Any motorbike riders here? First time rider advice.

[burnsyb0y]

I know, i am chuffed

unfortunately no it seems to be just electronic, would help if the guy had the manual for the bike.

[foofighterjim]

It may be worth checking the battery is charged particularly if the bike has not been run all winter. A good sign of this is when you turn the ignition on and you press for the starter the headlight severely dims or goes off completely.

 

You can get trickle chargers that will top up the batter over several hours or you can invest in something like this: Halfords | Halfords Fully Automatic Battery Charger

 

Provided your battery is 12V (it will be marked on the battery somewhere near the connectors), if you look at other chargers do make sure they are suitable for 12V bike batteries.

[burnsyb0y]

It is all charged up based on what you have said.

Off to halfords later to pick up some new spark plugs so i am seriously hoping it will start with new ones.

Either way im off til monday so its my mini project to get going by then.

Cheers.

[Oaktech]

clean everything... If there is doubt about the spark, take the plug out, plug it into the cap, and lay it on the engine casing and turn the engine over, you should see a spark at the plug. If you don't its possible that the plug is faulty, but it's more likely that something further back down the line is dodgy.

 

Also, you have checked the kill switch haven't you!

[foofighterjim]

Definitely check the killswitch. Also most modern bikes will not start without the clutch being fully pulled in. Make sure the bike is in neutral. Make sure that if the bike is fitted with an immobiliser that this is not also stopping the ignition.

[Oaktech]

Definitely check the killswitch. Also most modern bikes will not start without the clutch being fully pulled in. Make sure the bike is in neutral. Make sure that if the bike is fitted with an immobiliser that this is not also stopping the ignition.

 

And sidestand switch if it has one...

[burnsyb0y]

Got the bike working now, just needed a few bump starts in 2nd gear.

Also i have now passed my CBT, and got insured.

Now just to MOT and tax the bike and i am off

[Oaktech]

Got the bike working now, just needed a few bump starts in 2nd gear.

Also i have now passed my CBT, and got insured.

Now just to MOT and tax the bike and i am off

 

Woop Woop! Another convert!

 

Take care, have fun, and you know where we all are if you need anything else!

[flyinghaggis]

Slightly cheeky thread hijack/resurrection but I'm going to be doing my CBT in the next week or so and I'm intending getting a 125cc motorbike to ride to work on.

 

I don't really know much about motorbikes so any suggestions or advice on where to buy stuff from would be handy! Are there any forums/websites worth checking out which would be good sources of information?

 

I'd like to get a bike with manual gears so don't want anything like a scooter or moped. Any thoughts or recommendations would be good. I think if I do the CBT I'll maybe try and hire a bike for a week or two to see how I get on commuting using it!

[Andrew_C]

There are lots of bike clubs online. If you know what you're interested in buying especially. Facebook has several buying /selling groups.

 

The concensus is that Chinese and Korean bikes are at the state Japanese bikes were in the 60s. Cheap, poor spares and quality, and derivative.

[pcstru]

I'd like to get a bike with manual gears so don't want anything like a scooter or moped. Any thoughts or recommendations would be good.

Honda CG125. Almost bullet proof and holds it's value well.

[crc-ict]

If you are a taller/larger person, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Honda Varadero 125. I'm 6ft and far too many kgs and I was fine on it, whereas I looked like I was going to crush the Yamaha YBR 125 I had for CBT!!

 

I've just passed my full test, having ridden a Varadero on CBT for a year. Great introduction to biking, size is similar to the training 600s which is an advantage if you are considering going on to full test training.

 

They are a bit more expensive than some, but are really quality bikes and very reliable.

[Oaktech]

It all depends what you want from life/motorcycles. If all you want to do is get to work, then a CG125 or a Varadero will do nicely. If you are taller then you might want to look at one of the motocross style bikes like a Derbi or a Sinnis Apache. If you want to go backroad burning on a sunday morning the Yamaha R125 is the way forward. I would personally steer clear of anything with too much plastic on it while you get used to riding - I chucked my CG down the road 4 times in my 1st year and each time I just hammered the brake/gear pedal/handle straight with a rock and rode home!

[Chris_Cook]

You won't go to far wrong with anything Honda, provided its been well maintained. CBF 125s can be had relatively cheaply, and as above, the CG125 is good.

 

If your buying used, then this video has some good tips:

 

Personally, I would find your nearest Honda dealer, but any of the Japanese bikes are good these days.

 

If your tempted by the Chinese ones, then look up the bbc watchdog video. They have been known to fall apart when in use, and they will have very little re-sale value.

 

Its also worth looking at the general maintenance of any bike you go to look at. Check for leaks, especially in the front forks and rear suspension, tire condition, drive chain, and engine oil and whether its due a service. If its not been serviced and looked after, it can be expensive and time consuming to get it sorted, as there will be more problems that you will find once you've brought it. Its not a reason not to buy, but certainly something to factor into the whole running costs of the bike. 125's are often neglected because they are run by new riders who don't know better.

 

Labour rates in the garage can be pricey. Doing your own servicing can bring the prices down quite a bit, but takes lots of time and can be messy. YT has lots of videos on this, and its worth looking at to give you an idea of what to look for when buying.

[arwen]

Just echoing the rest, stay with the big names - Honda Yamaha Suzuki.

On the opposite end of the scale, if you have short legs rather than long legs, I absolutely love my little Honda MSX.

 

 

You may not be able to hire a bike on a CBT licence. Many require a full bike licence for bike hire.

[Bompalompalomp]

4 stroke good, 2 stroke baaaaad.

[Oaktech]

4 stroke good, 2 stroke baaaaad.

 

Well, kinda...

 

From someone who has had both...

 

4 Stroke easy to ride, reliable, low power/CC. Maintenance can be just changing oil and filters for ages...

 

2 Stroke hard to ride, unreliable, crazy power/CC. Maintenance is a full strip down and rebuild every couple of months!

[diddylord]

Have a look at Yamaha ybr 125, really gd reliable starter bikes

[crc-ict]

You won't go to far wrong with anything Honda, provided its been well maintained. CBF 125s can be had relatively cheaply,

 

Watch out for used CBF 125's if they haven't been looked after, been out in all weathers etc - they have a bit of a reputation for being rust buckets.

[Bompalompalomp]

Watch out for used CBF 125's if they haven't been looked after, been out in all weathers etc - they have a bit of a reputation for being rust buckets.

 

My friend's CBF is pretty much brown and orange rather than black.

 

My YBR's 2 years old now and the paint basically just falls off after a while, which is annoying. After riding through a flood last month, any exposed bit of metal has rust on the edges, and my exhaust is disgusting.

[flyinghaggis]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm thinking something like a Honda CBF 125cc would be what I'm after. I had a look round my local Bike shop during my lunchbreak today.

 

Also, I was shocked at how expensive the helmets and protective clothing are It really starts to add up when you start shopping for a helmet, jacket, trousers, boots and gloves. What kind of price should I be looking to spend on clothing/protective gear if I'm starting out riding on something like a CBF 125?

Edited July 7, 2016 by flyinghaggis

[Andrew_C]

For jacket , trousers & boots, ebay. Then, if you stick to it, buy new as and when you need it. Helmets, no real need to spend mega money, but make sure it fits properly and is comfortable. Gloves too.

[Smee]

Don't buy second hand helmets! They have a limited life span and the last thing you want is a helmet that shatters if you fall off! It may look good on the outside but its the stuff inside that you can't see that matters. Some helmets (shoei for one I think) have the date of manufacture on the chin fastening so you can check your not buying old stock.

[foofighterjim]

I really wouldn't skimp on the clothing front, however cost is not a direct reflection of quality. I recently purchased a new jacket and trousers for £270 because it was a discontinued line and has been replaced by a new one. A few months before and the exact same would have cost £350. The same goes for helmets, make sure that you read this https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-helmet-law as helmets are the only part that are covered by law. I can personally recommend the Shoei Quest range; quite cheap (from £200), light, quiet, good cheek padding options and usually come with a pin lock visor.

[bald_pig]

 

Always buy a known brand from a reputable store!

 

As for gear, you can usually get clearance gear from last year or the year before's range, I have about £300 of textiles that cost £80!