Biker Basics

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saxonaxe

Nomad
Sep 29, 2018
481
1,131
79
SW Wales
" Assuming these are made IN India?? Wonder if you can purchase at the Factory and ride it back to the UK. "

Riding the bike from India to the Uk is easily within the capabilities of the bike...But war, politics and currently disease make it difficult.
TeeDee I highly recommend that you dive into You Tube and look at "Itchy Boots" A Dutch girl, Norally bought an Himalayan in India and rode it back to the Netherlands. No support, always alone via some very remote places.
She then went to South America and rode from Brasil down to Patagonia and was on her way back North to....Alaska.. when Covid 19 intervened and she had to return to Holland. Hours of fascinating viewing, the Himalayans (2) shine through itas tough,reliable superb bikes.


After the India-Holland trip Big Brother EU Regs intervened..Norally could not register her Indian Himalayan in Europe because it didn't meet EU imposed Regs...Hence the new bike (Given to her by a Dutch Royal Enfield Dealership) for the Patagonia-Alaska trip.

How the EU regs would effect you bringing an Indian standard bike to Uk I don't know, but even though we have escaped the EU, the EU Regs currently in force will still apply to bikes imported into Uk I'm pretty sure.

Watch Itchy Boots and start saving Mate...You may well be able to get an EU approved Himalayan in India by now anyway...
:thumbsup:
 
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Orhdposs

Forager
Mar 27, 2020
104
58
67
Essex
You can have plenty of fun on a bike started with a DT 125 many years ago done a lot of trail riding on it slowly progressed up to XRV750 done a few trips up to the Artic circle to see the last of the midnight sun and down through Spain crossed into Morrocco and done a few bits of the Paris / Dakar hard work, but fun.
<a href='https://postimg.cc/H809tKPn' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/H809tKPn/IMG-3160.jpg' border='0' alt='IMG-3160'/></a>

<a href='https://postimg.cc/qNFDgffH' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/qNFDgffH/0028ajpg.jpg' border='0' alt='0028ajpg'/></a>


Still got a bike for running round BMW Seratoa GS
 
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TeeDee

Full Member
Nov 6, 2008
10,447
3,651
50
Exeter
Through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Irak, Syria, Turkey are you sure you want that much excitement? ;)

Iraq.

Thats one 'possible' route.

I'm at the point in life I'd like a bit more adventure and a little less comfort.

Thanks for you concern.
 

Orhdposs

Forager
Mar 27, 2020
104
58
67
Essex
If your really serious on passing your test, read a book like this has some pointer for big city's like London, recommended by the met.


Forgot to mention it from 1959 joking about read Chris Scott's biking travel books and go on a off road course like the one BMW or KTM hold most road where yoy mention are going to be gravel or type 1 road / mud.
 
Jun 13, 2010
394
39
North Wales
Oh my god. I want a bike now. Thanks guys! I was about to do my 'big bike' test when we found out we were having a child. This meant I didn't want to risk my life as I was a stupid idiot at the time. Never went further than my CBT and was too broke to buy a runaround 125cc as I was a student nurse.
Still broke now. But less of an idiot.
 
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Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,976
7,755
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
Oh my god. I want a bike now. Thanks guys! I was about to do my 'big bike' test when we found out we were having a child.

Yep, I stopped riding when we had our son - I didn't really want to influence him into having bikes; we lived in the busy Surrey/Hampshire commuter belt at the time. As soon as my son left home I got back on bikes - what happened? within a month he'd bought a bike so I wasted years when I could have been riding :)
 
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sunndog

Full Member
May 23, 2014
3,561
477
derbyshire
I love my two.View attachment 58484View attachment 58485
But then I've been riding for many many years.
If it's your first time , as an ex instructor I'd recommend an automatic moped to start off with for a bit then take the test on a 125.
I've done many long journeys on a small bike. The joy of pottering about on a smaller bike and exploring is realy something I love doing.

I had an xv1100 for years and loved it. Not really grunty enough but still a fantastic bike
 

sunndog

Full Member
May 23, 2014
3,561
477
derbyshire
Hi , Can I ask why the suggestion of an Automatic Moped??? Won't i be then having to learn and additional set of skills down the ( quite literally ) Road??

Asked with respect

Id say Go straight for a 125 standard control bike mate. As you say you gotta learn sometime.
A 50cc moped limited to 29mph will get very boring very quickly
 

Woody girl

Full Member
Mar 31, 2018
4,518
3,457
65
Exmoor
I had both my kids on the back from as soon as their feet touched the footpegs. Both loved it.
Obviously I kept speeds right down especially at first, barely went above 30 mph until they felt safe and I was confident they knew how to stay on.
My daughter used to think only women rode bikes!
 
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Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,976
7,755
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
I confess I probably wouldn't bother with a 125; if I was starting again I'd just go the fast access route - you can actually do CBT to full bike license in a week with some schools (theoretically and subject to test availability). OK, you then need to put in loads of careful road miles to get your confidence up but you'll be on a bike you want.

Try phoning a few schools in your area and see what the options are.

My first bike was a BSA Bantam 175 2 stroke, not fast, not powerful, but fun little bike :)
 
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Orhdposs

Forager
Mar 27, 2020
104
58
67
Essex
I confess I probably wouldn't bother with a 125; if I was starting again I'd just go the fast access route - you can actually do CBT to full bike license in a week with some schools (theoretically and subject to test availability). OK, you then need to put in loads of careful road miles to get your confidence up but you'll be on a bike you want.

Try phoning a few schools in your area and see what the options are.

My first bike was a BSA Bantam 175 2 stroke, not fast, not powerful, but fun little bike :)
My'n was a DT 125 2 stroke light but enough power, when I used to go trial riding with the Herts group in Wales the two oldest rider had 2 strokers both the guys in their mis 70's would race us spermlings weight to cc ratio beating us on the boggy ground rivers Sarn Helen , Strata florida, if you fail your test on a 125 you can still ride it if you fail on a biggy bike your stuck ? ever have to derestrict your bike or go 125, no guarantee a 5 day course you will pass, do they still do the 125 for 2 years and on you go full power?
 

barclay03

Full Member
Jul 14, 2014
42
13
Glasgow
Be aware....if you get on one, chances are you're quickly going to be addicted lol

As a few others have pointed out, CBT allows you to ride a 125, but in honesty I wouldnt bother with buying one and go through your full test instead. 125's are no cheaper than buying bigger second hand bikes, and I guarantee you would get a little fed up of one quickly, theres plenty I'd situations where having that extra power there is so beneficial.

I'm greedy, I have 4 bikes in the garage haha they all serve a different purpose
 
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Tengu

Full Member
Jan 10, 2006
12,776
1,510
51
Wiltshire
When are you going to the IOM?

There is a guy who customises bikes down the bottom of the village. He has never been, but he goes to the Harley factory every year.

I fear he is missing something.
 

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