Selling a motorbike helmet?

Selling a motorbike helmet?

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Discussion

Baryonyx

17,990 posts

158 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Tall_Paul said:
Yep, same. We've probably all done the same in the early days, when you get to know your bike, tyres, how much grip you have etc you'll know how much you can lean it over, what speed you can take corners at and so-on.
Yep, easily done. I did my CBT last December and I can still remember being surprised at how much understeer a bike could generate. I was under the impression they'd all feel as tail happy as a pedal cycle! I was going round a roundabout, heavily cambered inwards and wide. Should have been a doddle to get the bike round - but as I was navigating it, trying to tighten my line for the exit, I started looking at a white SLK that pulled up a bit sharp, when really, he could have eased his throttle and threaded through after the instructor on his Deauville behind me had passed.

What followed was me looking at the SLK and feeling myself being dragged towards it. It felt like an eternity as I slowly drifted towards it, feeling like a passenger following the bike before I heard the instructor say "look for your exit, and off". I turned my head, saw where I wanted to go and in an instant I felt in control again. The whole episode was maybe three seconds long, at the most and probably never closer than about 30ft away from the SLK, but it did surprise me at how inert the bike can feel if you don't control it and look where you want to go.


FWIW though, I do think the CBT laws are pretty lax because it's not a great amount of training in itself which doesn't make a great mix when coupled with having no other experience on the road, though if you're a competent car driver you quickly get your riding to a reasonable standard. When I got my bike, I did an hour or so riding laps around the village car park, just getting used to the controls and slow riding technique again, and an hour on an industrial estate the next day. Come Monday, I was using the bike for work and I've slowly built it up from there.


If it's not for you, it's not for you but I'd urge you to give it more than just a wobble on your CBT before you pack it in. Take some instruction and get more in-depth advice on your riding, or get a bike and practice at your own pace.

bennyboysvuk

3,491 posts

247 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Tall_Paul said:
Yep, same. We've probably all done the same in the early days, when you get to know your bike, tyres, how much grip you have etc you'll know how much you can lean it over, what speed you can take corners at and so-on.
I absolutely agree. I did some mild off-roading on an SV650s at about 45mph during a ride-out when I had very little experience and ran wide on corner exit. I rejoined the road absolutely fine, but the giveaway to my mates was at the coffee stop where we found my bike and my lower legs were covered in mud.

Go back out on the roads and initially go into corners slower than you think you can. You'll have loads of time to progress your riding after that, just start a bit more gently.

Don't give up now as you've not experienced the fun that biking can bring yet.

MotorsportTom

3,318 posts

160 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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On my CBT on a leafy and chilly November day, coming downhill under trees and seeing a little ribbon of water across the tarmac, I heard the instructor tell me to slow down a bit more for the bend so I ended up down changing just as I started to lean... all the while on the slippiest part.

My arse took a chunk out of the seat as the bike slewed sideways as it locked the rear momentarily and at that moment I decided to listen to the instructor a little more as I had barley a clue how to ride.

Could have been worse if it was a left hander and been similar circumstances to yourself, however I'm not a pussy so didn't give up there and then wink

It takes time, nobody is a good rider the very first time they swing their leg over, and probably still not good within the next 50 times either.
That's part of the fun is learning!

Yazza54

18,464 posts

180 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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MotorsportTom said:
Could have been worse if it was a left hander and been similar circumstances to yourself, however I'm not a pussy so didn't give up there and then wink

hehe

thatdude

2,654 posts

126 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Mr Trophy said:
Sorry for the delay in replying.

Basically, on a country road, just a nip off 60mph and round a bend, ended up overshooting the bend and landed on the wrong side of the road, if there was a car there, I would have been finished.

If I am honest, (personally) find it a bit scary that you can get a CBT license in one day!
Hey, dont let it put you off - some people ride for years before reaching such a level that they get to this point!

Dont walk away from 2 wheels just yet, just reflect on what went good, why it went good, and what went wrong, why it went wrong. Go back for some more training, and also spend time thinking about safe riding practises / safe roadcraft (applies to 2, 4 and more wheels)

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Sounds like a normal learner fkup, we all did it so stop being a poof and try again.

crofty1984

15,830 posts

203 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Hooli said:
Sounds like a normal learner fkup, we all did it so stop being a poof and try again.
Excellently put Mr Hooli!

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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I can only agree with the other posters OP, don't be a fanny and get back on the horse. Everyone makes mistakes when they're new (even Biker's Nemesis, who I heard once ran wide on a corner at the great Morpeth Steam Rally of 1903), so don't be put off.

Tribal Chestnut

2,996 posts

181 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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So what medium are we advising Mr Trophy uses to sell his helmet? Ebay auction? Classified? Something else?

The reason I ask is that I recently bought a Schuberth SR1 & am not at all happy with the fit (large 60-61cm), but have ridden in it a few times, so need to bite the bullet and lose a few quid on it.

Auction seems like a shed load of hassle for something like this, but I'm not sure a classified would generate much interest.

Do people even buy second hand helmets at this level?

moto_traxport

4,235 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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crofty1984 said:
Hooli said:
Sounds like a normal learner fkup, we all did it so stop being a poof and try again.
Excellently put Mr Hooli!
Too true.

First ride on my RG125 Pepsi I wheelied it into a wall (learning clutch / acceleration thing). Second ride I actually got out onto to the road itself and put the thing into a ditch chasing an RD350 (learning to lean over to go round the corner sorta thing).

Sounds like the OP needs to learn a sense of humour or hang the lid on the wall (as already suggested) as a globe.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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First time my mate Tom got on a bike (an off road 400cc of some description) he gave it too much throttle, used the clutch like a switch and promptly wheelied the bike out from under himself ending up with a bust knee. Won't go near a bike now.

First time my mate John got on a bike he tore off up a field on his Jinlun 125 with road tyres. He went up the field, round a tree and didn't reappear the other side, slid out on the wet grass as he turned. He's since done his CBT and still riding around on that bloody Jinlun

By this point (rather cautiously) I was so delicate with the controls I'm amazed I got the bloody thing moving. I did however drop the damn bike (at 0mph) on Monday meaning I had to ride 11miles home with a bust clutch handle frown .

My point is (yes there is a point) these things happen bud. You can take it as a sign or you can practice, slow down (I spent weeks riding around 20mph slower through the corners than I do in my car) and enjoy yourself.

I love my cars but even the 125 I currently potter around on is just a different world smile

Mr Trophy

Original Poster:

6,808 posts

202 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Appreciate the positive comments hehe

If anyone is interesting, drop me a PM smile

creampuff

6,511 posts

142 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Mr Trophy said:
If anyone is interesting, drop me a PM smile
As you would expect from someone called creampuff and who has Barry Manilow on their bike MP3 player, I'm not that interesting.

Tribal Chestnut

2,996 posts

181 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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creampuff said:
As you would expect from someone called creampuff and who has Barry Manilow on their bike MP3 player, I'm not that interesting.
Toilet habits excluded, of course.

BobSaunders

3,027 posts

154 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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This sounds like standard beginner experience in anything, ever. It's called "falling off the horse".

Well done on not having a car there. Now learn from the experience and go back and have another crack at it - just don't take the bend as fast next time. "Getting back on the horse".

If you don't feel confident have a word with the CBT school and ask them to take you out again and support you through it.

I'd have more sympathy if you had hit a car (please take this part/post in jest - you shouldn't prevent life's little set backs from letting you do things).

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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I always thought clio owners were used to ending up on the other side of the road with catastrophic understeer.

peteO

1,790 posts

184 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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if he gives up at this point then its clearly not for him... id never been on a bike before my cbt. during my lessons i was turd. during my test i was turd.... only after spending a little more time out riding on my own then with mates did i become a little less turd. you can expect to master osmethin in one day. we've all had a 'fk me i was nearly a gonner then' moment but if its something you really want to do you wouldnt let it put you off.... like others said, get back on the horse