What I did today.....

Yes, they're the cheapest road-legal bike you can buy, the 125cc ones are cheaper, and you can buy cheaper ones without the road paperwork, but around 700 quid is the price for a road legal 200cc - there's lots of different brandings for them out there, but they all appear to be the same.

There's lots of different 50cc bikes out there from China - from the off-roaders through to scooters and monkey bikes (not to be confused with the mini-moto 'toys')

Ground clearance, ISTR.

From what I've been told, it's an exception in UK law to help the developing markets of the far east.

Will do. Can't wait to get it working - but I'm exhausted today after a day in the scorching sun yesterday. I'll be leaving it alone until Thursday now.

As a non-rider with a full UK driving licence for, well, let's say "well over 10 years", what do I need to get on the road on a bike?

Bike (registered, taxed and, erm, constructed!) Decent leathers + lid CBT? Not anymore (although training of some sort would be a good idea) Insurance - what's that likely to be? =A3100 or so for low miles, kept in garage, etc but new to riding? Do I need a different driving licence?

What's the deal with monkey bikes? Do they need an SVA? What does that entail? Expensive? Likely to pass first time (assuming built properly)?

Grrrr! Go out and do it right now, you lazy sod!

Check.

Check. Alternatively, decent quality armoured textile kit. (I have both)

Erm, I'm pretty sure *everyone* has to do CBT now.

Hmmm, not sure. Could be several times that amount.

You need the category for a 125cc bike adding to it. Can't remember what it is at the moment.

Once you've done the CBT, you'll be allowed out on the roads on a 125cc bike on L plates. You'll have 2 years in which to pass your test or your CBT will be revoked and you'll have to start again.

Monkey bikes, it appears, will come with the 'certificate of conformity' meaning you don't need to SVA it.

Heh. I might have a look later, but I have stuff to do first. Like take all packaging down the tip etc.

URL? I'm 100% ignorant on armoured textile kit.

Fair enough.

Meh, I should probably get a quote before getting too deep into my biking fantasy!

Do you need "young person knees" to ride one? Or is it no worse than sitting on a low stool?

Toys first, tidy last.

I have a suit similar to this:

Almost certainly.

I gave up on bikes for a few years when I was in my mid 20s, because my premiums rocketed from £400 comp. to nearly £800 comp.

I'm down to £250 comp. on my big bike now.

Never ridden one, but I do know that I struggle with small bikes these days - due to dodgy knees.

Heh. Unfortunately, I have a drive full of stuff for the tip and have a mate coming round with a suitable car to take it all away. I can't do it in my car because once I have some weight in the boot, I can't get over the speed bumps at the tip.

I notice it made it into your sig. I take it you have confidence in it? How good is the quality of the bike? About/more than you'd expect for the price?

Looks less gay than leathers ;-p Are they cooler in this hot weather?

How heavy is your new toy? Can you get suitable (motor)bike racks for estate cars, do you know?

Yes, they are - if you get the thin ones. You can get thicker kit that's more for winter use - but it usually has a zip-out thermal lining.

You wouldn't get it on the back of a car. It's still fairly heavy, dunno, about 140kgs?

The plastics are a bit iffy, some of the bolts are made from cheese. But that's par for the course for a cheap bike, even from Japan.

For the money, it's superb. If it were a (real) Honda, it would have been the thick end of £3k, if not more. For 700 quid, I could have a new one of those, or a dog rough old 2nd hand bike..... I know what I'd prefer.

I'm going to hold fire on registering it until the new plates are issued

- it's so close I may as well have a 56 plate rather than 06.

What did it cost? Chinese? S*it?

Fraser

Damn that's cheap. I figure for the low milage you'll put on it even if it dies in a few years you'll have had your moneys worth. It's not like it's going to be used as daily transport.

Fraser

At that price, it's virtually throw away. Even if you only get 12 months out of it, that's the equivalent of a few pints of beer a week.

Just got an online quote for the 200cc bike with a provisional licence, held for 0 months. Whole thing clocks in a shade under =A3400. Maybe I should get a licence now and the bike in a year or two.

Chop chop! Full review

What sort of coucil numpty suggests putting speed bumps where heavily laden cars are bound to go! knobs!