Greetings! First post

[Aquila]

Hello BCF members.

I'm a complete novice, eager to start this new and exciting chapter in my life!

My first time getting even close to a bike was 4 weeks ago doing my CBT. I struggled a lot, but after 3 more lessons (twice on Kawasaki ER-5 and today on a Honda 599 Hornet), I'm feeling comfortable on the roads. The only things that still get me nervous are low speed manouvres, but I still rate my chances of passing my Mod 1 on coming Tuesday (16th) morning as good, as long as my nerves don't get out of control. I'm ascribing all of the good progress to the excellent instructors at Bike Sense in Cambridge. They are really an amazing bunch of professionals, who really know how to encourage you.

Up to a year ago, I never really imagined I'd ever take up motorcycling, but lately I've felt a need for a nice injection of excitement in my life. Now I can't wait to get the test over with, and buy myself a nice CBR600F4!

I've been lurking these forums for the last couple of weeks, especially in this section, and I'm really happy to see such passion, and the very warm welcome. I hope I'll be able to contribute myself in the future!

Cheers.

[trikeschick]

Welcome and good luck for Tuesday. I have my mod 2 coming up soon and have my eye on a CBF600 - but until i get that final certificate, it is just a dream lol
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"Light travels faster than the speed of sound, which is why some people appear bright until they speak"

[Clanger]

Welcome to the forums finally, ex lurker... well as a lurker you will have had a chance to mull over and read through the types of questions people ask.

Will have read the rules and explored the forum properly, and hit the search button above to check out the sorts of topics many new BCF members ask over and over, as if their questions have never been asked before.

Riding a bike at slow speed is where the skill is. It's not about going fast or in straight lines as you have just found out. Best to get yourself out and practice practice practice, because you are going to need to get to grips with the u-turn and other slow speed manoeuvres in order to get through your tests.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Aquila]

Thanks for the welcome guys!

And I'm happy to report I'm very content with how the search functionality on this forum works. It's pretty easy to find what you're looking for. Actually, the primary reason I signed up when I did was because I wanted to use the search function.

Indeed, slow speed is really where the lack of biking proficiency seems to show a lot! The main issue for me to work on is my tendency to oversteer when the speed drops (main problem for me on bicycles as well). Luckily, I'll be doing my tests on an ER-5, and they are very user-friendly machines for the Mod 1 track! Phew! But I do realise it's a never-ending learning process, even after getting my license, and hope to take further lessons in the future after passing...

[Blob]

Hello and Welcome to BCF

As for Mod 1. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

It only last less than 10 minutes and is basic things which are being examined. Just try and 'near' perfect the slow speed aspects as that is the largest part of the test.

Good Luck and keep us all updated
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Bikes - Honda XR125 (SOLD) Suzuki GS500E (SCRAPED) Yamaha XJ600 N (CURRENT) -- Theory Test - 12/7/2011 (PASSED) -- Mod 1 Test - 13/7/2011 (PASSED) -- Mod 2 Test - 15/7/2011 (PASSED)

[TheSmiler]

Welcome to the site, good luck with the mod1 keep your cool and plenty of practise should get you through.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[anthony_r6]

I actually dislike the searching on this forum. Maybe I'm not using it properly?! Anyway, welcome and good luck with your mod 1. I'm assuming you're going for DAS?
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[Jenny1985]

Hi Aquila, Good luck on Tuesday. Have you had any time to practice at the test centre? I had an hour there a few days before the test and that really helped my confidence. I've also got my eye on a CBR600F...like Trikeschick, im still in the dream stage....but hey, were on the right track

[anthony_r6]

[Aquila]

Yes. Bike Sense in Cambridge hire the test site at least twice a week! I've been taken there twice. Emergency stop and swerve are a breeze (in fact they told me to slow down from my current ~57 km/h), and doing a mock test yesterday, I felt pretty good. Apparently not all bike schools in Cambridge actually take the time and money to let their students practice on the Mod1 site...

And yes, DAS all the way!

I'll admit I've spent way too much time looking at bike ads on the net, and I've been tempted a few times already to go out and buy a bike even before having passed my tests. I know, silly silly me. I can't help feeling like I may be missing out on some great deals though, but I'll try to keep my cool for just a bit longer.

By the way, I've been trying to search the forums, but couldn't find any good hits so far, which is most likely due to my specific situation. Can anyone tell me a ballpark figure I'd be looking at for TPFT insurance on a 10 year old CBR600F as a 26 year old male new biker, looking to keep the bike garaged in one of the safer areas of Cambridge? I tried asking a few insurance companies, but they would not indulge me in "hypothetical scenarios", and only said lying would invalidate my insurance etc...
I did read through the whole sticky thread re insurance, but it's going to be most helpful once I pass have my license. Ah well, I suppose I'll just have to be patient for a couple more weeks...

[Germ]

Do an online quote on GoCompare or Bennet's.I did that to work out how much it'd cost me for insurance for different bikes I've been looking at on E-Bay.

For a 46 year old new rider with 0 years NCB it's averaging about £250 - £350 for a 600cc to 750cc fully comp.

Might be different for you so go fill in your details as though you've passed your test and got the bike and get a quote.

[Aquila]

Thanks Germ. Just tried it on Bennets. Getting annual 470 TPFT with 280 excess. Phew....
At least now i know roughly what to expect. Once I do get my license, and start looking at bikes IRL, I'll have to start calling some more insurance companies.

[ajbsmirnoff]

Mod1 is easy, you'll walk it.

Just remember its still a test till you are out of the test area. You can still get faults for missing an observation, or fail from clipping a cone on your way out of the test area.

Fingers crossed

[Aquila]

Passed! Woohoo!

Apparently 0 faults, and 56km/h swerve, 59km/h stop.
I did manage to stall my bike once, and then it refused to start for over a minute! I was panicking like crazy, and thought I was done for, but the nice examiner didn't mark that down as a minor fault at all...

[FretGrinder]

[Aquila]