Advice for somone who wants to get into bikes

watsgone

Hey,

I am wondering what advice do you have for a young female who wants to get into biking.

Will be 21 soon.

Courses, type of bike, where to get a cheepish one, fixer up'er.
Insurance
and testing system of this great country of ours.


Thanks

Steffano2002

Here's what I did:

- Decided to get a Suzuki Bandit 600.

- Rang Carole Nash to see if I could actually get insured on that bike and they said yes (€1600 EUR or so for Third Party Only). AON refused to insure me on that bike...

- So I applied online for Theory Test, and Driving Test on the same day (cos I knew I'd be waiting a while for the Driving Test...).

- Got the Theory Test (40/40: p!ss easy...) then applied for a Provisional (after getting an eye test also).

- Bought a Suzuki bandit 600 and got insured with Carole Nash. Didn't bother with lessons as I was familiar enough with bikes (mopeds + motocross when I was younger). If you have no experience on 2-wheels, lessons are a must!

- After a one month wait, got a letter for my Driving Test in Raheny so I contacted David Lyons for a 3 hour pre-test course on the morning of the test. Aced my Driving Test in the afternoon.

I now have a beautiful bike and a full A license! Total time taken: 2 months.

It is very easy to get into the 2-wheel world in Ireland. License is cheap and easy and things happen fast (unlike for cars).

What bike are you thinking of getting? Have you any experience on 2 wheels?

Steffano2002

Just realised you are located in Munster... David Lyons won't be an option... But I'm sure there are plenty of good instructors around your area too!

watsgone

I have no real experience on two wheels but I really would love to get into it.

No particular bike in mind, though I find my self leaning towards the classics for insurance reasons etc.

2 months jesus thats fast I was waiting over A 14 months for my car driving test

numorouno

my advice to you is get lessons withsome before you ever buy a bike and see iff you like driving properly from the start, obviously you have to get theory test and license got first.id recommend bikecraft in cork(blarney).heard good reports about him. after you get this taste (im assuming you have no expierance at all) only then should you think about buying etc

sutty

As a girl, your hight might be a restriction for you. Take a look at the specs for each bike you are looking into getting for the seat hight. Your best bet is get a bike which you can get both feet on the ground at once. Bikes that are to big can be modified to a lower seat hight. But for something to start off on, it be best to go with a 250cc of sorts and build up expearnce. Lessons are a must. Any local bike shop will be able to put you in touch with a instructer that is local to you.

Gear, is one of the most important things. Get good armor and a good helmet. (how much is your skin, limbs, head worth to you really) Hopefuly you will never need it. But if you ever do, you will be greatfull for the extra money spent. When Buying a helmet, get a good fitting with. One where the helmet will not move around if you nod your head or tug on it a little. Also with a chin strap that will fastin to your chin and not be louse.

As for everything else like tests and insurance, everything the others have said is correct. Except that Caroll Nash will not insure you as you are under 25 with out a NCB on a bike. You already have your car, so if you have already set a theroy test to get your prov for that. I beleave you dont need to sit one for the bike as well. But not to sure of that.

ambasite

similar situation too. looking to buy first bike too. did the AON introductary/beginner course, had never been on a bike before that.

chosing first bike is proving a pain in the ass, know nothing about which type to go for, reliability, value for money, practicality, etc.

bike would be for daily commute to work (3 mile trip) & short trips at weekend.

Sports 125cc's - NSR, RS, TZR, they look good, are they practical? in terms of reliabilty, range?

sutty

Most shops wont let beginners test drive, so what I can say is. Go out to a shop and take a test sit. See if it feels good for you. Remember in sports bikes, you lean forward and put stress on your wrists. So even though the bike looks good. It mightn't be right for you.

Krusty_Clown

watsgone: Might be an idea to check out a few insurance quotes to make sure they're within your financial range first of all.. However, you've a couple of things going for you: Gender and living in Munster (if you're living outside of a city). Then as numorouno suggested, a couple of lessons to make sure that biking 'is your thing', would be the right way to go.

There's a thread at the top of this forum, thta is jam-packed with useful tips and information!

Ambasite (you thread hijacker!): At a regular commute of only 3 miles (6 miles each way) you could choose anything from a scooter to a larger bike.. Depends on your age, height, wealth etc.. We'd need a few more specifics! Personally, I'd stay away from the sports 125cc range. I'd get more powerful (restricted) bikes if I could, or look a the CBR250 kind of bikes, or finally the very reliable commuter type 125s (e.g. cg125, tu125 etc.). But that's just personal preference.. I'm sure there are many advocates of the sports 125s too. However, if you are very young (and male), the insurance on the sports 125s and larger will be crippling.

watsgone

Thanks for all the advice

I will check into the insurance side, with the classic insurance in mind.

Which companies should I approach as I know not many insurance groups take bikes on there books any more

tk123

Hi watsgone insurance wise Aon are your only bet. I don't think you can get the classic insurance unless you have a full licence?? Anyhoos I started on a moped which was crap then I had a VanVan for 3 years - never had a single problem with it but after doing my test I wanted something new since my insurance dropped. I've had a Marauder 250 since January and absolutely love it. If you don't know what type of bike you want go to a bike shop and take a look around and try different bikes for size - you might decide you like/dislike a bike when you see it up close or sit on it - this is usally the case for me cos I'm a shortass! The guys in the bike shop will be really helpfull anyways because they're not used to girly bikers!

faceman

Hey OP, lessons are a must, and dont just to the lessons to get you past your test. Do some further riding training.

Best of luck and enjoy!

Pigeon Reaper

Get lessons first if possible. If it's not possible then get an old unfaired bike thats not too powerful. Some 400cc bikes will qualify for learners. Also budget for gear as this will protect you from the elements and any spills you may have. Always check for insurance quotes before buying. You'll get an old CB-1 or Bros 400 for less money than many bikes sold as 'learner legal'.

Small 125cc sports bikes aren't recommended as a first bike. They're not generally as reliable and they can be crazy on insurance.

KildareMan

Irish Rider Training Association

http://www.irishridertraining.com/