STi...

The advice that I have been given is pretty much the same as already stated in this thread...
i.e. Take the direct access route as it teaches you to handle a larger machine from day one, then once passed getting something that is easy to ride and insurance friendly...build up the NCB and more importantly confidence and experience on the bike and then upgrade to a sports bike...Seems like a sensible way to do it...

My realistic time scale for this would be later on in the year and then maybe get a bike Xmas/New year when people are looking for a quick sale

Good luck with the test and keep us updated

pinkypurkhardt

iTrader: (9)

Also I would advise against doing mod 1 and mod 2 on the same day because if u fail your mod 1 for some silly reason you can't then do your mod 2 which will be to late to cancel and get a refund so you will have to pay for retest on them both