New to bikes, which way to go?
Discussion
I'm 50 in a couple of weeks, and have just booked my CBT. Better late than never. No previous riding experience apart from a 50cc twist and go while on holiday on Rhodes about 30 years ago.
Anyway, I'm not sure whether to get a 125 or not. I can't work out whether to go for a new Husqvarna Svartpilen 125, keep it for a few years, and hope I don't get bored of its 15hp, even though it looks stunning. Or should I do Direct Access, and get a cheaper bike as I'll have spent a grand or so on training, so my budget wil be smaller. Something like a Fazer. How hard is the direct access without having ridden before?
Anyway, I'm not sure whether to get a 125 or not. I can't work out whether to go for a new Husqvarna Svartpilen 125, keep it for a few years, and hope I don't get bored of its 15hp, even though it looks stunning. Or should I do Direct Access, and get a cheaper bike as I'll have spent a grand or so on training, so my budget wil be smaller. Something like a Fazer. How hard is the direct access without having ridden before?
Assuming you're a competent driver, riding a bike is pretty easy, and most people find bigger bikes easier to ride smoothly than a 125.
In general 125's hold their value very well, so if you buy a decent non Chinese brand and don't crash it you won't lose much money on it when you come to sell. However you'll usually find basic 600's like Fazer, Bandit, Hornet, etc will be cheaper to buy then a 125 as there's such a huge demand for 125's.
I'd say do the CBT and then see what you want to do. If you find you're struggling a bit then maybe learn on a 125, but if you're happy on a bike it's worth doing the direct access and having a lot more bikes to choose from.
In general 125's hold their value very well, so if you buy a decent non Chinese brand and don't crash it you won't lose much money on it when you come to sell. However you'll usually find basic 600's like Fazer, Bandit, Hornet, etc will be cheaper to buy then a 125 as there's such a huge demand for 125's.
I'd say do the CBT and then see what you want to do. If you find you're struggling a bit then maybe learn on a 125, but if you're happy on a bike it's worth doing the direct access and having a lot more bikes to choose from.
I'd say don't go 125, I remember having one to commute on and even though it was a short ride, it was on 60 limit roads and it always felt on the limit. Once I passed my test I realised just how crap most 125's are when you can ride something bigger and more comfortable.
Whats your budget, your taste in bikes - sports, retro, adventure? How is your health? sports bikes may put weight on your wrists and lower back.
As a suggestion ,a friend at work had a Kawasaki ER6f that she did her test on and rode restricted till she passed her A2. I was surprised at how quick it was - find yourself a used one or something similar to get into riding before the full on superbike in the garage...
Whats your budget, your taste in bikes - sports, retro, adventure? How is your health? sports bikes may put weight on your wrists and lower back.
As a suggestion ,a friend at work had a Kawasaki ER6f that she did her test on and rode restricted till she passed her A2. I was surprised at how quick it was - find yourself a used one or something similar to get into riding before the full on superbike in the garage...
optionedup said:
I'm 50 in a couple of weeks, and have just booked my CBT. Better late than never. No previous riding experience apart from a 50cc twist and go while on holiday on Rhodes about 30 years ago.
Anyway, I'm not sure whether to get a 125 or not. I can't work out whether to go for a new Husqvarna Svartpilen 125, keep it for a few years, and hope I don't get bored of its 15hp, even though it looks stunning. Or should I do Direct Access, and get a cheaper bike as I'll have spent a grand or so on training, so my budget wil be smaller. Something like a Fazer. How hard is the direct access without having ridden before?
You are 50. Too old for L-plates and you have the maturity for a more powerful bike. Anyway, I'm not sure whether to get a 125 or not. I can't work out whether to go for a new Husqvarna Svartpilen 125, keep it for a few years, and hope I don't get bored of its 15hp, even though it looks stunning. Or should I do Direct Access, and get a cheaper bike as I'll have spent a grand or so on training, so my budget wil be smaller. Something like a Fazer. How hard is the direct access without having ridden before?
Forget the 125. Do the direct access immediately following the CBT and get a bigger bike. If you feel you need a bit more time on a 125 following CBT, then just find somewhere to rent one for a month.
optionedup said:
I'm 50 in a couple of weeks, and have just booked my CBT. Better late than never. No previous riding experience apart from a 50cc twist and go while on holiday on Rhodes about 30 years ago.
Anyway, I'm not sure whether to get a 125 or not. I can't work out whether to go for a new Husqvarna Svartpilen 125, keep it for a few years, and hope I don't get bored of its 15hp, even though it looks stunning. Or should I do Direct Access, and get a cheaper bike as I'll have spent a grand or so on training, so my budget wil be smaller. Something like a Fazer. How hard is the direct access without having ridden before?
The problem with 125's is they're really just too slow to be worth it unless you only want to ride around town. Larger bikes are generally more stable, have better brakes and suspension, so most find them easier to ride. So in general DAS is a much better answer for pretty much everyone in a similar position to your own.Anyway, I'm not sure whether to get a 125 or not. I can't work out whether to go for a new Husqvarna Svartpilen 125, keep it for a few years, and hope I don't get bored of its 15hp, even though it looks stunning. Or should I do Direct Access, and get a cheaper bike as I'll have spent a grand or so on training, so my budget wil be smaller. Something like a Fazer. How hard is the direct access without having ridden before?
RizzoTheRat said:
Assuming you're a competent driver, riding a bike is pretty easy, and most people find bigger bikes easier to ride smoothly than a 125.
In general 125's hold their value very well, so if you buy a decent non Chinese brand and don't crash it you won't lose much money on it when you come to sell. However you'll usually find basic 600's like Fazer, Bandit, Hornet, etc will be cheaper to buy then a 125 as there's such a huge demand for 125's.
I'd say do the CBT and then see what you want to do. If you find you're struggling a bit then maybe learn on a 125, but if you're happy on a bike it's worth doing the direct access and having a lot more bikes
to choose from.
This +1In general 125's hold their value very well, so if you buy a decent non Chinese brand and don't crash it you won't lose much money on it when you come to sell. However you'll usually find basic 600's like Fazer, Bandit, Hornet, etc will be cheaper to buy then a 125 as there's such a huge demand for 125's.
I'd say do the CBT and then see what you want to do. If you find you're struggling a bit then maybe learn on a 125, but if you're happy on a bike it's worth doing the direct access and having a lot more bikes
to choose from.
Have you booked the cbt on a geared bike rather than twist n go?
Might also be worth checking your licence/ photo card is in date and has provisional entitlement if you don’t already know
Modern 125s are good fun, but 100x less fun than a proper bike.
Do the DAS, buy whatever really tickles your fancy - if that's an impractical sports bike then go for it. Something that makes you want to ride, brings you joy, and learn how to ride it properly. The DAS is just the start.
Do the DAS, buy whatever really tickles your fancy - if that's an impractical sports bike then go for it. Something that makes you want to ride, brings you joy, and learn how to ride it properly. The DAS is just the start.
125 is just a means to an end. You're not 17 - get CBT on a hired 125, then do DAS.
Then go buy the bike you want. If it's 1000cc, so be it. I don't buy the whole 'work your way up' thing - the throttle goes both ways, and 1000s are divine to ride because they have torque and smoothness, so you can take it gently, and then scare yourself silly when you're ready.
Then go buy the bike you want. If it's 1000cc, so be it. I don't buy the whole 'work your way up' thing - the throttle goes both ways, and 1000s are divine to ride because they have torque and smoothness, so you can take it gently, and then scare yourself silly when you're ready.
I'll advocate for 125s with a few caveats. I did my CBT literally the day before lockdown and didn't enjoy it,it was harder than I expected and felt weird and scary. I had no desire to do DAS after that. With lockdown and having nothing to do getting a 125 to try and see if I liked it was the obvious option so I got a MT125. It turned out to be perfect, going out for small trips with hardly any traffic to slowly build up confidence. By the end of the first lockdown I was ready to sign up for DAS but I didnt want to do an intensive week long course and tests were so scarce there was no point, so I did a lesson a week waiting for test availability and practicing on the 125 in between, this suited me fine.I did so much mod1 practice I was on auto pilot for the test and mod2 I would ride the routes on around the test centre for weeks before. I kept my 125 for 6 months, did 2000 miles on it and sold it for a profit. The caveats would be I think I lived in the perfect place for a 125, suburban home counties with not many good A roads but plenty of nice narrow B roads for country blast or 40mph roads to get in to london where a 125 is great. I was definitely ready for an upgrade after 6 months and wouldnt have enjoyed keeping it for 2 years. So I'd say it depends on where you live and what your personailty is, if you're impatient do DAS straight away, if you do CBT and dont liek it give a 125 a go.
Just go to DAS.
I picked up Varadero 125, aim was to use it to commute on with a CBT. Found after a month, I loved biking but was frustrated by the lack of any go on a 125.
Booked onto DAS and passed a few months later.
I’m glad I got the 125 as meant I could still ride and practise what DAS taught which meant I passed quicker than I would have without the Varadero… but that obviously comes with costs, though as was mentioned above, I actually made a decent profit on the Varadero when I sold it, Varadero paid for my first big bike (1200 Bandit) and plenty of petrol money to burn. Oh, the 1200 was also less to insure than the 125!
I picked up Varadero 125, aim was to use it to commute on with a CBT. Found after a month, I loved biking but was frustrated by the lack of any go on a 125.
Booked onto DAS and passed a few months later.
I’m glad I got the 125 as meant I could still ride and practise what DAS taught which meant I passed quicker than I would have without the Varadero… but that obviously comes with costs, though as was mentioned above, I actually made a decent profit on the Varadero when I sold it, Varadero paid for my first big bike (1200 Bandit) and plenty of petrol money to burn. Oh, the 1200 was also less to insure than the 125!
I had the same thoughts this year.
I’m 40 years old.
Never ridden a motorbike before but always wanted to.
So, I did a CBT to make sure I enjoyed it, then booked a 6 session Direct Access course. (Last two sessions were the Mod 1 & 2 tests)
Passed the theory and practical tests first time.
Bought a XSR900 as first bike.
Loving it and commuted on it when the weather was better.
Makes my Clio200 seem boring.
I’m 40 years old.
Never ridden a motorbike before but always wanted to.
So, I did a CBT to make sure I enjoyed it, then booked a 6 session Direct Access course. (Last two sessions were the Mod 1 & 2 tests)
Passed the theory and practical tests first time.
Bought a XSR900 as first bike.
Loving it and commuted on it when the weather was better.
Makes my Clio200 seem boring.
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