CBT booked

[CTO]

Hi all,

As above really. I have decided to try and get my bike licence!

Some experience of riding previously, albeit many years ago and mostly on Salisbury plain. DT125 and Kx 250.

I went along to Halesowen streetbike today and my CBT is booked for the 21st. They were incredibly helpful and welcoming to a newb, which was appreciated.

Now I am a mixture of excitement and stting myself Healthy combination really I suppose.

Anyhow, just thought I would start a post (sure there have been many similar before), and will update as I go through the process.

The "plan" ( its good to have one right ), is to do CBT, theory, part 1 and part 2, and start on something like a late nineties ZX6R, this is subject to change if I am utterly hopeless.

Cheers,

CTO

[CTO]

On the case. Streetwise have offered to lend some of the kit for the CBT. Jacket,lid, gloves etc. I have a pair of Kevlar jeans courtesy of a friend and some boots.

Figured its best to use borrowed stuff at present until I see how far I get.

I am hoping not to recreate Jay from the inbetweeners

[CTO]

Thanks all.

I'm lucky enough to have a very good mate who has 7 bikes, a workshop with bike lift, air compressor and a wealth of tools. He has offered to help me along the way with learning maintenance essentials and offering me instruction as when (frequently) required.

Told the OH over a cup of tea when she got home from work, she has offered to pay for the CBT as my birthday present from her. I was planning to treat myself to it, so that went slightly better than expected.

Fingers crossed for reasonable weather on the 21st.

[CTO]

Hi kurt,

They gave me some info, I only scanned it briefly but mostly it was clothing requirements and reminder to bring my driving licence.

All additional info gratefully received if its not too much trouble.

Thanks,
CTO

[CTO]

Good work antilag,

Most people I have spoken to that ride have advocated the idea of something like a 600 to start with, for the reasons you have given.

[CTO]

So,I passed. On my little van van 125.


It was brilliant, interestingly has made me re evaluate my driving style. Felt very vulnerable out there, compared to the Volvo that I have as a daily driver.

Birthday on Tuesday,might treat myself to a bike

Instructors at streetbike were brilliant also. Patient with me but to the point when my riding wasn't up to scratch. Never been called a w@nker so often in one morning tho

I took my theory last week, figured I'd get it out of the way, so that's done also!

[CTO]

Kurt:

It was from 8:30 until 4.

Morning was the introduction to the bike and the control's, and then manoeuvres.
Managed my u turn and figure of 8 first time. Emergency stop also.
Then lunch
Then theory
Then supervised road ride, for about two hours,maybe a bit less. Did roundabouts, hill starts, more u turns and emergency stops and lots of riding about.

I would have said it was a pretty comprehensive day, although I have nothing to compare it to.

The instructors were very fair and to the point. Made it clear they wouldn't be giving out any certificates unless they felt sufficient standards were met.....

[CTO]

Thanks all.

Am a fella btw

Unsure about Richard the instructor, I had a guy called Mick for most of the day and a guy called Ade for the on the road observation part.

The plan was to find something like a zx6r 636, and have tuition on that. I think the reality is to get a yzf r125 or similar and spend some months just getting used to being on a bike, build up some confidence,skills and roadcraft.

I had some positive comments about aspects of my riding, but given a kick up the arse about observations, road positioning etc.

At one stage I was going up through the gears, feeling like I was going through the sound barrier and making like Burt Monro. Then I looked down and realised I was doing a heady 28mph..........

[CTO]

Think I have arrived at a happy medium.

Going to loan a cheapy 125 from a friend to practice on for a month, then book 3 days and do all day lessons with mod1 and mod2 on the final day.

Hopefully this gives me the best of both worlds, some practice without unnecessary expenditure, unless I bin and then have to pay for the 125, and can get on the larger bike with little more confidence and try and get it under my belt with a shorter and focussed effort.

Today I went shopping for bike gear, boots, jacket, gloves and lid. Got some decent deals in the post Christmas sale. Love my new helmet and love my new jacket. Not loving the impending credit card bill. Man maths has offset it against the depreciation on a temp 125 though, ish, if I really man math to the nth degree.......

[CTO]

SteRB5138 said:

Nice one, I did my direct access at Streetbike, when it was at the old site up Mucklow Hill back in 2013. I agree the instructors are very good, especially Richard if he still works there.

Met him today, really nice guy and took some time out to go through my options re obtaining my mod1 and 2.

[CTO]

So, I have my first bike

A little SR125. It had been sat in a mates workshop for two years under a cover. Put the exhaust back on, replaced the clutch lever which had been snapped when it was dropped on its last outing.

New battery and some TLC and he sailed through his MOT last week without a hitch. Taxing it was a real eyeopener. I currently pay around £45 a month for my car (Volvo C70 T5). The SR was £17 for the year. I did it via DD just for a laugh, and my monthly payment is £1.48

Anyway, here is "George", he came with the name and it suits him really.

Obligatory bike in kitchen pic:



Cheers,

CTO

[CTO]

Thread update.

Mod1 passed this morning with no minors

Need to get Mod2 booked now and pass, then off to buy my first bike

[CTO]

K8-600 said:

Congrats! No minors is good!

Mod2 is far easier than Mod1!

What are you going to get for your first bike?

Well, the choices so far were initially an ER5, then it was a GPZ500 and now I think I've settled on a ZX6R 636 C6F, preferably in black.

Much time is being spent browsing eBay etc...

[CTO]

And thanks btw

Forgot to add that part!

[CTO]

Mod 2 passed today.

Insurance sorted this eve.

Weather checked for the morning.

Can't bloody wait

[CTO]

Obligatory pic of first bike

[CTO]

And with my mates GPZ 900

[CTO]

NDA said:

Excellent - I hadn't followed this thread, just read the 2 pages just now. From learner to qualified - very good!

I took my test back in the 80's, no longer a rider, but it looks a complex thing to get a full license nowadays.

Thanks

I found it all ok, until mod 2. Failed twice, on the same roundabout. Separate issues and the first fail I didn't agree with, who does though

Both mod 2's I only had one minor other than the serious, and was quite disappointed.

I spent four hours yesterday riding the test routes, and even sat and ate my lunch watching the roundabout (large spiral type),to see how people got it right and wrong. I then spent another hour last night driving the routes in my car, and the main roundabout which had become my psychological nemisis.

Today, on my test. We took the first exit and never went back near it........

[CTO]

^^
Thanks

The inner narrative is a really good call. First time I did my mod2, I was so stressed I could barely speak when answering the "show me, tell me" questions.

This time, when I thought I'd made a mistake, I did the same as you. Had a little chat with myself, settled it down and rode my own ride. Almost zoned the examiner out of it all, if that makes sense?

Congratulations on persevering, and your bike. I rode mine for the first time today, (it got delivered the day after I failed my mod 2), and it was absolutely epic!

All the best

CTO

[CTO]

Lovely bike! I recall you saying you were getting one.

I have a hankering after a H1, on my want list. My first ride also took far longer than expected and made me reclassify what quick feels like!
Beware the urge to buy shiny things for it..... it's very tempting, these arrived on Wednesday 😀






Mmmmmmmmmmm