Bikers at heart, the BMF are your unified voice in defending the rights and interests of UK Motorcyclists and its associated industries. ‘
WELCOME
We’re going to help you get started on two wheels. From the CBT all the way to your A licence, FirstBike is here to guide you. Whether you are looking for affordable insurance, want to master maintenance basics, or need some help choosing your first moped, there’s lots of advice packed into these 52 pages. Mopeds and motorbikes are more than just transport. Choosing two wheels rather than four is a one-way ticket to adventure. Enjoy it!
David Motton EDITOR
Editor: David Motton
Contributor: Al Suttie
Art director: Caroline Creighton-Metcalf
Commercial director: Richard Storrs
Publisher: James Evans
Cover photographer: Matt Howell
info@firstcar.co.uk 08451 308853
The contents of this magazine are copyright © First Car Ltd and may not be reproduced or transmitted, in any form in whole or in part, without written consent from the editor. Neither FirstCar Ltd nor its staff can be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or for any consequence arising from it. (03/25)
LEARNING TO RIDE FROM PUTTING ON L-PLATES TO YOUR FULL LICENCE PAGE 8 P37 worth of prizes in our free draw... WIN £1250+
INSIDE VS
8 GET STARTED
From the CBT to earning your A licence, here’s what to expect, what you can ride and how much you’ll need to pay.
14 SAFETY KIT
Check out our rundown of all the essential kit you need to stay fully protected, from helmets to jackets.
18 BUYING ADVICE
BUYING LOOKING FOR THE IDEAL FIRST BIKE? LET US HELP! PAGE 18
SCOOTER VS MOPED WE’LL HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPE OF BIKE! PAGE 29 STAYING SAFE... WATCH OUT FOR EVERY RISK PAGE 30
Scooter or bike? Second-hand or new? Getting it right is crucial. Our advice will help you find the perfect first bike.
30 STAYING SAFE
Top riding tips to keep you safe in the saddle and avoid becoming a statistic. Learn without the pain!
32 HIGHWAY CODE
Do you understand the hierarchy of road users? It’s all explained in the latest edition of the Highway Code.
34 MAKING MONEY
Working as a delivery rider could turn your moped into a way to earn cash. Here’s what you need to know.
38
SECURITY
How to keep your bike secure, at home and while you’re on the road.
42
INSURANCE
Finding affordable cover isn’t easy. These tips will help.
46
FIRST AID
What to do if you are first on the scene and another biker needs your help.
48
MAINTENANCE
Regular TLC will keep your bike in good condition and help you stay safe.
50
FURTHER TRAINING
Become a better rider and discover the social side of biking.
There’s a lot to take in during the CBT but you’ll enjoy the experience!
CBT LET’S GET STARTED
Compulsory Basic Training is exactly that and is the bare minimum you need to get on the road to stay legal and safe
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
THE COURSE 1
Currently, there are five key sections. There’s no time limit; 6-8 hours is normal, but it can be spread over two days. A classroom-based introduction spells out the legal aspects of riding (see tinyurl.com/ qcf3tjk), checks you have a licence and roadworthy bike with tax, insurance and MOT (if applicable) plus L-plates front and rear. Most centres will rent you a bike with insurance. After the briefing, the practical on-site training begins where you’ll learn:
■ Basic controls & checks
■ Starting/stopping the engine
■ Using the stands
■ Wheeling the bike
■ Using the brakes
2
GET RIDING
You’ll then move onto an off-road area to start riding. Here you’ll learn:
■ Using the clutch & gears
■ Riding in a straight line, circles and figures of eight
■ Slow, controlled riding
■ Emergency stops and how to deal with skids
■ Dealing with turns and junctions
A classroom-based briefing follows on the Highway Code, staying visible, road signs and riding defensively.
ON THE ROAD
You’ll next ride for at least two hours on various roads that take in traffic lights, junctions and roundabouts. When your instructor feels you’re safe to ride solo, you’ll be issued with the DL196 (CBT) Certificate. This is valid for two years and entitles you to ride on the road with L-plates but not carry a pillion or ride on motorways. You’ll need to re-take the CBT if you don’t pass both the theory and practical tests before the CBT Certificate expires.
CAN I RIDE OFF ROAD?
Taking a motorbike off road is great fun, provided you are on a bike designed for the job and you stay the right side of the law. But riding on footpaths, bridleways or in public parks is a big no-no. There are a range of measures the police could take if you ignore the rules. Under the Police Reform Act 2002, they could even seize your bike!
This is where you can ride off road, so long as you give space to others.
■ Byways open to all traffic (check the key on an OS map).
■ Private land, with the owner’s permission (check insurance still covers you).
The Trail Riders Fellowship www.trf.org.uk is a great resource for responsible trail riding.
Mopeds and motorbikes give you the ultimate in freedom when you need to go from A to B. Best of all, two wheels are cheaper than four, more fun and can help cut down your commuting time to work!
PLAY IT SAFE
Wearing the right kit while riding keeps you comfortable and safe.
Here’s what you need...
HELMET
A helmet is your most important line of defence when riding. It will keep you warm and dry, and potentially save your life. Wearing a helmet is a legal requirement in the UK, so buy the best you can afford. Look for helmets tested
WHAT IT’S MADE OF
A helmet is made of several protective layers: a thin hard, outer shell typically made from plastic or a composite material, then an impactabsorbing inner, followed by a soft, inner liner for cushioning, often removable for cleaning.
by SHARP (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme) – sharp.dft.gov. uk. There are several goodvalue helmets with five-star ratings. Check any helmet you buy meets British Standard 6658:1985 or ECE Regulation 22.06. This will be on a label inside the helmet. Buy a helmet from a reputable retailer and never
buy used as you don’t know if it’s been in a crash.
The LS2 Stream II is an affordably priced full-face helmet. It meets the ECE 22.06 homologation standard, so you know it will offer good protection in a crash. The Stream II is fitted with an antiscratch visor with a drop-down sun visor. It comes in many sizes, so most riders should find one that fits comfortably.
HELMET BUYING TIPS
Try before you buy – wear the helmet for several minutes in the shop to make sure it’s comfy and there are no tight spots. Snug fit – make sure the helmet is not loose or moves when you turn your head. Check the securing strap fits
neatly under your chin. Noise – earplugs help protect your ears from excessive noise while riding. Go to UltimateEar.com for a range of custom-made earplugs and earphones. A full-face helmet – gives better protection. Be sure the
PRICE £99.99
COLOUR
Choose bright colours as these help other road users to see you coming.
EYE COVER
Wear a visor or goggles with an ECE, CE or BSI approval mark. In daylight a tint of up to 50% is okay; a clear visor must be used after dark.
visor is ECE or BSI approved. Only use a dark-tinted visor in daylight. Tough stuff – helmets soften impacts using multiple layers of composite material, foam and padding. A removable inner liner makes cleaning easier.
GLOVES & BOOTS
As a motorcyclist, your hands and feet are among the most exposed parts of your body.
Leather is the most common material for gloves. Extra protection on the knuckles and wrist from plastic or carbon-fibre inserts is desirable. Lighter weight gloves for summer will keep your hands cool,
while insulated or electrically heated gloves are ideal for winter temperatures.
These Richa Artic gloves are a safe and comfortable choice across a wide range of temperatures. They feature an abrasion-resistant textile construction, a fully waterproof internal membrane, TPU knuckle armour, and reflective panels for nightime visibility.
There are 26 bones in each foot, so protecting them is vitally important. Forget trainers or work shoes and invest in good quality motorcycle boots. Most are made from leather or Lorica synthetic leather for excellent abrasion-resistance. Make sure they cover and support your ankles.
The RST Tracetech Evo 3 is a microfibre boot with TPU external protection and a breathable membrane so your feet shouldn’t overheat.
PRICE £149.99
FIT AND COMFORT
Shoes must be comfortable as you could be wearing them for hours at a time. Don’t wear regular shoes, however comfy, as they won’t offer enough protection.
Fit like a… gloves should feel tailored to your hands, but not tight. Make sure you can curl your fingers, while a wrist strap helps secure the glove.
Protection – look for gloves and boots with extra protection around knuckles and ankles to take care of these vulnerable areas.
Type of use – choose the right boots and gloves for the riding you do. Racing kit is great on track, but can be uncomfortable on a long trip. Sew good – check any gloves or boots for good quality double or triple stitching as it makes the kit strong in a crash.
PROTECTION
Your hands are vulnerable in a crash and you can easily lose a finger, so always wear specialist motorcycling gloves –a strong protective layer is essential.
PRICE£99.99
BUYING ADVICE
There is no better feeling than buying your first bike. But if you want that silly grin to last for mile after mile, you need to choose carefully
ASK YOURSELF…
1 CAN I AFFORD IT?
Saving money is one of the big advantages of travelling on two wheels rather than four, but don’t throw away the saving by spending more than you can really afford. It’s more important to budget for a high-quality helmet, shoes, jacket, gloves and trousers to keep you safe.
2 HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO INSURE?
Get some quotes before you commit to buying a particular bike, as insurance for young and inexperienced riders can be pricey.
3 WHAT WILL THE BIKE COST TO RUN?
Bikes use much less fuel than cars, but petrol isn’t cheap. The better the bike’s fuel economy, the more money you’ll keep in your pocket.
4 DOES IT SUIT MY STYLE OF RIDING?
On-bike storage can be really handy if you need to take a change of clothes or a laptop with you, so that’s something
to consider. If you’re going to use the bike for long journeys, a bigger fuel tank means you’ll go further between fillups, and a bike with a fairing will protect you from the wind when riding at speed.
5 SHOULD I GO FOR A PETROL OR ELECTRIC BIKE?
Petrol bikes are usually a lot cheaper to buy than the electric equivalent, although the cost of charging a battery is a lot less than the price of a tank of unleaded.
One thing to remember is that while the petrol bikes are rated by ‘peak’ power, the regulations around electric models use ‘continuous’ power (measured over a set period). The upshot is electric bikes can be quicker than you’d expect.
FROM£1949
WK SCRAMBLER 50
Retro has never looked so cool. The WK Scrambler 50 is a great budget buy, with a choice of stealthy black and classy grey finishes. A two-year warranty is standard.
FROM£2565
APRILIA SXR 50
This stylish Italian moped comes in four colours and looks great in all of them. The low seat height makes it ideal for shorter riders, and the auto transmission means it’s easy to ride.
50CC BIKES
FROM £1449.99
Your life on two wheels starts here! From mopeds to supermoto bikes, there’s something for everyone
PEUGEOT KISBEE 50
The stylish Kisbee is ideal around town and has plenty of comfort for you and a pillion when you pass your test. Nimble handling is ideal for commuting.
LEXMOTO ECHO 50
New bikes don’t come much cheaper than the Echo 50. It’s a nippy ride, with sporty looks, nimble handling, and low running costs. There’s plenty of under-seat storage too.
FROM£2199
FROM £3855
RIEJU MRT 50 SM
A supermoto bike with a six-speed gearbox, the MRT 50 SM looks cool and is great fun to ride. It’s not the cheapest first bike, though.
FROM£3349
VESPA PRIMAVERA 50
Timeless good looks and a choice of five colours make the Vespa a stylish way to nip around town. The four-stroke engine sips fuel, but the Primavera costs a little more than some mopeds.
PIAGGIO ZIP 50
Small in size but big on under-seat storage, the Piaggio Zip makes Italian style affordable. Thanks to the twist-and-go transmission, the Zip is really easy to ride.
FROM£2365
YAMASAKI MB50 PHANTOM
You get the looks of a motorbike for moped money with the Yamasaki MB50. Would you guess it’s priced at just over £2k? The MB50 has a four-speed ’box and returns around 120mpg.
SUZUKI BURGMAN
STREET 125EX
Ideal for city riding, the Burgman combines a keen price, low running costs, and more than 20 litres of under-seat storage.
125CC BIKES
The next step on the motorbike ladder, the 125cc class includes sports bikes, commuters, retro and naked machines. Find your passport to freedom here!
APRILIA RS 125
If you want an exciting bike that doesn’t sacrifice comfort, this is it. A true race-replica for the road, the RS 125 is an addictive machine that will soon have you hooked.
FROM £5080 FROM£4950
YAMAHA XSR125
The retro-scrambler styling of the XSR125 is guaranteed to turn heads – it looks like a bigger, more expensive bike.
£2459
KYMCO VSR 125
The VSR 125 delivers naked sports bike looks for moped money. It’s fitted with a combined braking system for confident stopping power, while the 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights add to the sporty looks.
HONDA CB125F
Starter bikes don’t get much better. Light, nimble, and very fuelefficient, the CB125F is great around town and not out of its depth on faster roads.
KAWASAKI NINJA 125
Ninja is one of the most famous names in the world of sports bikes, and the Ninja 125 is the junior member of this celebrated family. It’s a proper thrill-machine that happens to be A1-licence friendly!
SUZUKI GSX-S125
Commute in the week, have fun at the weekend – the GSX-S125 is comfortable, nimble, and looks great. It’s cheap on fuel and insurance, which is ideal for a rider just starting out on two wheels.
MUTT STRAVAIG 125
Want to get muddy on a budget? The Stravaig is Mutt’s 125cc adventure bike. You’d never guess it was a 125cc from the rugged styling, and you would struggle to find a bike that’s better equipped for the money.
FROM£3149
HONDA CB300R
The CB300R can be ridden on an A2 licence, but it has the looks of one of Honda’s bigger naked bikes. It’s lively, easy to ride, and huge fun. The price is keen for such a highquality bike.
MASH TWO FIFTY
The fun doesn’t stop when the road does with the Mash Two Fifty thanks to its scrambler style and chunky tyres. It’s also good around town.
KAWASAKI Z650RS
Enjoy retro style without the hassle of a classic bike with the Kawasaki Z650RS. With a punchy 68hp from its twocylinder engine, the Z will appeal to A2 licence holders who appreciate old-school looks.
TRIUMPH TIGER SPORT 660
With the sporty character of a threecyinder engine, this punchy and practical bike is ready for whatever two-wheeled adventure you can dream up.
FROM £6800
VESPA ELETTRICA
Pricier than some, but the Elettrica comes with all of the Vespa looks, heritage and quality along with quicker recharging than most electric scooters.
TOLICENCETHRILL
If you are 17 or over, you can ride an electric bike with up to 11kW of continuous power after taking your CBT. You’ve then got two years to pass your theory and practical, or you’ll need to go through CBT again.
ELECTRIC BIKES
Electric scooters and motorcycles are now more affordable than ever, and they offer no-hassle, low-emissions riding FROM£3195 FROM£6299
VMOTO STASH
The Stash can be ridden on an A1 licence. It’s super-cheap to run but great fun to ride with an official range of around 90 miles.
HORWIN EK-3
The EK-3 looks great and has a range of up to 60 miles. You can charge your phone using the USB in the storage cubby.
E-SCOOTER
VS ELEC-TRICKY DECISION
E-scooters have made a lot of headlines recently, both good and bad. They offer an environmentally sound way to get around towns and cities, helped by a number of official trials. However, you can only legally use one on public streets if you live, work or visit an area where these trials are being conducted. In almost every way, a petrol or electric moped is a much better choice. Here’s why!
E-SCOOTER
✓ Low cost to buy
✓ Quick to re-charge
✓ Easy to carry and store
✗ You can only legally ride one in public if it’s part of an official trial
✗ Ride your own e-scooter in public and you face a £300 fixed penalty and six points on your licence
✗ Almost impossible to insure
✗ Restricted to 15.5mph maximum
✗ No lights or indicators
✗ Smaller wheels mean they are more at risk from potholes and road debris
✗ Less powerful brakes and smaller tyre contact patch on the road, so don’t stop as well as a moped, especially in the wet
✗ No legal requirement for safety gear
VERDICT: Bad idea, unless you live where there’s an official trial
MOPED MOPED
✓ More comfortable to ride, thanks to suspension and bigger tyres
✓ 28mph top speed means a moped is quicker than an e-scooter
✓ If storage and practicality are important to you, a moped is streets ahead
✓ More secure, particularly when you tether it with a good quality
lock or store it in a garage or shed
✓ Cheap insurance
✓ Legal lights make a moped much safer at night
✓ Low running costs
✓ Mus t wear a helmet, which is vital for safety
✓ S ome electric two-wheelers qualify for a plugin vehicle grant
✗ C an’t carry a pillion passenger before A1 pass
VERDICT: Legal, better to ride –we’d choose a moped every time
2
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Defensive riding is all about staying one step ahead of the game, riding in a style and with a mindset that puts you in the safest position to deal with anything that the road – or other road users –can throw at you.
1 LOOK UP
The further you look up the road ahead, the more you’ll see. Move around in your lane if you need a better view and scan the upcoming road conditions a few car lengths ahead, to the road’s ‘vanishing point’. ‘Situational Awareness’ or knowing everything that’s going on around you is key to avoiding dangerous situations.
3
GOING
ROUND THE BEND
Losing control while going round a bend is one the biggest causes of accidents involving motorcycles. Left-hand bends present a bigger danger, because if you lose control here, you generally end up sliding into oncoming traffic.
2 ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS
The more time you have to react to a hazard the more likely you are to deal with it safely. Police riders recommend commenting aloud on an upcoming hazard, detailing what you intend to do as it gets closer. Try it.
3 PREDICT HAZARDS
A bus stop or parked cars can mean pedestrians; a bouncing ball in the road means children at play; a bare, open road means crosswinds. Experience can help you predict hazards before they appear. Search for the clues and plan accordingly.
ZONES DANGER
According to an in-depth study of motorcycle crashes, the most common accidents involve failing to negotiate bends on a country A-road, collisions at junctions, collisions while overtaking and loss of control!
4 CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS
Your rearward safety check can save your skin – hence why it’s known as the ‘lifesaver’.
5 GIVE YOURSELF SPACE
Staying a safe distance behind the vehicle in front gives you a better view ahead and room to stop in an emergency.
5 STEPS TO CORNERING SUCCESS
For each corner you take on two wheels, keep these five tips in mind!
1 INFORMATION
Consider all the information available in front and behind you, turn your head and use those mirrors! Allow for changes in the road surface and the impact that weather conditions have on the road.
2 YOUR POSITION
Your position on the road needs to keep your risk to a minimum and your vision of the bend ahead to the maximum. Be ready to change position in your lane if the situation changes as you go through the bend.
3 YOUR SPEED
Are you going too fast for the corner or your skill level? Ensure you adjust your speed for the bend ahead before you enter it.
4 CHOOSE YOUR GEAR
On a bike, the correct gear ratio gives you better control and allows the use of the throttle to react to any situation that may occur.
5 STOPPING DISTANCE
Can you stop in the distance you can see ahead? What if anything is in the road? Plan ahead and have an escape route if possible.
The HIERARCHY OF ROAD USERS
The Highway Code includes lots of advice about protecting the most vulnerable
YOU CAN DO A LOT MORE HARM WITH AN HGV THAN A 50CC MOPED. And a moped can do a lot more damage than a child on foot. That’s now reflected in the Highway Code.
Loads of changes were made in a big update in January 2022. Some existing rules were tidied up or clarified, but the guiding principle is the ‘hierarchy of road users’ – those who can do the greatest harm must take the
greatest responsibility.
The likes of HGV and coach drivers have the greatest duty to look out for other road users, because they’re driving the biggest, heaviest vehicles with the most potential to do damage. Pedestrians are at the opposite end of the hierarchy, as they’re likely to come off worst in any collision. Moped and motorbike riders sit near the middle, as they’re vulnerable to larger and heavier vehicles, but need to take extra care around horse riders, cyclists, and people on foot.
DELIVERING THE FOODS
GETTING PAID TO RIDE YOUR MOPED OR SCOOTER SOUNDS LIKE THE DREAM JOB. Choose a gig with a food delivery company and this could become reality, and you get to pick the working hours that suit you.
With the huge increase in the home food and takeaway delivery market since Covid, there’s been an increasing need for delivery riders. In the UK, this market grew by a quarter in 2021, and it’s estimated an extra 10,000 delivery riders are needed to
Making your scooter pay for itself is possible if you take on a delivery job.
Here’s what you need to know.
keep pace with demand.
For anyone with a moped or scooter, and their CBT completed, it can be a way to make your machine pay for itself. Some riders can earn up to £1000 per week, though £40 per daily shift is more common.
The big players in the home food delivery market are Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats. Each works in a similar way where you sign up and agree to their terms, download the work app to your phone, and start delivering food orders. Then the money starts rolling in!
HOW IT WORKS
The phone app will send through delivery orders, and you decide whether to take the job or not. If you do, the companies expect you to collect the food from the restaurant and deliver it promptly and safely. The more orders you deliver, the more you earn. To help with this, the app will always try to bundle together orders from the same restaurant that are being delivered to homes near each other. This saves you making multiple journeys back and forth to collect food and deliver it.
DELIVERING
However, you should remember that there will be slow periods, with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday reckoned to be the quietest days. Weekends are always busiest, especially around lunchtime and the evenings. Many riders choose to work only at busy times, though it also means there’s more competition for work.
PROS AND CONS
You have to bear in mind that big cities are where most of the work for food delivery riders will be. If you live in a small rural town, it could be
difficult to earn enough to justify the effort. You should also think about how long it will take to deliver an order. A scooter is ideal for short and medium distance orders, but anything over five miles can make it uneconomic to accept the job through the app.
Many delivery riders sign up to more than one company, maximising the number of orders they can choose to accept. However, you cannot deliver orders from different apps at the same time. Doing this can have you banned from the companies and leave you out of work.
CASE STUDY GETTING PAID TO RIDE
Dom Junec is a 19-yearold student living in London. He’s been riding a scooter for two years and has worked as a food delivery rider since he turned 18. He says:
“There are good and bad sides. The best bit is that I can fit delivering around my university work and social life. If I’m busy with one or the other, I don’t sign on to the app.
“Another upside is if I need a quick boost to my bank account, I can put in a long weekend of delivering and use the instant pay option to have the money straight away. This is really useful if my rent is due or a big bill crops up.
“I love riding my scooter around London, so this is a great job. It takes me to loads of places I would never know about, though I sometimes have to keep an eye on the scooter when I’m delivering, especially at night.
“As a part-time job, delivering food by scooter is good for a student, but it would be hard to earn a proper living. Even working seven days a week, there are slow times, and you have to factor in scooter running costs.”
NEED TO KNOW
WHAT YOU CAN EARN
It’s easy to be lured in by offers of earning up to £1000 per week as a food delivery rider. However, most riders will earn around £40 for a five-hour shift on a weekend evening. The more you work, the more you earn, so it is your decision how many hours to put in. Most food delivery apps pay per delivery, so it can be hard to earn much in quiet periods. At the time of writing, Deliveroo pays between £2.90 and £6 per delivery, and this is worked out on the distance you travel to deliver the food and if you can deliver multiple orders in a single journey. As we’ve mentioned, some riders sign up to several apps to keep themselves busy.
You must remember that you are self-employed, so you
will have to take care of paying any National Insurance. This is on top of paying for courier insurance for your moped or scooter, as well as maintenance and safety kit.
The good news is the delivery apps pay on a weekly basis, so you are not waiting for a long period for your money. You can also use an instant pay feature on most of the apps, where any money you have earned is paid immediately into your bank account. However, there is usually a fee for this and you can only do it a maximum of five times in a single week.
LEGAL STUFF
As a self-employed courier rider, you will have to inform your insurer that you are using your scooter or moped for delivery work. They may offer
OTHER WAYS TO EARN ON TWO WHEELS
If you don’t want to use your own scooter or moped to deliver food, there is still the more traditional option of working for a single restaurant. Many large pizza chains, such as Dominos, employ moped riders to deliver food in an area surrounding each restaurant.
The main advantages of working for this sort of company is they provide the moped, insurance and fuel, and you get a guaranteed wage per shift. For some, the downside is you have less flexibility about when you work and for how long.
an additional insurance for this, though it will be expensive. Or you can take out third-party cover with companies such as Zego, which works out at a around £5 per working day. However, not all insurance companies recognise Zego’s cover, which could leave you liable to paying the costs of another driver if you cause a crash.
To work as a delivery rider, you must be at least 18 years old and have a provisional licence and a CBT certificate, or a full UK licence. Companies will also ask to see valid insurance.
In return, the delivery companies provide liability insurance. They also provide a high-vis vest, an insulated backpack for the food, and a phone mount for your scooter’s handlebars.
£1,250+ WORTH OF
SCAN TO ENTER
PRIZES UP FOR GRABS
We’ve teamed up with our partners to offer a range of goodies in our free-to-enter prize draw. One lucky winner will scoop ALL the prizes!
BIKESURE INSURANCE
BIKETRAC
Discreet GPS/RF tracker that monitors any motorcycle or moped with notification of unauthorised movements and a theft response service. RRP £259 biketrac.co.uk
FREECOM 2X SINGLE
Get £150 off your next bike insurance policy, redeemable against any policy taken out with Bikesure Insurance. bikesure.co.uk
ULTIMATE EAR - FILTERED
Custom-made soft earplugs with filters for clear communication, protecting hearing from wind and engine noise while allowing use of helmet comms. RRP £95 ultimateear.com
MOTOGP IN FOCUS
Relive the 2024 MotoGP emotions with ‘MotoGP in Focus’: a 128-page, officially licensed book featuring rare imagery and behind-the-scenes photos. RRP: £45 mtcm.link/hpda
MOTORCYCLE LIVE TICKETS
Win a family ticket to Motorcycle Live 2026, the UK’s largest indoor motorcycle exhibition, with opportunities to ride, buy, try and enjoy all the show has to offer. RRP £51 motorcyclelive.co.uk
Enjoy next-level Bluetooth communication with FREECOM 2X: crisp JBL sound, live intercom, and intuitive controls. RRP £199.95 pama.com/cardo
PACKTALK NEO SINGLE
Cardo Systems’ PACKTALK Neo is a high-tech, Bluetoothenabled motorcycle communication headset. RRP £295.95 pama.com/cardo
FARMYARD PARTY
The Farmyard Party in North Yorkshire is one of the largest motorcycle rallies in Europe. There’s a couple of weekend tickets up for grabs! RRP £100 farmyardparty.com
BMF MEMBERSHIP
Access their legal support, discounted insurance, safety training, and community events, to enable networking with fellow enthusiasts, and a t-shirt too! RRP £58 britishmotorcyclists.co.uk
TOPTIP
Think about adding layers of security to your bike. A good lock is just the start. Consider where you park, fit a tracking device and add security marking as well. Every extra layer of security helps beat the thieves.
this). Look for devices with Thatcham approval. Just don’t think an immobiliser will stop a determined criminal. Many stolen bikes are pushed away then loaded into a van.
4: PARK CAREFULLY
Whenever possible, use a dedicated motorcycle parking bay with fixed locking points. Look on parkmark.co.uk to find a car park near your destination which is highly rated by the police for its security.
5: USE A LOCK WHEN YOU’RE OUT AND ABOUT
A good quality chain or D-lock will slow down a thief or persuade them to pinch another bike that’s less well protected. A disc-lock is a good lightweight option.
6: DON’T FORGET YOUR LID
Helmets are much cheaper than a bike but they’re also a lot easier to nick. Take your helmet with you when you park your bike or buy a lockable helmet bag. The best bags will protect your lid
from bad weather as well as theft, and they only cost £30 or so.
7: FIT A TRACKER
There are dedicated tracking devices from the likes of Tracker (tracker. co.uk). These use satellite, mobile phone, or VHF signals to keep tabs on your machine. Some high-end tracking devices use a combination of all three. A hidden Apple AirTag or Galaxy SmartTag are budget alternatives, but won’t offer all the features of a dedicated motorbike tracking device.
8: MARK IT
Security marks and tags from companies like Datatag (datatag.co.uk) aren’t just about recovering your bike if it’s stolen. Security marking systems that use a variety of different measures also act as a deterrent. If a thief sees that a bike is marked, the chances are they’ll move on to a bike that’s less well protected. Even if they do steal the bike, there’s a much better chance of having your pride and joy back if it’s been security marked. Yes, a criminal will try to find and remove all the tags, but they’ll struggle if the package includes etching that’s only visible under UV light, tiny data dots, and hidden transponders as well as visible warning labels. A Datatag security package will register your bike or moped with a database that can be accessed by the police, making it easy for the authorities to find you once the bike has been recovered.
“A good quality D-lock will slow down a thief or persuade them to pinch a bike that’s less well protected”
Thatcham is the insurance industry’s research body, so they know a thing or two about bike security. It’s easy to be confused by Thatcham security ratings. Category 1 must be better than Category 2, right? Wrong. The various categories are for different types of security product, so one isn’t better than the other – just different.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
CAT 1: Alarm and immobiliser
CAT 2: Immobiliser only
CAT 2.1: A retrofit alarm upgrade meeting the requirements of Cat 1
CAT 3: No longer available
CAT 4: Locking wheelnuts
S5: Stolen vehicle recovery products with a ‘Driver ID’ fob
S7: Stolen vehicle recovery products
Whether you’ve just passed your CBT or hold a category A, A2 or A1 licence, we can help you find great cover at a lower price than you might think. Policy benefits can include:
£100,000 of free legal cover
Premiums available for experienced and novice young bikers
Repairs guaranteed for three years*
Direct debit available for 16 year olds (subject to guarantor)
INSURANCE: GET COVERED
Paying for insurance is one of the least fun things about riding a bike. But you’ll be glad you sorted cover if you need to make a claim
If you’re riding a moped or motorbike, it needs to be insured. It’s not just the smart thing to do – it’s a legal requirement. Get caught without insurance and you could be landed with six penalty points and a fine. You could even end up in court.
The good news is cover for a moped or small-capacity motorbike is usually cheaper than car insurance. According to Comparethemarket. com, the average price of motorbike insurance is £652 per year, compared with £729 for a car. It’s one of the many ways that choosing two wheels rather than four can save you money.
WHAT TYPES OF INSURANCE ARE THERE?
Third party. The most basic kind of cover, and the minimum legal requirement. Third party covers the cost of damage or injury to another person and their property. It
doesn’t cover any damage to your bike and won’t pay out if your bike is stolen.
Third party, fire and theft. If your bike is nicked, or gets damaged by fire, this type of insurance should pay out. Otherwise it offers the same cover as a basic third-party policy. Fully comprehensive. Unless you are on the tightest of tight budgets, this is the type of insurance you want. Not only does it pay out if your bike is stolen or burnt in a fire, it also covers you and your bike if you have a crash or collision, even if it turns out to have been your fault.
WHAT IF I’M COMMUTING BY BIKE?
If you are going to work on your bike, make sure the policy covers ‘social, domestic, pleasure and commuting’ rather than ‘social, domestic and pleasure’.
TOPTIP
Never choose a bike insurance:beforecheckingthecostof itisabigchunkof whatyouspendtogetonthe insurersroad.Donot‘forget’totell aboutanychanges or modifications to the machine either.
It gets a bit more complicated if you are at college or uni. Does heading onto campus for a lecture count as commuting? Different insurers treat this differently, so your best bet is to give them a call.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU CRASH
Safe riding, great kit and a well-maintained motorcycle are great ways to avoid collisions. However, mistakes do happen, so you need to know what to do when the worst occurs.
The most vital check is to make sure you’re not injured. Immediately after a collision, adrenaline can mask serious wounds, so take the time to assess how you feel. If there’s any pain, call an ambulance as it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Then check anyone else involved.
Even if you’re at fault, it’s best not to admit liability. Stay calm and gather the details. Use your phone to photograph any damage, the surrounding road and area, and video it too. It’s all very helpful when making an insurance claim and if the police become involved.
If you don’t swap details with the other party at the scene, you must give your details to the police within 24 hours. You should contact your insurer as quickly as possible too.
Afterwards, take the time to talk with family and friends. Being in a collision is stressful, so don’t let anxiety build up.
COLLISION CHECKLIST
LIFE SAVINGSKILLS
Take a Biker Down course: it could help you save another rider’s life
Would you know what to do if you came around a corner and found another biker lying in the road? That’s the question posed by Biker Down, a first aid course for motorcyclists. Actually, Biker Down covers more than first aid. Over three hours or so you learn how to keep yourself and others safe at the scene of a crash, as well as tips on being seen by other road users.
SAFETY FIRST
So, back to scene of the collision. There’s not just another biker, but a car as well, with an injured driver and passenger. Whose safety do you need to attend to first? Yours.
Jim Sanderson, the course’s founder and a crew manager with the Kent Fire and Rescue service, explains. “If a fire fighter attends a road traffic collision, their first job is to make sure the scene is safe for the crew to work. It’s the same for a biker. You might have to walk past people who are lying on the ground screaming to go up to the first
bend and stop the next car from coming around the corner.
“If you get caught up helping people and a car comes around the bend and hits everyone, you’ve failed.”
Likewise think carefully before using your own bike with hazard lights on as a warning to other road users. If it is too close to the scene it could be hit by another vehicle causing further injuries – or worse.
LOOK OUT FOR THE QUIET ONES
The first of Biker Down’s three modules tells you all about incident scene management. This includes deciding who needs your help first.
It’s probably not the person making the most noise. Check anyone who is quiet and not moving first for breathing and a pulse.
DOING YOUR BEST BEATS DOING NOTHING
In Module 2, Biker Down moves on to casualty care. You’ll learn all sorts of techniques, including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
The best way to learn CPR is on a course where you can practise hands on. But here are the basics:
● Kneel next to the person and place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of their chest. Place the palm of your other hand on top of the hand on the chest. Interlock your fingers.
● Position your shoulders directly above your hands.
● Use your bodyweight (not just your arms) to press down straight by 5-6cm.
● Keeping your hands on their chest, allow the chest to return to its original position.
● Repeat these compressions 100 to 120 times a minute.
If you haven’t been on a first aid course recently, you may not be confident in the technique. But it’s better to try to save a life than to always wonder if you could have made a difference.
MYTH
“I should never take off another biker’s helmet after a crash.”
Wrong. If a biker’s airway is obstructed or they’re not breathing, you will need to remove their helmet to clear the airway or perform CPR with rescue breaths. Biker Down teaches how to do it.
FIRST AID KIT FOR BIKES
There are first aid kits designed specifically for motorcycle use, such as those from Held and Qbag. They can be stowed under the seat, so they’re always there when you need them. They come with all the basics to deal with cuts
and burns. Look for a kit that meets the DIN 131672014 standard, which is specific to motorcycles. A good quality, compact first aid kit for your bike costs from less than £10, so there’s no excuse for not carrying one.
CHECK IT OUT!
Do these simple checks before each ride to keep your bike working safely and reliably
3 - ELECTRICS
1 - DAMAGE
Check for damage when cleaning your bike, such as loose wires and bolts and cracked light lenses.
2 - PETROL
It’s important to have enough fuel. Also, if you decide to lay your bike up for a long time, either fill your tank with fuel or drain it completely, or risk engine damage.
6 8 1 7 4 5 2 3
Check the lights before each ride, including indicators. Remember to check that both the rear brake pedal and front brake lever operate the brake lights and give the horn a quick toot.
4 - RUBBER
Check the pressures when the tyres are cold because the pressure will read higher when they’re hot. See that the tread depth of both tyres is greater than 1.0mm, as this is the minimum for motorcycle tyres in the UK. Clear out any small stones from within the tread and ensure there’s nothing penetrating the tyre.
5 - DRIVE CHAIN
Check the tension of the chain – it should have around an inch of slack. Clean and lubricate the chain regularly.
7 - COOLANT
If the coolant level is low don’t use tap water! Always top-up with a mix of distilled water and anti-freeze (50% of each). Anti-freeze not only keeps the coolant from freezing in the winter, but also helps to stop your bike from overheating in the summer.
6 - OIL
Check the oil level by using the dipstick or ‘spyglass’ in the side of the engine. Get the bike on its centre-stand or get someone to sit on the bike to keep it vertical. Never overfill your oil tank!
8 - BRAKES
Wheel the bike along and feel for resistance or pulsing at the lever, indicating binding calipers or warped discs. Check the brakes bite when you squeeze the lever and that the pads have plenty of wear left. Make sure the level of the fluid in the brake reservoir is within the marked area.
BETTER RIDER BE A
Further training will make biking more fun – and could cut the cost of insurance
THE BETTER YOU RIDE, THE MORE ENJOYABLE BIKING BECOMES. There are few things as satisfying as honing a new skill, and with motorcycles there are so many new skills to learn.
Mopeds and motorbikes get under your skin, and becoming a better rider will be part of what drives you on. These are some of the schemes that can improve your riding, and often reduce your insurance premium too.
BIKER DOWN
A free three-hour course, Biker Down covers accident scene management, first aid for motorcyclists, and the science of being seen. bikerdown.co.uk
BIKESAFE
BikeSafe is a national motorcycle initiative run by the police. Workshops involve an observed ride with a police-graded motorcyclist or an approved BikeSafe observer. Many police forces in England and Wales are involved in BikeSafe, with 75 workshop venues. BikeSafe costs £84 per rider. bikesafe.co.uk
ENHANCED RIDER SCHEME
The Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) is run by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA). Costs vary depending on how much training you need. gov. uk/enhanced-rider-scheme
JOIN THE CLUB
BRITISH MOTORCYCLISTS FEDERATION
The BMF promotes motorcycling, campaigns for bikers’ rights, and runs shows and rallies across the UK. There are more than 200 local clubs affiliated to the BMF across the country. Membership costs £28 per year (£34 for two people living at the same address). bmf.co.uk
IAM ROADSMART
The Advanced Rider course costs £215. You’ll be paired with one of IAM’s observers, who will help develop core skills including road positioning and bike control. You’ll also receive a handbook and associate membership of IAM RoadSmart. After several rides the observer will decide you are ready for the test. Once you pass, full IAM RoadSmart membership will cost you £47. iamroadsmart.com
MOTORCYCLE ACTION GROUP
Run by volunteers, MAG promotes motorcycling in the UK and stands up for riders’ rights. It runs both national and local events, and offers members various benefits including discounted insurance. It costs £30 for single membership and £45 for two adults. mag-uk.org
INSURANCE FOR YOUNG RIDERS
Premiums
