Think back...

[Adam.I]

... To the time you wanted a bike. You had NO biking experience what so ever. Did you find it easy to operate the gears and balancing? These are the two things which are scaring me about bikes. My girlfriends colleague has a NSR 125, and so she's going to ask her if I can have a go on it some time, but I don't know if I want to in case I mess up etc. Do you think I should have a go if she say's I can? What's the hardest thing about learning to ride a bike? I have drove cars and I think there bloody bastards to drive. I hate them. The gears really do my nut in. Just wish I knew someone else who has a bike and willing to let me have a go in a quiet area. Then it'd be much easier for me to make up my mind as to what bike I want.

[Sacarius]

If you get confused and are going to do something wrong just remember clutch in and brake, hold clutch in and nothing bad will happen. I had minimal car experience and got on a bike, quite a fun experience, like all things takes time to get used to it.
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The way your heart sounds makes all the difference. It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel. The way your heart beats makes all the difference in learning to live. Spread before you is your soul. So forever hold the dreams within our hearts. Through nature's inflexible grace I'm learning to live.

[Davo]

If they do let you have a go, firstly find a big car park and secondly just have a go pulling off and stopping again on the bike. The bike will pretty much balance itself when if get moving.

I found that the best thing to do is to just keep the revs up and ease the clutch out slowly the bike will start moving.

Once you've built your confidence up a little. Try steering left and right a little, keep the speed down. Afterwards try playing with the gears, i wouldn't go past second to start with.

Finally go and book your CBT, i wouldn't worry to much it does seem to come together much more naturally than car driving. If you'd like some good information on learning to ride check https://www.begin-motorcycling.co.uk and read the CBT section. That will give you a pictorial description of the bike controls and what to expect for your CBT.

Hope this helps

[Adam.I]

Yeah, I was on that site last night. Quite good. Thanks. How long did it take you to get used to bikes?

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

First time i got on a bike it scared the hell out of me, After getting the bike it took me a week or so to get used to it now i ride one like a tit every day . Don't worry about it mate, you'll get the hang of it .
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[Adam.I]

How long did it take you to be comfortable with it?

[Davo]

Enrique86

A month ago i'd never ridden a bike on the road.

I did an intensive 5 day course about three weeks ago. CBT on monday, wasn't very confident after that, came back on the tuesday, wednesday jumped onto the 500cc machines, test on friday etc...

Although i've now passed my test i'd still say i'm learning how to ride the bike (and watching to make sure my indicators don't fall off )

Like i said mate, it'll come to you.. i suppose it's similar to learning to ride a pushbike or learning to swim, once you get the hang of it, you'll think to yourself how easy it is.

[Adam.I]

Yeah, good way to think about it Davo. I was shit scared of jumping of the diving bored when I was young, did it once and wanted to do it again and again etc. I hope this is the same with biking. What are these 'Intensive Courses'? If you would be kind to look at this for me:

https://www.wpm-training.co.uk/prices.htm

... This is that 'Rocket Centre' I mentioned in another post. Here they sell bikes, and also offer CBT. considering I have no bike experience, which would you say I should go for. Money is no question for training.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Do the CBT.

With no experience of a bike it would be quite easy for you to get caught out and drop the bike. Dropping a friends NSR would not be a good idea, while the training schools choose their bikes for many reasons, one of which is that they are cheap to fix when they are dropped.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Davo]

[Adam.I]

No, i'm 18 Davo. What would you recommend I do from them? Perhaps:

'Intensive Courses:
Four day CBT to test (33bhp licence) £370 £315'

Also, what's the difference between Residential and Non Residential?

[Frost]

[Sacarius]

[Adam.I]

I think if you go in to it thinking it's a piss of piece and being cocky your bound to have an accident, But if I just take my time with it an do things slowly, i'd be ok. Sacarius, you should get some sleep, don't want to be half asleep for your CBT tomorrow. Your mind works better when its had 8+ hours sleep and a good energy source (breakfast)

[Sacarius]

[Adam.I]

Lol, it will be the same with me I bet. As soon as I have my provisional, i'm booking my CBT and getting a bike.
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Veni Vidi Vici

[izzi81]

If you're finding the idea of getting a bike a bit nerve-wracking and you've not been on one before, do your CBT before you buy a bike. That way you'll know for sure that you want one before you buy one.

I didn't know how to drive a car when I learnt to ride a bike, and the CBT was great, they are expecting you to know nothing so they're very patient! I'm not sure I'd feel confident going out on someone else's bike if I had *no* experience, couldn't live with myself if I damaged it!
Balancing comes naturally (I found anyway) and you should get the hang of gears fairly quickly too..
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[John]

Don't ride your friends bike without doing the CBT. If you drop it you'll feel a right idiot and have a big bill!

I found the clutch and gears easy to gain a basic use of. I think most people do. You'll be fine. Do the CBT.
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TT600 neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeowwww!

[Adam.I]

Well, thanks everyone. Can't wait to get my CBT done and then get my own bike an be out on the road.
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Veni Vidi Vici

[jayluvmito]

if ya gonna ride for a first time..i would say find a big feild, and a freind with a trialie bike...this is how i learned, i didnt fall off fbuyt was close to it.i would try my first time on a nsr....that would just be stupid i think...
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one day...

[WildGoose]

i struggled with gears a lot for my first 2 days, people will remember me moaning about it in IRC

then for no apparent reason i was running it over in my head, and it clicked, and when i went in the next day i could do it fine

it all clicks eventually
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[clemsta]

Don't ride your friends bike without doing the CBT, but if you ignore my advice and do it anyway then just take it easy, it is very easy to give it a bit of throttle when your mates are watching, but showing off will just land you on your arse and have a substantial bill to pay. Fairings aren't cheap!!!

Don't pull your front brake on when you're turning or you'll lose the front end and drop the bike.

I would definetly recommend that you do your cbt first.

Good look with it

Adam