Help - PH’er 125….
Discussion
Hi all, in a fit of largesse, I purchased my dream bike, a MV Agusta F4.
I don’t know how to ride a bike.
I have got my CBT last month, my plan is to learn to ride during winter and go direct access in the spring.
But as I am the traditional PH company director size, I don’t want to treat the leafy lanes of Hertfordshire to me looking like a gorilla on a tricycle when riding a 125.
As such, what would you go for - a Honda or something solid like that, a new Keeway or some Chinese meh that might be a bit crap but a bit bigger…. A Mutt (despite the frankly bizarre social media thing) - I am seriously confused and would welcome some advice. Thanks!
I don’t know how to ride a bike.
I have got my CBT last month, my plan is to learn to ride during winter and go direct access in the spring.
But as I am the traditional PH company director size, I don’t want to treat the leafy lanes of Hertfordshire to me looking like a gorilla on a tricycle when riding a 125.
As such, what would you go for - a Honda or something solid like that, a new Keeway or some Chinese meh that might be a bit crap but a bit bigger…. A Mutt (despite the frankly bizarre social media thing) - I am seriously confused and would welcome some advice. Thanks!
Just do the direct access course and be done with it. You haven’t bought the ideal first bike but plenty of people start on a sports bike and are fine, just makes riding more upright stuff feel even easier in the future!
If you really have to get a 125 then buy a Japanese bike such as CG or YBR or maybe a varadero which is a v twin and a lot bigger and actually have some resale value when you get bored a week later.
If you really have to get a 125 then buy a Japanese bike such as CG or YBR or maybe a varadero which is a v twin and a lot bigger and actually have some resale value when you get bored a week later.
Varadero 125 is the answer.
I started riding about 4 years ago now and bought a Varadero 125 to get some practice in between lessons and tests. I’m not a gentleman of smaller size either and found even stuff like the YBR, I felt and looked ridiculous on.
Varadero 125 isn’t too disimilar sized to a “proper” bike, has a lovely little V-Twin, comfortable, doddle to ride and absolutely bomb proof. Put 2k miles on it practising and actually managed to sell it for a small profit.
Only issue you may have is they are rare, I hunted high and low for weeks before the right one popped up literally around the corner.
I wish have kept it, stuck some nobbly tyres on it and used it for green laning. Loved that bike.
I started riding about 4 years ago now and bought a Varadero 125 to get some practice in between lessons and tests. I’m not a gentleman of smaller size either and found even stuff like the YBR, I felt and looked ridiculous on.
Varadero 125 isn’t too disimilar sized to a “proper” bike, has a lovely little V-Twin, comfortable, doddle to ride and absolutely bomb proof. Put 2k miles on it practising and actually managed to sell it for a small profit.
Only issue you may have is they are rare, I hunted high and low for weeks before the right one popped up literally around the corner.
I wish have kept it, stuck some nobbly tyres on it and used it for green laning. Loved that bike.
I’m going to recommend DAS too.
Besides all the other benefits it’s going to help with insurance when you can show you’ve had a license for 6 months rather than just passed.
I also don’t want to p on your chips but hopefully you’ve checked insurance as sports bikes are expensive for everyone even old with experience and ncd.
Besides all the other benefits it’s going to help with insurance when you can show you’ve had a license for 6 months rather than just passed.
I also don’t want to p on your chips but hopefully you’ve checked insurance as sports bikes are expensive for everyone even old with experience and ncd.
Rubin215 said:
No harm in buying a Mutt, I have been very impressed by them so far.
A mate's 6'3" rugby playing son bought a 125 last year and it just looks like he's on a classic bike.
It struggles slightly for top speed but then he is the best part of 19 stone.
Those are my dimensions, but I think any 11-15bhp engine is going to struggle A mate's 6'3" rugby playing son bought a 125 last year and it just looks like he's on a classic bike.
It struggles slightly for top speed but then he is the best part of 19 stone.
Ref DAS and my approach…. I’m currently slightly physically limited due to an accident. I want to use the riding over the winter to help me with this, as well as ingraining the skills and knowledge. There are also some habits from mountain biking I need to get rid of (such as covering brakes).
And yes, I know the insurance on the F4 is going to be crippling. It is what it is. With my size it is a tiny thing anyway, so I can’t see it being used a huge amount.
And yes, I know the insurance on the F4 is going to be crippling. It is what it is. With my size it is a tiny thing anyway, so I can’t see it being used a huge amount.
Don1 said:
Ref DAS and my approach…. I’m currently slightly physically limited due to an accident. I want to use the riding over the winter to help me with this, as well as ingraining the skills and knowledge. There are also some habits from mountain biking I need to get rid of (such as covering brakes).
And yes, I know the insurance on the F4 is going to be crippling. It is what it is. With my size it is a tiny thing anyway, so I can’t see it being used a huge amount.
You’ll find aswell that doing all the Mod1 manoeuvres on a 125 is excellent practice. If you can manage them all on a 125, doing it on a bigger bike is so much easier. I lost count of how many times I practised the U-Turn on a tight street on my Varadero, when time came to do it on an MT-07, didn’t even need to think about it. For some complex reason to do with weight, engine inertia and torque that I don’t really understand, it’s easier on bigger bikes. And yes, I know the insurance on the F4 is going to be crippling. It is what it is. With my size it is a tiny thing anyway, so I can’t see it being used a huge amount.
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