Never ridden a bike before - got CBT booked for Friday!

[Turkish]

Hi everyone,

It's my first post here but I've been trawling the threads for a while now

I've had a car license for nearly 3 years but for the sake of economy I have decided to ditch my ageing Rover 100 for a sensible bike for the short commute (around 11 miles), and maybe some fun as well .

I've got my CBT booked for this Friday and I'm a little nervous as I've never ridden a motorcycle before (apart from twice round a McDonalds car park on a moped about 10 years ago!). I've watched dozens of youtube videos, read guides all over the internet, because I am terrified of 'not meeting the required standard'.

The advice on the internet is great, but it's all a bit too general, for obvious reasons. I'd like to know more about your individual experiences on your CBT, bike tests etc, and any thing you picked up along the way that might help me out should I suffer in the same way. Where did you struggle and what did your instructors tell you that helped overcome your difficulties?

In terms of bike choice, I'm looking at the CBF125 primarily, I liked the look of the CBR125 but they are a bit pricey because of all the shiny plastics. I'm a little concerned about my lower back too - Is the CBF more upright? It looks like it. I'm not sure I can cope with the hunched forward position on the CBR...


It's a pleasure to meet you all and I look forward to your words of wisdom

[bikertomm]

Nice one

Don't have a sleepless night over the CBT, I managed mine when I just turned 17, never ridden a bike, no road sense and I really enjoyed it. Did it on a geared 125 (Ybr)

Just listen and try to learn as much as you can.

The real learning comes when you get to take your bike out on your own

A CBF sounds a good choice, though have heard some of the recent ones have problems with the fuel pump or something? Make sure yours is good!

Also I have to reccomend a more 'trials' or supermoto 125 if you are after an upright postion / easy handling ect..

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/086.jpg

Good luck
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[Englishman]

On another forum, there's a section where people post their experiences of their CBT's. Should be helpful to you. When I did my CBT, I was in exactly your position - I'd had a razz up and down on a mates 50cc about 25 years before. I had a blast on my CBT and within 2 months had a full license and a 650cc bike. You will not regret it, but do look at doing your tests, it opens up a whole new world.

https://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=8601
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[recman]

I had a good CBT too but I think the Get On session I had prior to that helped massively.
I'd never ridden a bike before either.

[Rogue_Shadow]

Turkish I'm in the same boat as you
The Only difference being the fact I had myself a free 1 hour lesson before hand, last week (The same as qb78). It's a very strange feeling getting on the bike for the first time, nothing you read will sum up the feel, weight and size of it.
But like driving a car, the unfamiliar becomes familiar with practice.
Got my CBT booked in for Saturday, so let me know how you get on bud.
You can likely teach me a thing or two
Enjoy!

[BusySam]

Hello mate, I'd never touched a bike before my CBt either, and I managed it. As someone else said don't have a sleepless night over it, just listen and do what the instructor tells you to do and you will be absolutely fine.

I turned up from mine, had a little chat about what we'd be riding & safety and that. Then he gave me a jacket, gloves and a helmet and we went out the back of the training school on a large area of tarmac and he told me to ride around for a few minutes, after showing me what was what on the bike and that. After that we done an emergency stop and a few other various drills before heading out onto the road. When on the road we rode for about an hour I guess with him directing me over a comms system and when we got back he said I done one thing wrong, I didn't let a bus pull out or something when it had already started too. But I passed on that mate.

As I said you'll be absolutely fine, I'm sure. Good luck.

[Soberion]

[U_W v2.0]

[Efes123]

Don't worry about the CBT, just concetrate on listening and enjoying yourself. Remember, it's just a bit of training.

As for which bike, your instructors should be able to help you out. But take a look around their stock, see if there's one that you're really comfortable on. Personally, I'd try for a Yamamha YBR, or a Honda CG, pretty much perfect for taking your tests on, and great learning machines.
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Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[dungbug]

Relax, listen & question anything that doesn't make sense.

I did my CBT last July, consisted of a good talk to start with to make everyone familiar with a bike, bike riding and so on. Then on to the bikes doing manouvres (circling, figure 8), clutch control, braking, slow control. Then stopped for a cuppa & decided which riders were going out on the road first The road part was good fun, did some slow stuff in a residential area for 15 minutes or so & the instructor was happy so went out on the lanes for most of the ride. Came back into the city and did the turn in the road and rode through some city traffic. Felt confident throughout which I'm sure was massively down to the instructor I had on the day.

Enjoy the day more importantly, I've been driving a car since 1997 and have no interest in getting back into one anytime soon. My bike that I own is a shed but I still enjoy riding.

Best of luck for Friday, any questions you have afterwards you can always post on here.
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CBT: Pass 25/06/2011 Theory Test: Pass12/06/2012 Mod 1: Fail 08/07/2012
Mod 1 Retest: Pass 15/0702012 Mod 2: Pass 03/08/2012
Suzuki GN125 (Sold) ~ Current bike: Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat

[Derivative]

[shazza65]

The CBT is really just a fun day and gives you a taste of what to expect as a motorcyclist, but it is long and there's a lot of information that you have to take in. What it doesn't do is give you a great deal of experience in traffic. So when you pass you're CBT, after you've absorbed everything the instructor has told you, practice slow-speed riding skills (figure 8's, U-turns, slow speed riding). These are invaluable in traffic situations. It is really easy to go fast, but harder to go slow.
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[jonna]

Don't worry fella it's a good laugh especially if it's sunny. You'll bimble around getting used to gears and doing some slow maneuvers.

After I passed my CBT I got a Honda XR125 (as above) great bike that you can take all over! Good luck

[DrSnoosnoo]

I too went from no riding experience at all and in a month and a half I bought my 600 and haven't looked back!

Just enjoy it
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Rogerborg]

There's a lot to take in on the CBT, and far too much time wasted in the (mandatory) talky parts. Don't push yourself to complete it in a day, and remember that it's training, not a test. If you're unsure, ask. If you need to take a break, take it.

I found that after skipping the road ride and going back after a few day's break, that everything had sunk in and it got much easier.
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[jonbee56]

[kernow24]

[Turkish]

Hi guys, thanks for your sharing your stories, I was really encouraged by them.

I am pleased to say my CBT went well and I now have a shiny new certificate

I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought and I'm really looking forward to going out on my own now. I didn't really have any problems except I forgot to cancel my indicators twice at the beginning of the ride, but the rest of it was alright. Getting a feel for the bike was good fun, I was a bit tense at first but when I relaxed and got into the swing of things I realised the bike wanted to go around corners just as much as I did.

I will confess though, I chickened out and did the CBT on an automatic rather than a manual; the instructor did offer encouragement to go for it but I was worried about getting distracted with the extra controls. It did give me time to focus more on observation and balance so I don't really regret it - I'll jut have to get the practice in before I go on the roads for real.

Thanks again for your help and advice, it helped more than you know

[Rogue_Shadow]

GO MANUAL OR GO HOME!


I'm kidding
Got my tomorrow! Glad to hear you got on ok.
What sort of bike you looking at getting? Got my eye on two local YBR's, if the CBT goes well I'll be making a few calls ASAP

[Bred2shred]

Well done mate, i've got mine on monday plus i've got a nice shiney bike of my own to look forward to for after it.
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[Turkish]

[Turkish]

[Efes123]

[Englishman]

[Turkish]

Thank you all for your comments, I can totally understand where you are coming from.

I went ahead as planned and bought a CBR125, taking a full license holding friend with me just in case I struggled getting it home. It was a bit daunting getting on it for the first time (I was thinking "shit, I actually have to ride it, now"), but the gears came very naturally as did the independent braking.

I must say I really love the bike, it feels really sturdy in corners and has more than enough poke for me. Over the last few days I've done around 100 miles in it, lots of stops and starts, roundabouts, dual carriageways and twisty turny country roads. I also did around 15 miles in the rain yesterday and learned that it's probably best to close air vents before going out in the rain .

I have a few questions if you wouldn't mind.

Firstly, engine braking - I feel like I 'should' be showing brake lights when slowing down (it's what I was told in my CBT), but when planning ahead (red light, say) in plenty of time, I normally slowly close the throttle and engine braking with downshifting is enough to slow most of the way. If I do proper observations before slowing down, would it be OK to do that on my test?

Crosswind - Especially at high speed, what's the best way to deal with it? I sort of lean into the wind a bit, but it is difficult to do when it is gusting.

On the flat, the engine seems happy between 4.5-6k RPM, below that it sounds like it's working a little harder than it should be. Is that about right?

Thanks for your help