CBT on Saturday

[robocog]

I asked at our local training place about the availability of doing a CBT and asked for one in a fortnight or so as they did say they were pretty well booked up
Never been on a motorbike legally
Last I rode one I was in my teens (misspent youth)
Now in my 40's and have an endgoal of chugging to work on my CJ360 on fair weather days (after I get it running well enough)

Just got an email back to say theres a cancelation for this Saturday 2nd and would I like to take it!!

Have emailed back to grab the opportunity, but now getting real nervous about it
I don't feel I have done enough research into whats involved

Reading the other threads I think I'm right in thinking the CBT is going to be pretty much an all dayer and one to be enjoyed and treasured by complete novices such as myself

Fingers crossed

Regards
Rob

[Kal]

[The Artist]

It's not a test. Compulsory basic training.

All it is, it teaching you how to ride a bike and make sure you know to stop at a red light etc.

More fun than anything. Anyone with common sense will fly through. You can't really fail unless you are epic at riding in which case they keep you a bit longer or you may have to go back for more training.

You sound more intelligent than most chavs and whatnot that pass no problem so I am sure you will do fine.

Your DAS or A2, well that's when you need to worry.

[bacon]

was nervous for my cbt as well dude and i had never touched a bike before.


they make you put it on the centre stand, how to do basic bike checks, ride around a car park, slow moving, figure of 8, u turn, emergency stop, takes as long as you need, prob an hour or so

Then back to base for a coffee and some basics in signs (you've been driving no doubt in a car so they will most likely skip most of that part), then on the road for a compulsary 2 hours, job done, stamped certificate

enjoy it dude!

[C_nsr125]

I did my CBT test like 2 week ago, like everyone is saying its more fun than anything ! If u have common sense and know how the road works on a day to day basis ul be fine. I was nervous at first because i didnt know what was going to happen, then it turned out to be so easy! Just getting you use to a bike etc.

Carlos

[robocog]

Cheers chaps
I guess its normal to be slighty nervous then
I am a car driver and I like to think pretty good at it
(was driving as soon as I reached legal age and like to think I have gained good mechanical sympathy and awareness and all that over the last few years)

Its just a bit daunting going onto 2 wheels, I guess after a few mins getting used to it I will be able to relax and enjoy it

Its only going to be 2 of us novices with the instructor (was expecting more) so not as much pressure as I thought there would be

Is the theory test that I will be taking going to take much study?
I did the free theory test that is somewhere online (link below) ..and to my surprise passed (all seemed plain common sense)

The email I got back did say that after doing CBT I should book my theory, not sure if he meant book it "sometime after doing some study and getting up to speed" or straight after CBT via them?

Keen to get licenced as soon as poss, but don't want to jump in blindly and waste time and money on something I am blatantly not ready for

has anyone else done the online test training thing ? (https://www.theory-tests.co.uk)
Did it help, was it worth the £7? and was it up to date?

I know, soo many newbie questions in a single posing..

Regards
Rob

[snomag]

[robocog]

What a top day out!!
First part was pretty nerve wracking as it was just myself and a 16yr old on a ped
The youth pretty much hopped on and was negotiating the coned out circle at low speed without any dramas

Baring in mind I havent sat on a moving motorcycle since I was 16 and am now 40..
Pretty wobbly, jerky and V unsure for first couple of "laps" instructor stopped me and told me to relax on the bike and somehow something seemed to just click and I was riding without an issue - apart from some highly suspicious gear changes

Emergency stops- again produced a fair ammount of fear, after seeing his demonstrations of just rear, just front and then the combinations but the instructor took plenty of time giving advice and tips and let us do it till both he and us were happy and confident likewise with U turns

managed to leave an indicator on after doing a turn, so the threat of one more correction regarding indicators over the intercom would result in me having to buy the ice creams, and the instructor would sing to us...which seemed to do the trick
Will make sure I have a loud beeper setup on my bike

Didn't want the ride out to end, perfect conditions and a good mix of main roads and fairly quiet back roads, including one with some nice twisties that I didn't know exhisted
No dramas on the day, instructor was a top bloke and had loads of tips and good advice

Anyone else thinking of taking to 2 wheels for the first time down this way, cannot recommend them highly enough - Paragon Rider Training

Big thumbs up

Theory test next

Regards
Rob

[Scotsman37]

Just keep building up on the experience and your old skills will come back to you, but you will improve by leaps & bounds with greater confidence in your abilities to be a good safe rider!

Theory - read, read, read again the book and do the practise examples several times! Especially watch out for trick questions like for braking distance and overall braking distance type of quesions. Remember the answer is in the question.

When it's the Direct Access test!

Examiners want to see that you are looking out for hazards (that's by regularly moving your head side to side) and you're positioning yourself correctly on the road while making correct use of indicators for signalling of your intent this way you are seen to be a safe rider.

[Ariel Badger]

Nice to have another old bloke on here.
Well done on the CBT.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[robocog]

I am now looking for a working 125 cheap and local enough so I can slap some L plates on get insured and get out there
I am trying to persuade the MRS that I will at least get my money back by the time I get the DAS under my belt, and may be a wise investment as far as my riding safety is concerned (more time in the saddle learning prior to DAS)
My hidden agenda is of course to get her onto 2 wheels as well..
All my dropped hints so far have not gone down as well as I had hoped

Regards
Rob

[johnsmith222]

I did the CBT 3 times.

I had to go back and do the off road bit again the first time, and had to do the on road bit again after the second one.

well done for doing it first time.

I think my instructor wanted to be safe than find out I'd killed myself a week later. Fair enough to the guy.

[The Artist]

[Paulington]

Congrats mate, let's hope is the first of a long reacquaintance with biking.

Stay safe.

Your CBT sounds much more fun than mine, rode with a broken finger in the pouring rain for the vast majority of it, less than fun on a moped.
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[johnsmith222]

[The Artist]

I didn't know they actually wouldn't give you a certificate unless you were a danger to humanity.

[johnsmith222]

[passtest1]

You can buy a books/CD bundle from https://www.123discountshop.com
Bundle has
- Driving theory test questions/answers for car book
- The Highway Code book,
- Pass your driving practical test book
- Driving theory test, hazard perception CD for car & bike drivers
That's basically all you need for your tests.
Bundle is cheap - £7.99

Books are good, full colour, glossy pages, small enough to carry anywhere.
____________________
https://www.pass-test.co.uk

Book Driving Test

[27cows]

Blimey, I didn't think there was any CJ360s left. It's years and years since I last saw one. I love the old 70s Hondas

[robocog]

Well my CJ is not 100% original and is a proper "bitsa" making it not worth a bean I suspect, not that they seem to be worth much anyway and seem to have got terrible writeups back in the day

The non-original bits are possibly "upgrades" from a previous life - front brake and forks are superdream along with wheels (so better brakes and no spokes to keep the rust off etc)

BUT it was a bike that for some odd reason made me (a non biker) think "I must own it and get a licence to ride it" so it has bag loads of charm (to me)

Bike is now all together, painted, polished, lubed, serviced and ready to be put in for an MOT I guess
but I am having such a hoot on the CG125-that I /eventually/ got to fill the void after taking the CBT, that I have just coated the CJ360 in ACF50 and it will have to wait for me a bit longer...especially there is now another CG125 on the scene that I couldn't resist the looks of which is currently being converted into a cafe racer

Mrs is still not showing much interest in bikes unfortunately, but has been very tolerant in putting up with bits of CG scattered round the kitchen and did manage to ride the cafe CG round the back garden and out onto the driveway and was laughing her head off at the same time, so maybe when its done it will spark some interest as its super low to the ground and very light (she's only little, bless her)

I do fire up the CJ360 now and again to keep her from seizing up and check everything is still working, but getting a bit concerned I will contaminate the oil unless it gets a proper long blast to get rid of the condensation thats more than likely building up...I did get an offer of someone riding it out to get an MOT on it but nothing came of it, not that it would help much unless he's also wiling to take it for regular long blasts till I'm ready

I really cant see me taking the big licence till next spring at the earliest and not daft enough to take it out on the road illegally, even though its very tempting as I know it REALLY needs a good run out to get things up to temperature, moving and lubed

Feels like its made out of lead and very top heavy compared to the CG's
Hope I will "get along with it OK" when I eventually catch up with my reason for taking up biking
...if not I would be happy to accept offers

Regards
Rob