It's 21 and over. All the details you need are on this page:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Mo ... yclesAndMopeds/DG_4022568

So if you're 21 now you'll be able to do it. Don't forget to:

a) get an insurance quote (this can put paid to a lot of dreams, I wish you luck)
b) Budget for a helmet (I'd go for the most comfortable and light ACU Gold approved helmet you can afford)
c) Gloves, boots and a jacket with elbow/shoulder/back protectors.

It's up to you what level of protection you want to buy, and it's not all that expensive. Sometimes even Lidl do cheap bike stuff that will tide you over while you save up for more hard-wearing/longer lasting stuff.

Lidl have just had a load of bike gear in just last week, if you rush you might be able to still find some, the jackets and trousers are pretty decent.

As for DAS, yeah, aslong as you are over 21 you can do it, but this IS going to change next year, so better get ya skates on.

You shouldn't have any bother insuring a CB500, quite a fun little bike to ride infact.

Quote from Christofire :

It's 21 and over. All the details you need are on this page:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Mo ... yclesAndMopeds/DG_4022568

So if you're 21 now you'll be able to do it. Don't forget to:

a) get an insurance quote (this can put paid to a lot of dreams, I wish you luck)
b) Budget for a helmet (I'd go for the most comfortable and light ACU Gold approved helmet you can afford)
c) Gloves, boots and a jacket with elbow/shoulder/back protectors.

It's up to you what level of protection you want to buy, and it's not all that expensive. Sometimes even Lidl do cheap bike stuff that will tide you over while you save up for more hard-wearing/longer lasting stuff.

Handy webby, when I was flapping about in google yesterday it only turned up local sites that weren't much use. I budgeted in for insurance (just got a quote of 800), and gear.

I'll go all out on a helmet though, not one of those things one wants to go cheap on. Looks like I'll be working my nads off to get the figure, plus a tad extra to be safe (about £4,500).

I shouldn't have mentioned bikes to my family or friends at home, everyone of them expect me to be in a crash and die within a year. XD

Quote from P5YcHoM4N :

I shouldn't have mentioned bikes to my family or friends at home, everyone of them expect me to be in a crash and die within a year. XD

Get used to it, it's a normal response from cagers

Quote from danowat :

Get used to it, it's a normal response from cagers

Haha, cagers. Guess it wouldn't be as fun if there wasn't risk of death.

Wee, I just got my quote lower £480. Yay for cheaper insurance. Now all I need is moolar

DAS is great, do it while you still can.
Kwak ER-5s are good bikes too, very similar to the CB but a bit on the cheaper side.

Quote from sinbad :

DAS is great, do it while you still can.
Kwak ER-5s are good bikes too, very similar to the CB but a bit on the cheaper side.

How are you getting on with the SV Sinbad?

I love it, especially now the weather's turning a bit nicer, had some great rides. I'm starting to use closer to what it has to offer now too, but I'm not pining for anything faster just yet, this is more than quick enough to get me into trouble (in corners and with the police) if I'm not careful.

Nice one, sounds like you are having fun, where abouts do you do most of your rideouts?.

I have been to Willingham woods near Market Rasen, but its a fair ride for me, and I tend to stay around the east of England, Hunstanton, Cromer, Yarmouth etc etc

Usually either into the Pennines, Buxton area via Congleton or Macclesfield and the fabled "Cat and Fiddle", destroyed by a blanket 50mph speed limit and constant police presence whenever the sun shines btw, or I go the other way and hit some of the excellent Welsh roads. Usually I'm just happy to be out on the bike and I don't mind where I ride, although it feels like less of a waste of petrol if I actually have a destination in mind when I set off

im pretty much gonna miss this summer, army training starts april 30th, and im not allowed off base for the first 7 weeks. grr. but its all money in the back for when i move in a long time from now.

P5YcHoM4N: Don't go overboard on the lids. My first cost £80 and I'm still here after giving it a real crash-test. I've spent upto £300 on a lid, but my next will probably be a sweet carbon-fibre job that a mate showed me the other week. About £150 he reckoned, and very light.

danowat: Yeah, it was Lidl's bike-discount week or something. If I'd needed anything I'd have gone for a look. I don't mind paying for stuff that's worth it, but you'd be a fool to pass up on a bargain.

Sinbad: Sounds like you're in my neck of the woods, or not too far anyway. There's some good alternatives to the cat n fiddle - I'll have to show you them. I used to have an SV and loved it.

Quote from Christofire :

P5YcHoM4N: Don't go overboard on the lids. My first cost £80 and I'm still here after giving it a real crash-test. I've spent upto £300 on a lid, but my next will probably be a sweet carbon-fibre job that a mate showed me the other week. About £150 he reckoned, and very light.

Well the cost of the lid I'm on the fence about, the plus to a cheap one is if I crash it doesn't cost much to replace, but then you get what you pay for, so I don't want to go too cheap so if I do crash I don't turn my brain into a bowl of jelly.

For a minimum standard, make sure it has an ACU gold sticker. This is a basic standard used to make sure that a racer's helmet is suitable for the event. For an example, see the helmets on this page:
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.emerson/gpa/

The one third from bottom shows it quite clearly. My google-fu is weak tonight though - I can't find any clearer stickers.

Quote from Christofire :

For a minimum standard, make sure it has an ACU gold sticker. This is a basic standard used to make sure that a racer's helmet is suitable for the event. For an example, see the helmets on this page:
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.emerson/gpa/

The one third from bottom shows it quite clearly. My google-fu is weak tonight though - I can't find any clearer stickers.

That's an absolute minimum. Even those LIDL 25 quid lids scraped through whatever totally lax tests they do for that thing.
New rating system on the way I think. Till then, go for a recognised brand and buy the best you can afford, within reason, I don't think there's as big a difference between a £450 lid and a £200 lid as there is between a £200 lid and a £50 one.

Once you get to about the £200 mark, they are only getting lighter. Thats the basic summery, so I'd go for about £200 for a lid.

Yeah, I've had an £80 lid, £200 lid, and I'm looking to replace that now. I've tried a £450 Arai, and while it was lovely, I'm not sure that it's worth 250 notes more than the £200 lid.

The carbon-fibre one I held the other weekend looked well worth the £150 asking price.

Edit:

Also, Aldi have some cheap gear that might help get you started, on sale on Thursday. You might want to cast a critical eye over it before buying and imagine how it might hold up to a spill.