oh - that's a sobering New Years speech

I'm not one for sugar coating stuff.

If you budget £1,500 for the bike expect the total, helmet, gear, provisional, CBT, insurance, tax, consumables to come to at least £3,000

I bought an old jap 2 stroke for my Nephew,
was dirt cheap to insure.. (and buy) but parts were an issue

got him confident enough to do a car test though.. so money well spent

Bloody good idea.

I think all new drivers should spend a minimum of two years on a bike before they are allowed anywhere near a car.

Okay there are a few loonies but most bikers have greater hazard awareness, perception and respect for the road than people who are used to sitting in a crumple zoned, air bagged, Faraday cage stuffed with drivers aids.

I've decided (that for me) I'm best to stay put with the Panda, as the idea of a scooter probably isn't much more economical for me when decent kit is concerned and I definitely wouldn't risk compromising these things.

I'm also a bit scared of the whole 0 star safety aspect of bikes! Especially with BMW drivers on the road etc ..for now.

Thanks for everyone who responded. Perhaps it is an idea I will re-visit in the future when money is not so tight!

Sorry if I put you off. I am all for new riders and as I said before all drivers should spend two years on a bike first. Respect and awareness etc but also if all of a sudden every 16-18 had a bike drivers wouldn't have a choice but to buck their ideas up as well.

I like to make sure if I give anyone advice it is realist and practical. When people talk about getting a bike they usually don't realise how much the gear costs to go with it.

My nephew wants a moped to go to college on instead of a free bus service. I asked what would he do if his bike breaks down, has a puncture or crashed. He said ride his mountain bike. So I suggested he rides his mountain bike into town every day during the festive holidays.

Day 1/ All was well because he took cycle lanes.
"Will you be able to use cycle lanes on your moped?"
"No"
"Right stick to the road tomorrow".

Day 2/ Got half way gave up and went home. Traffic was rough and he was splashed, cut up and a Taxi nearly took him out at a roundabout.

"So imagine three times the traffic during term time and you're on a moped going twice as fast".

"Thanks uncle Rob. I'll stick to the bus".

I would love to cycle a bicycle everywhere but I must admit, I very much get the feeling car drivers are 'out to get me'.

Don't get me wrong, I know how annoying some snotty cyclists can be. But I don't have the nerve or lack of respect for sweet life itself to ever 'be funny' to a car. - even a Renault Twingo is a tank compared to you on a bike.

A taxi driver swerved 'for fun' to almost miss me, and stared me out?! That put me off.


But all in all you didn't put me off anymore than I did myself! You're right about making people go on bikes. Would heighten people's respect for just how vulnerable we all are on the road.

I like to remind people who drive big 4x4s who say 'it keeps my family safe' how they are just as useless as my Panda against a 44 tonne lorry / tree / concrete building. Knocks em off their high horses.

It took me far too long to work this on out for myself so I will share it with you.

Do not take things personally.

People are morons.

Or they have other confidence related issues.