Didn't complete my CBT
Discussion
Omaruk said:
This ^ practicing on a push bike is invaluable especially low speed and tight exercises. The amount of ‘highly experienced’ bikers who can’t manage a hairpin or have a confidence breakdown when things get slow and technical never fails to surprise me
That's a good idea, the low speed techniques are very similar, all you need is an empty carpark and you can chalk out some marks to manoeuvre around etc. My first few U turns were proper wobbly but as with anything it's mostly down to practice.I personally think a pushbike and motorbike are completely different when it comes to balance/turning etc.
I can ride a motorbike fairly quickly. Slow speed stuff is generally OK (although if you had seen me on my police course last week you'd think otherwise!).
Pushbike however, seems alien to me. I'm all over the place.
OP personally I'd find another training place. Where abouts are you? Someone maybe able to recommend somewhere local?
I can ride a motorbike fairly quickly. Slow speed stuff is generally OK (although if you had seen me on my police course last week you'd think otherwise!).
Pushbike however, seems alien to me. I'm all over the place.
OP personally I'd find another training place. Where abouts are you? Someone maybe able to recommend somewhere local?
LosingGrip said:
I personally think a pushbike and motorbike are completely different when it comes to balance/turning etc.
I can ride a motorbike fairly quickly. Slow speed stuff is generally OK (although if you had seen me on my police course last week you'd think otherwise!).
Pushbike however, seems alien to me. I'm all over the place.
OP personally I'd find another training place. Where abouts are you? Someone maybe able to recommend somewhere local?
The physics holding both up is the same, the main difference is motorbikes are heavier and the greater inertia means some things happen slower.I can ride a motorbike fairly quickly. Slow speed stuff is generally OK (although if you had seen me on my police course last week you'd think otherwise!).
Pushbike however, seems alien to me. I'm all over the place.
OP personally I'd find another training place. Where abouts are you? Someone maybe able to recommend somewhere local?
Don't get discouraged, I was all over the place on my CBT.
The place I went to was a coned off bit of car park on an industrial estate, It was on a slope and bloody narrow, really difficult to pick up the basic controls as I spent half my time worrying that I was going to hit the bloody wall. Despite having ridden on bikes on farms in my youth I couldn't get the hang of the gears, changed up when I should have gone down, forgot to do my helmet up ... but somehow the guy passed me.
In hindsight I should have gone to see the place I did it beforehand. I did my DAS at a different place and the setup they have for CBT and other bike training was so much better. Huge expanse of tarmac with full size roads, junctions and a roundabout marked on it. Infinitely patient instructors - I was watching a CBT course while I was doing my DAS and they happily gave people more time and 1 to 1 where people were struggling.
Before you book your next shot call around and then go see where you will be doing it.
As has been said above you can do the CBT on an auto then go buy whatever 125 you want, manual or auto.
The place I went to was a coned off bit of car park on an industrial estate, It was on a slope and bloody narrow, really difficult to pick up the basic controls as I spent half my time worrying that I was going to hit the bloody wall. Despite having ridden on bikes on farms in my youth I couldn't get the hang of the gears, changed up when I should have gone down, forgot to do my helmet up ... but somehow the guy passed me.
In hindsight I should have gone to see the place I did it beforehand. I did my DAS at a different place and the setup they have for CBT and other bike training was so much better. Huge expanse of tarmac with full size roads, junctions and a roundabout marked on it. Infinitely patient instructors - I was watching a CBT course while I was doing my DAS and they happily gave people more time and 1 to 1 where people were struggling.
Before you book your next shot call around and then go see where you will be doing it.
As has been said above you can do the CBT on an auto then go buy whatever 125 you want, manual or auto.
If I go again it will definitely be at a different school. Everything was just too rushed on this course.
I can ride a normal push bike. I think what happened was that the bike I had was a bit heavier than I imagined and I stalled it very early on and let it tip - hopefully that won't happen again as I know what to expect.
I think there are quite long waiting times now as well so it gives me time to chew on it.
I can ride a normal push bike. I think what happened was that the bike I had was a bit heavier than I imagined and I stalled it very early on and let it tip - hopefully that won't happen again as I know what to expect.
I think there are quite long waiting times now as well so it gives me time to chew on it.
Factualist said:
Do your CBT on an auto, then book yourself in for a geared motorcycle lesson, then go straight for DAS. It's what I did.
This. Schools near me teach this way if you haven’t been on a bike before. The moped lets you pick up the basic skills and balance quicker. Then once you’ve got your certificate you do a 1 hr geared lesson on a bike. JJ55 said:
Factualist said:
Do your CBT on an auto, then book yourself in for a geared motorcycle lesson, then go straight for DAS. It's what I did.
This. Schools near me teach this way if you haven’t been on a bike before. The moped lets you pick up the basic skills and balance quicker. Then once you’ve got your certificate you do a 1 hr geared lesson on a bike. God if I think back to my first cbt I thought bikes might not be for me. That muscle memory doesn't exist and I remember concentrating so much on gears I really struggled with cancelling my indicators.
I bought a scooter and ended up doing another 2 years on L plates but couldn't face being the old man on a 125 scooter redoing a 3rd cbt so did the 1hr conversion course before doing my mod1. It was like starting all over again so bought a 125 to practice on. A couple of weeks later it was like I'd never been on the scooter.
Passed both mod1/2 first time with no minors.
I bought a scooter and ended up doing another 2 years on L plates but couldn't face being the old man on a 125 scooter redoing a 3rd cbt so did the 1hr conversion course before doing my mod1. It was like starting all over again so bought a 125 to practice on. A couple of weeks later it was like I'd never been on the scooter.
Passed both mod1/2 first time with no minors.
Mojooo said:
JJ55 said:
Factualist said:
Do your CBT on an auto, then book yourself in for a geared motorcycle lesson, then go straight for DAS. It's what I did.
This. Schools near me teach this way if you haven’t been on a bike before. The moped lets you pick up the basic skills and balance quicker. Then once you’ve got your certificate you do a 1 hr geared lesson on a bike. Once you've got the CBT out of the way you can buy your own geared 125 and spend all the time you like getting the hang of it without being on the clock.
Having read your long post it seems that you are putting all the blame on the instructors and the equipment, rather than yourself. It seems like you are not really cut out for it. Even the guys on my course who were rubbish knew roughly how the machine worked. You seem to have no balance, control, or understanding of even how to change gear. I would stick to driving automatic cars if I was you.
Sounds like the biggest problem is you are too in your head. You are likely over thinking and tense - that impacts your balance and ability to multitask. Your brain will figure this stuff out quickly, you are getting in the way of it! Just keep reminding yourself to relax, everything else will come.
I struggled with figure of 8, just couldn't get it until the instructor literally screamed RELAX! I dropped my arms, let my shoulders relax, gripped with my legs/knees not my hands/wrists and it was an immediate different world. The figure of 8 rapidly became my favourite and was smooth and flowing, my brain had time to remember all the controls as I wasn't making it keep my body tense.
the other thing is it isn't for everyone, you need to remember why you are doing it and try and enjoy it, it will help you with the first point.
I struggled with figure of 8, just couldn't get it until the instructor literally screamed RELAX! I dropped my arms, let my shoulders relax, gripped with my legs/knees not my hands/wrists and it was an immediate different world. The figure of 8 rapidly became my favourite and was smooth and flowing, my brain had time to remember all the controls as I wasn't making it keep my body tense.
the other thing is it isn't for everyone, you need to remember why you are doing it and try and enjoy it, it will help you with the first point.
CrgT16 said:
Maybe stick to cars… not being funny but if you fell on the CBT and didn’t have basic bike balance/control. For your own sake just focus on something else.
Bike riding is dangerous and a small mistake can be fatal. Your natural ability is not there on the basics… what would happen on a real emergency? Yes you can practice and learn but I would err on the side of caution and look for another hobby.
I'd agree with this. It's a bit like pilots who need lots of extra coaching to get through their tests and then crash.Bike riding is dangerous and a small mistake can be fatal. Your natural ability is not there on the basics… what would happen on a real emergency? Yes you can practice and learn but I would err on the side of caution and look for another hobby.
I reckon do a bit of practice and give it a other go on a geared bike, but finding the test hard work is possibly a signal that you may not have the natural aptitude to keep yourself safe on the road. Of course if a bit of practice sorts it all out then great.
I scraped through French GCSE on a resit but would I take up something where my life depended on French speaking?
robemcdonald said:
Mojooo said:
The only boots I have are cheap and nasty steel toe cap ones work provide - they are very clunky. The Instructor said I may have problems with them as I would struggle to control the clutch without having the right feel.
Eh?Is there a bing or similar local bit of dirt you can ride on without lots of other people there where you can practice all the basics at your own pace without people breathing down your neck?
You could buy a cheap traillie 125 and just offroad it until you are confident to try again.
It is a bit worrying that a cbt is the first time some people ever sit on a bike, then they could be on the road unsupervised by dinner time.
My cbt was difficult because It took some getting used to how dangerous a restricted 50cc is compared to an xt550. I had a dt50 but it had a malpassi big bore kit, fresco exhaust and yz80 carb.
The instructor clocked it right away and said i had to use the schools restricted ts50.
You could buy a cheap traillie 125 and just offroad it until you are confident to try again.
It is a bit worrying that a cbt is the first time some people ever sit on a bike, then they could be on the road unsupervised by dinner time.
My cbt was difficult because It took some getting used to how dangerous a restricted 50cc is compared to an xt550. I had a dt50 but it had a malpassi big bore kit, fresco exhaust and yz80 carb.
The instructor clocked it right away and said i had to use the schools restricted ts50.
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