First Time...!

af_thefragile

Hey, so lately i've been deciding to get a bike for myself...
I'm 19, in coll. I don't have any license and i wanna get a really cool bike... Though i've go no idea how to go about it.

I wanna get like a 600cc Kawasaki Ninja ZR-6 or a Honda CBR600 or something like that. But i guess i can't jump up to that class straight away... Don't want anything more than 600cc though...

I really know nothing bout all of this so can you guys help me out??

And could you guys suggest me some cool bikes to start off on??

Sorry but you'll just have to forget about starting off with a full powered 600cc bike.Your only 19 and it would be your first time insured on a bike. You won't have a snowballs chance in hell of getting insured on either of the bikes you mentioned, never mind the fact that you would need to have a full A licence for two years just to be allowed to drive them!
You'll have to do the theory test first, then apply for either an A or A1 driving licence. Get some proper riding lessons and start out with a 125cc or 250cc machine.
Examples:
Honda cbr125
Honda Varadero 125
Yamaha Dragstar 125/250
Suzuki Marauder 125/250
Suzuki Intruder 125
Look around the bike shops.
Also check out www.biker.ie, great site where you will get loads of helpfull advice.

Hotblack Desiato

What the jaysis is it with all these young lads lately wanting to get bikes which are in the very high insurance groups?

Would they post in the motoring forum saying that they're 17-18-19 or whatever and want to get insured on a Murcielago? Because the bikes the OP and all the others are talking about are in, or above the supercar class in performance. Without the roll cages, airbags etc. that just might keep you alive if you mess up.

Walk before you can run. We have stepped bike licensing anyway so there's no point whatsover in paying a fortune to buy and insure a super-duper ego-missile because you'll have to restrict the hell out of it anyway.

LOL @ not wanting to go above 600cc as if 160mph machines are novice-friendly!

The bike I really wanted from day one of getting onto bikes was a CBR600F. It took me three years and two other bikes (100cc single and 500cc twin) to get there, taking training, passing my test and riding almost every damn day rain or shine along the way to get there, at age 26, with just about enough experience and skill not to kill myself. The idea of a novice teenager getting on one is, well, pretty scary to me.

af_thefragile

I'm not gotta get the 600cc superbike straight away, thats what i eventually wanna get...

I'ld be starting off with something lite..

I just wanted to know how do i go about to get to owning and riding one of those superbikes...

And hows the Honda CBR125 to start off on??
It looks pretty good...

Oryx

The only 600s you could start on would be a factory restricted Bandit, SV, Fazer or CBR. The varadero 125 is a great bike for starting out, and looks like a bigger bike. Grey import CBR250s are pretty good too, not available new, but plenty sh about.

What the jaysis is it with all these young lads lately wanting to get bikes which are in the very high insurance groups?

When I started out working with bikes, young guys rode bigger bikes all the time, because the insurance was affordable.

Ger the man

The most important thing you can do is invest in some proper training. I am an ex biker and have done some voluntary work for the St.Johns Ambulance in the past. I have seen countless horrific bike accidents involving young guys caused by doing stupid things. The reality in this country is that you can be the safest bike rider and respect the rules of the road but all it takes is an error by someone else.
As nialler says above you have to go through the process he mentioned and its for good reason. Buy the best protective gear you can afford and enjoy your bike safely.

bp

I have a 250cc Suzuki Maurader for sale - nice little bike to learn on - going for 1500e

Hotblack Desiato

KtK wrote:

When I started out working with bikes, young guys rode bigger bikes all the time, because the insurance was affordable.

Depends what you mean by 'affordable'. I knew a guy who paid 7000 for TPO insurance, was that 'affordable' because he (or his dad) could afford it? Hardly!

For as long as I can remember, insurance has been extortionate for younger riders esp. under 21s, on any size bike. I'd hate to ask a lady her age... :eek:

comer_97

i've a 125 maurader for sale. I found it an ideal starter bike. Can't beat the training though!

I've been riding for seven years now and my insurance didn't really beome affordable untill I was 25 years old. Even with a full licence the under 25's get a crappy deal with the insurance companies.

Oryx

ninja900 wrote:

Depends what you mean by 'affordable'. I knew a guy who paid 7000 for TPO insurance, was that 'affordable' because he (or his dad) could afford it? Hardly!

For as long as I can remember, insurance has been extortionate for younger riders esp. under 21s, on any size bike. I'd hate to ask a lady her age... :eek:

I wouldnt tell ya my age anyway.;)

I suppose to be fair the guys Im thinking of wouldve come up along from smaller bikes and been in their early 20s. But at least you could insure them. Now if youre under 30 or have no ncd if you even mention a sports bike of 600cc+ the insurers have apoplexy.

Pigeon Reaper

Until you're 25 the insurance will be a killer. Once I turned 25 mine dropped to under half what I was paying. Did turning 25 make me a better rider?

Anyhow I got the bike I wanted but it's taken a few years, lots of training and a couple of other bikes. If you can start on a 250cc so you can get the A license.

af_thefragile

I was thinking on starting on a 125cc and i like the Honda CBR125... I like its full frame n stuff...
It should be lighter and easier to start off on... probably! Cuz i'm an absolute beginner here.
What do you guys think of that bike??
And how much do you think the insurance for the bike would be for me?? Like its gonna be my first bike...

Then once i start getting better, i can slowly start moving up...
The CBR125 shouldn't be too difficult to sell too i guess...


And is it pretty difficult to ride a bike?? Like i can drive well (dunno if there's any connection) and i've got fairly descent balance. I'm good on the cycle but never rode anything as heavy as a bike...

And do i need to get the A1 licence first before buying my bike?
Is that different from the provisional licence for cars??

Sorry for asking so many question...

colm_c

af_thefragile wrote:

I was thinking on starting on a 125cc and i like the Honda CBR125... I like its full frame n stuff...
It should be lighter and easier to start off on... probably! Cuz i'm an absolute beginner here.
What do you guys think of that bike??
And how much do you think the insurance for the bike would be for me?? Like its gonna be my first bike...

Then once i start getting better, i can slowly start moving up...
The CBR125 shouldn't be too difficult to sell too i guess...


And is it pretty difficult to ride a bike?? Like i can drive well (dunno if there's any connection) and i've got fairly descent balance. I'm good on the cycle but never rode anything as heavy as a bike...

And do i need to get the A1 licence first before buying my bike?
Is that different from the provisional licence for cars??

Sorry for asking so many question...

Don't know anything about that bike, but I'm not into the sports bike look.

It's not too difficult to ride, with proper training you'll be riding in a day - however to ride safely will take you a good bit longer, practice and more training is the only way to be completely safe, but then again you're never 100% safe on a bike.

Riding a motorbike is completely different to driving a car, attitude, traffic, shoulder checks etc.

I'd advise you to apply for an A rather than an A1, the test is the same - apart from sitting it on a slightly large machine.

And as was said before - get proper armoured gear too, and budget it for it. You'll be looking 500+ for proper gear.

egan007

Training:

Look up the starrider course - it's 250 Euro.
It may be a lot of money for you if you are 19 but I GUARENTEE you it will be the best bike related decision you ever make.

They will bring you above test standard in 3 days!

Wossack

you're uninsurable for anything more then a moped unfort


CN, for example, wouldnt quote me on my cbr125, and I've 5 years on you


/edit, lol, how delightfully negative of me, sorry for that... to be honest, new insurance companies coming into play now, you might get lucky, but I still wouldnt get your hopes up unfortunately the dublin address is a real killer in my experience..

egan007: did completing the star rider course have any effect on your insurance? along the same lines as an aon/quinn assessment etc? considering doing some more training, but its nice to have the cost offset by some insurance savings..