Sitting my BHS on Sunday. Shopping for a bike, any tips?

[DCD]

Well first post, I've been talking about getting onto a bike for ages finally got around to doing something about it just as summer is finishing!

Doing the Basic Handling Course with Trish from Roadcraft School of Motorcycling on Sunday, pretty excited! I even managed to talk my girlfriend into going for hers as well!

I've already been looking around at bikes and lurking on the forums here. I think I'm keen on a VTR250 or a Hornet. I like the naked bikes, I will go and take a look at a Bandit this weekend as well.

I'm not a huge guy, about 5"11-6 flat and 75kg's. Anything I get will probably be the gateway for my girlfriend as well who is quite tiny, 5"3 and 48-50kg's so ideally it'll be a bike she can ride as well.

I'm really looking forward to getting my license and getting on the road. Any tips and pointers would be appreciated, a friend of mine who rides a Ninja 250R is already on at me to go do the RRRS course so I'm keen for that too!

[fizbin]

dont setlle on the first bike you ride.
ride 5-6 bike before even starting to think a bout a decision. take you time.

[DCD]

Yeah I've been reading a lot on here that the right bike will just feel right. I'm just hoping that the right bike for me will be something that my girlfriend can ride as well.

I'm in no particular hurry, although I know once I get my license I'll want to get a bike ASAP

[vgcspares]

one thing to take on board is that an average rider might change his bike every couple of years, indicating one of two things:
some people are hard to satisfy or tastes change

so I wouldn't get too hung up on the choice (try a few), but be aware a lot of bikers get stuck on one brand, so try picking one with a lot of room for growth (more than one bike in the range that you fancy owning)

[Insanity_rules]

Ride a few, no pressure. You'll find the right one.

[Supermac Jr]

Amen for RRRS and good luck for sunday

[ducatilover]

nothing too bad about a honda spada...especially a black one with a fairing....

[Skuzzlebutt]

Hi DCD...I find myself in the same situation as you About to start the licensing process. Haven't booked my BHS test yet...wondering how you got on with yours and how your bike buying is going?

[disenfranchised]

dont setlle on the first bike you ride.
ride 5-6 bike before even starting to think a bout a decision. take you time.

I never rode any bikes when I bought mine.
As someone who had just done the BHS, I still didn't have any riding experience. Plus as the BHS was on a GN125, and you never go much over 20kph, the first time getting up to 50kph on a 250 felt insanely fast.
So at the time the prospects of test rides was quite daunting, I didn't want to make a mistake, have an accident etc.

I did however sit on a few, and picked one that felt good size wise and on the wrists (as much as you can tell just sitting there anyway) and so far it seems like it's been a good fit.

So I recommend comfort as the primary thing to focus on.
That and if you're going to use the bike to get your girl into riding too...make sure you choose one she's happy with completely, even if it means sacrificing your own comfort.
After all, if you're really keen, I'm sure you'd be upgrading soon anyway