Impressions of today's first ride after CBT

[-Baz-]

Well, that's the first one done! Went out this am on my new YBR 125 Custom after CBT 3 weeks ago. 8am so quiet local roads (mostly). I don't think I've been as scared or excited since I lost my virginity! (I'm 59 and have taken early retirement this week).

12 miles and all went OK with no major probs. (Been a driver for over 30 years and a cyclist). Impressions are: bike is excellent and really pleased with it. Feels solid and inspires confidence when cornering (tight bends easier than I thought). Gearing is quite low, I think. A few times tried to change up and couldn't so must have been in top!

Determined not to rush, but main problems were remembering which gear I'm in; finding the gear lever; finding the rear brake pedal; changing down and coming to a halt on a hill then starting off smoothly (more practice rquired). I did remember to cancel indicators, though perhaps relied too much on mirrors and not doing shoulder checks. Sometimes hard to hear the engine revs with wind noise (though did have the visor up). Hitting all the bumps. Not slowing down for sleeping policemen. Cold thighs. My God, there's a car behind me...

Re-reading this I realise it must sound a bit pathetic, and I'm sure many of you are having a chuckle, but I'm happy that a major milestone has been passed!

I do have a 60 mile round trip planned for next weekend. Just need to adjust the mirrors and wait for some more dry weather later in the week. Mon to Wed looks wet :o(

Verdict: OK but needs more road miles. Bike: 10/10. Me: 6/10

Hope this helps others just starting out!

[Pete.]

[Nash GT]

Well done keep at it, it will soon become second nature
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Suzuki GSF600N

[wildchild1974]

Well done n im the same on the fazer in top gear sounds like im killing it look down n its sitting at 3500rpm lol
Gaz
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Cbt;11/08/14 theory;16/08/14
Mod 1 25/09/14
Mod 2 1/10/14.......fazer 600 98...2000 zx6r j1

[-Baz-]

[P.]

You don't have to keep under 5000rpm... its just advised. However, I'd be getting it warm, revving it to 9000rpm and changing gear.

Best of luck with the bike, you'll learn to enjoy it a lot more come summer too.

[Andy_Pagin]

[Nash GT]

[Albigularis]

Hill starts are easy if you take your time. Let the clutch out until it starts to bite, let off the back brake then proceed as normal but with a bit more throttle. I used to hate hill starts but commuting through Glasgow city centre has made them mandatory...

First ride without an instructor feels weird, but you'll grow to love it!
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Biking history so far-
Aprilia RS125 - Kawasaki ZXR400 - Triumph Street Triple R - Suzuki GSXR1000 L3 - BMW R1200GS - Kawasaki Z1000 - Kawasaki ZX10R C1H - Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring - Suzuki Hayabusa

[Wonko The Sane]

[MC]

All sounds perfectly normal for a first ride

Had the same issues being a cager before riding, infact I'd be doing 30 in 5th gear as my bike didn't have a rev counter then teffers told me to rev the nuts of it, and it felt a lot better

Also another thing that helped was when I went for a ride with a friend, and I saw he changed down to 1st gear in the last few feet before stopping, with the clutch in. Before then I had trouble getting down the box, and would wonder why I was so slow pulling away (I was in 2nd ).

The co-ordination with all the pedal and levers will come, but maybe find a car park to practice. Hill starts are actually easier on a bike, hold the bike on the rear brake and use it like you would a handbrake, releasing as you feed in the power.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[bikertomm]

Wow, that brings back memories of my first ride on my 125 also.

I used to stick to a circular route about 8 miles long of small country lanes.. I think on my first weekend I had done 200+ miles of the same circle!

Taking it easy is the best way mate. It will all become second nature soon enough, and you'll have wondered what the issue was.


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Andy_Pagin]

So did I, Enfield>Broxbourne>Hoddesdon>Ware>Hertford then home.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[-Baz-]

Thanks, chaps. Appreciate the encouragement and all advice taken on board.

[Stil]

[Rogerborg]

You're doing it right, there is a big mental adjustment to be made coming from a car, particularly modern quiet low revving ones.

[The Disapproving Brit]

[RedPanda]

You did better than me on my first ride. My highlight was shifting down to 1st gear whilst still doing 30.
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CBF125 (2013) -> CBR600F (2001) -> 'Ninja' 300 (2014)

[-Baz-]

[Moif]

This sounds exactly like my experiences at the moment.

I keep looking over to the far left expecting there to be a wing mirror instead of just down and left a bit.

Also need to work on my lifesavers.

Still, having the time of life!

[noobRider]

Yep, that all sounds familiar. I'm a late starter on bikes too. I think I'm still not using all the revs I should. Have fun. Are you thinking about moving up to something bigger?
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Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[Countrygirl]

[-Baz-]

Countrygirl - Well, thanks for your encouraging comments and many congrats for passing your test. Well done! Sadly, the weather's been abysmal these last few days so haven't ventured forth, but tomorrow looks fine so I'll be donning the gear (including new long johns - yes, I know I should MTFU, but they're modern ones, not the grandad type and getting in some more miles.

Have read good things about earplugs, but still a bit sceptical as you were, but I'll bear your comments in mind. Have a 60 mile trip planned for Saturday so we'll see how it goes - in at the deep end!

[Pete.]

Wear earplugs, absolutely wear earplugs. If you can't do that wear earplugs instead.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[WD Forte]

ear plugs?
Pfft!
Get yer mum to knit you a nice woolen balacava to wear under
your helmet.
https://www.thevintageknittinglady.co.uk/images/23aug10/sirdar869a.jpg
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bikers smell of wee