I passed my motorcycle licence (A) last year in June, but I did it on an automatic. I now find when abroad they only got poxy little 125 scooters and I ride a 400cc Burgman so no way..

Im thinking of buying a manual bike,
as 1, Got another year of CBT left,
2,


with a manual licence I can hire better bikes at least,

I saw a Suzuki Marauder its a bit clunky and chunky what do you think?
Too clunky for module 1 Test?

I like the low height as I am 56 now and a short, so it should be suitable. Any advice or comments please.

I wouldn't have thought there would be nout wrong with a CG125, at the end of the day all 125's are the same sort of deal, unless you are talking 2 stroke

CG is quite a high seat height, but more nimble for the slalolm & U-turn.
maraurder could be a bit of a handful on the slalolm/u-turn & slow ride at walking pace, but its the same course as for the big bikes & i had plenty of students who passed mod1 on a cruiser-just make sure the thing will do 50+KPH for the hazard & E-stop.

if you do the mod1 on a 125, you will have to do mod2 on the same size bike, so a restriction of 33bhp for two years....

Thanks for all advice.. I bought a Yamaha YBR 125ED and am chuffed on the first ride out, I did uturns in no time at all, much easier than on my scooters even compared to the 125 s-WING I had, the YBR125 made a u turn a doddle,

So all I need to do is get used to riding a geared bike and I shall put in for module 1 in April the latest working on the same schedule as I did last year when I passed my test on an automatic. Will put the miles on the bike so no unexpected surprises during a test.


Now a bit of advice again, pretty please.. this is going to sound reallllly stupid.

I've had my car licence (manual for 30 odd years) My experience with manuals is from about 36 years ago... Im so old I forget everything . Now I know where the gears are.

Principle of riding please?

start in neutral now that I am certain off.
first gear to pull away and hills (I found that out today )

I notice at lights that I can pull away in second gear.. is that correct? Or should I have dropped it to first? Please advice.

U turns in 2nd gear or is 3rd gear ok? I think 2nd gives more control

I hope you all catch my drift (will try not to drift on this bike with the skinny tyres and wheels ) so a little bit of advice I would be very gratefull. Right now I am a bit (green) reference going back to manual bike.


Compared to my Burgman I am sitting on a sewingmachine with a toy hooter... Its mmmmmm cute?


from this


to this

Personally I always pull away in first gear at lights, and I would not say you have to be in first gear for hills.

Principle of riding please? Dont fall off!

start in neutral now that I am certain off.always a plan

first gear to pull away and hills (I found that out today )1st to pull away, but not always necessary uphill, drop down the gears til the bike pulls cleanly

I notice at lights that I can pull away in second gear.. is that correct? Or should I have dropped it to first? Please advice. best practise is to use 1st, you can guarentee on your test you will stall pulling away in 2nd, usually on the busiest roundabout.

U turns in 2nd gear or is 3rd gear ok? I think 2nd gives more control always & only 1st gear, see above for why

Hi Paula, welcome to the world of gears. I bet you'll find riding much more fun having to keep changing gears rather than just twisting the throttle - enjoy.

I passed my Mod1 some while back, and taking Mod2 in two days time.. fingers crossed. Yes I enjoy riding manual bikes but this 125 yammie I bought, it doesnot have much road grip. Its so jumpy.. on the road.

cant wait to sell it and find something with tyres.. LOL I am far more comfortable on my 400cc scooter I actual lean on that, do countersteering comfortably.. etc..

BTW is there somewhere in the UK where somebody can teach me how to ride a manual bike comfortably like leaning in to the corners etc. a training school for racing styles Its not that I want to race I want to understand the balancing of larger bikes once I have my licence and can ride them (well up to 400cc ish)