oh dear

[marsden1967]

Went out for the first time on my own last night. Oh dear, what a complete fucking disaster. I forgot virtually everything I did on CBT and have develpoed the extremely dangerous habit of riding with my hand covering the front brake. Not happy
I am going to go out again tomorrow at 5 oclock in the morning when there shouldn't be anyone else on the road and practice in a disused car park. Sigh
____________________
Ooooh Matron!
current bike(s) YBR 125, ER6 N

[SandTiger]

[anthony_r6]

That'll just be the nerves. Best thing to do is practice a bit on your own, somewhere quiet and get use to the controls and make it second nature ( that does come quickly) and then take it to the road when you can concentrate on the traffic and such.
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[marsden1967]

@ AnPhonEh

I was sweating buckets and was really, really nervous. Still, I'm not going to give up. Might book a couple of lessons as I am worried about my hovering hand.
____________________
Ooooh Matron!
current bike(s) YBR 125, ER6 N

[Copycat73]

[AaronCooper]

You'll be alright pal, you've got all the time in the world to build up your skills & confidence up.

Ps, obligatory bike pics!
____________________
Honda CG 125 04' Blue

[MC]

[Rogerborg]

Relaaaax. You're aware of what you're doing, which is way more than a lot of bikers with licenses can say.

Just ride, evaluate, correct, ride. I still tense up my left arm, only Allah is perfect.
____________________
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

[villain1973uk]

I was the same, I had a 125 after I passed my cbt and I only went out on the back roads for a few weeks as was a little nervous. Then ventured out and loved it, done my das and now on a big bike thinking why the fuck was I so nervous...... Just keep going out on it, every trip you will be more confident.

Gl.

[harscot]

Hi bud, as the others have said, don't worry to much, anyway in a town or city with busy traffic it's a good idea to have two fingers at least covering the front, for anything unexpected happening, stay cool, and relax, practice, and riding hrs and it will eventually click, there are no time constraints so don't be put off.
____________________
First bike R reg Suzuki 125 GT twin in 1978:
2nd bike X reg Honda 650 Deauville in 2011:
Wish bike a Triumph Thunderbird: Dream bike Triumph Rocket........

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I'll give it under ten hours riding time before you're wondering why you ever started this thread.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[carolybr]

At least you are aware of what you are doing wrong . I promise you will get better each time you go out. I also used to have the hovering hand.. as well as the hovering foot - covering the rear brake, just to make sure, ya know. Luckily I had my daughter drive behind me on a ride and she let me know that my brake light was more or less permanently flashing. I would literally be trailing the back brake the whole way!! Easier said than done, but try to relax and remember to breathe!

[esullivan]

My confidence waxes and wanes even today, two years after my CBT and several months after passing my tests. I still get a *bit* nervous getting on the bike. As an exercise in overcoming my fears, the bike is a gift that keeps on giving. There's always something new to face and overcome -- my latest was a 1500-mile trip through Yorkshire and the Lakes District. Windy, single-track lanes with 20-degree inclines and lots and lots of sheep... Scary shit for a city boy!

Don't worry about it. Learn to use the nerves to keep yourself alert and aware of traffic around you. It will get easier.
____________________
Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Kradmelder]

[marsden1967]

Well, I went out today at 5, 'twas a lovely morning, not a sinner in sight apart from a mad jogger or two. Guess what? I did alright!
I practiced for a while at aforementioned car park, stopping at imaginary junctions etc. then I tootled about on the roads for a while until I needed a cup of coffee.
I really had to concentrate not to hover over the front break, my gear changing and cornering need improving but I am a learner so as long as my mistakes aren't dangerous, it doesn't matter, I am recognising my mistakes so can only improve.
I wore different boots today, as the ones I wore the first time were stiff on the toes and that had made gear changing difficult. I feel a lot happier today
____________________
Ooooh Matron!
current bike(s) YBR 125, ER6 N

[j.silvs]

Did you crash? - if not it sounds like the ride went well for your first one

Just think, you will only get better

[Spudly]

12 months after starting, I find I'm constantly covering the clutch. Mainly because my poxy 125 is so slow that:

0 - 12mph = 1st;
12 - 20mph = 2nd;
20 - 30mph = 3rd;
30 - 45 = 4th and
45+ is 5th, but happens rarely.

Slight incline either way means there is a gear change. I live in Northumberland, which is mainly hills and valleys.

Still, covering the clutch is a bad habit which I need to work out.
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The Old Apprentice

[Kradmelder]

Not to marsden and carolybr,

make sure your right hand is off the front brake when your doing your wheelie and when the front wheel hits the ground again!

Your right hand should roll off then roll on the throttle! That will cure your brake habit.

Spudly you can do a clutch wheelie. get the revs up, pull in clutch, roll on then let the clutch out

There. problem solved
____________________
2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[jonbee56]

I had the same habit when I did my DAS & I can still hear the trainers voice in my ear saying " I can't see it there, but take that hand off the brake until you need it".
____________________
CBF125 > Hornet 600 (x2) > CBR600F -- slowly getting better
"If you can't turn it, then burn it"

[AaronCooper]

Well I've had the opposite thing happen since picking up my bike, I've been on it quite a lot and my confidence on the roads has increased a ton. However today that came to bite me in the ass, It's been raining all day and I'm not experienced enough to know the braking speeds on wet roads. Needless to say the rear end started sliding left and right, I stayed calm and managed to control the bike - Mainly because I've had the same thing happen a ton of times on my push bike and I've got used to the motion.

While I handled it well, It did make me take a step back and remember I've been on the road less than a week and need to take take all new obstacles with caution.
____________________
Honda CG 125 04' Blue

[marsden1967]

I'm going to continue going out at unearthly hours for a while until I'm happy with my riding before I venture into traffic. I have all the time in the world to master my riding skills and have to remind myself that I have only ridden a bike 3 times.
____________________
Ooooh Matron!
current bike(s) YBR 125, ER6 N

[Kradmelder]

[marsden1967]

Unfortunately Krad, I don't have time to go out that many times a day. I have to use a car for work, can't come home for lunch ( if I have a lunchbreak) and often have loads of stuff to do after work which normally means that by the time I have finished that it is getting on a bit. I should be able to get a couple of hours in in the morning as I do tend to get up early.
Also don't forget I am an old bird and need me rest!
____________________
Ooooh Matron!
current bike(s) YBR 125, ER6 N

[andy_uk]

[CG Sam]