Learner/Newbie Sticky **All Learner/newbie/Starter Questions Go here!!****

slystallone

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117882945#Comment_117882945

Would most people service themselves or carry somewhere like you would a car once a year job?

robbie_63

Depends really on how mechanically minded you are,

I'm on my first bike just over a year now and so far I have changed radiator, flushed coolant, changed brake calipers and pads, disks, abs sensors, brake fluid.

I wouldn't class myself as mechanically proficient but there is a lot of info available online and in haynes manuals, etc

Bikes definitely need more general maintenance compared to a car, you need to be checking your tires, chain, brakes every weekend or so depending on usage.

Depending on where you are in the country it can be hard to get a decent mechanic to work on your bike, remember you are trusting them with your life if they do something to your bike so make sure they know what they are doing.

slystallone

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118012283#Comment_118012283

I got my first one but am very tight on room to actually work on it as am in an apartment and it is wedged in next to the car outside. Also I am not very mechanically proficient myself but changing brake calipers now sounds like something I need a bit of time and space for. Would anyone know what a standard service would cost?

robbie_63

If you can find another biker in your area to recommend a good garage,

When I purchased my bike I dropped it into a local garage to give it a service and check all was ok after buying it as it was my first bike,

I came back out a week later with a €1,000 bill!

I was a newbie so they knew I couldn't argue all the work they had said was required, lesson learned that day!

geotrig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118017521#Comment_118017521

😲 what was "involved" in that ?

also test passed 😁 god I was terrible on the day, felt really clumsy and timed it wrong so got no dry run in before hand 😂!! 1 grade1 and 1 grade 2 fault so happy with that

knucklehead6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118017569#Comment_118017569

Congrats!!

garlad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118017569#Comment_118017569

Well done!

flashinthepan

Well done :-)

robbie_63

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118017569#Comment_118017569

Congrats on passing, I was the same when I done mine a few weeks back, I was sure I had failed.

slystallone

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118017521#Comment_118017521

Anyone know a good mechanic in Dublin/North Wicklow area? and what kind of price I can expect?

fun loving criminal

I have a full category B driving license and I've got my learner's permit for motorbike.

Once I pass my test on the bike and I can add the category to my license, have I got that correct?

Just wondering how does penalty points work where I have a car and a bike on the license? Do I have to get 12 points in total before disqualification? Or am I allowed extra if having 2 categories?

For the record, I have no penalty points but just wondering how it all works if I add another category to my license.

Mjolnir

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118063351#Comment_118063351

Yep you'll get a new licence with the added category.

Nope you get no extra allowance of points.

Your permit and licence are also linked, get 7 or whatever it is points in the car/ on the bike, and you'll be disqualified from your permit.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118063386#Comment_118063386

Wondering if it's worth it at all.

Bluefoam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118064036#Comment_118064036

Depends on how many points you intend to accrue... It's worth it for me...

Mjolnir

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118065254#Comment_118065254

Yea that was a bit of a weird question/statement wasn't it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118064036#Comment_118064036

Why wouldn't it be, you either want to ride a bike or not. There's no way around the points being accrued across both.

It wouldn't make sense to give people extra points allowance for having extra categories.

Hotblack Desiato

Do I have to get 12 points in total before disqualification? Or am I allowed extra if having 2 categories?

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

eoin.d

Anyone know how the driving test application goes. I applied after doing ibt couple of months ago, paid fee and they said there were no places available so had to join waiting list. Got a email Friday say they were offering me a test to go online and book it.

Went online and still no availability. Rang rsa and they said check again this morning, been trying all morning but nothing available.

Anyone use this way to book their test? Thanks

Bluefoam

You can only get a test date 6 months after your IBT.

Taylor365

Waiting 1 year and 2 months for a test, booked an paid for in Aug 2020.

And sure now i'll soon havte fork out for an IBT again! Round and round the money-go-round

eoin.d

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118076395#Comment_118076395

I was told when I had a full licence in another category I did not have to wait the 6 months.

How often do new dates come available?

knucklehead6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118077117#Comment_118077117

I had full b licence since 1999 and had to wait the 6 months.

Mjolnir

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118077117#Comment_118077117

Whoever told you that lied to you.

When you get an invite to book you keep checking until a time and date appear and then you take it ASAP.

No one can tell you when they'll come up, they are rather sporadic.

eoin.d

I was told that by ibt instructor and someone in rsa

knucklehead6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118078093#Comment_118078093

Your IBT instructor said that???? What's their name? I wanna put them on my list of never recommend!

knucklehead6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118076441#Comment_118076441

At this stage i'd just get on the phone and keep on it. That's ridiculous.

geotrig

I believe that you have to have the permit 6 months before you can sit a test with the ibt done (same as car 13 lessons and 6 months ),not 6 months since the ibt !(mine from working it out was 5ish months) my permit was issued 11months at that stage as i had to wait for ibt with lockdowns etc.

When I got my text for test I was on within minutes (as i had my phone in my hand) to book it ,there was barely a handfull of days /dates available.

taylor365 I'd be camped on the phone at this stage that is ridiculous.

Hotblack Desiato

The idea of an IBT expiring in the first place is idiotic imho, but why on earth haven't riders who can't get a test within a reasonable time been given an extension?

The usual official contempt for motorcycling continues I see. Have you been on to TDs etc? What is happening is not acceptable.

LollipopJimmy

The rules around the 6months are clear.

6months since the permit was issued. IBT has no bearing on it either, you just need a valid IBT for the test, you could have completed it 2 weeks before your test for all they care.

Anybody here got a rospa test lately? I've applied for mine and trying to get it before insurance renewal in April. My instructor reckons I'm ready so fingers crossed.

Taylor365

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118078992#Comment_118078992

I can cry and cry, all it will take is the credit on my phone.

Nothing will change, they just want to extract more €€€ if they can get it. I could do the test blind at this stage.

System made to stifle the impoverished.

knucklehead6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118081525#Comment_118081525

Then hammer them with emails. Do as hotblack suggested, get your TD involved.