Any advice for a new rider

In article <a3e0725a-65b5-40de-b3f6-c03e84ff9ccd.RemoveThis@q39g2000hsf.googlegroup
s.com>, UKMikey <michael.shipman.RemoveThis@btinternet.com> writes
>Hi - sorry if this question has been raised before - I did a search
>and didnt ind anything.....

TBH then you really didn't search that well, it is a very common
question and some of the answers are included in or fine ffaq, which I
do heartily recommend as a jolly good read. Especially the ukrm CBT
bit.

>
>Im considering getting a motorcycle for my commute to / from work (35
>mile round trip - New Forest into Southampton) as its nigh on
>impossible to get the car parked in the city centre and public
>transport is not available.
>
>Im completely new to motorcycling - never ridden before, Im 50 yrs
>old, 6' 2" and need to lose weight. I'd be grateful for any advice on:
>- where to learn to ride

Locally.

>- what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip

45 minutes to an hour each way depending on your levels of enthusiasm
and the traffic for 40something weeks a year in all weathers year in
year out, "There is no substitute for cubes."


>- what sort of cost a bike would be
>- what sort of cost for the appropriate clothing
>etc....

More than you expect.

Training, insurance and armour is going to cost the thick of 1.5k add
the bike that gives you biggest hard on to that.


>If there are any good websites / magazines / boks that could give me
>this info, I'd be really grateful

You are here.


--
steve auvache
A Bloo one with built in safety features
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:30:47 -0800 (PST), UKMikey
<michael.shipman.DeleteThis@btinternet.com> wrote:

>Hi - sorry if this question has been raised before - I did a search
>and didnt ind anything.....
>
>Im considering getting a motorcycle for my commute to / from work (35
>mile round trip - New Forest into Southampton) as its nigh on
>impossible to get the car parked in the city centre and public
>transport is not available.

Didn't you post this question a few weeks ago?

Anyway, it's not really my area of expertise, but as a brief starter

>Im completely new to motorcycling - never ridden before, Im 50 yrs
>old, 6' 2" and need to lose weight. I'd be grateful for any advice on:
>- where to learn to ride

Can't answer this one, but most local bike shops prolly can

>- what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip

Any bike of 500cc and above. And 500s are considered beginners bike
nowadays

>- what sort of cost a bike would be

A brand new 500 - about 4k I think. Buy something 2~3 years old and
you'll save a lot.

>- what sort of cost for the appropriate clothing

A fair bit. Budget 100 quid each for helmet, waterprood jacket and
boots, with prolly another 50 each for gloves and trousers. So that's
400 quid. You can do it cheaper, of course, but you can also spend a
lot more.



--
Champ

ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R 600 racer
My advice as your attorney is to buy a motorcycle
To email me, neal at my domain should work.
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

steve auvache wrote:
> In article <a3e0725a-65b5-40de-b3f6-c03e84ff9ccd DeleteThis @q39g2000hsf.googlegroup
> s.com>, UKMikey <michael.shipman DeleteThis @btinternet.com> writes

>> - what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip
>
> 45 minutes to an hour each way depending on your levels of enthusiasm
> and the traffic for 40something weeks a year in all weathers year in
> year out, "There is no substitute for cubes."

You seem to be either out by a factor of two or recommending a moped.

--
Eiron.
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

Champ says...
> On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:30:47 -0800 (PST), UKMikey
> <michael.shipman.TakeThisOut@btinternet.com> wrote:
> >- what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip
>
> Any bike of 500cc and above. And 500s are considered beginners bike
> nowadays

Suzuki SV650, either a naked one with a flyscreen, or a faired one if
you want a more leant forward riding position.

--
Lozzo
My bike list is too big for demon.local
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

In article <5vcqcpF1ksv3mU1 RemoveThis @mid.individual.net>, Eiron
<E1ron RemoveThis @hotmail.com> writes
>steve auvache wrote:
>> In article <a3e0725a-65b5-40de-b3f6-c03e84ff9ccd RemoveThis @q39g2000hsf.googlegroup
>> s.com>, UKMikey <michael.shipman RemoveThis @btinternet.com> writes
>
>>> - what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip
>>
>> 45 minutes to an hour each way depending on your levels of enthusiasm
>> and the traffic for 40something weeks a year in all weathers year in
>> year out, "There is no substitute for cubes."
>
>You seem to be either out by a factor of two or recommending a moped.

Out by a factor of two because of faulty understanding of the question
but my answer still stands.


--
steve auvache
A Bloo one with built in safety features
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

Champ wrote:
>
> On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:30:47 -0800 (PST), UKMikey
> <michael.shipman RemoveThis @btinternet.com> wrote:
>
> >- what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip
> >- what sort of cost a bike would be
>
> A brand new 500 - about 4k I think. Buy something 2~3 years old and
> you'll save a lot.

As Lozzo says, an SV650. An absolute pussycat of a bike, can be ridden
"with spirit" as you know, and you can get a perfectly good near-mint 2
year old one with a half fairing for a bit over £2.5k (ono)


> >- what sort of cost for the appropriate clothing
>
> A fair bit. Budget 100 quid each for helmet, waterprood jacket and
> boots, with prolly another 50 each for gloves and trousers. So that's
> 400 quid. You can do it cheaper, of course, but you can also spend a
> lot more.

I spent 100 quid on a helmet once, and I'm not doing that again. The
only lids I've been truly happy with over the last 15 years have been
Arais. I'm not sure I'd ever recommend anything else.

TBH, I'd recommend popping in to the nearest branch of Heinz Gherkin. Of
my current kit the boots (waterproof) and gloves (crash resistant and
they soak up the blood a treat) were 80 quid a pop and the jacket and
jeans were 50 quid each in a sale. Bloody good waterproofs, too.

--
ogden
sv650 & rgv250
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

ogden says...
> Champ wrote:
> >
> > On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:30:47 -0800 (PST), UKMikey
> > <michael.shipman DeleteThis @btinternet.com> wrote:
> >
> > >- what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip
> > >- what sort of cost a bike would be
> >
> > A brand new 500 - about 4k I think. Buy something 2~3 years old and
> > you'll save a lot.
>
> As Lozzo says, an SV650. An absolute pussycat of a bike, can be ridden
> "with spirit" as you know, and you can get a perfectly good near-mint 2
> year old one with a half fairing for a bit over £2.5k (ono)

My silver naked one is now 4 1/2 years old and done 28K miles of mainly
commuting, and it still runs as sweet as a nut and looks pretty good for
it. As Ogden says, a really low mileage 2 or 3 year old one one can be
bought for between £2.5 to £3k, and that's for a half-faired version.
I've just bought a 4500 mile old more desireable all black 2005 plate
model, with full fairing lowers, modified forks and a whole load of
extras with standard bits included for about that price. Naked ones are
about 350 quid cheaper and just as good a bike.

At 6' 2" tall you'll probably be more comfortable on a K3 model as the
seat height is 40mm higher than all the others.

--
Lozzo
My bike list is too big for demon.local
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

UKMikey wrote:

>
> Im completely new to motorcycling - never ridden before, Im 50 yrs
> old, 6' 2" and need to lose weight. I'd be grateful for any advice on:
> - where to learn to ride

Look in your local Thompson directory under 'motorcycle' there'll be
local training schools in there somewhere. Maybe someone who lives near
you might be able to recommend somewhere.


> - what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip

Anything, really, but 500cc and bigger, with a fairing to keep some of
the weather off would be best, in my opinion. Do bear in mind that
bikes are very different to cars...

I recently needed to learn to drive, having not sat behind the wheel of
a car since I was 17 (18 years ago). In chronological order I have
driven:

1. a Ford fiesta 1.1 (very, very, very, slow, terrible handling)
2. a Honda Jazz 1.4 SE (very slow, naff handling)
3. a 1.3 diesel of some description (very slow, naff handling)
4. a Saab 9-3 Aero HOT (fairly slow, surprisingly wobbly handling)
5. a BMW 330i (fairly slow, bearable handling)
6. a BMW 330d (quite slow, bearable handling)

I currently own a 1991 GPZ500, which (up to 90mph) is about as fast as
the 330d, and more economical to run. Also a GSXR750, which is faster
than anything I've ever driven, in every way, and also uses about the
same amount of petrol as the honda jazz.




> - what sort of cost a bike would be

Pretty much as much as you want to pay - you could buy my GPZ550 for
£800 quid if you like (once I've put new chain & sprockets on it and
got it MOT'd) £900 if you want the top-box too...


> - what sort of cost for the appropriate clothing

As above (except for buying mine). Helmet from £50 - £500, same for
boots, gloves £25-£125, set of all-weather clothing that you can wear
over your work clothes £200 and up.

You could get fully kitted up for 300 quid, or 3000.

You probably need to budget at least £600 for learning to ride as well.


> If there are any good websites / magazines / boks that could give me
> this info, I'd be really grateful

There are a plethora of magazines that you could buy, most fall into
one of three camps (1) 30 year old teenagers crashing expensive sports
bikes and writing about it, (2) dull old farts crashing expensive
sports bikes and writing about it, (3) awful.
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

UKMikey wrote:
> Hi - sorry if this question has been raised before - I did a search
> and didnt ind anything.....
>
> Im considering getting a motorcycle for my commute to / from work (35
> mile round trip - New Forest into Southampton) as its nigh on
> impossible to get the car parked in the city centre and public
> transport is not available.
>
> Im completely new to motorcycling - never ridden before, Im 50 yrs
> old, 6' 2" and need to lose weight. I'd be grateful for any advice on:
> - where to learn to ride
> - what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip
> - what sort of cost a bike would be
> - what sort of cost for the appropriate clothing
> etc....
>
> If there are any good websites / magazines / boks that could give me
> this info, I'd be really grateful
>
> Many thanks, Mike.

Buy a ZZR600 & learn on that. Easy to ride, after learning on it you can
ride owt. Dont pussy about with small bikes, they are shite to even thinking
about learnin to ride on, unless you are chicken?

Dont be put off by the CC of a bike, it's how they ride that matters.


--


Nige, talking utter shite since 1967.

Ducati 916
BMW K1100LT
MT-03
Focus ST3
Range Rover 4.6 HSE
Daytona SE

NIGE#1
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

Nige wrote:
>
> Buy a ZZR600

This is uk.rec.motorcycles, not uk.rec.sheds.

--
ogden
sv650 & rgv250
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

UKMikey <michael.shipman RemoveThis @btinternet.com> wrote:

> Im completely new to motorcycling - never ridden before, Im 50 yrs
> old, 6' 2" and need to lose weight.

You'd get lost in the crowd here, then.

>I'd be grateful for any advice on:
> - where to learn to ride

Google for "Motorcycle training" and select a nearby outfit.
Alternatively, ask your local dealer which one they recommend. That's
probably a better policy, actually.


> - what bike would suit a 35 mile per day round trip

Depends on the roads. Therough suburbia and town, a 125 is quite up to
that sort of journey. If it's dual carriageway and Mway, then it'll get
a bit blown into the gutter, and a 250cc+ is better. New Forest to Soton
- I don't know the roads, but I imagine a bit of M27 is involved.

> - what sort of cost a bike would be

For a road legal bike, anything between £200 and many, many thousands.
For a half-decent 500cc twin (which is a good post-learner machine), a
grand is starting money.

> - what sort of cost for the appropriate clothing
> etc....

You can kit yourself out with a new old stock helmet, boots and gloves
from an autojumble, cheap jacket, etc, for little more than £100, or,
again, you can spend £300 on a helmet, ditto on jacket and trews, a ton
on gloves, £200 on boots....
>
> If there are any good websites / magazines / boks that could give me
> this info, I'd be really grateful

Bike magazine, And this august newsgroup, of course.

You want to pass the test ASAP, as from October it gets *much* harder
and more expensive. You have two choices: pass on a 125, and be
restricted to 33bhp for two years thereafter, or pass on a 33bhp+ bike
(as you're aged over 21) and jump on whatever you want. That's Direct
Access (DA).

There are quite a few people here who think that DA is a bad idea, as
nothing, but *nothing*, prepares you for the performance of a modern
sports 600cc bike, never mind a 750cc+.

Bear in mind that even a medium-sized bike costs as much to run as a
car, but in your case it's the convenicne rather than the cost that
matters.

Oh, and motorcycling is an addictive a habit to acquire as cocaine. And
more expensive.

Enjoy.



--
K1100LT 750SS CB400F CD250 SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

Nige wrote:
> UKMikey wrote:
>> Im considering getting a motorcycle for my commute to / from work (35
>> mile round trip - New Forest into Southampton) as its nigh on
>> impossible to get the car parked in the city centre and public
>> transport is not available.

> Buy a ZZR600 & learn on that.

To do that would involve either finding an instructor to come and pick him
up at his house, or a mate with a van to take him to the riding school, and
then finding an insurer dumb enough to insure a guy without a licence on a
'sports' 600. It'd be impractical and cost a bloody fortune.

--
ZX6R F2 - The Gravelseeker
BOTAFOT #121, BBB #2
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider 

On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:08:41 +0000, totallydeadmailbox.DeleteThis@yahoo.co.uk
(The Older Gentleman) wrote:

> You have two choices:

ITYF he doesn't.

He has a choice. He also has two options.

--
Pip: B12
 >> Stay informed about: Any advice for a new rider