Completly new rider looking for information !!!!!! Any help?

[Guest]

Hi guys I'm new to bikes never been on one but have always wanted to.

My fiancé and I will be buying a bike early next year and want to go around Europe on it,

So!

How do I get a licence?

Good bike for carrying passengers?

Decent gear?

So basically all info/ as much as possible to get me and her on to a road in Germany on a cool/ comfortable cruiser...

Any help would be amazing!!!

[mealexme]

welcome to the forum!

its unusual someone who hasn't been on a bike before wants to tour Germany on one. what attracted you to bikes then?

in the UK you ideally want to be over 21 to get something that will be big and comfortable which will carry two plus luggage.

this would mean you can do the DAS course which lets you on any sized bike.

before you do the das you need to complete your cbt and motorbike theory.

the cbt is a training course that must be completed before you get on a bike.

i would suggest you get a bike way before you tour Germany because a big heavy powerful bike is much different to a car

[Throttled]

Hi and welcome The Direct Gov website is the official and most accurate and it will not try to sell you anything!

You start with Compulsory Basic Training

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Le ... DG_4022430

a days worth of teaching and lessons. Find your local riding school and ask about a taster lesson, which is often free. You get a hour or so of basics and a ride round their yard. Between that and the CBT you will have plenty of time to speak to instructors at the school about the best way to progress.

Here is the forum section on CBT and the tests, the three stickies on members experiences of each are superb

http://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=47

You will also need kit, helmet (compulsory), gloves, boots and armoured jacket and trousers are pretty much compulsory now as the Driving Standards Agency will not let you do your tests if you turn up with jeans and a light jacket.

Here is the section of the forum with some kit reviews, but the internet has tons of advice as well (probably so much it leaves you a bit confused!)

http://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=72

As for costs, here is what it cost me in my first year, inculding everything (its a bit scary and I did it relatively cheaply)

http://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/view ... =3&t=41851

My advice is to firstly to go to a training school and a few dealers and speak to them, get costs, sit on bikes, try our gear and get a feel for the whole thing. Then if you have specific questions, ask them here

[megawatt]

Can you give us a bit more info please mate? Age, experience, expectations etc.???

[Guest]

I'm 33 never ridden a bike!! Toured germany by train few years ago.

[megawatt]

33 helps, so you can pay for a direct access course. Get yerself a cheap small bike, get some practice, all you can, in all weathers. Get some intensive training and when the trainer thinks you're ready, go for your course and test. Once you pass and are happy with your riding confidence, buy a second hand touring bike. Preferably with a low seat height and plenty of grunt for two up touring. Bandit's and SV650 are great bikes and easy to lower if needed.

[Susieque]

I'm 33 never ridden a bike!! Toured germany by train few years ago.

 

That helps. I'll be corrected if I'm wrong but I don't think you can ride abroad on a restricted licence.

Oh and welcome to the forum - why not introduce yourself in Newbies?!

[Mhocking]

Do it. I had never ridden before my CBT this year, passed my DAS at the ripe old age of 40 and got myself a Triumph Sprint ST (before I passed) and love every minute of riding it. Wish I'd done it along time ago.

[CheshireCBR]

DO IT!!!

I did my test at 30 and never regreted it

I had riden scooters as a kid (1819) then hadnt tuched another bike untill I did my test

admitedly this was pre the new test that you have to do today but I payed £650 for:-

Therie test and training CD (wednsday)

1 day cbt training and test (Friday)

3 days training (direct access) (monday, tuseday and wednsday)

test (Thursday)

so in just over a week I went from never realy riding a bike to holding a full unrestricted licence!

BUT just one point to make here with the way that I did it, I have a lot of mates that have riden for a long time and over the weekend inbetween they did take me to a carpark with no one arround to practice my turning in the road and once I had passed we all went out alot (yer new toy ) with one person riding infrount showing lines to take and one behind me who would when we stopped any were for a fag critisise enything that I had done wrong so in therie once I passed my test my real training began there.

[M4tty]

I'm currently on the look for starting to ride a bike... Have serious no idea where to start! But by god the price for first year is shocking!!!