First full weekend out on the bike.

[UncleFester]

Have had the YBR125 a couple of weeks or so now. Changed the mirrors for longer taller ones - couldn't see past my elbows / shoulders. Moved the gear lever a bit as it was too low and got insured FC including commuting cover for the laughably cheap sum of £200 that also includes clothing and helmet cover. Whilst i didn't go far the first week .... first trip out was down to an industrial estate, doing basic stuff trying to remember what i'd learnt whilst doing the CBT and try to not fall off!!! Then over the rest of the week / weekend did the odd ride out here and there but not doing more than 20 to 30 miles at a time, probably clocked up 100 miles over the week. Been up and down the Codicote road a few times, just getting the hang of things.

Did a much healthier 100 miles this Saturday out to the Comfort Cafe but a fairly roundabout route there and back. Have ridden on freshly gravelled tarmac ( nasty but survived), been on the A10/A11 - done a few sliproads and didn't get beeped at or killed Crossed some busy junctions, a number of hill starts plus some steep downhill approaches to junctions and roundabouts.

On Sunday did another 50 or so miles out to McDonalds in Hertford for breakfast, through Hertford and around some big roundabouts - managed without stalling or fluffing gears, a bit more of the A10 and some more sliproads. Then on to the BikeSafe event at the police HQ in Welwyn which took me through Welwyn city centre - not a road i like in the car. Nice to chat to the police as well as some of the far more experienced bikers ( everyone there is more experienced than me - also the only bike there on L plates and the only 125 ) Then spent a couple of hours on Sunday evening on a local trading estate carpark practicing U turns, slow riding, figure of 8 and slalom. On the way home from that it finally clicked. Clutch control has materialised, throttle control is vastly better, gears are good both up and down and no missed indicators or cancelling of them and observation is improving.

I don't know if other new riders are lucky enough to have someone to go out on their bike with but for me, having a partner who is still a relatively 'new' rider but has also passed her IAM test really makes the difference. She decides the route and I follow, I can see the lines she's taking, see the braking points and i can concentrate on learning to ride. Because she's in front, i'm not arriving at corners at the wrong speed and / or the wrong gear and that is giving me the time to learn how to lean the bike. For the first time yesterday there were a couple of roundabouts / corners that i'd almost be bold enough to say were flowing although I'm still a million miles and about 8 stone north of EVER being a Marquez Riding with someone whos riding I trust has made the whole process immeasurably easier, less nervous and much more enjoyable and because you're out in a group of 2, one with L plates and both in Hi-Vis, car drivers seem less keen to be cnuty towards you.

It's been pretty hot but the gear i chose has vents and the gloves are breathable leather ( no sweaty palms) and whilst i've probably lost a couple of pounds in sweat .... it hasn't been that bad and once you're moving it's fine. Having a helmet with good ventilation really helps if you wear glasses ( I do) and the initial concern about glasses filled with sweat beads has proved to be a non event. I'm still expecting to fall off, still expecting to be cut up / sworn at but trying to ride accordingly, the nervousness has gone and there is the beginnings of confidence but i'm not going to replace it with bravado or confuse it with experience.

Still got LOADS to learn and I've no intention of going near a test centre until I'm as sure as I can be that my riding standards and low speed control skills are far in excess of what the DSA require - but i'm enjoying it and that's the main thing for me. Total cost for the weekends petrol - £7. If i'd done the same route in the car i'd have dusted £40. It's insane that this much fun can be had for so little real cost .... really wish i'd done this years ago.

[Efes123]

Sounds like you're going about it in the right way I too wish I'd done this years ago, can't believe I've missed years (decades) of so much fun
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[-Matt-]

[UncleFester]

Finally sorted out my issues and passed theory and hazard perception. Been riding the bike to work, 70 mile round trip. Going to stick at that twice a week for 6 weeks and then sort out DAS. Just been manic at work and not made time for the bike.

Its quite a jump being out properly on your own but still really enjoying it. The back roads between Stevenage and Milton Keynes are a lot of fun and a nice variety of stuff to ride on. Crosswinds, cattle grids and deer in Woburn - potholes and all the stuff skinny tyres hate.

L plates really do act like a target for assholes though! Doesn't matter how fast you go in any speed limit - people are desperate to overtake you.

All in the ybr has been great - 180 to a tank, comfy, light, reliable and now its run in and the throttle cable is adjusted it goes a treat.

Time on a tiddler? Glad I did

[Rogerborg]

You'll be gladder when you're off it.

You mentioned skinny tyres - how bad are they? There was a thread recently where several (three? more) people said that the stock tyres on the YBR are properly poor.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[UncleFester]

I don't have the bike with me to check but they're cheungfeng or some such rubbish - fine in the dry. Yet to test in the wet! Google says - front Tyre size is 2.75 - 18 42P and the Rear Tyre size is 90/90 - 18M/C 57P''

The only negative i've found with them is that they're so narrow, you follow every rut in the road and avoiding those tarmac joins is a full time job.

edit: Just to add - i have no desire to go changing tyres on this, it was an observation rather than anything else. I'm enjoying the steering practice / looking head and route planning to avoid the things that might cause me issues in the first place. The next owner can do something about the tyres if they so desire.

The only things that still cause me headaches are occasional false neutrals or missing 2nd from 1st. I've no issues going up and down the rest of the box and my changes are getting smoother as i learn to roll off the throttle / be smoother with the clutch. As i said originally, these are things I wanted to get right whilst i'm only dealing with 9.6bhp. The thing i do love about the 125 is the engine braking - if you get your forward planning right you rarely need to use the brakes in anger at all!

Sole focus at the moment is as much practice as i can squeeze in whilst still enjoying it - this is a choice after all, it's not something i need to do.

[marsden1967]

I've got a YBR and the false neutral thing is a minor annoyance. Otherwise I have got no complaints about it whatsoever. It costs peanuts to run is reliable and is ideal for zipping around town on.
I take my test in a couple of weeks and am glad I spent time on the 125, it gave me much more confidence when I tried a Hornet.
I would like to keep the 125 when I pass my test but will have to see if finances and storage allow it.
____________________
Ooooh Matron!
current bike(s) YBR 125, ER6 N

[UncleFester]

Not keeping mine - i haven't the space in the garage and i've got two cars to maintain as it is! I bought the YBR125 to learn on, nothing more. As much as i enjoy riding it, it's the learning to ride I'm enjoying more and there will come a point where it isn't going to teach me anything new.

Back in the car for a few days now whilst the weather makes its mind up. Once this unsettled spell is over, back on the bike as many days as i can - 70 miles a day is soon going to rack up the practice mileage.

Between 1000 and 1500 miles is my self set target before booking in for DAS.

635 miles done and counting

[rideslikean00...]

[UncleFester]

[gavbriggs]

Best way to ride a 125 is to open the throttle fully and never ever close it ever. Unless stopping/starting or falling off.

That way you will learn how to lean and you will always be at the correct speed for corners and roundabouts. Maximum speed at all times!

Doesn't matter if anyone calls you a cunt or beeps because you won't care while you giving it powwwwwweeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr
____________________
Recent bikes: Varadero 125 - Mod 2 3/2/14 - Bandit 1200 SK4

[rideslikean00...]

Yep, fully opening the throttle and long shifting the YBR-125 in high revs is the only way to get any kind of power out of it. Really, really bad on the engine though, hooning around nearly bouncing it off the redline... totally not built for that kind of riding. I found myself riding like that all the time after the first 1,000 or so miles and it occurred to me that hey, I quite like biking so it might be time to move on. Still love the YBR though! Very good at what it does. Just doesn't care for hills at 50mph.
____________________
.
Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[UncleFester]

Must be my age .... i'm taking my time and trying to keep it smooth first and foremost. Speed and 'progress' can come later.

I drive a fairly powerful RWD car with no traction control. Smooth has given me 5 untroubled years of driving whilst a number of others have come to a sticky end, usually backwards through scenery. I'm not Michael Schumacher good in that and I am quite sure i'll never be Marquez good on a bike - best to steer clear of pushing my lack of talent.

Just want to get Mod 1 and 2 done, get my license and take my time working my way through a few bikes and learn as much as possible along the way. Pretty sure my route will involve at least 12 months on some kind of Honda 500 after the test - something 'pre loved' that won't mind me adding some fresh patina. A shiny MT-07 with an Akropovic can wait a bit longer.

Obligatory 'bike' picture inserted

[Pigeon]