Didn't pass CBT first time - Advice?

Mozzy1113 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 23 May 2017 Karma :

Sorry guys, I've been away for a few days so I haven't been online to check this thread.

Ok, I'll be honest you have all made me feel a bit better about the whole thing. I kind of half expected everyone on here to say something along the lines of "Well if it just didn't feel right, it's not for you" or "You know if you're suited to it straight away when you sit on the bike" or something similar. It's just that everyone I know who has already done their CBT to seemed to really enjoy it, and even if they didn't pick it up straight away, it never seemed to feel so "awkward" like it did it with me. Its the fact that riding the bike felt so "unnatural" to me that threw me off, not just the fact I didn't sail through it. Meh, maybe I'm just overthinking it.

Guess I can only give it another go Thumbs Up

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

Biking comes naturally to very few people. It is something you have to work at but after a while it clicks and gets easier and then the more you do it the better you get at it.

I've used many tactics to try and relate students who struggle with their bikes and one of the best ones that works is one of the least PC ones. So have a read, have a laugh and hopefully you can relate to it.

Doing a CBT and getting on a bike the first time is like the first time you have sex with the girlfriend/boyfriend. You are gentle gentle, touchy feely getting to know what each other likes. You are feeling the bike, the bike is feeling you and you will both respond accordingly. The more gentle you are the more the bike is going to respond positively.

Give it 6 months and you'll have the machine bent over, slapping its arse and wiping it on the curtains after but for now, first night of passion.

Oddly enough it works very well.
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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
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

Bozzy · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Dec 2015 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

angryjonny · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Karma :

I did my CBT within one day, even though I shouldn't have. I wouldn't have signed myself off, but they did. I think, largely, because it was the first day of a DAS course and they didn't want to hold things up.

For me the worst day was DAS day 2 - all day playing with the traffic on a 125. I felt way out of my depth and spent most of my day riding around with an indicator going, accidentally doing clutchless gearchanges. By the time I got on to the "big" bikes on day 3 I was more comfortable with the controls and it all started to slowly fall into place. I failed my first test on a stupid mistake but by then I knew I could ride and it was just a case of giving it another go, so although I was annoyed, there was no danger of me chucking it all in at that point. Clean-sheet on 2nd attempt. Should have kept a copy as a souvenir.

Tracer1234 · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2014 Karma :

nachtjenevel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 03 Jun 2017 Karma :

rpsmith79 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Jan 2017 Karma :

Alpineandy · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2015 Karma :

nachtjenevel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 03 Jun 2017 Karma :

[quote="Alpineandy"]

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

grr666 · Super Spammer Joined: 16 Jun 2014 Karma :

If it's any consolation, once you have got the hang of it, you won't forget. I taught myself back in the 80's the falling
off and getting back on hard way, there was no CBT then you see. Cue a 20+ year break from riding for various reasons
and then a return to bikes when I was 40 and it was as if I hadn't had the break. Once you've programmed yourself with
the necessary skills to ride motorcycles, they should stay with you. When my wife did her CBT as a bike virgin after completing
CBT she also says that her car driving and general observation on the road has improved.
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Fizzoid · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

pudder · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Nov 2016 Karma :

matthews1892 · Derestricted Danger Joined: 08 Feb 2017 Karma :

When I did my CBT and dropped the bike (brand new cbf) stalled twice and was all over the place. I would have never signed myself off but because I was buying a bike from the training center they cleared me, now I wouldn't ever recommend the training center to anyone. The next evening I went very slowly to a small quiet hill and spent a good 3 hours going up and down it, doing hill starts and turns. I spent the next month or so feeling I had cheated the system and that I shouldn't be on the road so being the over cautious guy I am, I rode only at quiet times and away from traffic, a month or so later I'm filtering and going everywhere on the bike, I do genuinely believe there is a moment when first riding that all of a sudden it clicks and a light bulb comes on, you suddenly understand the bike and how to use it to its potential. Perseverance and using your brain really pays off.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Tracer1234 · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2014 Karma :

Cronik · Scooby Slapper Joined: 15 Sep 2015 Karma :

I didn't know how to change gears 'smoothly' even on the 2nd day going out on the road. I stalled 12 times, took 3 wrong turns, ran a red light and then received the verbal from a fat hells-angel. He said he was BORDERLINE whether to give me it or not. I looked him in the eyes and jerked my head forward in menacing fashion and walked out with my CBT entitlement.

Here I am 2000 miles, 2 dead geriatrics and a smiley face keyring later.
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M.C · Super Spammer Joined: 29 Sep 2015 Karma :

Jeez the standard for 'passing' your CBT's low Very Happy

andyscooter · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 May 2009 Karma :

Arrrrrrrrhhhhh
Cronics back

Which sock vanished this week then
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Cronik · Scooby Slapper Joined: 15 Sep 2015 Karma :

SkaDad · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Jul 2017 Karma :

Passed my CBT today... Got about 3/4 through the day and said to the instructor I just didnt feel ready or safe and he should go ahead on the road with the others. He persevered and I did the road practice... tbh it felt a lot better on the road but I am not sure I would have passed me. I suppose although I was making mistakes, I was quickly and safely rectifying them. I was far from perfect.

He said a second day was included in the price if needed which is good - but gives them an incentive to pass on the first day... At least by passing I can find a quiet space and just go round and round starting and stopping till it comes naturally which is what I think I need.

Just do a second day if needed. Great to know your limits - many a fool cut down from over confidence... V surprised if anyone with no road or bike experience is genuinely safe after only one day - it was hard work, but fun when it flowed Smile

RickTaff · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 28 Jul 2016 Karma :

I had to go back for a 2nd day myself. (I had never ever sat on a motorbike before my CBT & the first day of training) Simply due to the fact that I struggled believe it or not, with the slalom; and letting the clutch out too quick when we learnt how to pull off.

Kept hitting cones and by the time i conquered it; it was late in afternoon so left the road ride bit out. Also, it'd been such a lot to take in, my head was fried. I gladly took the offer of coming back.

At the end of the training when we spoke about coming back following week, my instructor said that because you know what to expect, your brain has taken it in and it is not a "new" experience per se, your riding will be much better as the anxiety and nerves are not as bad. He was right, 2nd day was like id been riding for ages.

He even remarked that he refused to believe I'd never ridden before and the first day of training was a twin brother lol

Definitely give it another go, 100%