Hated the CBT - In two minds whether to continue

[barryb001]

I've wanted to ride a motorcyle for a long time. I'm the kind of guy who get's in the car and goes for a drive on the weekend - doesn't matter where as long as it's somewhere different.

Because I have a little leave left, I decided to learn to ride a motorcycle even though I don't know much about them at all. (It just looks like great fun ).

But it hasn't started very well. I've done the theory test and yesterday I did the CBT course which I passed. But I hated it. My slow speed control is really bad and I can never find the right gear. It irratiated the heck out of the instructor and made me feel like a propper t1t. (Are you supposed to get the hang of it on the first day?)

I've been put under a little pressure to sign up for a DAS course but am not so keen. The way I see it I have four choices:
1. Forget about. (At least I've given it a go)
2. Get on with it. (Give them a wad of cash and hope that I've got the hang of it by the end of the week)
3. Buy a 125, spend a couple weekends/months in the parking lot and on the roads, then do a restricted power test.
4. Rent a bike (can you do that?) to find out whether it's the bike I don't like or the trainer I don't like.

Was wondering whether anyone has had a similar experience?

Baz

[Davo]

I was pretty much in the same kind of mind, if I was bored or needed to kill some time, I'd take the car out and go for a good blat round some of the country roads in the area, so I thought a bike may be the way to go, when my dad got his bike I had a go and was amazed by the acceleration etc.. of it (bare in mind this was an old kawasaki GPZ550).

When I finished my CBT, I was very disheartened. I had very poor slow speed control, and was as wobbly as you could get (very nearly binned the cg125 on numerous occasions).

I was in two minds as to carry on and pass the full test or not. I eventually decided to carry on, and it's only really been after six months to a year that my slow control skills have improved a great deal, although I still object to doing u-turns.

What I'm trying to say is that these skills come with experience and practice. I personally in your shoes would crack on with the DAS, get your test done. Once you've passed you can practice to your hearts content and you will improve as you become more experienced.

Hope this helps

Davo

[0ddball]

Yep, exactly the same. When there was about 2 hours left i was hopeing for it to end quickly and was wishing i never even turned up for the cbt.

Riding a bike is not a nice experience when you are under pressure to do well and keep making mistakes.

I bought a cheap 125 to use for about a month. After that i felt much more confident when i went back for my DAS. Especially if you ride the 125 to lessons then hop off one bike and straight onto the other.

If i were you i'd at least do the 1 or 2 hour conversion lesson which gives you a bit of experience on the bigger bike. I bet you find the 500cc much easier to ride.
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[BenBray]

I did my cbt on a gs125. It was... an experience. I was the worst guy there, I didnt feel safe to go out on the roads at all. I was stalling all the while and I was generally very unsafe.

I was passed on the premise that "it's a long day, you're under pressure, you're getting frustrated and the day has to move quickly. Just get a bike, find a car park or industrial estate and practise. You listened well and took it easy, so I know you'll be safe".

Well, I didnt believe that. Almost a month later I buy a bike for a fair price - gz125y which is nothing like what I wanted, and I started out very gingerly. That was on friday.

It's monday now, and I've mainly been riding at night with a friend of mine showing me around in his car. I must confess, as soon as you start to do your own thing and get some practise in, it all starts to just.. click. I was riding at night to avoid all the scary traffic and boy-racer pricks coming back from college, you see

Now I might not be wanting to do my DAS, but if you have the money look around for a dirt cheap 125 for a bit, that you can sell on and not really lose any money with. It'll be worth it. You can get your skill up, get comfortable and start to enjoy yourself. When you start getting bored of the power [oh come on, you wanted a thrill right? ] do the DAS and you should pass first time.

Good luck, tell us what you decide to do

[/Essay]
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Current Bike: nc30

[Bendy]

If the instructor's getting irritated, I'd check whether the same one will be training your for DAS. If so, I'd consider going to another school - you don't need a pissy instructor.

Otherwise, what they said up there. Stick at it, it'll click and 500s are easier to ride than 125s.

[lumphammer]

I did my CBT on a Sunday and went straight on to DAS Monday to Friday with test on Friday pm. Days 1 to 3 were OK but 4 & 5 I was not a happy bunny Didn't help with the instructor telling me that I would not pass after a drive round the test route. Nearly told the examiner he could go home early but took the test anyway. Failed miserably.

Have now got a 125 to play on for a couple of months before I have another go at the test but this time it will be taken somewhere quieter than Croydon. The Isle of Wight has been suggested by Kath600

[Snake Eyes]

my slow control was untter rubbish too ! all wobbly and to be honest at times i thought about changing my name to joey but as been said before bigger bikes are easier to handle, I rode an ER5 for my first lesson then went to a Diversion 600 as this was more comfortable (physically bigger .... im 6' 5'')

I managed to find somewhere that did 2hr lessons. perhaps this would be better for you, then you can pay for the lesson each time and then if you really dont like it then you haven't paid out for a full DAS ? just a thought
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[G]

I was actually pretty wobbly and uncofident doing my first CBT.

Was quite a few years ago, but since then I've been drag racing, minimoto racing, stunting, trackdays, clubracing and off roading and thoroughly enjoyed all off it .

So, stick at it a bit longer, one way or another, before you make your mind up,

[The Old Geeza]

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

[Flip]

My CBT instructor was a pr1ck. That was no fun at all.

My DAS instructor rocked.

Get a cheap 125 and see how you feel.

[yambabe]

Another vote for the get-a-125 here. I was lucky, before I did my CBT I had about 3 weeks off-road training with my other half.

It's all about experience, the more experience you have the more confidence you get.

Don't even think about doing your test yet, you've got 2 years to sort that out.

Just get used to riding and then decide what to do. if you like it, do your test and you're away. If you don't, well it's not for everyone!
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Mik_RX125]

I loved doing my CBT and my test. The instructors were all a laugh. If you just relax and get into the swing of things you will find it easier. As long as you show you can control the bike then you should have no problems passing your DAS. I'd still go for the 125 option, but get a 2 stroke as they are loads of fun to ride.

Mik
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[barryb001]

BIG thank you to everyone for the good advice.
Nice to know that others have also had less than brilliant starts to biking but things have worked out in the end.

I think I need to get myself a cheap 125 and practice until it clicks. Then go ahead with the training and test. (Walk before you run and all that)

Glad I posted this message!

Baz

[The Old Geeza]

[Ianr]

Good post.
This is exactly what i plan to do,i'm 32 & did my CBT the other week,it was a bit scary to say the least.I plan to get a cheap 125 & get some road skill/experiance,then i might consider my DAS.I think its just a case of keep trying & it will 'click' just like riding a bike
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Done my CBT,now looking for a cheap bike.

[killa]

I’ve done my CBT twice, I had to because mine was out of date.
I rode there on a ‘04 DTR125 but because I had no L’s I rode a CG125, that’s a crap bike.
That sort of thing could put me off, I had to do some things on a 50 Fun, it is a shit looking moped with beeping indicators. OMG.
Don’t give up though, you can ride a proper bike then silly.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Ragdoll]

Don't give up. The hardest part is taking that first step to actually doing your CBT. I loved mine and didn't want to come home! I'd agree and say get yourself a 125 and decide after you've been on the road for a while. I think you'll decide it's what you want and stick with it.
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1st bike - Honda Rebel; 2nd bike - CBR125; next bike - husband's 'blade hehehehe
Lancashire Bikers Facebook Group

[shellshock]

When I did my CBT, I was like you, wanted to learn how to ride for years, been driving for 13 years, at the end of that day I was both elated and terrified, again everything sucked, I spent all day stalling and getting a knackered leg kick starting the bloody bike back up whilst shouting every swear word under the sun.

One thing that kept me going was remembering how bad it was learning to drive, remember how complicated everything was then ? How you had to think about everything you did, how bad your 3 point turns were, etc etc.

Now I jump in the car and don't think about anything apart from the road, thats what happens on a bike, soon becomes second nature. So carry on with it, you will get there.

Oh and yes, your instructor sounds like a squid - get a new one.

[Misc]

[DanceLikeAMon...]

The link below is one of my very first posts on here. I had done my CBT, then a couple of months later bought my first bike (a SR125) and was absolutley shite at biking! That was almost a year ago - this morning I rode about 20 miles on the A1 in rush hour traffic, filtering 90% of the way.

It does take a while to get used to. I still make mistakes and have the occasional wobble when pulling away - I just don't let it bother me now. Stick with it, it's worth it in the end!

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=38062&highlight=broke+duck

[chris-red]

i was ok on my cbt but this was beacause i got my bike a week before and rid it up and down my street just getting used to the clutch and gears. not strictly legal but my dad was watching ( been a bike for 25 years+) i've been ridng for a few months now and am fine and confident. i even rode 150 miles mostly in the dark whilst it was pissing it down with a bike completely loaded up with far more than it should (with pushbike paniers lol) and a heavy bag on my back. i only had one near crash i locked up the back and it gave a very big wobble!
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[dpcg125]

I own a Honda cg125 which I bought before my CBT.

But I had a similar problem on my CBT, I started off on a Honda cg125(not mine, one of there's), and kept stalling and other problems, the instructor(Who imo was a bit of an a--shole)was losing his patience and getting quite abrasive with me. It didn't help that the training place was about as big as a small back garden .

I was the only one on the CBT who had no riding experience at all, which added to the pressure(One was retaking a CBT after 2 years on a scooter, one had ridden off road bikes for years and the other one had a full car license, and had ridden off road too)

In the end I was frustrated and told the instructor, I wanted on a automatic scooter, my idea was pass this thing on the twist and go, and then teach myself gears and get used to my Honda cg125, in my own time on the road without the pressure from a jackass instructor and the "I know it all already" people on my course watching me.

So in the final element of CBT, I took to the road on a 50cc Scooter, a different instructor took me and another person on this one(While Jackass instructor took the other 2 people).

This instructor was a really nice guy and a great teacher, I build in confidence, and at the end, I was told I did very well and I passed .

My gamble paid off, as I took my Honda CG125 on the country roads, and after a while the gears came naturally, I have learned so much on my own, travelling the country roads and driving in towns etc.

I now take the Honda on my daily(14 mile round) commute to work.

But it all could of been so different because on the CBT, I very nearly quit, which in hindsight would of been a very stupid move.

Happy Riding
Dave

[retro]

Not going to lie to you, I gave up too (still love bikes though). Only reason was the risk really nothing else...I think it's worse to distress those around as otherwise I would feel it's a bit selfish of me...