Andriko

It was on a 125cc Haotian Vixen (about 12 years ago!). The choke (I think) was set too low, and so it would keep stalling as soon as I let go of the throttle. However, it was so noisy, everyone thought I was riding some kind of monster and didn't notice the 'L' plates until I had already screamed passed.

@sm0129 I think the thing that scares me more about a bigger engine is how sensitive the throttle may or may not be. I was always respectful of the old 125cc I used to have, though I also discovered that it got a lot of respect too - it looked and sounded much bigger that it was, and quite a few drivers seemed more scared of me than I was of them! At least I felt somewhat confident they knew I was there!

@exportmanuk Thanks for the advice - having something too big too soon was what was concerning me. A touring big with a 600-900cc bike seems to be the ideal, and you and everyone else have given me ideas to consider.

You're right - I've just seen a few online! @KiwiBob It sure looks fun, not necessarily comfortable!

That Harley is exactly the kind of bike I have dreamed of since I was a kid. I have yet to see one I could actually afford though!

Thanks for all the advice guys, especially some of the bike recommendations! Especially the Honda Deuville and TDM900. I was definitely going to try a few out first, I think it's more getting on top of a tourer straight from getting a license that concerned me! @husoi Alas, I am now old so don't need to worry about A2s and all that. This was one of the reasons I didn't get a bike license before - I was 22 when I did my CBT originally, and so figured I might as well just wait 18months to do the DAS, and then never got around to it. @fastbob I know these things are in the eyes of the beholder and all that, but I find some of the tourers quite aestheticaly pleasing (admittedly, some are just outride hideous).

Hi all, I am thinking about finally getting a bike license (I did the CBT years ago and things came up and I never took it further), and the intention is to get a touring bike for long trips with my girlfriend, and so would like some advice! The main thing is safety and experience - is a tourer a bit too much bike to start with? My preference, in general, would be a bike that is on the larger/ heavier side and has some grunt, but is easy to keep under control in terms of speed. Would I be better with a cruiser first, or are there touring models which are more approachable (and affordable!)? For example, the Triumph Trophy seems to be the kind of bike I am looking for, and there also seems to be old 900cc models - would they be a good place to start? Or is even 900cc on a heavier bike still biting off too much? The thing about tourers that appeals to me is that they are big and heavy, and so even with all the engine power seem to be a bit more manageable, but I could be mistaken in thinking this. At any rate, I really don't care about speed and agility and all that, I'd prefer comfort and stability! Is there any advice about riding with a pillion I should consider as well - for example, how much experience should I have before considering it? Also - is the ERS worth doing for the insurance benefits, or does it not make all that much difference? Thanks for your help! A