Got my CBT today. 9.30 start, cold and wet. Bike was a Honda 125. Can't remember the model but it had a carb and was air cooled. Took me a while to get used to the extra weight and the clutch control at slow speeds but once I was on the road it was a lot better. My main problem was remembering to cancel my indicators. Instructor said it's a common problem for car users. Said my observation and awareness was spot on though as was my anticipation. We rode for an hour and my weaknesses came out, mainly ones due to be being new to a bike like changing gear and finding neutral, not braking with both brakes, forgetting about the indicators. We stopped for a coffee and to warm up and to have a bit of a stretch. That stop made all the difference. Any hesitancy I had went, didn't miss out cancelling an indicator, gear changes were a lot smoother. I really enjoyed it towards the end even though the bike struggled up the odd hill. Getting used to having high revs is another thing I've yet to get used to and being in lower gears than normal too. I was getting annoyed with myself if I made a mistake but he kept reminding me that I'd never ridden a bike before and within 5 hours gone from nothing to riding with very few problems.

I'll book my theory once I'm ready then I'll do a pre mod 1 course and some extra road driving on a 500cc before my test. Works out a lot cheaper doing it that way plus I'm riding the size of bike I want to eventually ride sooner.

Japanese Ducati

Haha

Got my CBT today. 9.30 start, cold and wet. Bike was a Honda 125. Can't remember the model but it had a carb and was air cooled. Took me a while to get used to the extra weight and the clutch control at slow speeds but once I was on the road it was a lot better. My main problem was remembering to cancel my indicators. Instructor said it's a common problem for car users. Said my observation and awareness was spot on though as was my anticipation. We rode for an hour and my weaknesses came out, mainly ones due to be being new to a bike like changing gear and finding neutral, not braking with both brakes, forgetting about the indicators. We stopped for a coffee and to warm up and to have a bit of a stretch. That stop made all the difference. Any hesitancy I had went, didn't miss out cancelling an indicator, gear changes were a lot smoother. I really enjoyed it towards the end even though the bike struggled up the odd hill. Getting used to having high revs is another thing I've yet to get used to and being in lower gears than normal too. I was getting annoyed with myself if I made a mistake but he kept reminding me that I'd never ridden a bike before and within 5 hours gone from nothing to riding with very few problems.

I'll book my theory once I'm ready then I'll do a pre mod 1 course and some extra road driving on a 500cc before my test. Works out a lot cheaper doing it that way plus I'm riding the size of bike I want to eventually ride sooner.

Great news all happening in time for summer by looks of it :sun:

Got my CBT today.

Nice one fella.

Great news all happening in time for summer by looks of it :sun:

Hoping so. When I first got on the bike the adjustment to hand controls was a bit odd and at first I thought I have no hope on a bigger bike. But once I tried a bit more speed I found it helped massively and the more I relaxed the easier it became. Lots to learn but it's exciting again. Reminds me a lot of the excitement I had when learning to drive a car and I've missed that a lot lately. Was much happier times back then. Steering is fine and is instinctual at normal speed just like my road bike only a lot easier over rough bits of road.

Got my CBT today. 9.30 start, cold and wet. Bike was a Honda 125. Can't remember the model but it had a carb and was air cooled. Took me a while to get used to the extra weight and the clutch control at slow speeds but once I was on the road it was a lot better. My main problem was remembering to cancel my indicators. Instructor said it's a common problem for car users. Said my observation and awareness was spot on though as was my anticipation. We rode for an hour and my weaknesses came out, mainly ones due to be being new to a bike like changing gear and finding neutral, not braking with both brakes, forgetting about the indicators. We stopped for a coffee and to warm up and to have a bit of a stretch. That stop made all the difference. Any hesitancy I had went, didn't miss out cancelling an indicator, gear changes were a lot smoother. I really enjoyed it towards the end even though the bike struggled up the odd hill. Getting used to having high revs is another thing I've yet to get used to and being in lower gears than normal too. I was getting annoyed with myself if I made a mistake but he kept reminding me that I'd never ridden a bike before and within 5 hours gone from nothing to riding with very few problems.

I'll book my theory once I'm ready then I'll do a pre mod 1 course and some extra road driving on a 500cc before my test. Works out a lot cheaper doing it that way plus I'm riding the size of bike I want to eventually ride sooner.

Great news, but what's with the braking with both brakes? I understand in the wet, is this what they teach for all braking nowadays?

Maybe it's because I ride an Aprilia and the back brake is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard

Just seen this vid thought you all might enjoy it, we have all been there a few times id say!

Great news, but what's with the braking with both brakes? I understand in the wet, is this what they teach for all braking nowadays?

Maybe it's because I ride an Aprilia and the back brake is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard

Got to admit I rarely touch the back brake :no: When I first started riding I had a terrible habit of changing down to "first" much too early when approaching junctions, letting the clutch fly out and locking up the rear wheel :S Got through one or two back tyres like that

Got to admit I rarely touch the back brake :no: When I first started riding I had a terrible habit of changing down to "first" much too early when approaching junctions, letting the clutch fly out and locking up the rear wheel :S Got through one or two back tyres like that

When I broke my leg and doctor was joking you won't be ridding for 6 months, I replied "I don't think so I don't need my right leg to ride" :p surgeon was a biker too

Less than 3 months later before being able to stand I rode my at the time new bike (ZZR1400) across the gravelly yard and up onto my trailer. What a first ride! lololol Made my month that 60 seconds!

When I broke my leg and doctor was joking you won't be ridding for 6 months, I replied "I don't think so I don't need my right leg to ride" :p surgeon was a biker too

Less than 3 months later before being able to stand I rode my at the time new bike (ZZR1400) across the gravelly yard and up onto my trailer. What a first ride! lololol Made my month that 60 seconds!

I have this weird thing though that I "have to" get on my Bike from the lefthand side - have been laughed at many times for walking around the bike to get on from the other side - is it just me ???? - please say no ....................................................................someone??????

I have this weird thing though that I "have to" get on my Bike from the lefthand side - have been laughed at many times for walking around the bike to get on from the other side - is it just me ???? - please say no ....................................................................someone??????

I always got on from the left and put my right glove on first, thems the rules! I think I was told for test that I had to get on from left, true or not I stuck by it. Plus its a lot harder to swing the old leg over from right!

I always got on from the left and put my right glove on first, thems the rules! I think I was told for test that I had to get on from left, true or not I stuck by it. Plus its a lot harder to swing the old leg over from right!

Thank goodness - you've made my day no longer will I hang my head in shame walking around the back of the bike . Why is it though that it seem harder to throw left leg over?? - I do Tae Kwondo and kick better with the left, so doesn't make any sense at all :no:

Thank goodness - you've made my day no longer will I hang my head in shame walking around the back of the bike . Why is it though that it seem harder to throw left leg over?? - I do Tae Kwondo and kick better with the left, so doesn't make any sense at all :no:

It's a more stable and natural way to get on as your left leg can go straight and firm to the ground rather than the other side some have to more or less hop on. I don't recall anyone ever laughing at me walking around but I am going to be very conscious of it now. :peek:

It's a more stable and natural way to get on as your left leg can go straight and firm to the ground rather than the other side some have to more or less hop on. I don't recall anyone ever laughing at me walking around but I am going to be very conscious of it now. :peek:

Maybe they daren't - you probably look fiercer than me ( I mean that in the nicest possible way) !!!

Maybe they daren't - you probably look fiercer than me ( I mean that in the nicest possible way) !!!

Nah not a fierce looking soul at all. Here is only vid I can find shows I get off on left too could have let the wee 3 wheel 'thing' out when I came into car park but .... there is a hierarchy which must be followed when it comes to these things. Plus there was a remote chance he was after my space! :p

I always got on from the left. But that was because when it's on the side stand it's lower on the side and more natural to swing a leg over.

Another left sider here lol, always remember from when i done my cbt the instructor said its safer from that side as you can go straight to covering the front brake incase bike pushes forward.

Just stuck with me all these years later.

Got to admit I rarely touch the back brake :no: When I first started riding I had a terrible habit of changing down to "first" much too early when approaching junctions, letting the clutch fly out and locking up the rear wheel :S Got through one or two back tyres like that

I only used the rear brake on the supermoto, just a dab to get the rear to break traction ;-)

Rear brake for low speed stuff or if I'd really gone into a corner too quick. You can get away with a little rear braking into a corner. Front'll kill ya.

Slowing to a halt shift the braking from front to rear to stop the bike diving so much at lights etc.

Great news, but what's with the braking with both brakes? I understand in the wet, is this what they teach for all braking nowadays?

Maybe it's because I ride an Aprilia and the back brake is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard

Back brake took a while to get used to and I didn't really like using it. Plus force of habit using a road bike I was always covering the front even though I was told you shouldn't. Because the bike was only a 125 and just shutting off the throttle it slowed considerably (couldn't do 60) in the end I was just touching it a little bit to put the lights on then clutch in and stop with the front. Remembering to go back to 1st and not pulling off in 2nd like I did once. For the emergency stop you have to use both after you do the 30mph speed trap on Mod 1 and any lock ups mean a fail. He said going round corners to use rear if needed rather than front and I do the same when on the road bike so I can still turn a bit more but then there's the risk of locking up.

Rear brake for low speed stuff or if I'd really gone into a corner too quick. You can get away with a little rear braking into a corner. Front'll kill ya.

Slowing to a halt shift the braking from front to rear to stop the bike diving so much at lights etc.

Beat me to it

I have to admit I tend to use the back brakes more when front pads have caught me out and are LOW

It's 25 years since I took my test and in those days you didn't have someone follow you. In fact the examiner told you the route and say at some point I'll come out onto the road for your emergency stop. Within 200 yards I was out of sight, riding round the block until I spotted him for the stop. Could have fallen off, been pulling wheelies or doing donuts and they'd never know.

Don't remember being taught much about the back brake then, other than for slow riding/stopping. My confidence soared massively about my front brake usage when I started doing stoppies and trackdays. I try not to use the back brake for corners as I like to get my braking done before I need to turn in for the corner. Though I have been known to trailing the brake into some corners on trackdays. Need some rearsets for the Tuono before the back brake is of any use again.

I try not to use the back brake for corners as I like to

Make it out of the corner Nothing more twitchy than to go into a bend slightly too hot and have to put bike on its side and pin it to make best of a bad situation

A bloke at my old work did test (midlife crisis style) had already bought a GSXR750 (2 year old at time) and about £1500 worth of gear. He went out with some of the other guys for a wee Sunday blast about Lincoln and first bend didn't even know how to lean it in an went straight on, about £1200 damage to bike, some more worn in looking gear and he never got back on a bike ever again I was assured they didn't take the mickey with him and it was literally first shallow bend only had to follow them (ridding middle of pack). I did feel so bad for him. Bend he came off on was not even what I would call a proper bend but he panicked kept her upright and tried to steer it like a bicycle followed by a drainage ditch

I always got on from the left. But that was because when it's on the side stand it's lower on the side and more natural to swing a leg over.

You're right , never thought of that :0) though think I Used to do the same on some of my old bikes with main stand ;0)