Hello all

[Linford]

Alright guys and gals :D, thank for the add to this site. I'm Lee (aka Linford). I have never owned or ridden a motorcycle - even though I have always wanted to, I have never gotten around to taking it up. On the few times I've been a pillion, I always remember a feeling of freedom and a huge adrenaline rush!!
Anyway enough excuses!! The other day my missus was trying to think of ideas for my 40th present next year..and out of know where she suggested buying me a motorcycle licence course... I thought...yeah why not!!

Does anybody have any advise on what sort of course would be suitable for a complete novice?
and also what a suitable starter bike would be? -ideally if there is a course that takes me straight through C.B.T., module 1and 2 I'd prefer to skip the 125s and go for a old 500ish cc bike to begin with.

cheers
Lee

[Brizzer]

what sort of bike you looking for , as in fast sport touring or bit of both, I always recommend a bandit 600 as a first bike as there pretty well made and plenty of parts usually cheap and give a little bit of both speed and are ok for taking a long ride on , cant help you with a direct access course as I done mine in stages but good luck and welcome

[matthews677]

hello and welcome. i passed my test in december last year and done a DAS course with phoenix in amesbury. you do your CBT, then book your mod 1 and once thats passed its straight to mod 2. Phoenix have reserved slots for mod 1's due to being an established school but i'm sure others will that are closer to you. and my first bike was a 55 plate ZX6R.

[Linford]

Thanks Brizzer. I only just started looking to be honest so no real favourites.. I'll have a look at the Bandits though.
cheers

[Linford]

Thanks matthews677 - I think there is a training school in Chippenham but I need to find more details of this one. I've just checked out the ZX6R - very nice! I was I bit worried that I'd have to be on a 125 for a while - being 14 1/2 stone, I think I'd look a bit silly! I did like the look of a older GPZ500s late 80s/early 90's - I quite like the retro look and the reviews I've read about them suggest they're quite forgiving for beginners.

Cheers

[Wes]

Hi Lee, and welcome to WB :) the Fazer (Yamaha fzs 600) is a pretty good bike to start with, better looking than the bandit, with a de tuned r6 engine its very nimble and good fun to ride, but also forgiving on the novice rider, a really good place to start :)

[Linford]

thanks Wes - yup the Fazer could be another option - just been looking at them on Auto trader. I quite the bikes with only partial fairings
Christ its going to be a long 4 months till my birthday!! but at least I can do plenty of research!
Cheers

[BB]

Hi and welcome to WB. :cool:
Able is an excellent training school and frequently on here. Trained quite a few WBer's and does excellent refreshers for us ahem older bikers!
Get along to a few dealers and sit on all sorts of bikes and see what feels right.

[Mal103]

Hello and welcome!
I was lucky and passed my test years ago before they made it in stages but have been off 2 wheels for years. I was going to go for something tame/old and take a refresher course, ended up buying a 400 Bandit and went straight out....
Just take it easy, treat all cars/vans/lorries as idiots - and some bikes too...

[Linford]

Thanks BB. I'll check out Able's website.
My wife keeps joking that this could be my mid-life crisis! lol! But It's something that I've always wanted to do, but never did.. it's better late than never I suppose!
:-)
Cheers

[Swanny]

Hi Linford
I have my CBF600 for sale. Loads of power but very manageable and easy to ride
http://www.wiltshirebikers.co.uk/showthread.php?20436-Honda-CBF600N-%A33250-ono

[Linford]

Thanks Mal, will defo take it easy. I've been looking at youtube a fair bit, to see what the licence modules are like, & there are some vids where the instructors have helmet cams and they are narrating the potential hazards as they ride - things car drivers wouldn't necessarily look out for. interesting stuff :-)

[Linford]

Hi Swanny, she's a beaut mate no doubt about that!... but I think I'd be looking for something older/cheaper/rougher for my first. - and that won't be till early next year.
Cheers anyways

[Conehead]

Welcome to WB.

I concur with Matthews677 as I did my DAS not long ago and once passed I got my 1000. I had been riding before so the size was not a problem. I have heard the ER6 is a good bike to learn on as very forgiving.

[shane21]

Hello and welcome

[Kopite]

Hello and welcome.

[Annie]

Morning Linford. Good luck with the test and your future bike. ENJOY.........:)

[MelkshamKwak]

Welcome to WB

[Last Train]

Mornin :)

[Linford]

Morning all, thanks for the warm welcome, advice and words of encouragment - i think i'm going to like this site :cool:

[Vulcanboy]

Hi there ... and welcome to WB ... Richard

[Nelly]

Welcome Lee. I see we have finally allowed you to speak. Glad you joined. Stay in touch mate and February AKA the big 40 will soon be here. ;)
Tell Deb that when you get past 40 you can have 1 mid life crisis a year! It works for me and i'm still sane ;)

[Toph]

Hello Lee, welcome to Wiltshire Bikers! :)

[Linford]

Here's a link for a very very cheap GPZ500 I've seen for sale.
Its just a helmet cam, but you can hear the engine.could any of you experts have a listen to the vid..and tell me if it's a plum or sounds normal please?

http://youtu.be/x4stn1Vvj24

I've seen quite a few GPZ vids on youtube and they do seem to sound a bit rough at low revs :)

[Senna(Dan)]

Hello and welcome Lee.

Although my second bike the Yamaha XJ6 diversion is a great bike and can often be found on 0% finance if you time it right. Mine was a 2010 model and did me very well for the three years that I had it.

[Linford]

Ta Dan,
I do like the look of the XJ - looks kind of bad-ass! but I'm more leaning towards buying an older bike, so that as things go wrong with it, I can learn about repairs & maintaince :D

[Linford]

Cheers Nelly, you lot will be sick of all my questions in a few months :D ..big mistake allowing me to speak!! - Deb never does :mad: lol!

[Birdylegs]

Hi and welcome good luck with buying a bike and the mid-life crisis and hope you have more fun on a bike then the Porsche and sun glasses approach to you're 40s I'm hoping train spotting never comes to my mind later (but wait what's a few thousand HP look like going past)

[Linford]

Thanks Birdylegs. I have no fears of getting into train spotting..although we do live 30 metres from a railway line..convenient coincidence? ? Nah!!! I'll stick to my new found 2 wheeled obsession! :)

[Linford]

Well guys & gals, I'm one step closer to becoming a biker- bought myself a rather old & tired looking CBR400-the engine is sweet though (I think!!). Whist I'm learning to ride and passing my tests I intend to tart her up a bit and learn about the workings of a bike in the process:D:D:D





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[Nelly]

Nice one Lee. What year is she?

[Linford]

Imported 1990 Neil, I reckon mid 80's - because its the early Aero fairing?

[Birdylegs]

That bike looks more fun then a AK-47 at a darts match

[Linford]

Thanks..I hope so ! I can't wait to get my hands dirty cleaning her up ;)

[Olly Coles]

Hi all, just wandering if you still meet up at the pub at Gastard (I think?) this time of year?
Cheers Olly Coles (newbie)

[Nelly]

We do indeed Olly. If the weather is ****e, its a car thing just to have a burger and natter.

[Swanny]

I was going to try out my new gloves tonight but it looks like I'll be in the car :confused:

[Olly Coles]

Ok good job,if I get finished in time I will swing over,cheers
Olly, is it the Harp?

[Nelly]

Ok good job,if I get finished in time I will swing over,cheers
Olly, is it the Harp?

Indeed the Harp & Crown :)

[Olly Coles]

Hi all,Just wandering if there are any 'wb' rideouts this weekend anywhere? Cheers Olly Coles (Devizes)

[Morticia]

Hello and welcome!

From a completely unbiased point of view, the sv-650 makes a delicious first bike

[Linford]

Theory test passed today!! Cbt booked for next Friday. .module 1 the following week and module 2 booked for 25th April. ... its getting close guys and gals!! I cannot wait! ! :)

[Nelly]

Nice one Lee :)

[Linford]

Nice one Lee :)

Cheers Neil :)