CBT problems

[Steph_1989]

Hi, I'm new here. Found this place while looking for some help.

I have been wanting to ride a motorbike for many years now, the was my mums best friend who came to the house on hers that first started me. Anyways, I have put it off for years and I don't really know why. After some big changes in my life I decided I wanted to do this for myself. This was something for myself and something I needed in my life.

Booked in my CBT, really excited. Got there and honestly don't know if it was nerves or just that I haven't got any driving experience but I really struggled. I struggled mostly with the gears. Kept stalling which made me panic. I only had half a day as I wasn't allowed on the road due to my confidence. There were 3 other people there, I was the only woman, plus I was the only one who hadn't rode a motorbike. The others were renewing theirs. I felt very rushed, I mean we only had 2 hours in the car park then we were going on the road?
Has anyone else had problems like mine, I know it was mostly nerves and I have already booked in for my next session. But it there anyone who has had similar problems?

[Dave70]

I think most people suffer similar issuues with the gears at first. Moreso if they have no previous driving or riding experience.

I had the same problem when I first started out, you just have to keep practicing and before too long you'll be changing gears fine without even thinking about it.

Stick with it and good luck, you'll be fine in next to no time.
____________________
There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[Steph_1989]

[quote="Dave70"]I think most people suffer similar issuues with the gears at first. Moreso if they have no previous driving or riding experience.

I had the same problem when I first started out, you just have to keep practicing and before too long you'll be changing gears fine without even thinking about it.

Stick with it and good luck, you'll be fine in next to no time. :up:[/quote]

Thanks, I'm glad it wasn't just me. I have been a pillion and they make it look so easy :lol:
I have booked in for another CBT in the next week so hopefully that will be more fruitful. I am raring to get on a bike and on the road :) think it is just going to take some time

[NJD]

I wouldn't worry in the slightest about problematic gearboxes on 125cc's used on the CBT unless its your own machine based on the fact that they've probably been run into the ground for a lengthy period of time by rider after rider who has no idea what they're doing and revving it sky high etc. I hated the gearbox on the 125 I rode during my CBT and have seen many new riders struggle with them also when I've been out and about.

Once you get your own bike you'll pick it up quickly enough. Stalling could be a result of a clutch that's not set to your liking or just general experience with revs and being in the correct gear at the correct time.

The idea of people abusing a loophole in the system that was designed to give new riders a easy gateway into biking is slightly annoying and even more so in your case where it almost comes across that you where squeezed out due to looking inexperienced of which is not what the CBT is about, at all.

Pupil to teacher ratio should be 2-1 max on the CBT though so on that basis you should in my eyes have had at least one more instructor there to take you to one side and attempt to teach you alone while the CBT abusers showed their basic slow control skills etc.

You're experience is only as good as the training school.. might be worth considering how "at home" you feel with their style and approach if you ever consider doing DAS.

[kipzilla]

I did mine on Saturday and was on the other side of a similar experience. Nobody in our group had much bike experience but me and one girl had both been driving years and had had a go on bikes before. Another girl had no motoring experience at all.

Her problem was with the clutch. It isn't really that difficult to do and with the. Right explanation in the right setting I'm sure she would have got it but she felt under pressure coz the rest of us got it quite quickly. In the end she's arranged to come back at another time.

Don't give it up but try and get teamed up with a group with a similar level of experience.

Good luck!

[pinkyfloyd]

Is the school going to complete at a later stage? If so do you have to pay for it?

If you do then you have gone to the wrong school.

The thing with the CBT is some people do struggle. It is a surprisingly busy day and at times the brain does go into meltdown. Rightfully the school should have worked to the speed of the slowest pupil. If this did not happen you and you felt rushed then the school was doing you a disservice.

It is a real shame but schools like this tend to put more people off learning to ride.

If the school are not going to complete then I would suggest trying a different school and explaining your issues with the other school. Around here we have a cowboy unit and even without naming names we tend to know what students have been given a bad deal by them.
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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
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Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[andyscooter]

this seems to be getting more and more common

possibly because of the new laws making people wait to take tests on a bigger bike so more are retaking cbts
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[davebike]

Not good planing on the part of the trainers

It is good practice to keep CBT returners separate fro 1st time pupils

Most schools when they teach a total novice put them on a small auto to build confidence

I try another school and tell them about your bad experience up front they should make it easer for you
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NC750Xdct + others at work !
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[bugeye_bob]

HI, do you have any mates who have a bike you can get some practice in on ?
I normally suggest off rode so you can relax and just think about riding it rather then owt else.

[Steph_1989]

Hi, thank you so much for the encouragement. After talking to one of my closest friends about it he did say that maybe they should of gone around it another way. I did feel very rushed because they others were very capable. They did charge me the full £110 for the day. After only leaving at 1pm because the other riders needed to get out on the road.
I thought 4 per day for one person was a lot for a class but the instructor did say 4 was the max.
I am trying a new school, I have told them I had a bad experience and the woman on the phone was more than lovely. I have it booked in for the 1st. I am going to start again but the thing I have taken from the slightly bad experience is I know this is what I want. Sitting on that bike felt so right.
Someone suggested having a friend help me out. My friend really wants to help me but he was a rather large bike, speed and height. Big fellow. I am only 5ft 1. But he has been very helpful with me, he wants me out on a bike too and once I get my bike he will be my biker buddy to help me on the roads.

Again thanks so much :)

[andyscooter]

[andyscooter]

[Gosties]

I think it's pretty poor of the school not to invite you back for at least another half days tuition. I struggled with my CBT to begin with as like yourself never had previous driving experience. It takes time to get the hang of using throttle, gears, brakes and doing lifesavers.

It becomes easier through practice.

Despite your bad experience it will give you insight into the CBT process. Also you can compare and contrast the professionalism of both schools.

Good luck and don't worry and take it at your own pace.

The main thing is that you can operate the bike safely once you complete the CBT. Both for yourself and the other road users.

[NJD]

[bugeye_bob]

[Dave70]

[Steph_1989]

[quote="NJD"][quote="Steph_1989"]I have already booked in for my next session.[/quote]

[quote="Steph_1989"]I am trying a new school - I have it booked in for the 1st.[/quote]

So you've cancelled the second session with the original school, any refund offered? Partial I'd assume over whole as you had the morning session regardless of level of training (from the companies view).

Although you've cut your losses completely and decided to go with a different school. The 1st, of September? Sounds like a bit of a long wait as when I was looking at CBT's when starting out my local school had them available for multiple days on the same week I was looking at booking and thereon after. Either way, as long as the wait turns out to be worth it.

Might even get the new training school saying you're not the first to have experienced the original training school, even more so if they're local and you mention your experience on the day. [i]Fight Fight![/i]

The road ride is nothing to be scared of on the whole and a good instructor will ensure that you're fully prepared before taking you out, don't think to much about anything and just enjoy it. Highest speed that I encountered was a 40mph A road and then a few 30mph back roads, it's really just a basic pootle around to ensure you can use the combination of controls to a safe degree enough so to be trusted to do it on your own.

I'd say as much as the real learning begins after gaining your full license the real learning begins once you've got your own bike and are out on the roads on your own. The more you ride the more nutters you'll encounter that forget that you're human and attempt to knock you down like you're a bowling pin, confidence and road positioning are key, at least helped me when I started out, let all the potato's potato themselves.

Best of luck :up:[/quote]

Hi, I got no refund or offer to maybe get lessons cheaper from the first place, the one I did my CBT with. I had to pay the full £110 before I even could book an appointment.
I have tried to get earlier but with me working full time it was hard to find days they were matching up with my days off. I'm thinking of booking a lesson for the Sunday after my CBT on the Monday, would that be ok?
I know a lot of confidence and skills are getting on the road and on a bike that is yours. And I will be going round my estate after work and to local shops on little ventures to build confidence up. I do hope this company is a little better than my last. The blokes were lovely but I felt very rushed.
Onwards and upwards I guess :)

[NJD]

[Dave70]

[Kaya75]

Has above, just relax and do, no one is rossa of the blocks, when you get cbt, find dark carparks and practice low speed ect. I spent many years of my yoth in carparks with a skateboard, years later I found myself back with a yrb.. and sometimes sharing with a skateboarder or solo footballer. Practice in tge dark show of in the sun

Try to book a get into biking experience day, they are free (used to be) little more chilled then CBT and will be with complete beginners.

I've read people freaking out cuz some 17 yr old is better at cbt - don't, keep in mind that even though these young uns probably are better at adapting and responding and ache less! Thats why the military give the tanks and fast jets to play with

Keep at it, it'll come

[Wonko The Sane]

[rubyhorse2]

most new bikers tend to have issues with clutch control, and admittedly there can seem a lot of info to be thinking about when riding.

Have you no mates with bikes, just sitting on it and slowly releasing the clutch and moving off then stopping would be great for you.

As everyone else has said, its just practice (unfortunately expensive practice) and it will all feel natural at some point, so dont worry.

But yeh, practice on a mates bike if you can. if not, then just try and relax and take your time.