Shall i get a 125?

[Magnum]

Never thought i would actually consider this option over the SV for my first bike.

I have been thinking, perhaps i could get a 125 for literally 2 or 3 months and spread out my training for the full bike licence after a month or two.
Why? Well, perhaps the added experience of constant practice on the road will make a pass for my test a lot more likely, and maybe my insurance on the SV will work out cheaper after 3 months riding experience (and NCB if this counts after 3 months).

My theory is still going to be booked in the next couple of weeks.

The only problem i have in this decision, is the test changing. If anyone has read my thread about failing my theory test *hangs head in shame*, then they will know that this week would have been the only time i can do the training all at once. I will struggle to fit the training in this half term, but perhaps it could be done the next half term. :smt115

This new test system may be harder, but it may be easier. It could go either way, but if i give it a couple of months to sink into the test centres then maybe all the minor niggles will be sorted out with getting it in place.

In short my plans are: get a 125 asap, ride it for 3 months, do my training next half term and pass the NEW test then and get my SV.

Any thoughts?

[shakie1973]

I wouldnt go down the 125 route personally. I passed my DAS back in november, and bought my SV a few wekks before i passed. A guy at work advised me to go down the 125 route, but i didnt want to. The thought of riding about on a 125 (after doing my CBT) didnt appeal to me, then there is all the hastle if trying to sell it, and get the price you want, so you can step up to the sv. Id get straight onto the sv if i was you.

[Magnum]

I wouldnt go down the 125 route personally. I passed my DAS back in november, and bought my SV a few wekks before i passed. A guy at work advised me to go down the 125 route, but i didnt want to. The thought of riding about on a 125 (after doing my CBT) didnt appeal to me, then there is all the hastle if trying to sell it, and get the price you want, so you can step up to the sv. Id get straight onto the sv if i was you.


Most 125's keep their value from what i've heard, and as i mentioned it is going to be VERY hard for me to fit in the training and test before the changes are made. In the ideal world i would have passed my theory test today and done my test on saturday. But i fecked up, and now it's a lot harder to fit it in the near future. Next half term would be ideal, and to fill in the gap i thought the 125 option would be good.

[madness]

I did the 125 thing. Passed my CBT, but was reluctant to buy a 125 as I wanted a bigger bike. My biker girlfriend eventually persuaded me to buy a 125 and get some experience of riding. I probably only did about 600 miles on the 125 before doing my DAS, but I found that it really helped. I sold the 125 for what I had paid for it as well.

[jamesterror]

Depends, I'm in the same boat. I'm 17, do I take the stereotypical view on people our age who think we're invincible, well yeh.

I was gonna get a 125 for 6 months, then swap insurance over to a bigger bike, but hopefully if parents free up the garage I'll buy a DRZ400SM (the one lone wolf has for sale). I enjoy riding, however I find out a 125, that if you need to open a bit more extra power when your in trouble it could prove to be a problem.

If you buy a bigger bike, just take it easy.. I'm hoping a letter arrives today with my new date before the test changes as it was cancelled last Monday and I'm still waiting unpatiently.

The new test I wouldn't look at it whether its going to be harder or easier, just improve your ability and safety on a bike when riding on the road, which effectively I'd think you would pick up as experience came anyway. But you have till the 31st of March? So do I, just don't rush it though.

Sure you'll be fine :)

[Dappa D]

no substitute for road experience, if its on a 125 so be it, as for getting a bigger bike "in case u need more power to get out of trouble"...thats bollox IMO, although ive heard a few people say it....but to be fair...having the power of a 650 v twin in the hands of someone whos only ever done 2/3 days das course id say is more likely to "get into trouble" than someone on a 125...

I had a 125 for about 4 months before doing my DAS and sold it for £100 more than i bought it for, as long as you dont go for a chinese peice of rubbish and get a reliable tried and tested bike it should sell no problem.

in one of your posts a while back a lot of people, myself included were saying you may struggle to get your license in the short time you had allocated...as you have fallen at the first hurdle (and sorry to hear that dude)..it may be time to take the advice, get the 125 for the short term....get ur confidence / ability up and then pass the new test with flying colours...that way you dont have to rush your next theory etc....

[Magnum]

no substitute for road experience, if its on a 125 so be it, as for getting a bigger bike "in case u need more power to get out of trouble"...thats bollox IMO, although ive heard a few people say it....but to be fair...having the power of a 650 v twin in the hands of someone whos only ever done 2/3 days das course id say is more likely to "get into trouble" than someone on a 125...

I had a 125 for about 4 months before doing my DAS and sold it for £100 more than i bought it for, as long as you dont go for a chinese peice of rubbish and get a reliable tried and tested bike it should sell no problem.

in one of your posts a while back a lot of people, myself included were saying you may struggle to get your license in the short time you had allocated...as you have fallen at the first hurdle (and sorry to hear that dude)..it may be time to take the advice!


Yes i think this may be the best option now, still a huge shame i failed the theory though. Maybe i would have struggled in the real test though, i cannot be sure but it is a possibility.

I might go after a cheap and cheerful CG125 since thats what i train on. They seem reliable enough?

[kwak zzr]

cuz went the cg route in this situation.

[Magnum]

Out of interest Dappa, did you find the DAS was quite 'easy' after your 4 months experience on the 125? Did it just come naturally?

[Dappa D]

Yes i think this may be the best option now, still a huge shame i failed the theory though. Maybe i would have struggled in the real test though, i cannot be sure but it is a possibility.

I might go after a cheap and cheerful CG125 since thats what i train on. They seem reliable enough?

definately, and the way you are thinking is how a lot of other people will be thinking when they want to buy a 125 for the short term, cheap and reliable...cg125 fits the bill, so should be easier to sell....

id been driving (car) for 10 yrs when i done my bike test, and still could have failed for leaving an indicator on (duh!)....luckily it was whilst stoped in traffic so it didnt effect anyone else on the road and i realised pretty quickly...but i thought id failed at that point and done the rest of the test thinking id failed..but luckily id passed, and those few months on the 125 really did make a big difference IMO



edit....just saw your question....well...apart from the indicator incident which wasnt really an incident the rest was a lot easier than i thought.

i didnt do the standard 3 day thing....i persuaded the company i use that i could pass in a day..so they invited me to thier carpark and gave me one of their bigger bikes so thay could see how i got on...i got on fine..done u turns etc and they agreed that i could do 5 hrs on the road and then my test on that afternoon.....(i saved about £200/£300 this way as was only paying for 1 day), im pretty sure had i not had my 125 i wouldnt have been able to do this

[Holdup]

Id say get a 125 for some practice and a certain 125 CBR125 i got mine back in june damaged on the rhs bout 5k miles 06 reg for £1040 £200 later repairin 1000 miles on it i passed my test so naturally wanted to get a bigger bike within a couple of days i sold it for a nice profit and tbh the new owner got a bargin but the best thing about them is they hold their value very well i looked at them on autotrader before i sold mine and there was older ones with more mileage going for the same ammount

[Magnum]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm now off to my training centre to have words about what i'm going to do about the test, and see if they could flog me one of the CG's and knock off the £100 deposit i made for the training this week.
I havn't lost the idea of the SV, i will still be on the AR this year with one.

[Magnum]

The test center have offered me a 2007 CG125 with 8k miles for £1100. It's not a bad deal, and i can be sure that it's been looked after and stuck to the speed limits. I'm going to have a word with my dad and see if we can pick it up tomorrow. It's exactly the same bike i done my CBT on and my road ride day.

[fizzwheel]

The test center have offered me a 2007 CG125 with 8k miles for £1100. It's not a bad deal, and i can be sure that it's been looked after


Get onto biketrader or ebay. no chance in hell would I buy an ex riding school bike. Think about the abuse they take from novice riders. CG's are bullet proof though, but I still wouldnt but that one.

There will be plenty of CG's out there that have had an easier life than a riding school bike will have.

I did my CBT on the riding schools bike. When I went for day 1 of my DAS I took my own fricken 125, theres was knackered it vibrated alot and the clutch was FUBAR'd on it...

If your not keeping your CG long, £1100 is to much to spend IMHO

[Magnum]

Get onto biketrader or ebay. no chance in hell would I buy an ex riding school bike. Think about the abuse they take from novice riders. CG's are bullet proof though, but I still wouldnt but that one.

There will be plenty of CG's out there that have had an easier life than a riding school bike will have.

IMHO

Ebay doesn't have any near me. If i had any problems with it, they would be happy to sort it out as they are literally five minutes away and regularly service the bikes. Thats something wouldn't get from buying elsewhere. It is only going to be mine for about 3 months, so i don't mind if it's not perfect. £1100 seems like a decent price for what it is.

[sinbad]

I thought about the 125 route also, but decided that I wanted some tuition (above the literally minimum CBT) anyway, so in the end I thought that tuition might as well be on a 500.

I always think the people who say the CBT>125 route is safer are slightly missing the point. Roads pose the same dangers whether you're on a 125 or on a 900, you are not somehow cocooned in a bubble of safety because you chose a slower, less capable machine. If you say "well you're more likely to get in to trouble on a faster bike", ask yourself "how"? By being a fool?
How anyone can think that someone who does 3 or 4 days of intensive learning (post CBT) with a qualified instructor plus a test is LESS prepared to ride on their own than someone who has done a half day on the roads is beyond me. It's not compulsory to go out and buy a mega fast bike remember.
It particularly applies to people with no or little road experience in cars.

[Gene genie]

its horses for courses magnum. if your comfortable getting a 125 in the interim then do it. theres no shame there mate. good practice too, but once you've passed then step up as soon as your wallet will let you.

[ski boy]

I think the 125 route is cool, but if you are thinking about holding onto for longer or even getting ready for the riding position on the SV sport etc... how about an XT125, they look decent, riding pos is similar, cheap to insure, buy and defo hold there value.

I know cardrome do look after there bikes, and must admit 1100 seems fair for a serviced and regularly checked bike.

Bad luck on the theory, no shame though.... Hazard perception?

[Magnum]

I think the 125 route is cool, but if you are thinking about holding onto for longer or even getting ready for the riding position on the SV sport etc... how about an XT125, they look decent, riding pos is similar, cheap to insure, buy and defo hold there value.

I know cardrome do look after there bikes, and must admit 1100 seems fair for a serviced and regularly checked bike.

Bad luck on the theory, no shame though.... Hazard perception?

Looks like i wont be getting my SV the same time as you then... I will still get one, 100% sure.

I'm pretty sure i'll go for the CG, pick it up tomorrow and ride it home then go out for a nice long ride.

Hazard perception went well, i scored full marks on 5 of the videos, passed it by a fair bit. Must say after finding out i failed, i don't remember the last time i was that angry.

PS. It's bloody lucky you posted that, i forgot i've got work in half an hour since i've been so busy and your post reminded me! :eek:

[keith_d]

I've just passed my test (after a couple of fails) and now have a 125 which will probably go on Ebay. I racked up over 1000 miles on the little 125 over six months, mostly commuting to work.

It's a good and relatively cheap way to get experience. However, you have to take care not to develop habits which will make you fail the big bike test, like putting your right foot down when you stop.

Just my thoughts,

Keith.

[metalmonkey]

Well I can only tell you what I did.....

I did my CBT in May 07, I couldn't get a test until June talked things over with my instructor and he said since there was a gap having a 125 might be a good idea. I saw an SR 125 on Ebay, I got for £725, I then sold it for £800. The money I spent on it, would be about the same as hiring a 125 for a week there abouts.

Besides it was ace to get to work on. Due to me ending up in hospital I couldn't get a test until the end of August as I screwed my previous attempt.

So I had the bike for about 3-4 months 1 of them I couldn't ride it was far too freackin painful to walk let alone ride. I covered 2500 miles on it, was good fun. Put my deposit down on the SV, I got that a few days after my test, the rest as they say is history.

The time on the 125 gave me time to work on my bike control, for me thats good as it means I can think about riding which is one thing less to worry about.

Up to you, but I knew I wanted a bike I saved every pay I had to get it.