Best small bike for learning.

Cliona99

Hey, I'm new here, so be nice
I'm looking for a small bike, has to be under 125cc. I've been driving a scooter for the past six years and today I got over-taken by idiots one too many times. So any help you can give me would be really appreciated. My only conditions are that it look like a real bike not a big scooter and that it not cost the earth to buy or to insure. I'm 23 and I'm a girl, so that helps with the insurance. What did you all start on?
Thanks, Cliona.

gsxr1

hi. i learned on a cg 125. a proper motorcycle. its simple and not dressed up to look like a big chopper like alot of 125s seem to be now. .. unless your into that sort of thing. i know you dont want anything bigger but you should ask for an insurance quote on a super4 400 or a honda bros. they are nippy little bikes , not as expensive to insure as ya think and learner legal. 33bhp. hell of a lot more street cred than a 125 .

babybundy

maurader virago or something along those lines both 125's

Idleater

I know you said "under 125cc" - is that for licence reasons (A1 due to your age)? Otherwise, if you can get an A provisional, many "big" bikes are available as Factory restricted (33bhp/25kw).

I have a Suzuki SV 650 Factory Restricted if that is of any interest to you.

It is light (compared to some other 600's) and only about 20kg heavier than a Honda BROS, which is another fantastic learner bike.

L.

gsxr1

nereid wrote:

I know you said "under 125cc" - is that for licence reasons (A1 due to your age)? Otherwise, if you can get an A provisional, many "big" bikes are available as Factory restricted (33bhp/25kw).

I have a Suzuki SV 650 Factory Restricted if that is of any interest to you.

It is light (compared to some other 600's) and only about 20kg heavier than a Honda BROS, which is another fantastic learner bike.

L.

+1

Cliona99

Thanks for all the help. I like the look of the cg 125. I'm on an A1 license. Failed my test on the scooter the other day and the tester said afterwards that I was on the wrong license and should have W. So naturally, my first thought was 'oh my god, I can get a bigger bike without passing the test!'. Is it gonna be hard to learn the gears and the clutch and stuff? I'm so used to my left hand being a brake and ignoring my feet altogether, I'm not really looking forward to it. Anyway, cheers all.

Dr4gul4

i'll take you for a spin on mine if ure fit looking

pics in the sig


nothing wrong with asking .... just remember that people :rolleyes:

Idleater

Cliona99 wrote:

Thanks for all the help. I like the look of the cg 125. I'm on an A1 license. Failed my test on the scooter the other day and the tester said afterwards that I was on the wrong license and should have W.

CG125 is an excellent bike to learn on.

I presume you are only 16 or 17, but I thought you could do a test on a Moped on an A1 licence (rather than a W).

If you are 18 or over, I would recommend getting an A provisional. You can still start to learn on a 125 (like the CG) but you will soon be able to ride something bigger, and then if you do the test on anything over 150cc then you can drive anything after that (and the restriction period).

The problem with an A1 is that if you apply for the test now, by the time you are actually sitting the test, you will probably nearly qualify for an A test rather than A1.

If you pass the A1 test, then you still go back down to a provisional A when you want to drive anything bigger.

L.

Hotblack Desiato

W licence is for tractors!!!

The Doktor

ninja900 wrote:

W licence is for tractors!!!

Yeah... u need one of them for harleys....



*gets coat*

a_ominous

Cliona99 wrote:

Thanks for all the help. I like the look of the cg 125. I'm on an A1 license. Failed my test on the scooter the other day and the tester said afterwards that I was on the wrong license and should have W. So naturally, my first thought was 'oh my god, I can get a bigger bike without passing the test!'. Is it gonna be hard to learn the gears and the clutch and stuff? I'm so used to my left hand being a brake and ignoring my feet altogether, I'm not really looking forward to it. Anyway, cheers all.

If you've been on a scooter for 6 years, you should be alright. The gears/clutch thing isn't difficult. I started off on a Marauder 125 which I wouldn't recommend as it's a heavy yoke and can be beaten off the line by a drunk snail.
A couple of things: first, change the licence to A. If gears are a concern, what about a 250/400/600 cc scoot? I met a guy on my commute who had a provisional A and rode a Burgman 400.

Just curious: why did you fail the test? Tried any lessons? You can get them on a scooter too. I presume you're with AON? The AON assessment can reduce your insurance as well, so IMHO they pay for themselves and you've gained some good advice.

EDIT: re licence - M licence is aimed at 16yo kids. I presume there is a provisional for it, but IME most people get their full B licence and are entitled to M automatically. So I'm guessing you've an A1? What CC is scoot?

One reason for getting an A licence is that if you ever intend to ride a geared bike, you can avoid having to sit the test again as A test on a large scoot will have restriction for 'automatic vehicles' AFAIK. If you do car test in an automatic, your licence will have that qualifier.

Cliona99

Oh my god, i'm so completely confused! Yeah, I meant to say M when I said W. I'm 23. Scooter's 49cc technically. But I've had the A1 license for the past six years and this is the first I've heard that I could have the wrong license. As far as I know, (which isn't very far), the scooter's too small for me to get an A license.

I failed the test with one grade three fault, 'failure to yield to traffic when turning right'. I honestly don't remember doing it. Plus the tester managed to stay with me the entire time so it can't have been that close a call. Can't afford lessons! Lowest quote I got was almost two hundred for three hours. Thanks again for all your help.

Idleater

The A licence covers everything Two Wheeled (certainly that you are talking about looking at getting onto)

At 23, just get a new provisional with A1 and A boxes ticked.

Then you can learn on a 125, and after an hour progress to a 250.

Within a day you should be able to handle an ER5 or something. A week later you will want a restricted big bike.

Then, after waiting for the test, another 2 years, and then you can get yourself a nice TLR.

L.

Hotblack Desiato

Cliona99 wrote:

Oh my god, i'm so completely confused! Yeah, I meant to say M when I said W. I'm 23. Scooter's 49cc technically. But I've had the A1 license for the past six years and this is the first I've heard that I could have the wrong license. As far as I know, (which isn't very far), the scooter's too small for me to get an A license.

You can only get a full A licence by passing the test on a bike over 125cc.
Passing on a bike 51-125cc will give you a full A1.
I'm not sure what happens if you pass on a 50cc scooter but it's likely you will only get a pass in class M (mopeds)
And of course if you pass on an automatic your licence will be limited to automatics.

Can't afford lessons! Lowest quote I got was almost two hundred for three hours. Thanks again for all your help.

Give this chap a call for cheaper (but very good) training:
STAR RIDER MOTOR CYCLE TRAINING. Mr. Seamus Kelly,. Road Safety Officer. Fingal County Council. County Hall. Main Street, Swords,. Co. Dublin. 01 890 5000