[Grant_7]

For some reason, I'm suddenly starting to get the urge to do my bike license. Must be the start of a mid-life crisis or something...

Anyway, I've never even ridden a bike before, but would likely look to do a Direct Access course next year.

Looking for advice/hints etc on doing tests, what sort of bike to get first etc.

[isleaiw1]

I have nothing to add as never had the urge to get a bike licence after visiting my cousin, a quadraplegic, in a spinal unit when I was 11. Far too many young lads who had been involved in bike accidents, mainly not their faults allegedly.

Anyway, just saying

[Grant_7]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

I have nothing to add as never had the urge to get a bike licence after visiting my cousin, a quadraplegic, in a spinal unit when I was 11. Far too many young lads who had been involved in bike accidents, mainly not their faults allegedly.

Anyway, just saying

Lucky I'm not young then!

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

Lucky I'm not young then!

apparently the old ones werent so lucky

[Wolverine]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

For some reason, I'm suddenly starting to get the urge to do my bike license. Must be the start of a mid-life crisis or something...

Anyway, I've never even ridden a bike before, but would likely look to do a Direct Access course next year.

Looking for advice/hints etc on doing tests, what sort of bike to get first etc.

Did mine in 2018. 3 day DAS course with MOD1 and MOD2 tests included.

I'd say it's definitely worth it. I love to ride, although the opportunities are less and less at the moment, and I enjoy tinkering with it in the between times.

Buy the bike that makes you go 'YEEAAHHH'. Don't buy a Ducati because that's what Bob in the cafe says to buy. Try some out and see what you want to ride. It also depends what sort of riding you plan to do, Sunday days out for a hoon or a weekend tour away somewhere, or even something in between. There's a bike out there for almost all occasions so get your licence and go and try out a few.

I bought a 20 year old ZX6R as it was cheap and in good condition and I wouldn't be upset if it got dropped or otherwise. Had it longer than planned because it's a hoot and the Jap bikes are pretty reliable too. I might change it next season for a more road focussed bike. We'll see.

Anyway, definitely do it if you fancy it. Don't ride like a spanner and keep it on the tarmac.

Picture to feed the temptation.

[bishbosh]

Funny this topic came up as I've just started getting into motorbikes.

My daughter turned 16 earlier this year and she expressed interest to ride a moped. She did her CBT and I bought her a little 50cc moped which was really enjoyable as I rode it home.

This August I did my CBT and motorbike theory and I've just bought a WK Bikes rt125 to practice on. Eventually I'll get in touch with the instructor who did the CBT course and arrange some lessons in prep for the Mod1 & Mod2 tests.

Mid-life crisis is my excuse too, but it's always been in the back of my mind as something I wanted to do, but never got round to.

[joshpmc]

I did my Direct access when I was 21 (10 years ago now!, time flies).
As a first bike it really depends what you want. I would recommend something like a Kawasaki ER6 or a Suzuki SV650. They are plenty powerful enough to start with and very forgiving to ride. Torquey and great fun for the money.

[mikeoz]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

For some reason, I'm suddenly starting to get the urge to do my bike license. Must be the start of a mid-life crisis or something...

Anyway, I've never even ridden a bike before, but would likely look to do a Direct Access course next year.

Looking for advice/hints etc on doing tests, what sort of bike to get first etc.

Snap...

Booked on to a course as I also had the urge....DA course also.

[RobUK]

Heck, took my m/c test back in 1976 - seems like a lifetime ago! Rode all the way from Brighton to Margate to take the test which basically involved riding a figure of eight around some streets while the examiner walked the same route on foot. I had to do an emergency stop, ride at walking pace then answer some Highway Code questions and that was it, I could then go from the then limit of 250cc to whatever I liked! Had a Yamaha DT175MX at the time and a Honda 400 Dream was my first 'big bike'. Been riding bikes ever since.

So difficult to recommend a first bike but as someone has suggested an ER6 is a good choice - something middle of the road, easy and forgiving for building your experience on. Incidentally, one of my mates got his full bike license at age 69 so it's never too late

[AlwynMike]

My thing is keep off the tarmac!
Too many blithering myopic idiots on the roads these days.
Did my test back in 1974.
Had one or two (OK, more than one or two) broken bones.
Despite being tempted by nice cheap bikes, I won't road ride now.
I do Green Lanes, so legal roads that have surfaces varying from deep mud, through rivers, to stoned fire roads.
A 250cc bike that will maybe do 100mph at a push will seem as if you really are doing 100mph when you're actually only doing 30mph. Yes, the opportunities for offs are still there, but usually there's nothing coming the other way and the things to look out for are rocks, barbed wire and sheep. It's huge fun, even when cold, wet and muddy.

My brother is 77 and still rides his Z900 Kawasaki with verve and spirit.

There's nothing like a crotch rocket between your legs.

[P-ToK72]

My two pennies worth: -
I did a direct access test around 18 years ago (aged around 32 at the time) but I had already planned in my head that a sportsbike was for me and bought a GSXR600 from my neighbour.
After doing the training and test on a 500 sat upright bike, I struggled to get the confidence to ride the bike properly and in all honesty it scared the heck out of me.
I kept it for 2 years, bringing it out occasionally on dry weekend before selling it when my daughter reached the age of 1.
If i were to go back in time i would have bought a lesser powered and more upright bike until i had more time on it and the confidence.

[bishbosh]

I'm quite tall at 6'4" and get backache so an upright or cruiser style would be for me, don't think I'd manage long on a sportbike at all.

[Kendo67]

Cant beat them for fun , huge performance for the ££ , no waiting in traffic jams , cheap-ish to run depending on choice of vehicle.

A decent 600 will be more than adequate for your first bike , something like a Suzuki Bandit / Honda CB / Kawasaki Z should suffice to see if you really get bitten by the "bug".

As a weekend toy that can be used when the weather is fine and no DIY is needing done then they are unbeatable , as an only method of transport that is used 24/7/365 for the daily city commute then it is a different (dangerous) ball game.

Loads of different styles to choose from retro / Moto / race rep / street etc so whatever you choose there will be a bike for you.

Just finished working on this :

20210128_145811[1] by Kenny Niven, on Flickr

Still to complete this :

20160423_1754111_zpsqmqssxjf by Kenny Niven, on Flickr

K

[mikeoz]

I'm after a Touring/Adventure bike, my backs too old for a sports one.

[KRS_SN]

Drove a honda from 1998-2003 during my college years. Great fun and since the weather was hot when it rained the feel of fresh rain on the skin was fabulous though during the monsoon knowing where the road ended and where the river began was tricky!
I'd say go for it. It's superb.

[Nibbles]

I had bikes in my youth but not had anything for the last 20 years due to no garage and having young kids and being told by Mrs Nibbles that it wasn't a good idea. Now I've moved and have a garage and the kids are a bit older I'm tempted to get one again. Ducati Diavel, Triumph Rocket 3 (as suggested by someone on here on another thread a while ago) or one of these for something different and futuristic https://www.vergemotorcycles.com

[mikeoz]

Originally Posted by Nibbles

I had bikes in my youth but not had anything for the last 20 years due to no garage and having young kids and being told by Mrs Nibbles that it wasn't a good idea. Now I've moved and have a garage and the kids are a bit older I'm tempted to get one again. Ducati Diavel, Triumph Rocket 3 (as suggested by someone on here on another thread a while ago) or one of these for something different and futuristic https://www.vergemotorcycles.com

I thought it said "Veganmotorcycles"...almost is one as well.

[t5pilot]

Originally Posted by mikeoz

I'm after a Touring/Adventure bike, my backs too old for a sports one.

You need what I have then... an S1000 XR. It's every bike you'll ever need, and still satisfies the sports bike itch

[Grant_7]

Thanks all.

Yes thinking around a 600cc to start with. I quite like the naked street bike style, so something like a Honda CB650R or Yamaha YT-07 is where I'm at currently.

Local bike centre actually have a £30 'jump on a bike and see if you like it' course, so will probably do that in the first instance.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

For some reason, I'm suddenly starting to get the urge to do my bike license. Must be the start of a mid-life crisis or something...

You've probably been watching too much of those Special Escort Group outriders clearing traffic for the Queen's funeral cortege (they have been excellent though!).

[Watsey]

A good friend of mine recently sold his air-cooled 911 and wanted something fun for the weekends (his daily is a diesel Subaru estate; not very exciting) and decided to get a bike.

He bought a BMW G310 R, specifically because he hadn't had a bike before, wanted something that would be easy and comfortable to ride, and didn't want something so fast that he'd end up badly injured or dead.

https://build-my-bike.bmw-motorrad.c...,S07A6/COLOURS

To a lot of people it's probably only one step above a scooter, but ETTO and he seems to be enjoying it.

[kzg1969]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

Thanks all.

Yes thinking around a 600cc to start with. I quite like the naked street bike style, so something like a Honda CB650R or Yamaha YT-07 is where I'm at currently.

Local bike centre actually have a £30 'jump on a bike and see if you like it' course, so will probably do that in the first instance.

that would have been my advice! Something that wont cost a fortune when it falls off the stand