Need advice. Should I give up

[Teejay2004]

Hi. I'm new to all this. I have never risen a bike before but I've drove a car for seven years. Ive had two tries at cbt. The first one I was absolutely cracking my pants and by the end of half a day I could ride round in circles. I went back for a second try. Did all my manoeuvres brill. Ten mins before goin on the road I hit the front brake too sharp came off and nearly broke my wrist. I'm just wondering if it's normal for someone not to do their cbt first time round. I was determined to do my cbt but after the last two tries I'm now debating it. Any advice welcome

Sarah

[BTTD]

Sounds like you had it nailed the second time and just had a moment of not thinking when you grabbed the front brake.
I dropped the bike on my CBT - grabbed the front brake on a slow manoeuvre. It went down, I hopped off. Didn't damage the bike or myself so I still managed to do the rest of the day.
Sounds like you can do it.

[Azoth]

A low-speed off and a typical mistake. Tbh I think it happens to almost everyone at some point, but only once, because it's a mistake not repeated. Count yourself lucky it wasn't a high speed corner, on gravel. Picturing it in my head, as the bike went down you went over and forward, and slightly to the left because your grip on the brake also pulled the right-side handlebar inward. Thus, your body weight probably sprained your wrist as you were holding on to the bike. Treat it as a learning experience. Never instinctively grab the front brake - even an emergency braking maneuvre is a measured and deliberate act on a bike. Also, stay loose and easy on the bars. I think you'll nail it next time. Sounds like you're a natural. Encore une fois!
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Safety in numbers

[Rogerborg]

[Teejay2004]

[Teejay2004]

Not sure I wanna go for a twist and go. The o my issue I seem to be having is the front break. I e nailed the gears and every other element. Just need to remember I can't grab the break in a panic.

[NJD]

View going back multiple times as a blessing because it's far better to get as much instruction as you can as opposed to passing after "two hours" on the road and then being let out on your own to wobble around with no idea what's what. While passing first time might be the ultimate goal it doesn't mean it's the best. The roads are a minefield at the best of times even with experience under yer belt.

Keep on keeping on, cliche.

Spring is around the corner and should be with us sooner rather than latter, you'll thank yourself then when whizzing around in days of sunshine.


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The do it all, T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶l̶u̶m̶p̶,̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶N̶o̶o̶d̶l̶e̶

[Teejay2004]

I'm not gonna give up just yet. It is something I really wanna do. I e re booked in two weeks. Fingers crossed it will go better. If not it's another chance to learn as u say

[Evil Hans]

[Rogerborg]

Sounds like you have a good attitude. Don't fret about it, stop-start riding is the most technically challenging, and you're doing it in a cramped environment full of other learners on haphazardly maintained bikes with no riding aids. It doesn't get any harder than that.

Actually, it literally doesn't: combined or anti-lock brakes are now mandatory on every bike, even 50s and 125s, so future learners are going to have it easier.

I mentioned the twist-and-go just because it'll be easier to get through the CBT on. It doesn't (yet) limit you to riding automatic bikes afterwards.

If you want to stick with gears, good on you. Keep your fingers off the brake and clutch unless you're actually intending to use them, you'll be fine next time.
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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

[Bozzy]

[Teejay2004]

^^what he said.

Good luck and welcome to the forum!

Oh, and before I forget....Do you like cats?[/quote]

Thank you ...... cats ???? Lol.

Thank you for your advice and being so welcoming. Fingers crossed I may have good news In two weeks. Will post the result.

[Teflon-Mike]

CBT is scripted by the DSA and is arranged 'notionally' around the idea that an 'average' student should be able to complete it in a day, but t is only a notional suggestion.

Many do take more than a day, or one attempt, there is a heck of a lot to take in on CBT for a 'first' lesson, and without much or any experience to give much of it meaning, an awful lot will be in one ear and out the other as soon as that exercise is completed... if you are lucky bits will come back to you as you gain experience and they suddenly make sense and/or have relevance, though.

Don't worry too much about falling off, ,many, many do! And good for getting back in the saddle.

Remember, it JUST a first lesson, and the grade you need make at each section, is pretty low; it's not trying to turn you into a competent qualified rider, it's just trying to get you up to speed, as a Learner, so that on the road, you aren't a complete disaster looking for a place to land, and have some basic know how of what you should be doing, before you get out there. Real ambition aught to e to pass tests and get a licence.this is just the first step.

Relax. DON'T RUSH.. rushing be fast way to hurt on a bike. Listen to your instructor... TALK to your instructor. ASK QUESTIONS! That's what they are there for. And Don't Rush.. if you want to get somewhere, you will, and there's no prizes for being first in the queue in casualty! And CBT is just first step on the road to a full licence, so take your time, get all you can from it, and one step at a time, let the pieces fall into place. You'll be fine!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[arry]

I remember how much I hated my CBT and really didn't feel good about the whole thing. First day of full training on a 125 I felt loads better. Second day of training on a 500 and I was suddenly enjoying it.

My instructor put it very simply (albeit a bit cheesy). If you've got ten quid to spend, on day one you're spending all but a penny of it on controls if the motorcycle. On day two, you can invest a fiver of the ten quid in observations. On day three you can split the tenner three ways and spend it on road craft as well.

You just need time to build the right muscle memory and take it all in. Time in the seat works wonders.

[Rogerborg]

I should note that not only did I split my CBT over 2 days, but after I'd done it, I thought "What a suicidally stupid way to travel," and didn't even get a 125 until I'd cycled regularly for a year to improve my hazard perception (nobody sees you, and if they do, they'll just try and kill you).

Now, I absolutely love it. It's the best life decision I've ever made although I reserve the right to amend that statement if Mrs Borg ever stumbles on this thread.
____________________
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

[grr666]

Although not strictly regarding riding bikes, allow me theis Tef-esque meander to a sort of point.
I think confidence is a huge part of riding a bike but also a huge part of doing anything that's a learnt skill. It is
natural state of mind in some and not so much in others. For instance on land I am pretty fearless and in
good health and in my mind at least I feel I can accomplish more or less anything. In the water though I'm like
a new born foal, my mrs however swims very well and is more comfortable in water than on land. She has
all manner of PADI certificates, can crack out 20 lengths of the pool in 25 minutes, can water ski, whatever.
If it's water borne she takes to it instantly. Not me though I have to stand on the shore/boat and watch. Being
completely honest I won't even paddle knee deep because I don't like it when I can see the fish swimming nearby.

Swimming with wild dolphins in Hawaii - I stayed on the boat and got sunburnt feet.
Cliff jumping in Cyprus - I stayed on the boat.
Deep sea snorkelling in Maldives x2 - I stayed on the boat and got seasick.
Numerous scuba dives - I stay on land and panic until shes back safe.
Water ski-ing in Mauritius - This time I drove the boat because the guy was worried I felt left out.

I still paid full whack for all of those excursions, suffice to say I've been on some very expensive boat trips.
I would really like to learn to water ski, it looks AWESOME fun but I'm really not great out of my depth and can
panic quite easily which may well result in a drowning F-that!! It also doesn't matter how much I relax, I sink and
am unable to float. I just go straight to the bottom, additionally water going up my nose is very unpleasant for me too.
So guess what, I don't water ski. I love the idea but simply put and due to numerous reasons I'm just not
cut out for it so I stick to things I'm good at. I'm not trying to put you off, that's your decision to make and good
on you for keeping at it, but if you're not happy when on a bike, verging on fearful then maybe it's a similar thing for you?

We all want to be Batman but someone still has to be Robin. I'm a non swimming boy wonder. Holy doggy paddle Batman!!!
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
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[Teflon-Mike]

[Teflon-Mike]

[grr666]

[AshWebster]

[mrmistoffelee...]

When i had my first mod1 lesson (which i was unbelievably shit at i should hasten to add) There was a young lass who was doing her CBT, she went through all the on and off stand etc. was just practicing and learning gears and clutch. Promptly let go of the clutch and gave it to much throttle and promptly wheelied the bike and herself into the chain link esque fence that surrounds the compound. She got up, shook herself down, looked at her ripped jeans and blood coming from her leg and promptly pissed herself with laughter and said 'I'm carrying on, might as well get the first bump out of the way now'


You'll be fine... keep on keeping on

[Jmoan]

[grr666]

The expected standard of riding to pass the test is much higher.
For instance, dab a foot down on the U-turn is usually a mod 1 fail (discretionary but usual) please leave the pad.
25 in a 20 will fail a mod 2 but just get you a quiet word with the instructor on CBT and you can still 'pass' it.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[kris84]

[Teflon-Mike]