Motorbike beginner

FBloggs242 said:
This is wrong as beginners in Europe and the UK have to be on a 125cc with under 14.5 HP with a max speed of 65 MPH... his is to save lives and make a better rider

Category A1 (small motorcycles up to 11kW – 125 cc)

Category A1 covers small bikes with:a cylinder capacity not more than 125 cc
power output not more than 11 kW and a power to weight ratio not more than 0.1 kW per kg
motor tricycles with a power output not more than 15 kW

The minimum age limit for category A1 will still be 17 years.

You’ll have to pass theory and practical driving tests to get this entitlement.

Category A2 (medium motorcycles up to 35 kW)

Category A2 covers medium sized bikes, with or without a sidecar, which have:an engine power output not more than 35 kW
a power to weight ratio not more than 0.2 kW per kg – the bike must also not be derived from a vehicle of more than double its power

The minimum age for category A2 is 19 years.

There are two ways to get this entitlement.

Direct access
If you you’re aged 24 or over, you can take a theory and a practical test.

Staged access
If you’re aged 21 or over and have held an A2 licence for two years, you only need to take a further practical test.

Category A

Category A covers machines unlimited in size and power, with or without a sidecar, and motor tricycles with a power output of more than 15 kW. There are two ways to get this entitlement.

1. Direct access
If you don’t have two years’ experience, you’ll have to be aged 24 years or over. You’ll also need to pass the theory and practical tests.

2. Staged access
You can get this category from age 21 if you have two years’ experience on an A2 motorcycle and you take a further practical test.
Click to expand...

I got my unlimited license at the age of 18 with a few months experience, was also my first license.
 
I have a twister, light on fuel and quite nimble. Just had to replace, chains, sprockets, tires, spark plugs and strangely enough the auto cam chain tension-er? Otherwise it has been a fun bike, done almost 50000km.
 
vicv said:
I got my unlimited license at the age of 18 with a few months experience, was also my first license.
Click to expand...

If you are in the UK then the law changed at the beginning of 2013.

If you are in SA then he's entire post isn't applicable.
 
the354 said:
I have a twister, light on fuel and quite nimble. Just had to replace, chains, sprockets, tires, spark plugs and strangely enough the auto cam chain tension-er? Otherwise it has been a fun bike, done almost 50000km.
Click to expand...

Can you comfortably do 120-140km/h to keep up with traffic? And by that I mean can you keep up to any cheapish car when it it comes to acceleration and average speed.

My biggest worry with these little bikes is that I see them struggling in the highway and therefore endangering themselves.
 
the354 said:
I have a twister, light on fuel and quite nimble. Just had to replace, chains, sprockets, tires, spark plugs and strangely enough the auto cam chain tension-er? Otherwise it has been a fun bike, done almost 50000km.
Click to expand...
Sounds good!

SauRoNZA said:
Can you comfortably do 120-140km/h to keep up with traffic? And by that I mean can you keep up to any cheapish car when it it comes to acceleration and average speed.

My biggest worry with these little bikes is that I see them struggling in the highway and therefore endangering themselves.
Click to expand...
That would be nice to know but not applicable in my situation.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Can you comfortably do 120-140km/h to keep up with traffic? And by that I mean can you keep up to any cheapish car when it it comes to acceleration and average speed.

My biggest worry with these little bikes is that I see them struggling in the highway and therefore endangering themselves.
Click to expand...

It can do 140 if you lie on the tank on a windless day :p and 120km/h. I weigh 110kg so if a lighter person is on the bike it should do 120 comfortably. It also has a "perspex" mini fairing that really works nicely to keep the wind off your chest.

It can drop a cheapish car at the robots, just watch out for the taxi`s!!
 
My question was rather if you can beat a car doing 80-120km/h acceleration or even higher.

From your answers already I gather you won't be able to.

Wind is exactly another reason why a more powerful bike is safer.

What sort or revs are you at doing 120? And where is the redline?
 
SauRoNZA said:
My question was rather if you can beat a car doing 80-120km/h acceleration or even higher.

From your answers already I gather you won't be able to.

Wind is exactly another reason why a more powerful bike is safer.

What sort or revs are you at doing 120? And where is the redline?
Click to expand...

I imagine you'd be riding it pretty damn hard.
 
hawker said:
I imagine you'd be riding it pretty damn hard.
Click to expand...

Precisely.

And having to ride the tits off a bike is hardly going to make life easier for a beginner. Just like two strokes back in the day where not the best options for beginners.

A wee bit more power and an overall better built bike is not the devil.

I can't wait for the Duke 390's to get on a bit and hit the second hand market. They will be perfect for beginner with enough power, right size and above all else ABS.
 
I give up with this thread...It seems people still cannot comprehend that a bike should not be measure purely on CCs

Question, do any of you even ride except for those that have stated they have because their is a complete misunderstanding of engines and a lack of knowledge regarding suitability of motorcycle for beginners.

You'd think I've been recommending turbo Busas the way people have been going on.
For the last time
Honda N700
Kawasaki ER6n (650)
CBR500
Are all beginner bikes. Take into consideration height and weight too. For a lady, yes, I would recommend a CBX250 or a Ninja 250 or 300. For a grown man pushing 100kgs and 1.86m tall, any of the listed bikes above. The bikes above are not crotch rockets. The Honda and the Kawa have good low down Torque which make them excellent for commuting and providing oompf for highway riding and overtaking. They are not speed demons that hit 0-100 in under 4 seconds.
 
Last edited:
RandomGRK said:
I give up with this thread...It seems people still cannot comprehend that a bike should not be measure purely on CCs

Question, do any of you even ride except for those that have stated they have because their is a complete misunderstanding of engines and a lack of knowledge regarding suitability of motorcycle for beginners.

You'd think I've been recommending turbo Busas the way people have been going on.
For the last time
Honda N700
Kawasaki ER6n (650)
CBR500
Are all beginner bikes. Take into consideration height and weight too. For a lady, yes, I would recommend a CBX250 or a Ninja 250 or 300. For a grown man pushing 100kgs and 1.86m tall, any of the listed bikes above. The bikes above are not crotch rockets. The Honda and the Kawa have good low down Torque which make them excellent for commuting and providing oompf for highway riding and overtaking. They are not speed demons that hit 0-100 in under 4 seconds.
Click to expand...

Spot on.

Lots of armchair advice here.

It's not about the CC's - in addition to everything else, light bikes in my experience makes young riders irresponsible cos they can throw it around like nothing.

A bigger, heavier bike forces more circumspection.

Good luck OP, try to wear as much decent gear as you can all the time (your skin will thank you), and be alert to the others on the around all the time.

Safe riding.
 
My commuter is the Twister. And has given me great pleasure. It can get me out of trouble and does 6000 rpm at 120. My fun bikes are a 850 Yamaha TDM and 1300 FJZ.
I prefer branded bikes and have no problem commuting with the 250 in the PE winds. So as for good value for money I recommend the 250. Mooi ry. (T)
 
Whatever you get make sure it can accelerate at least as quickly as a car and maintain the speed limit, without effort. Ignore people who tell you to get a tiny bike because it is supposedly safer.

ShaunyCT said:
It's ridiculous to suggest a more powerful bike to newbie. Those things are too powerful, it's like suggesting a M3 bmw for somebody who never drove a car before.
Click to expand...
Rubbish. It's bull whether applied to cars or bikes. There's no way I'd ever suggest to someone they risk their neck on a baby motorcycle if they can get access to something with decent torque and braking power, plus a superior centre of gravity.

DA-LION-619 said:
Slightly OT: does anyone do a clutchless shift? I wouldn't try it but do any of you ride like that.
Click to expand...
Yes.

FBloggs242 said:
This is wrong as beginners in Europe and the UK have to be on a 125cc with under 14.5 HP with a max speed of 65 MPH... his is to save lives and make a better rider
Click to expand...
Another dumb idea from people who don't know what they're doing. It reminds me of the loads of stupidity South Africa has in its driving test, apparently much of it imported from these same sort of dumb foreign countries.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X