Brand new rider with many questions (video inside)

[matthews1892]

Good evening one and all,

After lurking on the forums for quite some time whilst looking into getting a bike, i have decided to actually register!

So on Friday just gone i passed my CBT and bought myself a CBF125 2011, i do fully intend on getting my full license through the DAS but i needed to get on the road ASAP and as a new rider and someone who hasn't ever driven on the road i thought it best to start out with the CBT way.

I feel like i have ridden it non stop since Friday and i have got a couple of questions that i cant seem to find the answers to;

1) i am not sure if it is because i simply need more practice and need to feel a bit more comfortable but it would seem when in traffic or maybe pottering along in 2nd gear, that even the absolute slightest amount of twist causes the bike to want to accelerate pretty sharply, there seems to be no middle ground, either 0 acceleration and its engine braking or quite a forceful take off. It feels as if i just have to look at the accelerator and it wants to go!?

2) the engine braking is very very harsh, the moment i take off the throttle it pulls me hard forward with braking, i drop my speed very quickly almost as if i am holding onto the brake myself.

3) i made my first mistake when riding today and it kinda gave me the shakes, i have uploaded the footage shot on my gopro since i think its best to get other riders to tell me what i did wrong and where i can improve; just as a pretense to the video, this is a very tight hairpin turn, i would have gone wider to the right but with the bus coming the other direction i feel this could have been more unsafe. obviously you can hear that i do twist the throttle too hard which i have learnt from but other than that, what else did i do wrong?

https://youtu.be/fOHv0b-CS0o


Many thanks guys, and hi again!

[Stalk]

You will get used to the acceleration and engine braking, soon the acceleration will seem pedestrian. In traffic you can smooth out the throttle with a touch of rear brake. It's just practice.

If my 9stone 18 year old daughter could do it, you will be fine. Where are you based?

[matthews1892]

Thanks for the reply, it just seems to me at least its almost impossible to crawl along at town traffic pace in second without doing kangaroo jumps when touching the throttle, I am down in Hastings (East Sussex)

[thx1138]

if u use Facebook, join the CBF125 owners group, surprisingly helpful bunch with a wealth of knowledge

I had a CBF125, briefly, they are not great, but they are okay, need looking after and more TLC than a CG125 of yore, but.


oh, and something about fuel filter, or fuel, or fuel pump, or fuel pump filter, or some such is something that they tell everyone

[Stalk]

If traffic is crawling, hang back a bit. 2 second rule and all that, but you will need to be a bit tighter in slow traffic or some numpty will overtake because gap. If you leave a bit of space and read 3 or 4 cars in front you will soon learn to anticipate the traffic, therefore smoother on the controls including rear brake, and will have a comfortable and relaxing ride. Shame you're so far away otherwise we could go ride out. You probably just need a few pointers

[kerr]

You just need to get used to the bike, it will all become second nature soon enough, especially seeing as your learning in shit weather, when the good weather comes round it'll be a breeze.
As far as your cornering mistake and slow control go, the rear break is your friend here, you can drag it while still being on the power.
Also try pulling in the clutch and easing it out for the slow corners, i always remember my instructor on my cbt telling me not to be afraid of riding the clutch on a bike.
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[Azoth]

[matthews1892]

[B0ndy]

You weren't looking where you wanted to go
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CBF 125 -> CB400SF -> GSX600F -> ZX6R (G1) -> GSXR1000 K4 -> ZX6R (B1H Stunt bike) -> VFR800 -> R1 5PW -> Sprint 1050 -> Fireblade 929 -> ZX10R C2H

[Scythe]

For a corner like that (left hairpin) you want to be closer to the centre line, slow down, put it into a low gear (2nd will probably do with a 125), look where you want to go, turn and apply throttle to bring the bike around the corner.

Your main mistake there was trying to cut the corner, take a tight corner wider and slower instead.
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2009 Yamaha YBR125 -> 2000 SV650S -> 2005 Kawasaki ZX6R 636

[chris-red]

Your position going into the corner was crap, you should have been further to the right to give you more room to turn.

You turned in too early.

You didn't look round the corner. You should have been looking where you wanted to go.

You didn't shift your weight, I'm not talking Valentino Style hanging off but you should have shifted weight to the inside of the bike. i.e. Move your chin closer to the mirror.

You didn't lean the bike over, you were perpendicular to the ground bikes don't like turn upright.

You had no need to grab the clutch get the bike in the right gear and do all your breaking in a straight line, you want to keep a positive throttle whilst cornering (maintaining on increasing speed). If you are slowing the front suspension dips and it unsettles the bike.

That was truly awful cornering, you did pretty much everything wrong but at least you are aware and trying to sort it

This is a bit extreme but this is the body position and head movement you should be going for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXWVYtsf43Y
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Analogkid]

Ride the clutch more, if you have come from a car you'll be usd to controlling speed (slower speeds) with throttle, on a bike at low speed try keeping the throttle constant and using the clutch (and perhaps rear brake) to control speed, it takes a little getting used too but you'll get there, also if 2nd is too 'snatchy' try being in 3rd and or using clutch and brake control as above.

Good advice too from others on counter steering and looking at where you want to go, you didn't make the turn because you were concerned about the bus and where looking there instead of the apex, and then up the road, that's why you ended up crossing lane, you then panicked and let clutch out too quickly causing you to jerk away, all pretty natural reactions that you have to learn to overcome, and don't bother apologising if it means you lose more control taking your hand off the bars at a tricky moment, that could have been another accident, a nod of the head if you really must.

Persevere it will get easier and more natural as you develop the muscle memory.

[chris-red]

Personally I don't think the counter steering advice is helpful. No one learns to counter steer they only learn that they already do it. IMO turning the bars differently wouldn't have helped in that situation there was too much else wrong, counter steering will come when you correct everything else.

Another thing I can't tell you where doing wrong but I'm willing to bet you were is that you were rigidly tense. You should be relaxed and loose on the bike.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Rogerborg]

I concur with m'lurn'd colleagues: that was classic target fixation.

But don't sweat it. Most of us do it at some point, you survived it, and you can learn from it.

Don't be afraid to slow riiiight down for tight bends and roundabouts. Sod anyone tailgating you, they have no idea what it's like trying to get a 1-wheel drive vehicle to make those manoeuvres on wet, greasy roads.

As for the kangaroo hopping, that could genuinely be a problem with the bike. CBFs were/are notorious for it, although they usually do in hot weather. You may just have a knackered fuel pump or a clogged injector. Of course, you may not, but without riding the bike, all we can do is point out that it is a known issue on some of them.
____________________
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

[6r4h4m]

[matthews1892]

I really do appreciate all the above advise, sincerely i do and i know its not the best look by posting a video of me completely bollocksing a turn up on my first post but i am here to improve and get safer! Not having ridden on the road before i guess i have much less confidence in leaning the bike over, it is only my 3rd day on the road and with all the roads round here being twisties like in the video its a steep learning curve. i guess more time in a car park or similar is really needed!

[chris-red]

[matthews1892]

[Edinho]

Im not experienced just did my cbt in december but been driving for 30 years. You are going way too fast for that corner. The ground is wet and slippery there is not way i'd approach that corner at that speed on my 125.

You were lucky not to be off.

That corner is so tight id be treating it as a roundabout for speed and cornering.

From my limited experience it looks like you are being too snatchy and aggressive, do everything easy its the wrong time of year to be riding like that.

[Rogerborg]

Speed can be hard to judge from a video. It looked manageable at the point where he reached the turn, as evidenced by the fact that he just about made it round even with a bad line and not looking where he wanted to go.

That said, I would slow right down next time. Work on the line, work on looking around the bend, but give yourself some safety margin as well.
____________________
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

[Holdawayt]

[matthews1892]

[davethekwak]

[stinkwheel]

In fairness, despite what's been said above, if you're riding at anything above walking pace in first gear, you shouldn't be needing to use the back brake to control your speed.

The only control you should need to use for 95% of your riding to alter your speed is the throttle. It should certainly be the only control you're using routinely in corners, if you're using the brake, you screwed up. Just remember the throttle is an analogue control, not a switch, so you can roll it open and roll it closed. It doesn't have to be all the way open or closed.

In your video, you're also pulling in the clutch and coasting. Never coast. You should either be maintaining a constant speed with the engine, accelerating or decelerating. In a corner, you should be accelerating slightly, having decelerated before the corner.

If you're riding like you show in the video, I think the snatchines is because you're riding the clutch. You accelerated into the opposite lane when you fully released the clutch and opened the throttle similtaneously, this willmake the bike jump forwards. It appears you're riding around in too high a gear and pulling the clutch to control your speed. This is a really bad habit. Keep your left hand on the grip and away from the clutch lever unless you're changing gear or riding at walking pace in first

For that corner, I would have approached it almost in the middle of the road. Braked and changed down a gear to set my speed well before the corner (lower gears are more responsive) then looked towards the exit of the corner and gradually and smoothly accelerated towards it without touching either the brakes or the clutch.

All a lot to take in so here's an exercise for you:

Go somewhere quiet where you can practice, an industrial estate or similar. Put your bike in first, ride off and change into second. From here, don't touch that clutch! Keep your left hand nailed to the handlebar. Ride around a bit, practice speeding up and slowing down using just the throttle, roll don't snatch. Get used to how this alters your speed. Don't be afraid the rev the engine up to higher revs (if they're going too high, you'll stop accelerating)

Now check there's noone behind you, close the throttle and stop in a straight line using the brakes. Still don't touch that clutch.

The engine will stall when you do this. Change into neutral, restart and do the same again. Try it a few times. Notice how nobody died? Did you also notice just how slowly you actually need to be going for the engine to stall? You only need to pull the clutch in a few moments before you come to a complete halt and the engine stalls.

The above exercise should give you more of an idea about using the throttle position to control your speed at normal riding speeds and get you off pulling the clutch all the time.

There is another way of riding at very slow speeds in heavy traffic which you'll need to learn that involves slipping the clutch, controlling the revs with the throttle and controlling the speed with the rear brake. You'll need to master this too but it's only for riding at walking pace in first gear.

One caveat. Your bike MIGHT be playing you up so it could be an idea to get an experienced rider to have a go on it. Not one of your mates, they'll just go ragging off and crash it or land up in bother for riding with no insurance. Someone who's been riding motorcycles for a while and has a full licence.

EDIT: And for inspiration, if you get REALLY good, you can do this. There's a lot going on here but the thing to notice on this video is the engine noise. While he's covering the clutch, he isn't using it. The speed is being controlled with the throttle. Again, I'll stress with SLOW (walking speed) manouvers you need to slip the clutch but never do it elsewhere.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[onlyJaz]

I've been riding 4-ish months now so I can totally relate to your concerns as I've been there myself at the start (even now I'm still learning new things).

As most guys have suggested, you target fixed - where you look at the place/object you want to avoid out of fear/panic. Train yourself to loosen up a little and stare into the road/direction you want to travel. This is something that will happen over time so as long as you are aware of it, don't sweat it and keep trying.

Have a look at some of these threads for advice on similar topics, might come in handy:

Tips on Cornering

Clutch control, braking and cornering
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Yamaha YBR 125