Which type of motorbike is the least expensive?

Question

What age must you be to ride each type of bike and how do instructors actually teach you?

Answer 1

Well, if you're buying new, a 125 to 250cc dirtbike is probably your all-around cheapest motorbike.  250cc "cruisers" are a little more expensive but still very cheap (around $3000 for the Honda Rebel for example).  Beyond those bikes, prices rise sharply.  Of course, 50cc scooters and mopeds are cheap and often do not require licensing.

Used, the cheapest bikes are old Japanese standards.  They are good bikes and often in great condition but finding parts and service for them can be very difficult.

If you take a motorcycling class, you will have a mix of classroom instruction and directed practice on a low-speed course in a parking lot.  More advanced classes may include road time.

Answer 2

I am based in Belfast and the law is different in the rest of the UK

Basically I think you can ride a 50cc moped when you are 16 and a 125cc bike or moped when you turn 17. In both cases all you need are a provisional licence which you can get by applying. In order to tax the vehicle you need insurance and an MOT certificate if the bike is over 3 years old.

In terms of overall cost a 125 is probably the cheapest if you buy it used. You will probably see second hand 50cc mopeds advertised cheaper, but they are cheap because they are bought and thrashed for a year. They are very had to shift.

If you do decide to do your test, you must do it in a bike which is between 120 cc and 125 cc so a 50cc moped is useless.

Go for something like a Honda. They are normally good quality and easy to maintain.

Just be careful and check they did not once belong to a driving school.

The way you are taught in the riding school is that you book your lesson and then show up. They have all the gear and the bikes but you can bring your own if you want to. They put an earpiece in your helmet and a microphone in their so they can give you instructions. You normally drive in front of your instructor and they give you pointers and tell you what to do.

Hope this helps.