So I just got one. I know there are a few motorbike riding mofos on this board so just wondering what most of you guys did to get on the R license. Did you do the whole 250cc route then got a bigger bike after a year or did the q-ride thing to go straight to an R license.

I did RE, then R. But that was nearly 10 years ago and there was no Q-Ride (and maybe I was young enough that I wouldn't have been eligible anyway, not sure what the restrictions are on when you can do Q-Ride)... I've never regretted having the 250cc restriction for that first 15 months.

I'd say, if you think you can stop yourself from buying a 600cc superbike then there's no need to get an RE, but the advice is always the same... just make sure that you get something a little more forgiving as your first bike, and remember that it takes ages to ride well. Bikes feel more stable the faster you go (up to a point), but it's misleading. You're in more danger the easier it feels if you ride like that.

I'm thinking of going the RE way just so I can practice in my own time. It's going to be more of a hobby thing than a means of every day travel.

as i got my motorcycle licence in 1982 i didn't have to go the 250cc route... even though i did! :d first year i rode around on a suzi dr250 trailbike .. which though very dorky is something i recommend. trailbikes can take a harsher beating than roadbikes & still be ez to fix. they teach you a lot about loss of rear wheel traction & what to do about it.. without extensive gravel rash. (hopefully) ;p

i would definitely try to avoid the temptation of buying a 4cyl 250 with plastic fairings as your first machine... chances are it's gonna go for a slide & that s***ty plastic is fkn expensive. get something simple & reliable.. ride it for a year n see then if you still feel the need for speed :p (mind you i have no idea what the q-ride dealie is).

i did q-ride last year. to go straight to your R license you need to be on your open car license. just do it, even if you just want a 250 for now you wont have to do another test later on and can upgrade to something bigger whenever you like.

I agree with Ham.

Q-Ride is a really great way to learn. They give you decent, practical experience. If they don't think you're ready to ride a big bike (and they are well aware that this license entitles you to go hop on a 1300 CC weapon), they won't declare you competent.

Hell.. as for doing it in your own time, if you get your license and still don't feel comfortable, there is *nothing* that says you can't do more training/ride with a mate etc.

Still, congrats/good luck on getting your license. Riding's a great feeling. Just don't do what I did and get stitched up for 20%+ interest :)

(if you want suggestions/help picking a bike, just drop me a PM).

Cheers,
Ges

i got my license back in 90 or so..

my route was

185 trail 6 months
250 trail 12 months
250 trail 6 months
250 road 2 years
600 road 7 years
900 road 4 years

now i sold my bikes and currently have no bike.. however i would encourage everyone to start off like this.. trail>small road>middle road/middle trail> big road

the lessons you learn along the way are invaluable when you finally get a big bike..

o and i remember distinctly riding off the showroom floor for my first ride on my brand new cbr 600 and feeling i needed more power.. i stuck with it and i am glad i did... there was a few times if i was on a bigger bike i would have been in alot of trouble

I got my bike license in '79 when there were no size restrictions. I had been riding dirt bikes since I was 13 and even though I had heaps of experience my first road bike was a 250cc. Best way to learn to ride on the road. I eventually progressed to Honda CBX550, then CBX750. Then I got married and was told either the missus or the bike. I helped the missus pack. :)

I eventually progressed to Honda CBX550, then CBX750.

top bikes eh! my 2nd road bike was a '82 cbx550 ... go the mad crossflow pipes!!@# :D it was a cainor bike right up until the camchain tentioner broke & fell into the primary drive chain @ ~8000rpm *lunch* :[ my mate had a cbx750.. deceptively fast bike! :D

my first road bike (not counting an old c90 i paddock thrashed as a kid) was the infamous kawazaki kh250 2stroke triple ;p the less sed there the better.

the bikes i've had to date ... still got the xr600.

1 ¤ Honda C90 1978
2 ¤ Suzuki DR250 1981 *NEW*
3 ¤ Kawasazi KH250 1979
4 ¤ Honda CBX550 1982
5 ¤ Honda XL600RD 1982
6 ¤ Honda XL500RC 1981
7 ¤ Suzuki GSX750 1981
8 ¤ Kawazaki GPZ1100 1983
9 ¤ Honda XLR350R 1985
10 ¤ Honda CX500ES 1982
11 ¤ Suzuki DR600F 1985
12 ¤ Honda XR600RG 1990
13 ¤ Honda VFR750FG 1986 *NEW*
14 ¤ Honda CBR600R 1992
15 ¤ Kawazaki KZ550Zephyr 1991
16 ¤ Honda CBR900RR 1993
17 ¤ Honda XR600 1997

No-one cares what bikes you f*****s owned.

you're just jealous...

and gay.

people are so much more interested in how many macca hash browns (oil sponges) that your average slugman can digest than what bikes the coolest folk on qgl have had... what a world we live in eh :D

Some excellent bikes there Demon.

Suzuki TS185 is what I started on, then Honda CR250, then Suzuki TM250, then I got right into trials bikes, Yamaha TY250 followed by a Montessa 250. I always wanted a Husqvarna Enduro but never got around to getting one.

In road bikes, started out on Suzuki T7 250 (Think it was T7, can't remember, so long ago) then the CBX550, then the CBX750. I got married in '88 so that was it. Only a short history but definitely a fun one.

I had my car Opens so I just went and did the Q-Ride course and went straight onto R's.

Even though I could have gotten anything I just played it safe and got a 250. Still easy enough to get yourself into trouble, although I spose you can eliminate spinning the rear around corners if you gas it too hard accidentally or falling off trying to wheelie...

Can somebody clarify this for me..

If you have an RE class, is that bike learners or <250cc license? (if you have a car P or O license?)

As in, if you have P or O & RE, you are allowed to ride a <250cc bike without supervision or learner plates or need to go specifically for a bike exam?

I have P & RE, although I was always under the impression that RE was just bike leaners and would require an riding exam before i could actually go riding unsupervised?


BTW - i think they are getting rid of QRide altogether VERY soon

I'd like to get a bike but the thought of some dumb schmo running me over doesn't appeal, sadly.

If you are on your car opens and go do the full Q-Ride course you go straight to unrestricted motocycle licence. I think you can just do the half course if you want RE - for that obviously you don't do tests on a bike any higher than 250cc.

If you have no current car license or hold only provisional licence you can only get the restricted motorcycle license which means max of 250cc bike and no pillions.


If you just rock on down to the DOT for a test like you took for a car you go onto the RE license AFAIK. The only way to go to R license (providing you hold car O's) is through Q-Ride.


If you are on your moto L's you must be supervised, RE is just a restriction on engine capacity and taking passengers you can ride solo as much as you like.

How much would a basic 250CC for 10 - 20km travel safely set someone back?

EDIT: On my Opens, rating 1... looking for a bike for small distances, pref something that could hold some groceries.

last edited by CHUB at 22:52:18 20/Jun/07

Can you get a holster for your shotty on your bike ... in case randoms try to mug you on the freeway ?

Thanks for all the good info fellas. right now its in the weighing up stage whether i want to have to buy a 250cc bike and then a bigger bike later on or risk killing myself. Thinking of going 250cc just so I can see if I enjoy it and don't launch myself into too many gutters.

How long till I stop getting random weapons jokes? Or will it be 2 - 3 years+ like kat.zip jokes?

heh :)
with obes? it'll never stop

i started on a cbr250rr for about 2 years then didn't ride for about 6-12 mths and i just bought a cbr600rr 06 f*** it is nice. but i would recomend getting a 250 at least for the 1st year you learn alot in the first year of riding and you are more likly to crash from little things and lack of confidence and you really don't want to crash a brand new 600 or 1000.

with the licenses to, you have re and r on bike licenses. RE is restricted engine under 250 and R is unrestricted. you have to do a q ride course to move from RE to R ( I am pretty sure i know i did at least)

any questions you can pm me. once you get a bike you should come for a ride with me and a few mates we are always going on rides.

So what's a good 250 for a car driver fubar (opens/rating one) that wants to learn the ropes?

i would go and get the same as me cbr250rr you can pick one up for about 5-6 grand for a really good quality on bikesales.com or you can get some from bike shops.

it is a great bike to learn on real easy to ride very user friendly and fuel is great on it i use to get about 300km of a 12L tank before switching to the reserve tank. cheap services compared to some of the newer bikes. you can do most of the servies your self if you are mechanicly inclined. also i crashed 2 times, both things i couldn't control but things i could have been more aware of. oil on the road and gravel and i pick it up and started right up.

there are huge debates on what is better to learn on but i recon 250's cause if you panic and grab a fist full of throtle you won't end up the arse of a truck, or worse dead
plus insurance is alot cheaper if you have never riden before.
i pay 4k a year on insurance for my 600 but i am 20.

Sidetracking from that point (woah 5 - 6g for a student)... do you think there's any value in kitting out a dirt bike till it's road worthy (I've riden dirt bikes for nearly a decade)?

yeah you can pick up a motard for like 1500 or close. they are great to learn on as well.

5-6k is for a smick one you could get one for close to 2-2.5k

but the main thing no mater what bike you end up buying get the right gear.
it might look expensive but skin graffs are painful. buy a big name helmet the rest doesn't matter the name but at least good quality.

you need boots, gloves, helmet, pants, jacket. that will probably set you back 1500. the helmet alone will be around 500 bucks for one that will save your life. second hand gear is ok but not for a helmet.

what size shoe are you, i have a pair of boots that don't fit me anymore i don't need. if they fit you can have them for 100 bucks

throw some road wheels on a dirt bike and carve it up.. i used to get overtaken all the time by big ass dirt bike with road wheels

first time on a bike I got cocky & went over the hangers & flyew through the air. That was the most exciting part of the day. After discovering I enjoyed crashing it & flying through the air more than actually staying on it & riding around I decided to never touch another bike as long as I lived :p Since, you know, I'd probably be tempted to just crash into stuff for the thrill of flying

whoop, meet the foam pit.

Match made in heaven.

If you think you can handle riding a bike without the looks eg. not a sports bike... Get a naked bike. Fairings cost a buttload to replace and when you are learning its highyly likely to go down one way or another even if its just dropping it when stationary.

Kawasaki Balius
Honda VTR250
Honda Spada VT250
Honda Hornet CB250F
Suzuki Bandit GSF250

Those are just a few I can think of off the top of my head. You will get any of those in much nicer condtion and also much newer compared to any of the little old fully faired sports imports for the same money spent.

Honda CBR250
Kawasaki ZXR250
Yamaha FZR250
Suzuki GSXF Across

or more sports/tourer fully faired

Kawasaki GPX250
Kawasaki ZZR250

got my R licence, then went out and bought a 750 brand new :)

f*** starting on a smaller bike.

I wouldn't go spending 6k on a cbr250. It's just for the paint job anyway and it's fairly likely you will drop it. Better off spending less on one that is mechanically sound but maybe not so pretty.
That applies to any first bike you are thinking of getting, whether it's a 250 or not. Although if you're going the sport bike route I think starting smaller is a smart idea.

buy a big name helmet the rest doesn't matter the name but at least good quality.

I disagree with this. You don't have to get a brand like shoei or arai, any one you like is fine. Find the one which fits you the best, this will help your head more in a crash than a brand name. In the end all helmets have to pass the same tests.

Nothing came close to a Shoei on my head, just so happened to be an expensive brand that fits me the best :(

That would also be my recommendation - do not skimp on gear. That isn't to say go out and buy the 1k+ dragon graphic shoei helmet... just don't buy the cheapest of everything, otherwise you will regret it.

as the saying goes 10 dollar helmet for a 10 dollar head

personally i wouldn't buy an arai or shoei helmet ... they are just ridiculuously overpriced. i have bought agv helmets for my last 3 helmets.. they have exactly the same dot & snell approval ratings are the top-of-the-line shoei or arai helmets & are about a third of the price.

the main things to look for in a helmet (besides the safety standards) are lightness, quality padding & a really tight fit! the padding in them will be permanantly compressed over time which will loosen the fit... loose fitting helmets are next to useless.

Helmets really do come down to what fits best. I tried every brand and Shoei was by far the best on MY head. AGV just hurt and I tried about 4 different models.

Shoei doesn't necessarily have to be expensive, my last helmet was a Shoei Vermulen and it was a last year clearance or the like and cost me $400 iirc. Expensive in my books would be $600-1000.

I do agree that the latest model Shoei/Arai jobs are insanely overpriced.