Buy really good gear (don't be stingey). Make sure your helmet is DOT/SNELL (for US), and preferablly Arai or Shoei. Your Jacket should be leather and not mesh. ALLWAYS wear your gear. If you need an example why you must wear gear go here: (http://www.vfr.dk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3959&PN=1 -warning very graphic pictures).

Also take a very good skills class (MSF if you were in the US)

fozzer might be able to help you with other things (especially UK related issues)

When your out on the road - ALWAYS assume that the car driver HASN'T seen you!!!

Trust me - most of them won't have!!

Cheers,

TSC.

Quote:

Ahh - for some reason I thought you were just starting on the roads. But your right having been driving cars will certainly help you know what to expect.

Good luck.

TSC.

Yup can do that one too.

as for bike choice, if you want a sport/standard may i suggest something under the 600 cc mark. if you were in the US i would recomend either the ninja ex500r or the 250 dependin on your age/size/self control, etc.

I believe that the european code for the ninja 500r is gpz500

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ahh something about the british system i didn't know. In the US people under 18 who try to get there lisence have to get a permit first, and the restrictions that it carries only last for 6 months. we have plenty of teenagers after 6 months who are complete "squids" and try to get on a brand new gixxer or r1/r6 as a first bike. needless to say it normally ends badly.

the aprilia rs125's are very very good bikes, almost like racers for the road, but they arent very reliable...
i used to have a cagiva mito 125 which looked like a ducati, and went like stink when it was de-restricted.
incidently, it made 33 bhp exactly, but i believe you are also restricted by the power to weight ratio too..i cant remember the figures, but i know i shouldnt really have ridden the cagiva as the power to weight ratio was slightly too high....   but i did anyway! 
anyway, the rules might have changed now, but just thought i'd say my bit!
ps.  once youve caught the biking bug, thou shall never be free!!  ive been riding now for 9 yrs, and im on my second gsxr 750..

Well, I've been looking around and I think I'm going to go second hand as neither the NSR or the RS125 are being made new anymore becuase the bloody EU has a problem with two-stroke engines. I was shown Honda's replacement which is the CBR 125 which is frankly appalling (0-60 in 17 seconds , no idea about unrestricting it.) Unfortunately the salesman said finding a second hand NSR in good condition would be very hard, I suspect most of this statement was just him trying to score a sale of the crappy CBR's, if anyone could help me out in finding a good NSR in the Sussex area or at least tell me what to look for to check it is in good condition I would much appreciate it.

Thanks for all the great advice people and keep it coming lol.

I plan on taking my CBT some time in the next week or so. Will I need my own safety kit for that or can they rent it to me?


Pete.... about to be bitten by the biking bug.