CBT freak out!

[Luthien]

Hiya,

This may sound a little weird but here goes....

I have recently purchased a little suzuki gp100 and was doing a few basic skills in a car park before doing my CBT on saturday. At the CBT my skills were fine - clutch control, slalom, all the slow stuff.... However when I got on the road I was totally spun out. I dropped the bike a couple of times and just felt terrible. I still somehow managed to get the certificate but I have no desire to go near traffic for a while. Has anyone else had similar experiences? I'm hoping that it's just a confidence thing and that once I've been out and about on some quite roads with Killa giving me hints and tips i'll be ok. But wow, i've not felt that bad in forever.

Anyways, I just felt the need to share, hoping that someone may understand. I hope to have a long and happy biking career....time will tell I guess.
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1979 Suzuki GP100
a.k.a Missus Killa

[pinkyfloyd]

Happens. Even now everyone still gets the odd day when nothing feels right and its a horrid day on the bike. Anyone that says they dont are liars. It passes and just something we have to live with.
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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.

[waffles]

Yup, my CBT left me feeling more nervous about riding on the road than I had before. I had the whole "well, im not sure I should give you this certificate today........ But I will anyway!" I had problems putting the bike on the centre stand but the instructor kept demonstrating things on my bike and then handing it back to me, no matter where I parked on the playground. He kept telling me to speed up when I was following the other guy who was on a ped who couldn't do more than 30-odd mph and it absolutely pissed it down.

My boyfriend at the time had my bike at his house so he wheeled it out and made me ride round the block a few times to get the feel of the thing then followed me around on the road. We stopped every so often so he could give me some tips etc. I think I learnt more that day than I did in my CBT!

Just take it easy, if you can find a trading or industrial estate on a Sunday and ride around that for a bit and you have all the proper road markings and junctions. Killa will help you out too!
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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

[Luthien]

[LordShaftesbu...]

I crapped it at first too, but if you stick at it the fear definitely eases. Just a matter of time and practice.

It wasn't until after about a year of riding virtually every day that I found I was completely relaxed.

[blurredman]

I was bad. Admittibly not terrible, but I couldn't get used to the biting point on the scooter (yes I took it on an auto).

Now i'm on a gpz500
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Zeuky]

My CBT went 100% perfect. Got offered lessons straight after which I instantly accepted.
Was still on a 125 just like in my CBT, but less than 10 minutes onto the road, 1st lesson, and I ended up in a hedge.
The instructor that was with me was the same one that passed me for my CBT ha! Bet he was thinking "Oh dear god what have I done?"
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"S'cuse me mate but you left something under your car... think they call it a 'KEEP CLEAR' sign... No no, i don't need to go down that road to get to where I LIVE. Proposterous!"
https://www.CrunchySlipper.co.uk/

[Whatsername]

I felt awful after my cbt, on the car park I kept stalling and messing up on slow riding and then when we came to go out on the road I went out on the scooter. I couldn't handle having to think about the traffic and the gears etc.

That was about a month ago. I am still always nervous before I go out on the road and still haven't got to the point where I will go out alone. I started out on a car park because I was so worried about going on the road. My partner did his CBT with me and we share the bike so I got him to follow me in the car round town. Then I moved up to longer journeys including A roads but have my friends who have bikes with me, one in front and one at the back. I still am scared to death before I go out but each time we come back I feel better and they say I am getting much better.

I know I will feel ready to go out on my own soon but I'm not going to rush it. I think it just takes time and practice but you just need to keep go out regularly on it, I am going out with my friends again a few more times then I hope I will be ready to go out on my own.

I totally understand how you feel. After my CBT I just felt bad because I felt like I had failed even though I had the certificate. I guess it was harder than I thought it would be. Don't put too much pressure on yourself and keep practicing until you feel ready.

[Luthien]

[Whatsername]

[SweenyT]

[P.addy]

I passed the CBT and went home happy

Went for a ride with brother in law and got used to stalling on the main road He then left me to do my own thing and had to come pick me up an hour later... I had pulled over to see a mate and left the lights on

But its a learning curve, you'll get used to it

[carlosthejack...]

^^^^^What they all said.

I nearly dropped mine last night at a junction on the way home, was trying to hold it in first without putting my foot down prior to turning right while waiting for a car to pass, and nearly fell into the car. Just giggled and carried on.

It's all a learning curve. I've been driving a car for 25 years, and I like to drive fast, but on the bike I remember feeling 20mph was fast in the car park on the CBT, thinking that 31mph was fast on the swerve test on Mod1 and that the NSL was insane on Mod2. I'm now happy to blast into 3 figures on the motorway (really officer, I had no idea...), overtake on country roads at 70 and 80mph, and filter past long lines of standing traffic, none of which I was doing when I first passed. Even now, I'm aware of doing bends on my daily commute faster and faster, ones I took at 40mph when I first started doing it on the bike, I'm now doing at 60+mph. All will become clear with practice.

Breathe, relax, enjoy.
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Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[Wyldkat]

Totally agree.
I took two attempts to pass my cbt
The first was a very hot day in July last year and I already had a headache before hand (nerves), mostly went ok though.
Out of the three of us doing it, I was the only one with no road exp at all but was the only one that could do the U-turn so was feeling pretty chirpy.

Went out on the road and thats when everything F***'d up. First, I stalled it on a rather steep hill, right in front of a big hairy Harley dude - basically, my foot slipped and I kicked the gears up by mistake! Then panicked.

After that, was riding at the back of the 'group' and some twat on a push bike decided to take the piss and was swerving intentionally slow in front of me 'till I stalled it. (a few strong words were uttered in his direction)

After that, I went in front, instructor behind me, coming up to a STOP junction. I thought I heard the instructor say " if you go through and pull up over there..." so I did - and got shouted at because apparently there was a car coming (about 200 yds away!)

So got back to the centre because I wasn't safe on the road and began weeping like a baby (nearly...)

Re-arranged it - came back and actually fell off the bike going about 0.5mph around a very tight right turn. Then I couldn't do the U-turn without curbing the bike.....I passed!!

I still feel really bad about the first time now but we all just need to get out and get the exp.
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Oldie - 1987 Suzuki GP100 SOLD!
Current (as of 12/7/12) 2001 Honda Varadero 125

[melter]

I just did my CBT today and enjoyed it but I did feel much less motivated to go a sit on that Yamaha 950 Midnight Star I've been dreaming about for the last few months. The first bit was wobbly but got better then we went out on the road. I was sh$£$%*g myself.

Stalled a couple of times and a couple of numpty drivers made the experience a bit hairy. After two hours of riding and about 40 miles later I was at the front, my instructor told me to go straight through a major roundabout. I must have had total brain lapse and went left and started to enter the motorway slip road......I felt a right d**k.

I got my certificate and the instructors offered kind words of reassurance. What really puzzles me is that I ve been driving for 21 years and do stuff on auto pilot without thinking to much about it. When you are on the CBT you are following instruction while trying to negotiate and control a completely new thing.....oh and trying to stay alive, after all the horror stories people seem to reem off when you tell them you are considering a bit of personal development!

I remember feeling a bit like this on my first few driving lessons so I guess it just gets better.

Dont worry you are not on your own and dont be put off.

I'm still going to go for it. My cous has been riding for years (sports bikes-really experienced) and he reckons its totally normal.

Good luck

[LordShaftesbu...]

That's the main thing alright - don't be put off. It does get better.

A bit like losing one's virginity!

[Dub-bitz]

Really glad i came on here today,i was starting to think it was just me that was like this....
Brief bike life story..did my cbt 12 years ago,had a good day did all the tech stuff in the morn no probs! Went out in the afternoon again ok no real problems bit nervous but then it would be as id never done it before! Came to coming home and the instructor takes us via an A class duel carrigeway,motorway classified!! I absolutely cacked myself,it scared the bejesus out of me on my little 125,all the trucks and stuff so i got back and went home and thats were it stopped!
Fast forward 12 years and due to a change in my homelife my cousin comes back into my life who's a big biker so after a bit i decide im having another go at it! Book my cbt and das and then enjoyed the meantime going to bike shops,buying new gear and stuff!
CBT comes around last Sat and i completely bottle it,mess it up so bad that the instructor stopped me after the cones bit and said there was no way i was going on!!
Absolutely gutted Not really sure what to do now!!
Apologies for the really long first post....

[carlosthejack...]

Dude, you're not the first, and you won't be the last. Persevere, you'll get there, and it will change your life. If you start to doubt yourself, just think about all the celebrities that are bikers, 'cos if Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie and Prince William can ride, there's no reason whatsoever why you can't. Get back in the saddle, and get it done. Now.
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[Dub-bitz]

[carlosthejack...]

[Dub-bitz]

Have replyed!!

[TheSmiler]

Any update on how you are getting along ??

I had major problems on my cbt so your not the only one as you can see from this thread, your not alone so let us know how it went yeah
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[jimbothe]

I wonder why every time I see CBT and freak in the same title I immediatly think of some wierd fetish.
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[TheSmiler]

[Dub-bitz]