I want to learn to ride a motorcycle. I know all the technicalities of CBTs and all that stuff, but want to know more about actually learning.I definitely want a 125 rather than 50 as I really can‘t bear the idea of getting to work at 30mph. Due to a chav culture in the area I really don‘t want a moped style, but would be open to a vespa style. My preference is for one that is more like a cruiser.however; I am not sure as to how difficult it will be to learn a manual bike, so feel I may be limited to an automatic scooter. So I want to know how hard it is to learn manual - bearing in mind I have been driving a manual car for 7 years.The other thing I want to know is: what is the best way to reduce the insurance cost? I realise that not having a full licence I will struggle to get it very cheap, but feel there must be something I can do to bring it down from the ?350 for fully comp mark.Thanks.
If you can ride a bicycle, you can learn to ride a motorcycle. Balance and steering are quite similar, and the motorcycle's hand controls for throttle, front brake and clutch are easy enough to master.
CBT and pounds say British. In USA we have Motorcycle Safety Classes that will lower the Insurance premiums. Many entire classes run over 1 weekend, enuf to qualify as PASSING the test. Manual shifting is fairly easy, your hand now does the clutch and your foot the shifting, the interface is the same, shifting does not go thru gates but simply 1 up or down at a time. CRUISERS have lower seat heights and lean back, Standards sit up straighter, Sports lean forward, their 1 shock absorber makes them sit higher. Scooters usually have a small carrying capacity that bikes don't as standard. Big enuf for a purse and pair of shoes.
Motorcycles are not hard to learn to ride. If you can ride a regular bicycle, you already know how to balance and steer (and if not, you should start on a bicycle to learn those things). I understand that in the UK training is mandatory. I don't think it's really necessary, but even with training, you do most of your learning on your own. You learn to ride by riding, and the full process takes a while, so the training only gets you started. If you can clutch and shift in a car, you understand the concepts, and it won't be that hard on a bike. In a car you clutch with your foot and shift with your hand, and on a bike it's the opposite, but the concept is the same, the feel of the clutch, downshifting and engine-braking, etc. I learned to drive with a manual transmission, and when I got my first motorcycle I was able to just jump on it and ride it home! As for insurance, well I can't help, sorry. It's always going to be a lot for a beginner because motorcycles are DANGEROUS. In the US half of all m/c accidents happen to riders with less than a year's riding experience. This shows you that learning to ride a motorcycle is more dangerous than just riding one. In the UK I understand you are limited in size for the first year or two, and I think that's a good idea. Here in the US a 16 year old kid can get on a fire-breathing 1000cc monster, and I think this skews the statistics, it makes learning to ride look more dangerous than it actually is (but it's still dangerous).
