Hi,

I'm new to the forum and joined with the intention to stay here and start a new hobby/form of transport.

A few things you all need to know, i'm quite short... 5ft6 and never riden a bike before. So this is all quite exciting for me.

I recently recall that telly programme where two guys went riding bikes across siberia, one guy was that welsh actor, can't remember names now. But I enjoyed that, it was quite inspiring. What shocked me was how heavy the bike was, when he fell off he couldn't lift it up. How heavy are these things, i'm not a weakling or anything but no one wants someone laughing at them at a junction do they. I know bikes will be heavier if they are crusing bikes, and the faster ones will be lighter, as well as the less powerful ones be lighter too (smaller engines).

Anyway, I have no bike, i have no CBT, and money is low, but this is something I'm seriously looking at as a second form of transport (initially), and then a few years down the line something more serious (not racing, but probably touring).

I will obviously need a cheapy 125cc bike to get from a to b on after my CBT. Can anyone suggest anything for the shorter guy? The idea is to cut the work my car does (being a V6 it becomes expensive to run as a daily car), and to develop a bike skill so I can go touring the USA at somepoint later on a bike.

Before buying a bike I may buy some decent clothes, and a helmet, and then a bike, I don't want to spend much on the first one, a few hundred pounds maybe. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Deian

Hi Deian, the program you might be thinking about could have been "Long Way Round" (Ewan Mcgregor and Charley Boorman), the bikes they used were very heavy duty bike designed to take any sort of punishment and keep running. Don't forget they hay loads of stuff in their panniers and backbox (the big metal cases on the sides and back).

Most bikes are far lighter than that, thankfully.

Before you go and buy a bike, you'd be better off doing a CBT first- then you can get a feel of what riding a bike is like. For all you know, you might spend a day in the saddle and decide that it's not for you- if youve bought a bike then you'll need to sell it again and maybe take a hit on the value.

You really should buy as much kit as yuour budget allows, and for a 125cc Bike- you'll be lucky to find one for a couple hundred pounds unless your handy with a tool kit.
You may get lucky, but your looking at a least £500 for the bike (unless you know someone or get lucky).
If your only commuting, then your probably going ot look at the basic commuter style (Honda CG and similar), just avoid the cheap chinese knockoffs if you can.

There's loads of info HERE

Oh yeah- and Ewan Mcgregor is Scottish

Hi Anth,

Yes he is isn't he, i just remembered now, and I also remembered the programme. Only 26 and i keep forgetting things already.

Anyway, good advice from you there, i didn't think to do the test first and then get a bike. I reckon I will like it, i like cars and like getting my hands dirty, and do a bit of proper mountain biking and downhills. So something in between the two is motorbikes.

I've been on ebay, I agree, i am looking at at least £500. I wouldn't mind getting that may need fixing, i'm quite handy with a spanner, I assume bike parts are a little cheaper than car parts but not that much cheaper, but the scope of what you can fix on a bike is a lot better... parts being more accessible and lighter, less space needed etc. Plus there is a bike guy living 3 doors down to me who is well into his bikes, plus another one further up, they all meddle a lot with their bikes, I assume the polluting one is the 2 stroke engine.

I've also noticed the chinese knock-offs too, i did consider them as they are cheaper but I will take your advice and avoid them.

Are there any other examples of bikes (makes/models) that are within my price range and abilities (none). Something else I could do with is a website where i could buy kits... helmets/clothes/parts etc. Just out of interest, what bike was Ewan M riding in that telly programme?

Welsh??? Ewan McGregor.... does that sound like a Welsh name to you??? The Mc is a big hint.

C'mon in and get the beers in, it's your round.
Oh and don't worry bout your height, much shorter folks on here.

don't buy a Kymco! they're a bugger to resell

for kit do a search for infinity motorcycles, they do lots of stuff. hein gericke too. there's loads and loads. think there's someone on here who runs a shop & was offering a discount too so might be worth hunting around.

but depending on where you are you would be better off at least going to a shop to try stuff on first, even if you then buy it online. and you should def buy your helmet in a shop and get someone to help you make sure it fits properly

oh & welcome to the forum

5 foot 6 is not short......Cos I'm 5 foot 7 and I'm not short, I tell you I'm not short!!!!!!


Welcome to UKBF some good sorts on here and great advice, and everyone and I mean everyone seems to have an opinion one way or the other.

Ride safe.

B Busa's yer man

Thanks for the welcome, I think i will pop to a bike shop too, even if it's just to see what fits, and how everything works.

I'm based on Anglesey, so I will have to pop down the A55 to get to a decent bike place. I'm actually 5ft6 and a half. I thought Ewan was welsh cos i got confused, it does sound welsh because I have a cousin called Iwan (probably a welsh spelling of the same celtic name).

I think I will go see the guy down the road to pick his brains too, he might give me a go, if he is brave enough to let me on.

i almost dropped my bike in my CBT, i wasn't used to the weight at all, but once you've walked with it a bit and riden it a bit, you'll get used to it in no time, weight won't be an issue after a while

well, that's from personal experience, i've never dropped a dodge tomahawk

Evan is welsh (My Grandad-In-Law was called "Evan Evans" bless him)

The bikes they were riding was BMW R1150GS Adventure. I believe a 650cc version is also available.
The 1150cc version is very expensive and, as a result of the show, has a bit fo a waiting list I believe.

If your afer a good first bike, with cheap and easy parts- then definatly consider a Honda CG.
Most riding schools use them because of those same reasons- plus the engine's certified bulletproof

You sure those bikes were that heavy Anth? I mean here is an actor that had Star Wars re writen cos the swords were too heavy - hence the "lite" Sabers

Sorry

I'll get my coat!



If there is anything you want in the shop Deian - drop me a line with what your after and we will look to do a deal for you mate to get you started (link below)

I'm sure everyone knows this, but just in case - when picking your bike off the deck, get hold of the handle bar nearest the ground, push it toward the tank, get a good hold elswhere but lift in the main with that barend.

Once so far up it will for the most part roll back up on the front wheel with it being on full lock.

Sounds like I do it all the time

I think Ewan's dificulty was having to do this 20 times in an hour, it tends to get heavier

I thought it was because he had a sore throad due to all the 'Pzzzzt' noises he was making while swinging it about.

fnar fnar

Could be that they never came off once - but that would not make good television.

Would that make the biggest cause of motorcycle accidents in television "the director"

Don't forget to use the front brake!!!!!

Thanks for the offer b_busa, thats very kind of you.

I'll bare that in mind when i come to buy the bits, although it won't be TOO soon, I do intend to start getting a few bits of clothes together first just so i don't fork out hundreds all in one go.

I don't intent to rush anything here, and I certainly won't rush up to the powerful bikes. My supervisor at work all of a sudden has a motorbike two years ago, i was talking to his son and asked him why his dad doesn't have the bike any more, his answer was that he passed his cbt and went straight for the big test and went straight for a 600c (which is the limit for the first two yearsafter passing the big test (i think)), and he wasn't keen, so from his experience i will work up slowly, i kept up with him quite well in my car going home from work one summer! I think he was scared of opening the throttle too much as I remmeber him going on about the second throttle body that opens and 'off you go'... the bike was fzr600... nice bike, very big tho.

at about 7000rpm a FZR600 hits the powerband and they fly until around 11.500rpm.. below that they are quite boring and sedate. they are a heavy bike compared to more modern 600's, for some bizarre reason Yamaha gave them a steel frame unlike the smaller 400 and its bigger brothers that have alloy frames, i had one about 2 years ago

its not a "second throttle body" its more the way the way the engines are designed, they aren't dragging the same amount of weight as a car so an obvious powerband isn't as noticeable on four wheels unless its a performance car

the bike i run have a valve in the exhaust system which reduces the amount of gas flow between 1000 and 4000rpm which gives it fantastic bottom end power, without the valve it would be a pig to ride pottering around town on twisty country roads.. fitting the valve allowed Yamaha to fit bigger valves and wilder cams to get better peak power

You won't go far wrong with a CG125 or the Yamaha SR125, like Anth sez, they are built proof and its amazing the abuse they can take

i worked my way up from 50cc bikes, then 250's, after 3 years bigger stuff, out of all honesty it doesn't matter how big the bike is, theres always roads to suit it