Completely new

[Defender]

Hi All

Well here goes, I am not only new to this forum & BMW motorbikes but new to motorbikes full stop. I'm not sure if I am cracking up or gone completely mad but at the age of 48 and never having had a motorbike before I decided to learn to ride one.
You hear all these stories about midlife crisis and motorbikes and I'm not sure if that is part of my decision but the main reason is due to work relocating from Bolton to Trafford Park in Manchester later this year. Commuting to and from Trafford Park in rush hour in my car with traffic congestion could add 2 or 3 hours on my day so I made the descision to buy a moped for the commute and avoid the congested M60 ring road.
Looking into this and how to get a licence lead me to the DAS which untill now I had never heard of. An internet search for local DAS lead me to the Williams BMW site that ends up with you on a F650GS which was a very pleasant eye opener for me because althought not being into bikes whenever I did see one I liked it was always a BMW cruiser type with panniers etc. (I do a lot of camping in the lakes and see lots of touring camper bikers)
So more internet research on various motorbikes and my mind was made up, I deffinately wanted an F650GS and my mind was now moving at a zillion mph. I tried to slow myself down but found myself looking at 'Bikes for Sale' just in the name of research you understand.
One particular bike really caught my eye a 2008 F650GS single Ex Police bike listed as only being used for shows with only 1,200 miles. 'But no don't be stupid Kev you can't buy a bike before you can even ride one' my head said! 'especially a 650 BMW' ...' buy a moped you idiot'.... then I fealt it, that nervous feeling in my stomach I get when I'm going to spend money. NO DON'T DO IT KEV!' just ring up find out it is sold and get it out of your system'. What a good Idea!
Sorry for the long introduction but I wanted you to know from the beggining what a numpty I am and warn you about how much help I need and stupid Q's I may be asking....

THE BIKE ARRIVES TOMORROW!!!!!!!!

[Ian Porter]

another nutter joins the madhouse

welcome on board mate

[driftershooter]

He sounds like a nice nutter though eh, welcome to the best forum

[Ian Porter]

Originally Posted by driftershooter

He sounds like a nice nutter though eh, welcome to the best forum

Oh yes,

I'm just wondering why he waited so long for a mid-life crisis, I had mine booked from my mid 30s and as soon as I hit 40 bought another bike

now just get that test taken and get out there

[driftershooter]

Me too, i'm quite enjoying my mid life crises, at leat 9 yrs so far, hahahaha eh!

[ribblerouser]

I started riding at eighteen, does that mean my mid-life crisis started then? Welcome along, the F650 is a pretty good tool for the daily commute, it does everything competently and gives good mpg into the bargain. A much better choice than a moped, who wants to go up the Kirkstone Pass trailing blue smoke with two miles of crawling traffic behind you?

Regards

[Ton]

Hi
Welcome here

I am coming over at christmas as my father in law lives in Bury. We used to live in Whitefield. I f you haven't passed your test by that time I can always buy the bike from you.

Ton

[Defender]

Many thanks for the warm welcome chaps. Well it arrived from Scotland tonight It's very nice but I am quite nervous now, I will have to garage it now untill I've made in roads into the DAS.
I will keep lurking and post again as I progress. Ton if I've not passed my test by Christmas you can come and show me where I'm going wrong???
Thanks again.
Kevan

[Ton]

I only had 2 lessons on the motorbike with one year in between both and did the test and passed. Must have been one of the few times that I have been lucky.
We canalways go for a pint and have a chat about it. Any excuse to go for a drink.

Ton

[stormfield]

At least in this country you can get the licence for a F650 in a relatively shorter time. I did mine in south east asia which went in 3 stages. the first allowed only up to a 200cc, then the second stage a 400cc and finally the "any size bike" licence. Took about 4 years and three bikes to get there

Good luck with the test