First ever ride, Get On, experiences....

[EazyDuz]

So i just had my first ride at Hinckley motorcycle training scheme.
Started off being told the controls, found the bite point, then onto moving off, moving off then changing gear, figure of 8s, and u turns.

Everything went well, no broken bones lol. He said i would pass CBT in a day, and im learning at an average rate.
I had a couple of issues with coming to a stop, nothing bad i just fumbled a bit to begin with, was fine after though. My brain also went nuts for about 30 seconds when i thought you click the shifter downp to get into 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc etc, but sorted that out.

My main problem was figure of 8's, kept looking at the floor or not the right area, i eventually was able to do figure of 8's turning left well, but had a few issues with turning right. So the instructor made me do some U turns, i was still quite wide doing them, but then he put me back on figure of 8s and by the time the hour was up i could do them good enough to pass CBT.
Stalled once, put my foot down a few times doing figure of 8s, but only once doing U turn, so im happy with that.

My last issue is wobbling at slow speeds, my front wheel is going left to right somewhat quickly because im always trying to stabalize it when doing about 4-5mph. Should i just add more speed?

Thanks[/list]

[waffles]

When turning you need to keep your head up and look where you want to go, don't focus on what is directly infront of you. With the slow speed wobble you just need to practice it. Don't give it the beans! If you do your tests you are currently required to do a slow speed handling exercise where the examiner walks slowly infront of you and you are not allowed to go faster than he does.

Clutch control is your friend

And congrats for doing the Get On thing, I take it your are definitely going to do the CBT?
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Teflon-Mike]

[sepher]

Figure of 8, as I've been taught is to use as much room as you can. Obviously don't go mad but do big circles, and look at the cone at you go round it so as to get round better. Then as your about to pass through the middle look at the other cone and big circle round again.

Once you get used to the clutch the going slow part is fairly easy, just remember to use the back brake to slow down and use the clutch's biting point in first gear and some very low revs.

[BeBob]

I managed to fall off twice trying to do figure of eights. Thought I would never ever manage to get a bike to go round a corner. The turning point was after the instructor very kindly helped by running around and getting me to look at him, not at the ground or off into the distance where I was looking! Then it suddenly worked.

Having watch motorcycle gymkharna however I have got a whole new appreciation for going very slowly in small circles (having previously been much more excited about the other end of the speedometer).

[EazyDuz]