failed my CBT......

[Ezio Auditore]

I wasn't good enough to be out on a road, basically. Clutch control and gears (only went up to 2nd tho) are ok, the main problem was the handling. At slow speeds, it felt like the bike was going to tip over, i felt like more speed made me much more stable however. I can't make a smooth u turn because the steering feels so loose and i keep oversteering. Braking's a bit iffy (i kept putting my foot down early on) too. Oh, and i'm really crap with the throttle, i can't keep it steady.

The bike i was learning on was a Suzuki GLX125, and i've got an Aprilia RS125. I don't know if that's better or worse for me. I hope the handling is a lot tighter, the extra weight bothers me though.

A little reassurance would be nice, lol.

[Daytona Paul]

Chin up mate, you can't fail CBT, the fact is you just need some extra time to complete the training to a satisfactory standard.

We all learn at different rates. Very often it all seems to 'click' after a day or two's rest.

What arraignments have the school made with you to complete your training?
____________________
www.angliaroadtraining.com
CBT FROM ONLY £85
Back to Biking Refresher Day £99! Book with a friend and get 20% Discount!

[Ezio Auditore]

Going back in a couple days for another day's training (free of charge).

[Daytona Paul]

[kerr]

have they offered you to come back another day?.
chin up youl get it next time, you sound like you need to relax more.
theres a fair bit fo difference between the RS and the other one, the GLX is your typical 4 stroke learner, RS is 2 stroke, 4 stroke is easier for a learner.
dont worry about the weight once your moving it doesnt really make a difference.
hope this helps.
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[anthony_r6]

The instructor I initially had on my CBT wasn't able to teach me the throttle, gear and braking slow manoeuvres, and I struggled with turning. I got really frustrated because he kept trying to explain it to me in the same way, which I clearly wasn't getting. There were two other lads there, both on scooters, twist and go, so no clutch. By the time they'd finished their on court bit, they went out to ride and I was left behind.

Another instructor came back from a lesson and picked up from where I left off. Same model bike, but a different one. I was able to pick up the clutch almost instantly from the way he was telling me. Got the U-Turn, Turning, Figure of 8 etc etc within 20minutes and then straight after that I was out on the road with him.

On the road was good, I'd not long passed my car test so everything was fresh in my mind and I had a lot of time on the road with my car lessons. I did occasionally over-shoot on the turning though. At one point I ended up on the other side of the road with distant on coming traffic. The second, on a particularly sharp bend near where I live, I almost ran into a wall.

When we got back, he told me I had not passed. I just needed a little polishing up. I went back for a hour a few days later, just to get some road experience. That went fine and I got my CBT. I then went and got my bike a few weeks later.

My experience was limited and I wasn't overly comfortable with the controls and handling with the training bike. I bought mine without riding it, and immediately picked it up. No problems what-so-ever, and I haven't looked back since.

My point (after all that) is don't worry about it. As said, you don't fail, you just need more training. Which if you think about it, I'm sure you'd prefer. Would you really want to get your certificate and go out unprepared? With cars and bikes, it seems like a mammoth undertaking, but when it clicks, everything falls into place and it becomes send nature. Don't worry about how long it takes, go back, get some more practice, get your certificate, bike, and ride.

Good Luck
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[Ezio Auditore]

A mate of mine told me that after a certain speed, the handlebars don't really move that much. I was scared of this, but after today i'd welcome it. Also got told i was leaning too much (i was actually hanging off the bike sometimes, haha).

Maybe i'd feel more confident/comfortable (figuratively,not literally) on a sportbike?.

[Sload]

No not at all it's just practice. Did mine last weekend and I was struggling from not ever doing it before but got through it. I have now clocked up 300 miles on my own bike as well as being able to do the low speed stuff 9 out of 10 times without issue.

When doing low manoeuvres you set your throttle ( I also use the end of the bar to keep my grip constant), put a little bit of drag on the rear brake and use the friction zone on the clutch to control your speed. Once you start to do it automatically it gets really easy, but as long as you still have to think what your limbs are doing it will be a little difficult. One thing they never told me that I found has helped is to counter shift your body weight in the turn, i.e. if you're going right lean your weight to the left. It''s surprising how tight you can make a turn when you're hanging off the seat the opposite way

Keep at it and remember those lifesavers.

[lihp]

Your RS is going to be a lot less stable (sportsbikes are unstable by design), and the steering is going to be much lighter, quicker and twitchy. Especially at low speeds compared to the suzuki.

The clutch will bite harder and be more snappy too.


I remember my first experience of an RS125, I had been riding about 2 years, on super sports bikes, and still took me 3 attempts to move off without stalling the thing lol!

[shaun1118]

[Quornholio]

[ThoughtContro...]

Don't worry about it mate. It took me a while to get used to the clutch and gears, so I didn't fly through CBT first time either. At least they're not charging you for the extra day, unlike some schools out there. Stick with it and you'll get there.

Hanging off your bike will no doubt come in handy later on in your biking life
____________________
Prize cunt
--
"In a world of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

[hedgehugger]

I took 2 days AND got charged for the 2nd!!

The second day though everything seemed to click into place.

[Sload]

[J4mes]

[Rogerborg]

Yup, don't sweat it. I took two goes at it; I wasn't confident enough for the road ride, but when I came back refreshed, it all clicked straight away and I loved it. Give your brain a chance to assimilate it, you'll be fine.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[hedgehugger]

[ThoughtContro...]

[Fortuna]

Brool Story Co....I crashed on my CBT.
Went back the next day and got the certificate. That was in 1995

[Kamikaze Bob]

Deja vu reading this, had the same problems a few months ago. Re-book for further training, try and relax before you get there so you're not focussing on the mistakes and stuff you couldn't do before.

Enjoy the day, I had a ball my 2nd time, got my CBT, and am looking forward to DAS eventually.
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2001 Honda VFR800fi

[sprite]

It's all just practice I think people go into it thinking it's going to be a doodle but it's quite a bit to get to grips with, especially if you've either never ridden a bike before, never even been on a bike before, never driven a car, or even never been on a pedal bike on the road before or any combination of those! The last one might seem a bit of an odd one but I really think it helps give a bit of experience toward the balance side of things, car driving helps with road sense and for myself having been pillion I already knew what being on a bike actually felt like so that wasn't a shock at all.

When it came to actually being in control of one though I was absolutely hopeless to start and I think it's only because I'd done all the other things that I did get through it in one day. I will add though that according to my instructor I was only the third person this year starting from scratch to have done so, so it's quite normal for people to need a bit of extra time.

With the slow speed stuff I found that the most difficult to grasp, but these are the best tips I can offer:
- once you find a stable point, keep the clutch and throttle steady. If you know you can balance at that stable point then you'll be fine!
- for the slow control stuff I did a couple of laps of the playground we were in first to get a proper feel for it before launching into the "ride round, slow control, then pull off again" and manoeuvring - it really helped me, suggest it if you're struggling maybe?
- look where you want to go! Again this was tough for me as I kept looking at the bike to make sure I was doing the right thing, so all it takes is time to have the confidence to not need to check that. If you look where you want to go the bike will follow!

And most of all.. relax and enjoy!

[reddeviljp]

A girl on my CBT fell off the bike whilst stationary at Vauxhall Bridge (in central London) traffic lights and it doesn't get much busier than that junction! She eventually got up and then somehow lost herself with the instructor shouting over the headset. She turned up five minutes later close to Lambeth Bridge! I doubt you're in that category. She got her confidence back and passed a few days later

[Germ]

Went out on my road ride part of CBT with instructor,myself and a 19 year old girl who'd never rode a bike before.Went into a quiet side road and practiced U turns and she ended up in a hedge .She still went on to get her CBT certificate that day.

You get no medals for doing it in one day and maybe failing is a bonus cos you get extra time on a bike for free.

[babypuppy007]

Hi just joined this forum today.... looking for encouragement about sitting my CBT next Tuesday. I did the 'Get On' programme last Tuesday.....badly I may add. Now getting cold feet......I aint no spring chicken at 53, female, bit nervy...... However this has been my life's dream to ride a motorcycle my 'bucket list'. Do you all think I am daft? Thanks

[J4mes]

I don't think anyone at all is going to think you are daft!

Good luck, I'm sure you'll grow to love it!