Motorcycle FAQ

djeclips · 22-07-2005 4:25pm

Had a read through thread and read nothing about this.Was on the hibernian website going to get a quote and it said they're not quoting for bikes after june 30th.existing policies will not be renewed come that time.

seamus · 22-07-2005 4:36pm

djeclips wrote:

Had a read through thread and read nothing about this.Was on the hibernian website going to get a quote and it said they're not quoting for bikes after june 30th.existing policies will not be renewed come that time.

Correct. Though Aon will now quote directly if you give them a buzz.

cutepape · 02-08-2005 3:06pm

Passed my test today!!
No flat tyre this time!!!

tk123 · 02-08-2005 3:09pm

cutepape wrote:

Passed my test today!!
No flat tyre this time!!!

Well done!!! I'm waiting to take mine again!! Basitd failed me last week for not going fast enough which is pants :mad: and had me out for 45 mins so instructor thinks he was going to fail me all along!!

cutepape · 02-08-2005 3:15pm

tk123:

thanks.. and to bad for you.. know how you feel to have to do it again.
If you done it in Sweden. They wouldnt have failed you for not going fast enough. Actually... in SWE if you drive 50km/h in a "neighbourhood" and there is cars parked on both sides.. you will fail!

Upside down world..

murphaph · 02-08-2005 4:29pm

Yeah, don't feel bad about failing for progression-they have that all fcuked up. A situation exists now where people are encouraged to drive at 50-55km/h in a 50km/h zone to pass the test (that's what I did to pass my car test). This accepted speeding is patently ridiculous anyway you cut it. Better luck next time-I'm not looking forward to the bike test.

tk123 · 02-08-2005 4:34pm

I was ok with it last week but looking back it's stupid what they fail people on!!! Cutepape fails for a flat tire yet part of the technical test is to push the bike in case of a breakdown!? I fail for not doing 50 down a residential street with speedbumps and parked cars on both sides!! :mad: I wanted a lovely bmw - damn u mr tester!!!!

Chalk · 02-08-2005 4:38pm

a_ominous wrote:

There has been a change to the A licence driving test. The bike does not have to over 150cc any more: >125cc and capable of exceeding 100kmph is sufficient.
See Driving Test website

it was greater than 125cc when i did the test last year,
my bike was 124cc so i had to rent a bike out.

murphaph · 02-08-2005 5:13pm

Chalk wrote:

it was greater than 125cc when i did the test last year,
my bike was 124cc so i had to rent a bike out.

Indeed, it's another joke of the system. Up North and in the rest of the UK you do your full A test on a bike greater than 120cc but less than 125cc (ie-all 125s!). It's a much more sensible set up.

Hotblack Desiato · 02-08-2005 10:05pm

murphaph wrote:

Up North and in the rest of the UK you do your full A test on a bike greater than 120cc but less than 125cc (ie-all 125s!). It's a much more sensible set up.

The downside is that on a provisional over there you are limited to 125cc. This means the expense and hassle of buying or hiring a 125 just to practice for the test, then getting the bike you really want once you pass. Here you can buy what you like as long as it's restricted if necessary (and assuming you can afford to insure it...)

cutepape · 03-08-2005 2:08pm

Just got a quote from CN for a Africa Twin 750cc -94.

Third Part with theft €1800 per annum... that is completely insane. The bike costs €3500.

Did I say anything wrong or just choose the wrong company?

Anyone on the board that owns a OffRoad bike and got a descent insurance?

murphaph · 03-08-2005 3:22pm

cutepape wrote:

Just got a quote from CN for a Africa Twin 750cc -94.

Third Part with theft €1800 per annum... that is completely insane. The bike costs €3500.

Did I say anything wrong or just choose the wrong company?

Anyone on the board that owns a OffRoad bike and got a descent insurance?

hmmm, I got a quote for a 93 motocross 250 (Honda dominator, NX 250) off them and they were €1,056. €400 cheaper than AON. CN are definitely cheaper on old bikes. I got horrendous quotes from them on '00 Viragos (€1850) but AON were only €1400 on same BUT CN were €1,056 on a hypothetical '88 Virago!! Go figure!!

This might be because I'm 26 and CN don't seem to like the younger biker (or younger bike!).

I got p!ssed off trying to figure out which bike (>125cc) was cheapest because I just want to get my A licence. Eventually the cheapest quote I got was €950 on a 82 Suzuki GSX 250 (a bike I bought in the end).

All quotes for TP only. My house insurance will cover what I paid for my bike if it's nicked!

EDIT: Would you not chance TP only? The theft part was excruciating when I asked for it. I can't imagine it'd be worth it unless the bike is worth a lot.

Billabong · 06-08-2005 5:56pm

In the UK there is a system for doing a direct access test on a powerful motorbike which takes 2 or 3 days. Upon passing this test you are free of any restrictions i.e. the dreaded 2 year 25Kw restriction. Whilst I agree somewhat with a restriction to some degree, 2 years is just too long and is only going to encourage people to jump straight onto a superbike straight off there restriction out of pure frustration. I think a staggered restiction would be much better which actively encouraged a step onto a mid ranged 600 before making a jumb from a bros or similar onto a TL1000.
Anyway I was wondering had managed to get round the restriction by doing a direct access test in th UK. I'm considering doing it my self for the obvious reasons not forgetting having a UK licence which the Gardai cant slap points on. It seems that to do it up in Newry Co. Down you would not have much change left out of a grand taking in the cost of the compulsory training, testing and accomodation etc.

murphaph · 07-08-2005 11:16am

Billabong wrote:

In the UK there is a system for doing a direct access test on a powerful motorbike which takes 2 or 3 days. Upon passing this test you are free of any restrictions i.e. the dreaded 2 year 25Kw restriction. Whilst I agree somewhat with a restriction to some degree, 2 years is just too long and is only going to encourage people to jump straight onto a superbike straight off there restriction out of pure frustration. I think a staggered restiction would be much better which actively encouraged a step onto a mid ranged 600 before making a jumb from a bros or similar onto a TL1000.
Anyway I was wondering had managed to get round the restriction by doing a direct access test in th UK. I'm considering doing it my self for the obvious reasons not forgetting having a UK licence which the Gardai cant slap points on. It seems that to do it up in Newry Co. Down you would not have much change left out of a grand taking in the cost of the compulsory training, testing and accomodation etc.

Mate of mine did this in belfast. Some racket where they provide a UK address and the vehicle for the test for a small fee. Now, this was years ago, before the DAS scheme. He was 17 at the time and wanted to ride big bikes and it was impossible under the irish system but possible in NI. I'm guessing the same type of racket exists with the DAS tody. We should have direct access here ffs-it's in the last EU directive on licencing and we've yet to implement it. Loads of countries have it. It's called 'Direkt-einstieg' in Germany for example!

Hotblack Desiato · 07-08-2005 4:54pm

There is no direct access in Northern Ireland.

MrPudding · 07-08-2005 5:51pm

Info here:

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/rdmcycle.htm

Looks cools.

MrP

murphaph · 08-08-2005 11:30am

ninja900 wrote:

There is no direct access in Northern Ireland.

Somebody should tell Jeffrey Donaldson and Peter Robinson, wouldn't be long waiting for the inequality to be rectified (an all us southerners could take advantage of the system

)

Hotblack Desiato · 08-08-2005 9:17pm

MrPudding wrote:

Info here: http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/rdmcycle.htm

That's the situaition in Britain. For NI see here: http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/drivers/ride_motorcycle.htm
NI and GB licences are similar but issued under different legislation, this gives rise to some very strange anomalies like not being able to get points in Britain on an NI licence!

murphaph wrote:

Somebody should tell Jeffrey Donaldson and Peter Robinson

Well I'm sure Ian Paisley Jr. already knows, he's a biker...!

vinnyirl · 23-08-2005 7:20pm

IMPORTANT NOTE:

We regret that as Hibernian General Insurance Ltd is withdrawing from the motorcycle insurance market, we will not be in a position to offer cover to new customers after 30 June 2005 and quotations are valid only up to close of business on that date. Any policies taken out before 30 June 2005 will not be offered renewal the following year. Thank you for your enquiry. If you would like more information please click here.

I got this notice from the Hibernian website so where should i go for insurance now?

tk123 · 23-08-2005 10:28pm

AON or CN..good luck..

unklerosco · 26-08-2005 10:34pm

Bikeworld website??? waste of time, that used bike price list is at least 9 months old, like a lot of companies they have a web site but don't bother to look at it or update it, what a waste of time

a_ominous wrote:

Well since I suggested it, I'll start the ball rolling.

Licence
You need a licence to ride a bike. Here for some details.

Insurance
In Ireland, there are only 2 motorbike insurers, Hibernian and Carole Nash. If you're under 25, you can try Carole Nash but they generally only insure over 25s on bikes obver 250cc. You can get online quotes from Hibernian but only phone quotes from CN.

There are some brokers who deal with motorbike insurance. AON is the largest. They deal with Hibernian and offer discounts on the Hibernian price. Some of the bike shops can also sort your insurnace out. They have a deal with AON. Some examples of these bike shops:
Cotters
Bikeworld

There are 3 types of insurance:
Third Party (TP) - you pay for damages to you and your bike
Third Party, Fire and Theft. As above but also covers for fire and theft, strangely.
Fully Comprehensive. As above but also includes cover for damage to you and your bike.

Bikes are assigned a grouping by insurers. This is based on the power to weight ratio of the bike. So for example a 50cc 10 BHP scooter is group 1 and a 1300cc 150BHP sports bike would be group 12, and more expensive to insure. The differences between groups is small for riders over 40. A table of the prices is not available online at the moment.

Lessons
There are various places to learn to ride a bike. Irish School of Motoring (ISM) will provide bikes. As will the Star Rider courses run by Fingal and I believe South Dublin Co Council. These are not year round courses though. And there is a long waiting list for school bikes. Most independent trainers (Irish Rider Training Association IRTA) do not have bikes due to prohibitive insurance costs. This may change with driver instructor certification due in 2004.

Some URLs:
So you want to drive
Cotters
Bikeworld
Easy rider training good information
on bikes and training.
Irish rider training
Motorcycle news there reviews of bikes and gear.

steedevaney · 02-09-2005 12:20am

Hi all. I've just gotten a moped so I'm real new to the two wheel thing. Just wondering if any one would know why the engine doesn't seem to idle if I stop during the first mile or so after that it runs fine. It can also be difficult to start and usually has to be kicked started. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hotblack Desiato · 03-09-2005 12:19pm

Sounds like you're not using the choke (if it has a manual choke) is the problem worse on a cooler day than a warmer one? Or, if there is an automatic choke, it's not working right.

galwaytt · 09-09-2005 1:10pm

...anyone done this? If so, please tell me where from, how much, what kind of bike did you get, etc.

Also, is there a demand for this service - trying to twist someone's arm in Galway to do this at the mo'............

tk123 · 09-09-2005 1:16pm

I got a bike from ISM for my test. It was a cb250 and it was €130 for 2 hours including a 1hr pre test...

Slaanesh · 03-11-2005 3:36pm

tk123 wrote:

I got a bike from ISM for my test. It was a cb250 and it was €130 for 2 hours including a 1hr pre test...

If you are not doing your test in Dublin, I am having mine in Navan, they charge 90 euro extra. 45 to bring the bike to Navan and 45 to bring it back.

My friend is getting a restricted bandit so I'm going to see if it would be cheaper to get insured on that for the week. The CB250 is a grand bike to drive though, had a lesson recently.

BRUNO.22 · 02-12-2005 8:44pm

Ism I Got A Couple Of Lessons With Them To Get Used To The Cb250.worst Bunch Of Ginits I Ever Dealt With...the Instructor Was Out In A Casual Leather Jacket And A Pair Of Slacks..what An Example He's Setting.plus My Pre Test Was Both Of Us Driving In And Out Of Traffic To Get Me To The Test Centre On Time After We Pulled In To Put Air In The Tyres Of The Test Bike.......irta All The Way!!!

tk123 · 02-12-2005 8:52pm

The 2 guys I had - Joe and Steven were really good but they seem to have a high turnaround of staff in there - the ones I had last year for my first test are all gone!!

BRUNO.22 · 02-12-2005 8:55pm

Is One Of Them A Scottish Fella Or From The North...he's Supposed To Be Good.drives A Bmw

tk123 · 02-12-2005 10:00pm

Yeah Joe drives the BMW and Steven drives a Varedaro(i think).

cutepape · 04-12-2005 12:33am

Going from Zero to a Full license in 5 lessons with Joe (He drives a lightgreen / yellowish BMW GS1150) was as simple as putting butter on a toast.
Steven has a Varadero and seems to be in the same class as Joe.
If you are willing to listen n learn.. they will make sure you know everything to pass your test. Thats my personal impression.
3 of my mates have done the same thing.. a week of lessons with Joe and then the test. They also passed.

If you go ISM... go with joe or steven.

As Bruno.22 mentioned... I've listen a little to one of the other instructors when I was waiting for my lesson, oh man.. he didn't even care, casual clothing, came on on the schools bike every day etc...

BRUNO.22 · 04-12-2005 9:24pm

I Also Forgot To Mention That They Start You Off On A Gravel Car Park...any Bikers Nightmare..hellllllooooo....

seamus · 05-12-2005 1:07am

Steven in ISM is an IRTA instructor too, gave me some great advice before my test, really helped me relax about the whole thing.

tk123 · 05-12-2005 10:28am

he bought be a sandwich to try and get me to relax when I was all nervous! lol! :v:

madrab · 05-12-2005 1:09pm

tk123 wrote:

he bought be a sandwich to try and get me to relax when I was all nervous! lol! :v:

to try to get you to relax eh??

tk123 · 05-12-2005 3:19pm

I was really nervous and hadn't eaten anything! I think he was worried I'd pass out halfway thru the test!!

Anyhoos if anyone is looking for some nice eats in churchtown theres this pub across the road from the test centre car park!

delboy_53 · 17-02-2006 1:25am

a tip for anyone buying gear .. no vat on lids in the uk so on to the web and buy from there, after figuring out the size of noggin down in you local kit store....also the uk is a much more competive market so prices on kit in general ar much better, I managed to save €120 euro on my chosen lid from harpers ... had good dealings with them ie.. i get me stuff

el D

ambro25 · 02-03-2006 2:38pm

I've just had a good look at the OP and the linkies from there, but I need a clarification, please: can I just apply for a first 'bike' provisional license, without any mention of my FR (car) license, i.e. by just submitting my FR passport as ID? (and obviously doing the theory test and all that - btw, any signs in Irish in the test?)

67coley67 · 22-05-2006 10:35am

if they keep snapping ,maybe the cable is badly routed or it may be from a similar bike/model but could be 50mm shorter

smoc · 08-06-2007 9:50pm

For those of you who dont already know...

Quinn Direct doing EXTREMELY CHEAP INSURANCE NOW!!!!

My insurance went from 1909 last year to 491 this year for the same bike. Only difference was i had an extra 1 years no claims.

Kat1170 · 28-10-2007 6:10pm

Ref. Insurance you could try Adelaide insurance on www.Bikequoteme.com online for UK only and as far as I know the phone number for Ireland is a UK number so beware long calls.

Ref. renting a bike for your test Naas SoM supply bikes for lessons and test.

jaycen · 03-09-2008 4:18pm

Kat1170 wrote: »

Ref. Insurance you could try Adelaide insurance on www.Bikequoteme.com online for UK only and as far as I know the phone number for Ireland is a UK number so beware long calls.

Ref. renting a bike for your test Naas SoM supply bikes for lessons and test.

www.bikequoteme.com is available in ROI now.

ShayK1 · 05-09-2008 12:20pm

I'd just like to point out that the link in the first post for ISM, points to ISM.com instead of ISM.ie

ISM.com = International Systems Marketing, Inc.
ISM.ie = Irish School of Motoring

eiji-the-second · 21-10-2008 4:20pm

heya.
just wondering if i'll get insured on my 70's honda 50 when i'm 16 and only have provisional... i do have a 92 honda 50 but wiuld like to ride the 70's one

Hotblack Desiato · 22-10-2008 12:47am

Carole Nash do classic insurance, on bikes over 250cc and you have to be over 21 and maybe even then have a full licence.

You can get a quote (from Aon, Quinn or Adelaide) on the 50, sure anyone can get a quote on anything, if they're licenced for it.. but it will be the same as a modern 50. At age 16, not cheap

You could try taking lessons and passing the test (on a hire bike) and at age 17 or 18 with a full licence you should get a more reasonable quote.

Lilliput69 · 22-10-2008 8:13am

Classic insurance with Carol Nash is for over 25's with a full licence for bikes over 15 yrs old, you can have mutiply bikes on hte classic policy

jaycen · 23-10-2008 10:00am

Lilliput69 wrote: »

Classic insurance with Carol Nash is for over 25's with a full licence for bikes over 15 yrs old, you can have mutiply bikes on hte classic policy

And 2 years NCB from what I understand.

DePurpereWolf · 23-02-2009 8:30pm

I'm going to ask a really stupid question now.

If I have a full licence, I don't have to get an A-licence or an A1-licence?

I can just add it to it?

btw, I have a Dutch full licence, which I plan to exchange for an Irish one. I just want to know what it'll get me.

I can't even drive a moped on my full driver's licence in NL. :rolleyes:

tk123 · 23-02-2009 9:36pm

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

I'm going to ask a really stupid question now.

If I have a full licence, I don't have to get an A-licence or an A1-licence?

I can just add it to it?

btw, I have a Dutch full licence, which I plan to exchange for an Irish one. I just want to know what it'll get me.

I can't even drive a moped on my full driver's licence in NL. :rolleyes:

you have to do either the A or A1 test (do A) and once you pass it gets added to your current license.

DePurpereWolf · 23-02-2009 10:38pm

I see here I can drive a <50CC moped under an M licence.

Woohee. :cool:

The ‘M’ Learner Permit is strictly for mopeds, or engine-assisted bicycles, under 50cc with a top speed of below 45kmp /28mph and is available from 16. The holders of a full ‘B’ licence, with additional insurance, can also drive mopeds.

http://www.msa-ireland.com/licenses.htm#drivingtest

Motorcycle FAQ

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