I have never touched a motor bike let along ride one. However, I have loads of dosh, and I love my fast motors. I currently drive a 250hp Volvo S60 T5. I was having a wee look around youtube and stumbled on videos of an umm… what was it… a Suzuki GSXR 600 and ■■■■ me for a 600cc (is it?) that thing is ■■■■■■■ fast.
Can anyone in simple speak tell me what the procedure is for getting a full bike licence?
I have never thought about actually going for it before because I’ll probably kill myself but boy these bikes look darn good fun lol
After giving it some thought, giving full power to anything more that a 125 would probably end up with me doing a massive unintentional wheelie and falling off the thing lol. Don’t you need a lot of upper body strength to turn into corners and that? I have enough trouble pulling a set of trailer crutains never mind dealing with a crotch rocket, I’m only 23 I don’t want to die just yet
For a 23 year old there are two options, if I remember correctly.
the standard learner route of,
getting provisional A category added to your licence,
doing the theory and computer game tests,
doing the CBT, to allow you to actually ride on public roads,
riding a 125cc (12bhp) motorbike around for up to almost 2 years, until you feel ready,
doing the road riding test.
the direct access route of,
getting provisional B category added to your licence,
doing the theory and computer game tests,
doing the CBT,
riding an up to 30bhp motorcycle, under professional supervision, until your instructor feels you’re ready,
doing the road riding test.[/list:u]
There are further restrictions, after you pass your test, I think but I’m not completely up to date on all the details for this, I did my bike test in 82.
Have a look here > direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Le … /index.htm
Simon is spot on with his advice for Direct Access, but your original post about a GSXR 600 or similar is slightly ambitious.
Mine is a Suzuki SV 1000SZ
I would suggest something like a Honda Hornet or Suzuki Bandit as a first bike. For me it would be a Suzuki SV650 or Kawasaki ER6. All very good machines and sometimes used by the training schools.
Dont worry about turning into corners or being strong, you can turn a motorcycle with your thumbs.
Thanks for all the replies. Do you think someone as light as me would be able to hold a GSXR600 or similar bike up without making an ■■■ of myself and falling over all the time? I want something rapid but not something that’s going to kill me when I just look at the throttle never mind giving it the beans.
What’s a good rapid bike for a new licence holder? I have no motorbike experience
Dont worry about turning into corners or being strong, you can turn a motorcycle with your thumbs.
ENJOY!
I got stuck into the direct access stuff n forgot about that.
I can do the CBT stuff on my CB900, which is probably twice the weight of any bike you’d have to do it on.
My wife was an RAC/ACU instructor (pre CBT days) and used to demonstrate on her CB400/4, one of her instructor mates used to do it on a Goldwing Aspencade.
Animal had a GpZ1100, another pretty hefty bike. She’s only 4’10" and 7 1/2 stone, but had no problems controlling it.
None of this is bragging, it’s to try and show you that upper body strength has next to nothing to do with motorcycle control. It’s almost completely all to do with balance.
I was of the impression you needed to weigh a good bit in order to take bends at any more than a gentle pace. Kinda glad it souldn’t be a problem as long as I get decent training. I’m going to go to a bike shop one weekend I’m home and talk to the sales guys and maybe get a sit on a few bikes to see what type and size may suit me. I am not one of these folks who wants a rapid bike, gets one then goes and gives it full thottle straight away. To be honest, I’ll be ■■■■ scared of the thing for a few weeks I imagine.
Would someone my height and build manage to stand with the bike with my feet flat on the ground? I really like the look of those Suzuki 600cc ones and going by videos on youtube they have more than enough power for a newbie
Steve-o:
Thanks for that Simon, what I wanted to hear.
I was of the impression you needed to weigh a good bit in order to take bends at any more than a gentle pace. Kinda glad it souldn’t be a problem as long as I get decent training. I’m going to go to a bike shop one weekend I’m home and talk to the sales guys and maybe get a sit on a few bikes to see what type and size may suit me. I am not one of these folks who wants a rapid bike, gets one then goes and gives it full thottle straight away. To be honest, I’ll be [zb] scared of the thing for a few weeks I imagine.
Would someone my height and build manage to stand with the bike with my feet flat on the ground? I really like the look of those Suzuki 600cc ones and going by videos on youtube they have more than enough power for a newbie
No one knows all the answers but honestly putting a new inexperienced rider on a GSX R600 is way over the top. These bikes are designed for racing, especially since the Gixxer Cup was so successful. The bike had a major update in 2008 (K8) and was then superseded by a specialist 600 Superlite capable of 175 MPH. (on a racetrack)
Simon:
For a 23 year old there are two options, if I remember correctly.
the standard learner route of,
getting provisional A category added to your licence,
doing the theory and computer game tests,
doing the CBT, to allow you to actually ride on public roads,
riding a 125cc (12bhp) motorbike around for up to almost 2 years, until you feel ready,
doing the road riding test.
the direct access route of,
getting provisional B category added to your licence,
doing the theory and computer game tests,
doing the CBT,
riding an up to 30bhp motorcycle, under professional supervision, until your instructor feels you’re ready,
doing the road riding test.[/list:u]
There are further restrictions, after you pass your test, I think but I’m not completely up to date on all the details for this, I did my bike test in 82.
[/quote]
Gawd I knew there had been changes but didn’t realise how much. Passed my bike test in 79 ish, consisted of riding round a small test route while a guy with a clipboard (on foot) watched Passed on a 250 superdream & 10 days later bought a 750 four like the one above… dunno how I didn’t kill myself, the jump in power was just too much. The present system does seem to be a lot safer.
After 5 years bikeless I’ve given into temptation & bought one identical to this, should pick it up next weekend
Steve, my other half is five foot nowt, short in the leg and rides a Harley Sportster which is a fair bit heavier than a Suzy 600. Weight has nothing to do with it, so long as you are comfortable on the bike and (this is important) confident with sitting at traffic lights with your feet down. You don’t have to have both feet flat on the floor but nor do you want to be on tip-toes either, least not till you’re experienced.
Take it a stage at a time; don’t try to do too much too quickly, and don’t try to be too clever. There are plenty of loonies around on two wheels and four these days (and a few with more than that ) so treat everyone else as an idiot who doesn’t know what he’s doing and you won’t go far wrong!
Other advice; get a good helmet and proper clothing; leathers are expensive, a good quality two-piece all-weather suit with body armour will do you for starters. Bike boots are fine but a good pair of Doc Martens is just as good; many bike boots are not ideal for walking around in for any length of time BTW.
As for choice of bike; it’s been said above in as many words, but a lot of the race-rep bikes on sale today are simply not suitable for novices. When I started biking back in the mid-70’s, the riders were better than the bikes they rode; now it’s the other way round. By this, I mean that many of todays crotch-rockets will quite happily travel at speeds far beyond the capability of many riders, experienced or not; and that IMHO is why so many get injured or killed.
What you also have to bear in mind is that since the early 80’s, motorcycling has been a pastime of choice rather than necessity, with the advent of the CBT. In my day, you just got on the bike and rode it; very few teenagers had cars then, most of us started on two wheels 'cos that was all we (or our parents) could afford. Nowadays it’s cheaper and easier to get your kids into a small car, with the result that two generations of road users have never ridden motorcycles and are therefore not aware of them on the roads. The result, coupled with what I said above, has meant that motorcycling has become a far more dangerous activity than it was then.I still love it though!
Steve-o:
Thanks for all the replies. Do you think someone as light as me would be able to hold a GSXR600 or similar bike up without making an ■■■ of myself and falling over all the time? I want something rapid but not something that’s going to kill me when I just look at the throttle never mind giving it the beans.
What’s a good rapid bike for a new licence holder? I have no motorbike experience
Thanks
OK first bit of advice I will give is get rid of the thought that it’ll kill you or you won’t be able to manage it because it’s all twaddle!!!
Once you have the basics of how the controls work and can physically ride a bike then it won’t matter if you get a 125 for the latest 200bhp race rep monster - you control the bike and it’s you that makes it go fast or slow. Providing you have a sensible head on your shoulders and don’t get all cack handed with the controls then you’ll be fine on ANY bike. Training and taking a test is just the start, it’s once you are out on your own that you really start to learn. Over zealous use of the throttle isn’t normally a problem, going into corners too quick and braking hard is more likely to see you on the floor. I’ve only had one big accident in 14 years and that was at 20mph and not my fault - these things happen now and then. As for wheelies and the like, might look cool on you-tube but there a time and place for everything and totally pointless and IMO more likely to see you get hurt than anything else.
It’s all about having the right attitude - the throttle works both ways as they say.
As for getting a GSXR600 for a first bike, shouldn’t be an issue provided you heed what I just said but there are so many bikes out there to choose from all having various pro’s and con’s and uses - will pay to look around. My VTR1000 is the same power as a 600 but is far easier to ride at the same pace. I’d suggest a Honda CBR600 personally - something about 5-6 years old, more than quick enough, reliable and plenty around to choose from at good prices and cheap for spares too. Buy at the right price and you won’t lose much money when you want to move up to something bigger.
It can be an expensive venture tho - leathers, helmet, tyres, insurance - especially at your age on a quick bike - etc etc.
,
I knew there had been changes but didn’t realise how much. Passed my bike test in 79 ish, consisted of riding round a small test route while a guy with a clipboard (on foot) watched 
