My journey learning to ride a motorcycle. . .

[grr666]

^^^ It's been 21 years since I was on a bike. 

I've been on a high ever since, I BLOODY LOVED IT!!!!

I did the theory first, got the boring bit done and out of the way...

 

I'm next on a bike sunday afternoon for a few hours practice on the

600 fazer I did my CBT on in preparation for my Part 1 next Monday.

And assuming I pass, then provisional booking for part 2 is currently

arranged for 22nd.  In theory, If I have a couple of good rides I could 

be licenced up by the end of the month. 

 

Then I can really start to learn. Part of me is a bit fearful, I don't really need 

to do all this. I have a car and access to another. And a van.

I'm doing this to realise a promise I made to myself when I was 19 and sold 

my beloved bike and put the money toward a car instead.

I'm doing it that for that heartbroken young lad handing his bike keys over

having sold his pride and joy. Even if it was a 400quid old Honda 125.

 

Especially after he (I) paid for that bike in little bits aged 16 a year before he was even

old enough to ride it. A tenner here and twenty quid there. LOL I had a little card

which the shop manager wrote down all the little amounts on and stamped it each time.

until it was paid off B326 CME was the reg, CM125 custom. My absolute dream bike of

the time seeing I was getting into my rock music and all that. Having a bike that looked

a bit like a chopper carried it's own special kudos amongst my little clan. All the others

had cars. The L plates spoiled it a bit though. :(   

And part of why I'm doing this now because as an adult I want to challenge myself by

doing something new. (and old too I suppose) 

 

I loved it when I was a kid, but just before I turned 19 I had to choose. Bike test

or car test. I only had enough money for one or the other. The car won.     

After having to sell my bike to help pay for a mark 2 escort :(

I always said when I could easily afford to do both I'd come back to biking. 

I've been saying if for twenty years, and now I'm a fortunate place where I have the time and 

the funding behind me to get on and do it and have a decent bike and kit here I am

less than a week from my part 1. Go for it. Or one day you'll be too old . I'll only ride until I turn 

50, assuming I make it to being that age. Can't beat the odds forever. That gives me 9 summers

and if I have my way 9 bikes Then I'll retire from 2 wheels and get that 911 I keep promising 

my self. LOL

[R1DAVIE]

Cracking price for your leathers, the Frank Thomas xti's look in great nick too.

Pity you not up in Scotland, i could sort you out with a nice deal on brand new kit lol ;-)

[littleade]

Enjoy your riding and stay safe Gary. You'll come across so many more bell ends whan you're on 2 wheels. Be extra careful towards the end of each ride too as concentration can dip if you're not careful. Get out there...it'll soon be winter again!

[alex_e3]

Passing my bike test was definitely one of the best things I've ever done! Meant to get it done for years, but never got around to it.

 

Good luck on the tests - by the sounds of it you'll have no troubles at all :-)   I had a bit of a nightmare on my mod 1 - literally the night before I'd split up from my 7 year partner, spent the night on the sofa with my labrador licking my face every so often, then got up to find it absolutely hammering it down with rain!! Not the best start to my day to say the least. I then managed to give her a big f**k you by acing the test in crap conditions ;-)

 

As has been said in previous comments, I will echo how many muppets there are on the road that just don't see you, or think less of you because you're on a bike. I've had some bloody scary moments....   Whatever you do - don't point fixate!! Proper scary stuff.

 

I'd also seriously consider doing some of the advanced stuff a while after you've got some experience on your own - very worthwhile. The police do some good schemes also.

[fabiamk2SE]

Grrr666 - what bike are you looking at getting when you pass your test mate? What takes your fancy? .

[grr666]

Er6f Kawasaki. 

Mean greenie

 

Although recently I have been also looking at the Ninja300, in similar green livery,

also the Triumph speed triple in that odd acid green colour.

Also I kind of like the Suzuki Gladius and the Honda Hornet.

Soooo much choice.  

[Dark_Hero]

You beat me to the power ranger reference looks like you got a great deal

[fabiamk2SE]

Have a test ride on them all mate. Youll find the power delivery very different. The gladius' would be my pick out of those .

But then, i do ride an SV650s, which is the same engine haha.

[grr666]

Well, not much to report. Had a 3 hour session today round the 

cones mod 1 training. Lovely day for it.  

 

Here's a nice pic from todays session in my bargain RST leather trousers.

I must say, my knackers were very happy to be released from those after 

3 hours of low speed riding in the sun. 

I think that was taken going into the slalom. Leeched from the schools

facebook page.   

 

[Fabia_19]

Great to read everyone's progress, yesterday was a great day for two wheels! I'm only 22 and I can say that passing my big bike test was the best thing I've ever done! I managed to get through a tank and a bit in fuel yesterday on my 600!

All the best for your Mod 1 and 2!

[grr666]

Bit more to report today.

Mod 1 PASSED!!!

Only one minor fault,  which was 49kph in the measured speed

obstacle avoidance when it should have been 50kph.  

If I'd rolled off the throttle 1 second later I'd have got a clean sheet.

Still, I'm very happy none the less, and well on schedule to get my

licence inside of a month from start to finish. 

 

[CFB]

Well done Gary!

I'd count that as a clean sheet matey.

A bit harsh of the examiner to mark that if the rest is clean. Doesn't matter except for bragging rights of course.

Clean sheet on Mod 2 ? Fingers crossed.

[Mister Paul]

Thanks, this thread has been helpful to me.

 

I did my CBT at Christmas and ride a Honda Vision 110, but want to do my direct access this year. I've failed one theory though. I got 100% on the questions but failed on the hazard perceptions and am not sure why. I cycle a lot and think might have been clicking too early due to overanticipation. I couldn't get the difference between seeing something that is a potential hazard and understanding where the test wanted me to confirm that it was developing enough to warrant a click. Any advice would be appreciated...

 

 

Also, do you need to pass the theory before you can start lessons?

[tempra007]

Bit more to report today.

Mod 1 PASSED!!!

Only one minor fault,  which was 49kph in the measured speed

obstacle avoidance when it should have been 50kph.  

If I'd rolled off the throttle 1 second later I'd have got a clean sheet.

Still, I'm very happy none the less, and well on schedule to get my

licence inside of a month from start to finish. 

 

Sounds like me 61 Kph on my emergency stop and 49 on the avoidance, good luck with mod 2. My examiner followed me in a car!! 1 minor on mod two for stalling!! (to busy looking at the eye candy in a lotus) at least he saw her too.

[alex_e3]

Congratulations on the test!

 

I hope you're getting your mod 2 completed as soon as? Best advice I can give you for the mod 2 is to remember to ride for yourself only. I made this mistake on my mod 2. I was so used to following people, or having people following me (from years doing random car trips to pick things up!) that I instinctively kept riding for us both! I hammered on the brakes at some traffic lights so that the instructor wouldn't get caught out - he nearly went in the back of me!! Lucky I only got a minor and passed!!

[fabiamk2SE]

Yeah! They tell you on the radio to pull over if need be dont they, even if your on double yellows.

The instructor seemed to have no problem keepin up with me on my cg125 though, on his pan european haha.

[CFB]

Good advice from Alex, basically, treat the examiner as an invisible object. React to situations just for you.

Examiners do ride quite close behind but 99% of the time in a safe position.

It took me a while to get used to it, as it's counter intuitive, but you'd be surprised at the small opportunities they can take advantage of behind you.

If you do manage to leave him behind he will tell you If he wants you to pull over. Do so in a "safe and convenient place" and NOT on yellow lines or anywhere else you would be committing an offence unless he specifically asks you to.

[fabiamk2SE]

Good advice from Alex, basically, treat the examiner as an invisible object. React to situations just for you.

Examiners do ride quite close behind but 99% of the time in a safe position.

It took me a while to get used to it, as it's counter intuitive, but you'd be surprised at the small opportunities they can take advantage of behind you.

If you do manage to leave him behind he will tell you If he wants you to pull over. Do so in a "safe and convenient place" and NOT on yellow lines or anywhere else you would be committing an offence unless he specifically asks you to.

Thats what i meant, if he asks you too (which they often do). Apologies i didnt make that abit clearer, my bad.

On another note, when my best mate took his test on a soggy horrible british day, the examiner took his range rover instead of the bike and tail gated him around macclesfield using that haha.

[CFB]

No worries matey, I was just trying to clarify your comments as I have inside knowledge.

As for the use of a car, it's generally frowned upon as it is a bike test after all.

The normal exception is when the bike is in for service etc, as loan bikes are not insured for testing.

I used to hate using a car because it upsets the rhythm of the test with much more scope for losing the candidate as you have to leave more following distance. The last thing you want to do is run over them!

Having said that, there were a few I would have quite liked doing just that to.

[DanHam]

Congrats on passing your mod 1

I did mine 4 years ago when I was 17!

I failed it the first time! Have you guys ever done an emergency stop on a bike with drum brakes? Coincidently I failed on the emergency stop, and coming to a stop at the end of the avoidance, damn thing nearly killed me out on the 1 lesson I had aswell. The guy who taught me had 2 bikes, 1 for the mod 1 practicing and 1 for mod 2. His mod 1 special bike had bald tyres such a **** instructor. I sacked him off in the end, borrowed money for a cbr125, watched some tuition videos on YouTube went out and practiced then did the test off my own back. Mod 1 no minors and 2 on mod 2, 1 for going wide on a roundabout (avoiding a fuel spillage) and the second for pulling out in front of a car on roundabout who had decided to change their mind on what exit they were taking, he let me off though

All the best with your mod2. I sold my gsxr600 last year but have found myself looking at the fully faired sv650s recently lot of bike for £2000 ish.

[fabiamk2SE]

No worries matey, I was just trying to clarify your comments as I have inside knowledge.

As for the use of a car, it's generally frowned upon as it is a bike test after all.

The normal exception is when the bike is in for service etc, as loan bikes are not insured for testing.

I used to hate using a car because it upsets the rhythm of the test with much more scope for losing the candidate as you have to leave more following distance. The last thing you want to do is run over them!

Having said that, there were a few I would have quite liked doing just that to.

Haha yeah, true!

Any 125 rider has usually had plenty of experience of a range rover right up their backside anyway haha. I used to love it at night, the headlights were so much better than my candle light things, i could actually see lol.

Maybe his bike was in for a service then, like you say. Just by chance that it was raining haha.

I still dont think a rider doesnt 'really' learn to ride until after theyve passed their test

[fabiamk2SE]

but have found myself looking at the fully faired sv650s recently lot of bike for £2000 ish.

I have just that. Just 2001 with just under 20k on the clock now (had it since 5k) and only had one niggling problem. Theyre brilliant bikes. Only 70bhp on paper, but its all very usable, so can surprise a few faster bikes on the bendy roads.

Im looking at getting rid this year and changing to a vfr800 or something like that. I wont be wanting too much. £1700 or something with the extras and standard parts chucked in.

-double bubble screen (got standard too)

-lower fairing (quite rare now, and expensive)

-beowulf end can (got standard too)

-seat cowl (still got seat)

-hand rail and infills

-fender extender (a must have on an sv)

Theyre pretty good value for money really

Have a look in my profile gallary. Theres a few pics on there .

Edited 16 April, 2014 by Otaylor38

[Naths vRS]

Glad this topic has cropped up.  First of all Good luck with it all, been told it's mostly common sense really, especially if you're already a road user. 

 

I've finally convinced my missus to allow me to do my big bike test as soon as she's passed her driving test - booked sometime in May. So fingers crossed. IF I do pass my test I'll be looking at something like a KTM super-moto. 

 

My history of bikes-

 

16 - Yamaha Jog R (50cc Scooter)

18 - Derbi Senda Supermoto (125cc geared)

[grr666]

I've heard KTMs are unreliable. 

That said I do like them but wouldn't consider one

smaller than the Duke 690.   

It was what I was originally after but they aren't much use for

touring and the Mrs wants to get on my bike and come with

me sometimes,

I used to illegally pillion all the time when I was a young un, but

once my my test is passed the school I am using offer pillion

training, so I'll be booking that up next just to refresh my memory. . 

[Naths vRS]

Oh I didn't realise that about the KTM.  That's not something I want, however it is the best looking S.M out there (imo).