Jemz

It was a private sale and I'm funny about leaving money with private sellers. Whose to say they won't bugger off with it!? Though to be fair the guy seems decent. I didn't end up viewing it mainly cause I realised it's a 2001 bike and may not be ULEZ compliant. I live just outside the ulez zone but go through it very regularly so I need to find out if it is exempt - it isn't according to the licence plate but I've heard records for bikes pre-2007 are not up to date so automatically get put down as non-compliant. So I've enquired with Honda about it first.

It's cause I wanted to stay with my current insurance. I have 8 months no claims so far and don't want to lose it - which if I cancel I will do. So realistically il likely have to take out another insurance and then cancel it

I was tempted to just take out a new policy online. The £50 approx cancellation fee doesn't bother me. I just don't know if it affects anything else e.g. credit, or if there's any other charges. If it was say £100 for the first month (I usually pay montly), would I get that refunded minus the 1 day insurance?

When I got my YBR I viewed if, changed the v5 online, taxed it, insured it and took it away in the same day. So I made a presumption I could do the same. I'm hoping if I do want it, the guy will hang on to it for me so I can collect it next week

So I have insurance for my YBR 125 with Bennetts. I passed my Mod 2 last week so I am planning on upgrading my bike - my policy has changed to full licence holder. I am interested in a Honda hornet 600 that I'm viewing tomorrow and may buy. But Bennetts insurance customer services is closed on Sunday. So how am I supposed to change my policy over to the new bike and take it home same day? I spoke to someone on their webchat earlier saying I was going to possibly be buying a new bike tomorrow and they said I'd have to call to change my policy over to the new bike... but didn't mention they were closed tomorrow. I can't do an online change either through the customer portal. I have tried to look at temporary one day cover with a couple of sites, but they say they can't quote me at this time. I did think about potentially just taking out a new quote with another company online, but figured I'd be quoted for the year and if I cancelled after a day, there would be a fee. Not sure how to get it home unless I have it picked up/delivered by courier (which seems stupid considering il be physically there viewing it) or I do it without insurance (which I obviously will not do!) Any advice please??

I was hoping to find spray paints I could use initially as I don't have an airbrush. And then hand paint other stuff on. Il do some more research

Hello all. Just curious if it's legal to customise a helmet? I wanted to buy a plain white helmet and then paint it up myself. I supposed I'd have to at least sand off the shiny layer in order for paint to adhere and use a primer, followed by design and then lacquer. But I'm sure I read somewhere as soon as you touch the paint it degrades the protectiveness of the helmet. Is this true? Or is there a certain way you are allowed to do it?

I don't do race bikes at this point. They don't appeal to me at the moment. Maybe when I have my full licence and more experience it will appeal more. I actually went to have a look at a Yamaha YBR today. I felt very comfortable sitting on it and the one I tried was actually the perfect height. So I may consider that more at the moment. But I can work with the others too.

Hmm if that's the case I might stick with my car and save riding for weekends or days off

Ah OK I didn't realise that. When I look for insurance il speak to them and check. Glad you told me that. Thank you

I think it depends whether or not I want to claim milage back. My car is used for travel at the moment and I claim the milage back on that. I probably wouldn't bother for a bike. And most of the time I'm visiting from home to one school a day, so it would be like travelling to my office every day.

If I'm honest I haven't thought that far ahead! Lol

Morning from London UK! I passed my CBT last month on an auto but I want to ride manual. So I'm looking for suggestions on a first geared bike. I was set on going for a Honda cbf as I've read lots of people saying its great for a first bike but then I was thinking about my reasons for having one. So I will be using it initially just for practice. I fully intend to go for a full licence within a year (hopefully!) And if I get it I will be upgrading my bike. So I'm not looking to spend a fortune on a first bike il only keep for approx a year. I'm very happy to buy used as long as its in decent condition and without any issues. I'm not looking to spend more than £2000-2500 if possible. I'm quite short at 5"2 so I need something suitable. Once I have the confidence to be on the road with a manual, I will likely use it a 2-3 times a week to get to work. My journeys vary from 20mins - 1hr as I travel around different areas visiting schools. So, any suggestions on a used bike which is good for a first time rider would be much appreciated?? Thank you in advance!

To be honest I think il just get the quotes saying its kept on private property. I guess that's what a front garden would come under?

Yeah seen videos of people doing this in broad daylight. Even on my CBT day we stopped in a quiet road to practice u-turns and emergency stops. There was 2 boys on a single moped going around the same area multiple times and they passed us about 4 times. My instructor advised to leave that road as he was saying they could have been waiting for me to be far enough away that they could shove me off the bike and then nick it. Can never be too careful these days

Yeah I see what you mean. I was talking to my partner about a metal bike shed for the front that we can lock up. Maybe getting one without a base and cementing in anchors inside it would be a good idea

My intention was to chain it in my front garden. Cement in some ground anchors for both tyres. But I am tempted to blag it and say its in a locked garage and pray it doesn't get nicked

Changing the bike choice to a different brand scooter bought it down a bit but not much. I did also put in that it would be in a locked garage, and had an immobiliser fitted just to see what happens to the quote. Knocked off about £200-300 annually. Still looking at around £78-90 a month which to be fair Is far better than the £200+ I was quoted before. These were without extras like breakdown cover etc. I was looking at a suzuki address 110 I think when I looked the 2nd time round. Guess I just need to do a good bit of looking around. Tricky when I don't even know what scooter I want yet I'd like to think I'm pretty sensible on the roads and old enough to know not to go crazy especially as a new rider. It's other drivers that worry me!

No not yet. To be honest I don't mind what I ride so long as it gets me from A-B. It's only cause that is what I passed on so figured it was a good starting point. Il shop around for different brands and see what I'm quoted

Hi all! Can anyone advise me a good reputable company to look for insurance with? I've just passed my CBT and I plan to get a 110-125 auto scooter just to get around. I did my CBT on a Honda Vision 110 so I've been using that model to get insurance quotes but every where I've looked so far are quoting me over £200-£250 monthly. I know I'm a new rider but I didn't expect insurance to be quite that high! I have been driving a car for 16 years with 15 yrs NCB so i thought that might help a little. I am over the age of 25. I dread to think what insurance prices are like for those under 25 who do not drive!

Update: I passed!!! only on an auto but I will be doing a gear conversion once I get some confidence on the road.

Well I've now got my own helmet, motorbike gloves, motorbike boots, motorbike jeans and leather motorbike jacket. Might be a bit OTT for a CBT but I'm not going through all that again!

I've purchased some motorcycle jeans second hand barely worn so there won't be any confusion next time. Rebooked for 21st Oct with a different school. Funnily enough the motorbike company messaged me back after I replied to their report basically saying they can see I'm still not happy so due to their 100% satisfaction policy, they can offer me a full refund... Like really!?!? After all that back and forth-ing, they couldn't just offer that in the first place!? What a complete waste of peoples time... though I gather cause I kept replying and pushing the situation, they have to offer the refund. They said they have to ask the instructor to refund me... Good! Lol I've got my own helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and motorbike jeans for next time. Not going through this bull again! Thank you all for backing me up. Made me feel more confident to fight it

So an update... The instructor sent a full report in and apparently he knows the difference between jeans and cotton trousers... funny that cause denim IS 100% cotton. He also tried to state that he thought it would be too dangerous for me to ride a manual for the first time without thicker bottoms... I wasn't booked for a manual. I was booked for an auto. He also referred to me as a "he" multiple times in the report and english is clearly his second language by the way he writes - not that it matters but for an official report to a complaint, I think it makes a little bit of difference. It appears its his word against mine. He says he's happy to go to court. I've emailed the dvsa to see what they say and il go from there. Will go the chargeback route if I have to

Il deffo try this before going any further. Just waiting on the companies to get back to me first