Hoping to Start Out

It wasn't me!

This is a medium term project, but I intend to get biking within a year or so. I've been doing a bit of research and poking around and such, and currently, the plan is this:

Start putting away money for a bike and gear.
Get Category A provisional/sit theory test for same.
Get lessons using school bike for some time.
Buy a bike of my own.

Currently research is indicating something like a Honda Hornet or similar. I'm open to suggestions on safety gear. Also, will schools provide safety gear initially or should I provide it myself? It would also split up expenditure, making it easier to deal with I suppose.

Has anyone comments on appropriate bike selection or any flaws in the current plan, or any suggestions or thoughts in general? Thanks.

Odysseus

My suggestion would be to start buying Bike Buyers Guide lots of reviews and the like there to increase you knowledge about bike and biking in gerenal. That's if you already don't buy it.

It wasn't me!

Thanks. I've had a look through a good few magazines, but I shall try and make it a regular habit.

Green_Martian

Sounds like you have a good plan there...........I would advise buying your own gear as it would make it easier in the long run.......

Defo take lessons from a learning school, I would reccommend David Lyons, very professional and he has got some scool bikes, and even after a day of training i was able to ride my Bandit 600 without any problems.

If you sticck to your plan you should be ok, adn good luck

It wasn't me!

Where is he located?

Green_Martian

Here is his website David Lyons

Oh and by the way i had no experience at all on bikes........He is really helpful

Tac

hey there,
honda hornet is a good bike, kawasaki do factory restricted machines too, if i was you, i would get a restricted 600cc bike, i just think that they are a bigger and safer bike for the road as they have more tyre grip, etc, than the smaller cc bikes. get plenty of training too. i know its expensive but it could save your life one day. you should google MRTG (motorcycle rider training group), they are trainers based around the country....plus, if you have a mate who is a qualified garda motorcyclist, you should ask him for a bit of help, their training is second to none for roadcraft, and equivilant to a RoSPA Gold. best of luck and stay safe.

lukester

Tac wrote: »

get plenty of training too. i know its expensive but it could save your life one day. you should google MRTG (motorcycle rider training group), they are trainers based around the country

I'd echo the advice to get plenty of training- I'd make it a must, single best investment you can make in your biking in my opinion, will give you confidence, safety, and a basis to build your skills upon. MRTG are excellent, the aforementioned Dave Lyons is one of their instructors, have only heard good things about him. Jeremy Tilley is very good also, from personal experience. They have school bikes for rent as well.

Apart from that, invest in decent armoured gear, cheapest is to buy textile gear. If you have the budget leathers are even better.

A Hornet/Bandit/CB500/ER5/Fazer etc are all good choices. The Bandit is handy because there are lots of them around.