Looking to start biking

tmalmbrt

Looking for some direction

do I need to do the theory test (have my car license about 18 years)

I'm based in Galway, any ideas on where to get lessons?

Any other tips or recommendations before I get on a bike?

thanks

mickbyrne

tmalmbrt wrote:

Looking for some direction

do I need to do the theory test (have my car license about 18 years)

I'm based in Galway, any ideas on where to get lessons?

Any other tips or recommendations before I get on a bike?

thanks

1 - You need to do the theory test
2 - Look at www.aon.ie, theres a link to BIKECARE on the homepage, in the bike care section theres a list of approved instructors
3 - I started on the harley sportser 883, bit top heavy but lovely bike to ride. You'll be fed up of a 250 after two weeks, the sportster will last you about 6 months and then you'll want to upgrade. Book the lessons straight away. I had lessons the week after I got the bike. In a two hour lesson my instructor gave me loads of simple practicle tips. - Best of Luck

Bradidup

mickbyrne wrote:

1 - You need to do the theory test
2 - Look at www.aon.ie, theres a link to BIKECARE on the homepage, in the bike care section theres a list of approved instructors
3 - I started on the harley sportser 883, bit top heavy but lovely bike to ride. You'll be fed up of a 250 after two weeks, the sportster will last you about 6 months and then you'll want to upgrade. Book the lessons straight away. I had lessons the week after I got the bike. In a two hour lesson my instructor gave me loads of simple practicle tips. - Best of Luck

He wont get from an asses roar from anything bigger than 37bhp these days without a bike full licence and that takes over two years no matter what age you are or what other licence you have so forget a bigger bike or an 883. Those days are long gone.

Best to atart off on something small these days untill you get used to it. 125 or 250 and when you confident go for something like a Honda Bross 400 as they are bullet proof as they are used by most courirs in Dublin. Check out Mag Ireland for information on tests, also if your a member you get a cut off Carole Nash Insurance. http://www.magireland.org/ Frank

Im riding bikes 25 years now and the roads are chaotic now compaired to the 80ies.

galwaytt

check your PM's

Hotblack Desiato

Bradidup wrote:

He wont get from an asses roar from anything bigger than 37bhp these days without a bike full licence and that takes over two years no matter what age you are or what other licence you have so forget a bigger bike or an 883. Those days are long gone.

Not so. A restricted licence holder can have ANY bike they like, so long as it meets the power limit (33hp/25kW not 37hp) -OR- the power to weight ratio of 0.16kW/kg. So very heavy bikes can have a good bit more than 33hp and still be legal on a provisional/restricted licence

Best to atart off on something small these days untill you get used to it. 125 or 250

Waste of time tbh unless the OP can't afford to buy/insure anything bigger. Lots of riders start out much larger these days and it does them no harm at all (training is needed no matter how big or small the bike.)

Thinkingaboutit

ninja900 wrote:

Not so. A restricted licence holder can have ANY bike they like, so long as it meets the power limit (33hp/25kW not 37hp) -OR- the power to weight ratio of 0.16kW/kg. So very heavy bikes can have a good bit more than 33hp and still be legal on a provisional/restricted licence



Waste of time tbh unless the OP can't afford to buy/insure anything bigger. Lots of riders start out much larger these days and it does them no harm at all (training is needed no matter how big or small the bike.)

That's true.

The Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic (I heard of someone doing his test on one) and also Japanese cruisers like the Yamaha XVS650 are learner legal on the power to weight basis. Training is a more effective way of keeping safe than simply getting a 250, though the 250 might make for easier and safer filtering.

The Irish Rider Training Association lists some instructors for Co. Galway.

http://www.msa-ireland.com/index.htmThese also cover Galway afaik.

Word doc on RSA website with list of trainers

Aaron Rider Trainer - not sure if he covers Galway, though.

Bradidup

ninja900 wrote:

Not so. A restricted licence holder can have ANY bike they like, so long as it meets the power limit (33hp/25kW not 37hp) -OR- the power to weight ratio of 0.16kW/kg. So very heavy bikes can have a good bit more than 33hp and still be legal on a provisional/restricted licence



Waste of time tbh unless the OP can't afford to buy/insure anything bigger. Lots of riders start out much larger these days and it does them no harm at all (training is needed no matter how big or small the bike.)

I thought they had stopped restricting bigger bikes a few years ago after the abuse of guys tampering with them. (my brother included). If anyone dose they are technically unninsured. I would agree with you that a heavy restricted bike is safer.

gsxr1

ninja900 wrote:

Waste of time tbh unless the OP can't afford to buy/insure anything bigger. Lots of riders start out much larger these days and it does them no harm at all (training is needed no matter how big or small the bike.)

dont agree with that. i went up the ranks and am sure it was the right choice for me. my bro went into bikes 1 year ago and jumped onto a 400. he seems to spent more time on his ass on the ground than on the bike. over the last 15 years i started on 125 and worked up the cubes till a 1k race rep . I ride 10000miles a year and have never fallen. thank god. (on the road).
but. everyone is different. training is needed. the roads aint the same as ripping around a field on a scambler. ya need to know what to expect . training and milage is the only thing that teaches that.

Thinkingaboutit

Bradidup wrote:

I thought they had stopped restricting bigger bikes a few years ago after the abuse of guys tampering with them. (my brother included). If anyone dose they are technically unninsured. I would agree with you that a heavy restricted bike is safer.

It don't think that removing a restrictor necessarily invalidates insurance, though perhaps so. It is a modification. Yet one reason for high premiums (aside from price gouging/profiteering) is that insurers have had to settle claims where a provisional rider was carrying a pillion and the like. Restricted versions of certain bikes can have a lower insurance group. I suppose the prudent thing is that if a bike is insured as a restricted machine, de-restricting should be strictly avoided without a change in the insurance policy. Insurers need little excuse to hike premiums. While there are some new entrants, they might simply be looking to live easy on the fat premiums for this market.

It should be remembered that there is no enforceable penalty in law for ignoring an EU directive enforced only in the UK and Germany. It was never really transposed into Irish Law, and given the absurdity that it lasts for two years on getting a full A licence, with no direct access, common sense might operate among the powers that be. Studies have shown (eg Hurt and Maids) other vehicles are responsible for most motorcycle accidents. Irish roads are the worst in western Europe. If road conditions were considered in accident investigation (which I don't think is the case), I would think that a good many of the single vehicle accidents can be discounted as being the fault of the rider. Incompetents will kill themselves with a scooter. Simply insuring a bike and ignoring the restriction with a full licence seems reasonable. A restriction on a provisional rider might seem reasonable, were it not for the typical year wait for a test.

Hotblack Desiato

I went up the ranks too gsxr1, started on a 100cc, 3 years later I had a CBR600 which was what I'd wanted all along with a GS500 in between

What did I learn on the 100? That 6V electrics are crap, and not being able to keep up with the traffic is f**king dangerous. Turned 25, got my A licence (under the rules then) got a GS500 and put in for the test straight away. If the licence laws at the time had let me, I would have been far better off (And safer) starting on the 500. (There was no point passing the A1 test then waiting for 2 years as I was already 23 when I got the 100, so had to wait until I was 25 for an A licence anyway.)

Bradidup, yes people get around the restriction law and yes it's a stupid law and unenforceable. Insurers don't give a discount any more for restricted bikes because of this (CN won't even give a discount for factory restricted bikes, which are intentionally hard to derestrict.) If the insurer is charging you the same as a full power bike, they can hardly complain if the restrictor is removed, and they've no way of provitng it anyway.

So, breaking the terms of your licence is the real worry but the Gardai have no way of enforcing it either. Only a dyno run can prove power output, and the law is a real mess (how is weight defined? wet? dry? including rider and luggage? Can they compel you to put your bike through a dyno run? What if it blows up? etc. etc.) that it's to all intents and purposes totally unenforceable.

mickbyrne

I started on an 883 and 6 months later moved to a heritage softail classic, both meet the power/weight ratio. I'm a big chap so a small bike wouldn't suit me at all. I'll have my full licence two years in short, looking forward to something I can throw around mondello.

Bradidup

Thinkingaboutit wrote:

It don't think that removing a restrictor necessarily invalidates insurance, though perhaps so. It is a modification. Yet one reason for high premiums (aside from price gouging/profiteering) is that insurers have had to settle claims where a provisional rider was carrying a pillion and the like. Restricted versions of certain bikes can have a lower insurance group. I suppose the prudent thing is that if a bike is insured as a restricted machine, de-restricting should be strictly avoided without a change in the insurance policy. Insurers need little excuse to hike premiums. While there are some new entrants, they might simply be looking to live easy on the fat premiums for this market.

It should be remembered that there is no enforceable penalty in law for ignoring an EU directive enforced only in the UK and Germany. It was never really transposed into Irish Law, and given the absurdity that it lasts for two years on getting a full A licence, with no direct access, common sense might operate among the powers that be. Studies have shown (eg Hurt and Maids) other vehicles are responsible for most motorcycle accidents. Irish roads are the worst in western Europe. If road conditions were considered in accident investigation (which I don't think is the case), I would think that a good many of the single vehicle accidents can be discounted as being the fault of the rider. Incompetents will kill themselves with a scooter. Simply insuring a bike and ignoring the restriction with a full licence seems reasonable. A restriction on a provisional rider might seem reasonable, were it not for the typical year wait for a test.

Well their licence wont cover them if they remove the restriction. The first thing an insurance company will ask you for is your licence before they issue you with screeds. If you give false information it may make your policy null & void. My brother had his first bike, an Africa Twin 750, had the restriction removed before it even left the shop where he baught it, he never heard the end of it from me, he got sense and shifted it. Remember no insurance carrys 5 points , would you take the chance?

gsxr1

ninja900 wrote:

I went up the ranks too gsxr1, started on a 100cc, 3 years later I had a CBR600 which was what I'd wanted all along with a GS500 in between

What did I learn on the 100? That 6V electrics are crap, and not being able to keep up with the traffic is f**king dangerous. Turned 25, got my A licence (under the rules then) got a GS500 and put in for the test straight away. If the licence laws at the time had let me, I would have been far better off (And safer) starting on the 500. (There was no point passing the A1 test then waiting for 2 years as I was already 23 when I got the 100, so had to wait until I was 25 for an A licence anyway.)

Bradidup, yes people get around the restriction law and yes it's a stupid law and unenforceable. Insurers don't give a discount any more for restricted bikes because of this (CN won't even give a discount for factory restricted bikes, which are intentionally hard to derestrict.) If the insurer is charging you the same as a full power bike, they can hardly complain if the restrictor is removed, and they've no way of provitng it anyway.

So, breaking the terms of your licence is the real worry but the Gardai have no way of enforcing it either. Only a dyno run can prove power output, and the law is a real mess (how is weight defined? wet? dry? including rider and luggage? Can they compel you to put your bike through a dyno run? What if it blows up? etc. etc.) that it's to all intents and purposes totally unenforceable.

we had to suffer small engines. so should everyone else. its only fair:D

Interceptor

tmalmbrt wrote:

do I need to do the theory test (have my car license about 18 years)

I'm based in Galway, any ideas on where to get lessons?

MSA have an instructor in Galway, get in touch and see if he has a small bike. Mo Garvey (also MSA) is based in Ennis and she is very good with learners and has an ER500 training bike which you can take lessons on.

tmalmbrt wrote:

Any other tips or recommendations before I get on a bike?

Get an insurance quote from AON so you don't get a fright and then come out to Belclare and buy my CBR250.

'cptr

Bradidup

gsxr1 wrote:

we had to suffer small engines. so should everyone else. its only fair:D

Agree, My first bike was a Yam 50 Fizzi . It took me 6 years of putting up with 200cc Triumph Tiger cubs to work up to a 1976 Ducati 860cc gts which would now just be about equivilant to a Honda Bros in top end.