CBT failure story

[ScottishBiker]

Had my CBT yesterday, it was my first time on a bike so when we started in the yard i was a bit tense but once i got the hang of it i was much more confident.

We stopped for lunch and did a few more circuits of the yard before we went out but i was fucking up with the clutch, i was going straight through the biting point and stalling but i started to get a bit better again.

as soon as we went out on the road it all went to shit, it was my first time on the road and i was so stiff and tense. at the first set of lights the guy in front stalled and while i was waiting for him to get started again i stalled. we did a few turns with major to minor roads and minor to major and all was fine. we stopped so the instructor could tell us what we were doing next and got back on the bikes, at the junction, i stalled as the instructer took off and didnt want to get left behind so got into a panic and stalled 3 times, i eventually got going but went too far across the road almost hitting a parked car, pulled the front brake too quickly and fell off. i rolled twice. well that was it, fail and back to the yard i felt like a complete prat.

im desperate to get better and get my cbt passed but im worried ill be too nervous again. at least i have had my first crash and it wasnt sore but i just cant loosen up! is there anything i can do or does it just come with confidence?

[pinkyfloyd]

Sorry it was such a bad day. Only recommendation is to take it easy and dont let it get to you. Everyone has bad days on bikes.

being nervous is something that you will get over with experience but it seems to me that you are just being a little bit too jittery. The secret to the clutch is just to take it easy. It will come in time.

When on the road just relax. Dont stiffen up, I know its easier said than done but if you cant do the "chicken dance" with your arms then your too stiff which is never good. Relax the shoulders and elbows, grip the bars enough to use the throttle but not too much your knuckles are turning white.

Best advice I can give is put today completly out of your head and get yourself back to the training yard and get back on the bike.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Glenben92]

As any good riding school will tell you. practice on a pedal bike getting used to traffic and using the road.
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Got any 125cc friends? Preferably one with pre-existing crash damage
And are you getting a discount for your 2nd go? Some CBT trainers mention this.

Taking the positive approach...

1)You're alive
2)You're aware of your faults

Keep the ball rolling and do it again, maybe book your theory for good measure.

Pat
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Beelzebob]

[SirEdward]

Take a glass of good wine before the test.


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"Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

Pardot Kynes in "Appendix I: The Ecology of Dune""

[Penguin]

[de-lurks] may not be what you want to hear but my advice would be to use a scooter next time. You can always come back for some additional training on a geared bike at a later date if you wish to switch over to them. [/de-lurks]

[angryjonny]

Far as I'm concerned, the CBT is not enough training... especially if you've never been on a bike before. I think there's an argument for a 2-day CBT the first time you ever do it - even if it's just a half-day formality every 2 years after that. When I did my CBT I'd had over a decade of driving experience and although I got through mine "1st time", that was only because I had enough road savvy to be able to muddle my way through whilst concentrating on how to operate the machine. Even after my CBT *and* another day's training, I was still bad when I got on a bike and went out on my own.

I wouldn't feel bad about not getting through it on your first go. Just go back and get a bit more practice. My other half got "invited back" when she did her CBT (because they ran out of brake levers - she broke two) and decided she just didn't get on with her riding school - she found a much better one and sailed through it.

[ScottishBiker]

Thanks for all the advice im buying a CBF 125 tomorrow and theres a long straight private road up the back of the house that only the farmer uses so i can use that without fear of being run over so i can practise my clutch and braking so im a bit more confident next time.

Re-booked it for the 14th and its less than half price so im happy the only minor irritation is im still going to have to get the bus to college when i hoped id be able to take my bike.

Im a little worried about what instructer i get next time though, i had a really nice guy and he was patient and we had a good laugh all day but all the other instructers dont sound like they should be in the job. one was bragging about doing 100 over a speed bump landing on a pavement and almost hitting a lamppost (which suggests he was in a 30mph zone) so im hoping i dont get him next time!

[dragstaar]

Man, i think i must Have gotten damn lucky!

When i did my CBT i had no concept of a clutch, and what it did etc, the guy explained it to me, and I stalled so much i ran the battery down on one CG. then he got another out for me, and i stalled that so much that went flat. He ended up bumpstarting it for me about 6 or 7 times, all this before we even got out!

Then we hit the road (after much stalling) and we come round the bend, guy in front skids out on ice (was mid-winter) i run his bike over and i fall too.

We get up, i pick up my bike then drop it the other way. Go back, get a new lever, and a new footrest, and we're off again.

Up a hill, i stall. Instructor doesnt realise, and is gone. Huge line of traffic behind me as i try my hardest to do my first hill start. I conquer that barrier, and i then encounter the roundabout.

By this time instructor had come back for me, and was behind me. There was a big white van coming round the roundabout, and as i was concentrating so much on stalling, i pulled out in front of it, hit the brakes, then skidded out and fell again.

After all that, the bloke still gives me the CBT cert, but says he's gonna keep it til i come back, after closing, and he'll let me have a few practice runs. Gave it to me 2 practice runs later!

But mate, its all good. Dont worry, because as you can see, there are some shitter people out there, i.e. me! But now i can drive as safely as the next rider, so dont give up!

[blurredman]

I used a 125 automatic Moped type thing just for the simplicity. Of course, I did look and feel a fool when others of my age were in CG's but for the sake of simplicity and getting started I stuck with the auto.

I know what a clutch was etc because I had been driving a car for 2 years and I have had several goes on my brothers geared TS50. Once I was on the road with my own CG, easy peasy, esspecially since I didn't feel nervous infront of others learning to ride.

If you really feel bad, just use an Auto for the CBT, end of the day it doesn't matter diddley dick what you do it on for CBT, you get to use geared on the cert anyway.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Glenben92]

I've always thought why would ANYBODY use a geared bike on CBT. use a scooter, it's a LOT easier so you can't fail. therefore you don't waste any money and you can take your OWN time getting used to a geared bike without coughing up the dosh every day
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Doovy]

No, dont just switch to auto.

that's called defeat upon obstacle.

learn how to use a clutch.

just let it out slowly, with a little bit of acceleration.
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[blurredman]

You can learn the clutch in your own time once you have a CBT.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Geared FTW.
My daughter learnt how to do the gears n clutch in an evening. She was 13 at the time and also learned that stalling=kickstarting a 250.
You'll get the 'clutch slipping' thing soon enough. Then you can concentrate on other things..like volvos and nissan micras trying to kill you.

Pat
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Doovy]

[Paxovasa]

[Doovy]

[Paxovasa]

I would think it is because they only have so many auto bikes and so many manual, so they will know when the course is fully booked
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Doovy]

fair enough i guess.

moral of story = do geared cbt
____________________
Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[blurredman]

A CBT only states what bike you used as aditional information and is not a limit on the certificate. It is only on the tests where you should do a manual motorbike.

On CBT, it doesn't matter what you do it on, it is the same certificate for someone who is 16 and did it on an 50cc auto, or someone who is 17 and did it on a 125cc manual

Same Cert
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[woolly_moose]

not sure I should be reading this- my CBT is imminient....

I first did the CBT about 3 years ago, in December. First time on anything ever, and a non-driver. Hated it. Hated the moped, hated nearly freezing to death. hated having to tear along the huge main road at the massive G-force speed of 30mph, hated being on a roundabout and feeling completely exposed, hated the U turn that wouldn't come, learnt a lot about the right sort of shoes.

And here I am, back for more. This time, I have motivation: my 18mile bus journey to work takes 2 hours door to door and I don't have enough of a life to give up so much of it sitting with the horrid children and other special people. Plus I want to prove to myself that I can do it, even if I never use it. Plus I have enough biker friends now, esp lady ones, that I have plenty of opportunity to practice with them. Plus I really really like bikes.

My training centre has said it's unlikely I'll get through it all in one day, so a bit of pressure's off me there. Have been filling in the time before the big day(s) reading the Highway code and took my driving theory test a couple of weeks ago (bike theory booked) for fun. Also read a couple of learn to ride books. Theory isn't a problem. Practical is another story:

I have had a helmet-proof haircut, bought a hi-vis nail varnish, and washed my lucky pants.

I therefore feel relatively prepared, but envisage the following scenarios

Ooh, what's that big red button for?
Now, 9 mph, I think I'm going a bit fast- which one's the brake again?
Hmm, it just won't go around the cone, no matter how much I close my eyes and do my best wishing....? Can I get off and walk it round?
Oh no- disaster. My lipstick clashes with the ignition.

What's that lever again? Clutch? Is that the same as throttle, or is that something different? Oh right, so the throttle is the same as the accelerator and the clutch is the same as the choke? No? Oh- so what was the first bit again? Oh right. Yes, I think I've definitely got it now. So if the throttle and the choke are the same thing, why are there two brakes? Etc....

and I bet the other learner will be a teenage boy who can't understand what the old granny is doing cramping his style.
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Hat first, THEN gloves... One day, science will develop a cure for hat hair.
Moped(we shall never speak of this again)>Yamaha BR125 Custom>Bullet Classic 500
https://www.bikepics.com/members/woollymoose/

[N cee thirty]

meh toke me 6 months of owning the bike to find out what the choke does,learning ftw

would have stopped me doing alot of bump starting

alot of my mates did there cbt on mopeds and now ride geared bikes
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[N cee thirty]

lmao its actually true

had a rs50 with the lever on the side of the carb behind the fairing which you can't reach without undoing the bolts.

this was before going college and not having any mechanical knowledge at all D:

probably why i've got a belly now,not needing to push start a bike any more
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once