Let's Bike It With The GS - 4. Getting prepared and pass my Motorcycle driven license exam!
Hi Internet,
I posted my Article 1,2 and 3 already so if you did not read them yet, I encourage you to do so ! :)
So, continuing on my story, I was dreaming quiet often, almost every night that I was driving with a big motorbike after I test drove the T-Max I mentioned in my Article #3!
Till a day came up when I decided to pass the motorcycle theoretical exam.
Bear in mind Internet: I did not study anything related to the theory at all! I just said to myself "it should be all okay since I still know how the on- road's rules work".
So I went directly to pass the theory exam at the office center based in Brussels!
Once I arrived there, I gave my personal ID to the office employee to register so I can take place to proceed further.
I got then a seat and a PC I used to pass the exam, and when it started, I had to answer to 50 theoretical questions.
Getting stressed about timing and the fact that I didn't get prepared for it, meaning I kept what I already studied 8 years ago when I did it for getting my car's driving license, I just had to believe in myself and take the best answer I considered to be correct.
So after a few moment later I ended with the exam, left my place and went back to the office employee so he would make me aware of the outcome...
I took the paper he gave to me, I read on it " You got 46 questions correct out of the 50, you did pass the exam successfully, congratulations!".
I was so exited Internet, really, so happy that I forgot my ID there in the exam center so I had to come back taking it later :)
At that moment I knew I passed the exam successfully, I really got the feeling I'm having some chunks of biker's life on me.
Time came to pursue with the next step.
I had to take riding course instructions which are mandatory. In my case I was so waiting for it because I never drove a motorcycle in my life so I was impatient to make my first hour and see my progression.
When I found the agency, I subscribed for taking 12h riding instructions!
During my first hour I felt confident learning to ride the motorcycle. At that time the agency provided me with the Yamaha MT07 to ride with during the course instructions.
Once I completed all my 12 hours instructions, something is telling me "well done Hamza, you are now able to ride with a big motorcycle, that's great! But look, at the moment you're just stuck because of your Kimco 125cc scooter! You need a big one".
All I knew at that moment was that I needed to buy a motorcycle! But which brand, model, engine.... I was completely lost ! At one part, I had to find a solution to sell my scooter bike quickly, and at the other part, I needed to discover the motorcycle models and different brands from scratch, .
As this task was but not easy for me, whenever I saw a biker (with his motorcycle of course) on the road, I used to stop him and ask questions like "what are the brands I can focus on and see the models they have? what are the popular bikes I should consider for a beginners?".
Until I discussed with couple of bikers, I could collect some brands names and models, but I still had no idea which bike is convenient for my usage.
So I visited the first showroom from Yahama! I told them that I was looking for a good bike, quiet comfortable which allows me to ride with some long distances.
They presented to me the FJR 1300 one, I liked it actually and I could still not ask for a test drive since I did not obtain yet my driving license (on learning).
After visiting Yamaha I went to a Kawasaki dealership and saw couple of models out there.
I haven't been convinced to select any models from Kawasaki by considering comfort and long distance when I saw them, they pretty looked sportive, more racing-bike.
So I left the dealership and went out to go to Harley Davidson's direction!
People at Harley Davidson where very cool, friendly talking, making you confident, that's for sure!
One model I liked, was the Electra Glide, quiet impressive! I found it heavy (coming from the MT07) and also expensive.
I finished my day on it, I then took the time to get some reflection on everything I saw during the journey!
The conclusion was that I still needed to look at other bikes so I will buy the right one!
Meanwhile, I found someone who was willing to buy my Kymco scooter, and I sold it at 2000 Eur!
Few days after, I took a road from Brussels to a City called Ninove for shopping, and when I passed through Dilbeek (between Brussels and Ninove) I put my attention on my right side, discovering a BMW Motorrad dealership! I had to stop there !
Once I entered in the showroom, I saw some very nice bikes! But as I couldn't make the difference between all of them, I was waiting for the advisor to come up and giving me more insights!
Based on the criteria's I gave to him like above, he presented me the R1200 RT (similar to the FJR 1300), and I was amazed by the bike! He made me an offer and I asked him the question "what bike is actually fitting the best to do everything with: long road distance, off-roading, etc" then he replied "You need to seriously think about the R1200 GS or R 1200 GS Adventure!". We walked in the showroom again and then we stopped so he could show me what bike we were talking about.
When I saw the 1200 GS, I felt like there is something in this bike I love which I did not find in the other ones!
Again, buying a bike without test driving it, it's just weird !
So guess what I did....
Yes, you're correct, Internet! I visited one more time the Belgian second hands website and searched for "1200 GS" :).
When I found a nice 1200 GS one, very clean and got its historical maintenance on time, perfectly on point, I decided to call and meet the owner who was selling it! It was a 2005 model as my budget was very limited!
He came with the bike to my home. Once I looked at the bike, I managed for a test drive.
Clearly, Internet, I could not express what I felt, I...just...felt in love with this bike!
Please follow now and pay attention how I did manage to get the bike, it was just crazy!
As I really felt in love with the 1200GS, I really wanted to buy it from him, Internet!
The owner is selling it and you probably understood that he needs some cash! He asked 6500 Eur for it.
The problem was that I only had 2000 Eur with me because I sold the Kymco scooter if you remember, Internet!
So I kept to struggle and inside of me I was yelling like "You're losing his time and yours, you only have 2000 Eur while he ask 6500 Eur for the 1200GS!"
I was thinking how can I get this bike... and now...
For me it was like a lost, so what I did is I asked him to go up in my home so we can take a coffee or a drink and discuss!
We entered in my house, I prepared for him the coffee, and I told him "look, to be honest with you, I just sold my scooter bike and I only have 2000 Eur for the moment. Can we find an arrangement together?". When I told him that, He looked at my computer, it was the newest Macbook Pro 15" I just bold from an Apple reseller store. Then he asked "Is this the newest generation of the Macbook Pro?"
I told him "Yes, it is, why ?" then he replied "Because I need to buy one as well, but cheaper from the store as it's quiet expensive".
Believe me again Internet, all I wanted, was to get the 1200GS for me today, and I had to tell him "look, if you do an effort from your side and I do from my side, we can now find out with an agreement! I propose you sell to me your bike, I give you the 2000 Eur here, and on top I also gave you this new Macbook Pro pretty new with its cases, bag and some extra accessories!".
Internet, if you comment here and you tell me that I was crazy, I would agree with you at 100% :)
But just guess what! He accepted! He called his girlfriend to take him back at home and left me the bike!
And I finally got my first big bike ever, Internet!
What do you think about it, Internet? Please leave your comment!
Note that I got my first bike now but I did not get yet my driving license! Above I told you that I passed successfully my Theoretical exam and some riding course instructions.
Then I passed all the remaining hours left!
After that I arranged for taking an appointment to pass the next two last exams: the move/exercise and the on-road exam! Something made me hurt during one of these exams!
I'm gonna talk about it in my next Article!
This article is amazing.
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