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

zubair wrote: »

I once pulled over to help a biker where the chain had fallen off while he was going around a roundabout. Got the chain back on and tightened everything up but in chatting to him, he said brings it to the mechanic to get it tightened and hadn't bothered lately. Wtf.

Belive it or not this particular young fella told a mechanic he couldn't afford to replace the chain at the min, so he tightened it for him but told him it will go again very soon.
Was warned it could cause serious damage or death in the worst scenario.
From what I'm told he wasn't happy to let the bike leave but told him repeatedly the bike will either blow up or kill him.

Some lads are cracked, car turn the music up and hope for the best, bike sweet jesus get it looked at.
I know by ear when mine sounds odd even with music.

I actually shat myself one day hearing a chain clatter in town traffic (couldn't filter) was another fella going the opposite direction to me. Couldn't believe it, pointed it out and he shrugged it off.

Betsy Og wrote: »

Picked up new bike today, pic attached. It's the 125. Also got new helmet, gloves & boots. Officially broke - for motobike spending at least....for a while...

Now firmly in the "all the gear ...and no idea-r" category , scooted around town, skills not as rusty as I feared, but extra cautious for a while anyway. Blipping the throttle on downchanging was not something I ever thought much about before, so it'll take me a while to master that I think.

The 250 is still in bike hospital, not a whole lot wrong, carb float and new petcock we think. Set of decals en route from China to cheer her up when she comes out. In longer term maybe a digital display (speedo f*cked).

Back on the road anyway.....

(Multi-bike insurance, only €57 for 2nd bike, total TPFT €322 with Principal/Axa).

Very nice :-) I even like the colour
May you have lots of luck and fun with your new bike

What is it about blue in bikes
Keep her shiny side up, rubber side down bud.

sm3ar wrote: »

I will look at the clutch as haven't gone near that since I bought it

I'm far too lazy to go looking for your comment to advise better but if it's cable, adjust it at the lever if it's still not good replace it.
If its hydrolic... sorry for your troubles ha

I still stall at times albeit I'm usually dicking around at traffic lights or bopping to music when I do.

zubair wrote: »

Karma got me after this comment. Stalled the bike today at a roundabout in front of a truck I'd just overtaken earlier. Ugh.

Hahaha haha I genuinely burst out laughing reading that thank you.

Peppa Cig wrote: »

So most cannot get a test or retake IBT (if current expires) and no legal provisions made for bikers in this situation.

When renewing our insurance and new company (or Gardai) asks for copy of IBT that has now expired.....

Have we been forgotten.....

1. Essentially trapped in limbo yea.

2. My insurance never asked nor do I really think they care, but it hasn't left the yard and is still covered against fire and theft.
A lot of guards won't ask, or know what an ibt is to be fair, you might get that one guy/girl though.

3. Forgotten no, more so not cared about at all, we make up a tiny percentage of road users and aren't exactly cared for by the government.

nigeldaniel wrote: »

^^^The whole IBT situation is turning in to a strange thing altogether. I don't even think the test centres ask to see IBT certs when you turn up for a test. As long as you did the IBT in full somewhere along the line it seems to keep most people happy. Could be an issue though, if you have an L permit no up to date IBT and end up in an accident as the insurance company might get uppitity.

I had to provide my IBT last summer when doing the test. Was the first thing they asked for with the drivers license.

Insurance will definitly **** you over if you try to claim with no valid IBT,
They will do anything to not have to pay out and increase your fee the next year

Mjolnir wrote: »

Believe it or not and this is coming from ibt providers, the rsa and driving testers, they aren't supposed to look for the ibt cert.
Some do but on a whole you're not supposed to be required to present it.

Thats very surprising,
My insurance didn't ask for it when I first got insurance on my own bike, but I know it would likely come up if they are doing a check.

The RSA will have it on receord from your instructor if you did the IBT anyway as they are notified, but I know you are meant to carry a copy of the IBT when dirving on a learners permit as I was told the Garda can request to see it

Just on a slight aside from this, I have applied for my test and have been given a selection of dates. Only one small problem.

I have a Deauville, which is a class A2 bike. I assumed that I'd be able to transfer insurance to a friends bike (class A) for a few days. Unfortunately according to Principle you can only transfer insurance permanently, and you have to be the registered owner.

I'm just hoping my IBT instructor will be able to loan (obviously for a fee) a bike for a day while i do the test.

knucklehead6 wrote: »

Just on a slight aside from this, I have applied for my test and have been given a selection of dates. Only one small problem.

I have a Deauville, which is a class A2 bike. I assumed that I'd be able to transfer insurance to a friends bike (class A) for a few days. Unfortunately according to Principle you can only transfer insurance permanently, and you have to be the registered owner.

I'm just hoping my IBT instructor will be able to loan (obviously for a fee) a bike for a day while i do the test.

You can only insure something you own, so you can't insure your mates bike.
You'd also need to bring along the log book and if the tester even looks at it should notice a difference in names. The tester could also ask for proof you're insured on your mates bike.

Just ring your instructor and ask can you rent it for the test save all the faffing about. I'm sure they'd be happy too especially as they can only perform pre test lessons.
You may need to do an hour or two pretest before they'll rent the bike out each instructor is different.

knucklehead6 wrote: »

I was planning on doing a pretest (or two) anyway, just waiting for my instructor to come back to me.

The mistake i made was assuming it'd be like a car, where you can get added to the insurance for a few days.

Ah sure then you should get a decent rate for it as a package.
Problem with bikes is if they allow it there's nothing to stop you using "mates" bikes that are all 1000cc sports bikes or busas etc. They don’t want to risk anyone doing that so computer says no job.

Mjolnir wrote: »

Ah sure then you should get a decent rate for it as a package.
Problem with bikes is if they allow it there's nothing to stop you using "mates" bikes that are all 1000cc sports bikes or busas etc. They don’t want to risk anyone doing that so computer says no job.

In saying that, I'm covered to drive other bikes on my insurance, but I think you only get that with a full license.
I can drive Dad's R1200gs and have it covered 3rd party on my insurance,
its handy as I may have to drive one of his bikes back up north once lock down lifts, but I'm not looking forward to that as its a CCM r30 super moto.
Won't be the most fun on the motorway xD

IrishGrimReaper wrote: »

Might be an age thing as well.

When I was a first-time learner on my 125CC Varadero at 30 years old I could ride other bikes not belonging to me.

"The Policyholder may also drive a motorcycle not belonging to him or her and not hired to him or her under a hire purchase agreement.
Cover for such vehicles is restricted to third party cover only."

I’m 45!! Doesn’t matter anyway I got sorted with an instructor

knucklehead6 wrote: »

Yes, I’m classed as essential.

That's a matter of opinion.

zubair wrote: »

That's a matter of opinion.

That's why i said CLASSED as it!!

Even my wife n kids wouldn't consider me essential!

IrishGrimReaper wrote: »

Might be an age thing as well.

When I was a first-time learner on my 125CC Varadero at 30 years old I could ride other bikes not belonging to me.

"The Policyholder may also drive a motorcycle not belonging to him or her and not hired to him or her under a hire purchase agreement.
Cover for such vehicles is restricted to third party cover only."

I enquired about riding other people's bikes when getting my quote (just curious, don't have anything in mind) -the jist of what he said was that if my own bike (125cc) was bigger then it would be a possibility, but not for the moment. I have the full A licence so it's not a licence issue, but there seemed to be a "like for like" vibe. This was Principal/Axa, so may not arise for other insurers. Also I was just getting TPFT, so maybe if go fully comp you'd get cover for other bikes. Anyway, wasn't really a factor (& I thought the quote was good) so I didn't press the issue. I'm mid 40s btw so not an age thing - maybe years of consecutive insurance/NCB could be a factor in whether they'll extend that cover.

Wouldn't it be great if there was clear guidance on insurance. "If you want to do X you'd first need Y & Z and it would cost you approx €q extra." You could then save some time on the torturous calls, quotes with & without blah blah blah.

My own contribution to this knoweldge is that multi-bike (getting insurance on more than 1 bike you own) involves getting cover on the main (most valuable) bike, and then adding on the 2nd or subsequent. Cost about €60 extra for me to add a 2nd bike (old 250cc). Any other Insurance tips people could share? Most of the specific insurance threads just talk about what it cost people to get cover, not of much use to the next man.

Taylor365 wrote: »

I never stopped working. Am i essential?

Work from home or front line because a lot of wfh aren't considered essential for some reason.
Now they are cancelling tests for people who's ibts are expired. Great crowd altogether.

ifeelabreeze wrote: »

Is €6000 enough to get started?
That’s IBT, gear, bike, insurance the works.

I was originally (I still am really) thinking of changing my car to something that’s a bit more fun but now I’m wondering if €6k is enough to get myself started on a motorbike.
I’ll be 24 this summer so I’d be going for an A licence

Keep the car mate there are times going out on a bike is suicidal and you'll curse not having a car.

I started with less, depends what you want really.
Ibt €550-€650
Gear €1k - 1.5k to get very well kitted out, you'd get by under €1k too.
Insurance depends on bike
Bike again depends, market is brutal at the min.

Still you'd be left with around €4k bike and Insurance.

Nice cruiser or naked bike will be relatively cheap to insure.

If you're looking for a sports bike you'll need to get a skills assessment and probably still looking at nearly €2k Insurance. They may even still refuse you cover.

Your car ncb doesn't count.

goblin59 wrote: »

6k is more than enough

I paid about €350 - 400 for gear
about €600 for the lessons (IBT)
€3500 for the bike
€800 for insurance (I was 30, so age probably lowered it)
and then I would recommend getting what ever bike you buy checked over if you are unsure about road worthiness as there isn't an NCT to show that at some point in the last year it wasn't a death trap so that could be between €100 - €300 depending on if they have to do any work or put new tyres on.


There are definitely days in Ireland where a car is better and safer.
I took my car off the road this year though in favour of using a go car for whenever I need one.

A bike really can't replace a car unless you live very central in a large town or city. Yes you can commute almost 365 on bikes but day to day living with just a bike is not easy. I'm an ATGATT bar local spins to the shops but even at that I'd wear boots, gloves, jacket and lid, by the time I'm leaving on the bike I'd have been there and back in the car.

When I first started riding I did it on a much smaller budget than you're talking about so running both is not impossible. But both bikes and IBTs were cheaper then. Now is not the time to buy a bike, prices are stupid, based on the average donedeal price my bike is worth more now than when I got it 2 years ago.

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

A lot of people could go from a 2 car household to a 1 car + 1 bike household easily enough.

I went from car to bicycle when my commute was 15kms each way. Got fed up paying car insurance and tax for a car that was hardly used. Got a motorbike then for fun. Living and working inside the canals in Dublin you don't need a car unless you're ferrying kids about. On the odd occasion I needed a car I used GoCar.

My OH has sinced moved in though and she has a car that I'm insured on

zubair wrote: »

Agreed, debated doing this a few times. But we remain a 2 car 1 bike household, when you have kids 2 cars makes a difference.

Absolutely. We went from a one car household to debating the pros and cons of two car household vs 1 car/1 bike household.

Ultimately what decided it was that I wouldn’t be happy about putting the little lad in a second car that had been bought for Mrs KH6 for the same price a bike and gear cost.

So now she uses the car a LOT more than me but I still have it when needed. And I have the bike for commuting and doing what I need to do

Get a top box.

Most kids fit in a top box, but your MPG and cornering suffers a little.

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

I am completely appalled that you would suggest such a thing















with no mention of drilling air holes.

I wouldn't recommend drilling airholes in your passengers no matter what age.