Newbie Questions

Hello everyone,

I have been lurking for a while now and have decided to ask a few questions.

First, I am a US citizen living in London and have sent in for my provisional motorcycle license a couple of weeks ago. I am leaving the country next Saturday (for a holiday) but DVLA has my passport. Do they usually return these things when they say they will? I called them and they said they can't guarantee anything...

Also, I am looking to get an SV in the medium term (after I enroll and pass DAS) but as a complete newbie to motorcycling (aside from mopeds when I was younger) I am thinking of getting a 125 to ride around on while I learn after the CBT. I don't want to take a DAS course until I can actually ride pretty well. Does that make sense? Anwyay, question is what 125 should I get? Yamaha DT?

If it helps, I am 27, 6'3" and weigh just under 14 stone...oh and the price is not important. I'll sell it after using it for a while anyway.

Thanks for all of your help!

Cheers,

TLira

[Viney]

First off, welcome to both the site and good ole bighty(england!)

The DVLA can be a bit hit and miss. Sometimes they will send the stuff out on time, sometimes they wont. I would keep chasing them. A bot of a worry though, i hope it gets through.

The idea of riding a bit after your CBT is a good idea, but not for too long, or you will pick up a lot of bad habits, just enough to get used to the UK road system, ad drivers, just getting some orad sense i suppose.

HTH

[rictus01]

Hi TLira (unusual name) & welcome.

As to your passport question, lap of the gods, sometimes they are very prompt, but equally sometimes it takes forever, I hope you're lucky this time.

And as to 125's, as they are limited to about 12.5 bhp, the performance is going to be about the same no matter which you get, but given you height, perhaps an off road style would be best as it's got more room.

I think it would be harder to learn riding skills in London so maybe heading outside would help to start with.

Feel free to come and introduce yourself at one of the Soho meets, I'm sure any question you ask can be answered.

Cheers Mark.

Welcome to the site dude!!

Ahh our colonial cousins from the other side of the pond and their funny ways!!!

1. Licence over here not license!! Only joking!
2. G Dubbya Bush Say no more! Sadly Not Joking!!
3. Wrong side of the road Makes life interesting!!

I've not had any problems with the DVLA. Things always seem to turn up for me on time!

If you are going to learn to ride you are in the right place. Riding in London makes you learn FAST.
A month after passing my test I became a courier, so quick lessons on how to ride in traffic ensued!!
Keep it fun though and most importantly of all....



Keep it upright!!!!

Good Luck!!

Originally Posted by Viney

First off, welcome to both the site and good ole bighty(england!)

The DVLA can be a bit hit and miss. Sometimes they will send the stuff out on time, sometimes they wont. I would keep chasing them. A bot of a worry though, i hope it gets through.

The idea of riding a bit after your CBT is a good idea, but not for too long, or you will pick up a lot of bad habits, just enough to get used to the UK road system, ad drivers, just getting some orad sense i suppose.

HTH

Thanks for the advice Viney. They said I could submit a request to have my application returned but that I would have to start over when I resubmitted which would delay that process a few months for me unfortunately.

Yeah, I just want to get used to shifting, downshifting, throttling, using the clutch etc... so I don't look like too much of an idiot in the classes.

TLira

Originally Posted by rictus01

Hi TLira (unusual name) & welcome.

As to your passport question, lap of the gods, sometimes they are very prompt, but equally sometimes it takes forever, I hope you're lucky this time.

And as to 125's, as they are limited to about 12.5 bhp, the performance is going to be about the same no matter which you get, but given you height, perhaps an off road style would be best as it's got more room.

I think it would be harder to learn riding skills in London so maybe heading outside would help to start with.

Feel free to come and introduce yourself at one of the Soho meets, I'm sure any question you ask can be answered.

Cheers Mark.

Thanks for the advice and the wishes of luck, may she be on my side

Yeah the height of the DT was the only reason it seemed to make sense. And it looks kind of rugged which is cool, I guess.

Yeah, I have a cousing out in Windsor, maybe I could ride a little out there, away from the traffic.

TLira

Originally Posted by Jester666

Welcome to the site dude!!

Ahh our colonial cousins from the other side of the pond and their funny ways!!!

1. Licence over here not license!! Only joking!
2. G Dubbya Bush Say no more! Sadly Not Joking!!
3. Wrong side of the road Makes life interesting!!

I've not had any problems with the DVLA. Things always seem to turn up for me on time!

If you are going to learn to ride you are in the right place. Riding in London makes you learn FAST.
A month after passing my test I became a courier, so quick lessons on how to ride in traffic ensued!!
Keep it fun though and most importantly of all....



Keep it upright!!!!

Good Luck!!

Thanks Jester!

To answer your points:

1. I'll agree with that, they'll give anyone a license in the US and A!!! Kinda scary.
2. I agree and I never voted for him, so don't blame me!!!
3. This requires attention even when walking around...still getting used to it after 6 months...

Cheers,

TLira

Originally Posted by TLira

Yeah, I just want to get used to shifting, downshifting, throttling, using the clutch etc... so I don't look like too much of an idiot in the classes.

TLira

Don't worry about looking stupid - you won't look stupid, you will just make a few mistakes. The person teaching you will be a biker, and as you've found, they're very friendly to each other.

Originally Posted by rpwoodman

The person teaching you will be a biker, and as you've found, they're very friendly to each other.

Unless your name is Akbar Hussain...................

Welcome to the site, by the way.



The only mistake that you could make is to upset those Celtic folk to the west of the River Severn by saying that Wales is in England

Originally Posted by TLira

Yeah, I have a cousing out in Windsor, maybe I could ride a little out there, away from the traffic.

TLira

Her Majesty?????

If DVLA don't return your pass[port, be prepared to sit on the phone until they do.

I've never ridden a 125 so can't offer any advice.

Unlike others on here (see above) I respect GWB. I like people who have guts and who do what they say they'll do.

Above all, I hope that you like England and that you have a great time here