what sort of progress should I be making (driving)?

[steppen22]

I've had my second lesson, and I'm at the point that I'm still driving - on quiet roads - in first, and not making very smooth changes into second. Steering is a bit abrupt, and its all a bit clunky and uncertain co-ordinating it all.

Is this normal?

I thought I'd be motoring by now.
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no regrets, no retreat, no apology.
I've made mistakes in the past, and I apologise for FUCK ALL.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[ms51ves3]

I was on major roads on my first lesson but similar to you with the abrupt steering. Did my third lesson on Wednesday and I feel I improved a lot (still stalling it a little bit though ).

At first I was driving too much like riding a bike, so when I went to change into second (or third), as I was releasing the clutch after the change I would press the accelerator a bit, which would make the change a little 'rough'.
Now I'm off the accelerator (because the car unlike a bike won't slow down much with just engine braking), clutch in, change gear, release clutch, back on the accelerator.

Just stick at it, you were never going to be a perfect driver after just two lessons.

[Alexio]

Everyone learns at different rates but I'd like to think that most people have an equal opportunity to become a great driver if they put enough practice and experience in to it. Don't worry, you will get there. Even if you're a slower learner than most I'm convinced you can still become better than most people out there on the roads today.

Once you get good enough to pass the driving test though I would strongly recommend putting in the time to practice and practice your driving skills and keep on improving them. Most people don't bother to do this. Again, don't be put off by a slow start, just keep on going until you get to where you are confident.

What you'll find is that your mind slowly becomes used to doing all of the things that you really have to think about now (pedals, gear lever, turning the steering wheel and operating indicators etc.) but as soon as you can do these actions without having to concentrate you can start to concentrate on driving instead. It all starts to click together and you can practice becoming a great driver as a whole.

Right now just focus on the little things until they become second nature (in my experience this is the same for riding a motorbike and learning a musical instrument, and just think of how much a gap there is between a beginner musician and a pro)
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[steppen22]

[Alexio]

When I ride my motorbike and go to change gears I don't normally go completely off the throttle because I know that the next gear will simply require a lower engine speed (and I pretty much know how much throttle is required to get that engine speed). It's more like a blip of throttle so that once the new gear is engaged the bike doesn't jerk forward were I to open the throttle again from absolutely nothing.

When driving a car do you really completely let off the gas? Is it that it's generally too inaccurate to bother using the pedal to find low revs or finally just because a car doesn't jerk forward and backwards to the same degree a bike would?

If it's the last one then I guess you're using the clutch to get in to gear without really slowing the car down (we are shifting up after all) and then accelerating doesn't involving tightening a chain for a delayed jerk in acceleration...

Cars sound boring. No doubt I'll have to get a licence eventually though.
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[Skudd]

I've got two pupils who started on the same day, they have done the same amount of hours ( 10hrs) one can just about turn the wheel, clunking gears, poor clutch control, finds it hard to remember mirror checks etc. The other is on to dual carriage ways very good independent driving, has done and mastered, turn in the road, bay parking, reverse left open corners.
BOTH ARE NORMAL.

If you struggle with something your ADI should concentrate on those issues. Now he will not be looking for 100% correct, but he will be looking for an understanding and improvement. Time spent now getting things right, means you will fly through the harder stuff. Many people struggle with the basics at first, but 99% get it in the end.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[trevoriv]

Im in the same boat, after nearly 6 years of riding sports bikes im finding driving quite difficult. Im wanting to dump the clutch all the time, struggling with having to turn the wheel so much to get any kind of response and wanting to left foot brake.

Just practise though I guess, got myself booked into 10hrs lessons over 2 days first week in feb and then a short intensive course and test the week after.
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Past: '96 Thundercat, '02 ZX636R (A1P), '58 KTM 690 SM LC4 Current: '06 ZX636R (C6F)
Mudskipper wrote: Someone just has to sig that...

[smegballs]

I had my first driving lesson this saturday. I've always knew how to drive a car as it what the controls do but im not too skilled at actually putting into practice.

My first impression (which I've always thought) is that a car, even this tiny one, is so big and unwieldy compared to a bike. It makes a bike feel like a precision instrument, whereas a car is like a hammer.

Secondly those bloody pillars at the front suck! The get in the way and whoever designed them, back in the dark ages, should be shot!

I can use a foot clutch ok but I find the foot throttle a bugger. Steering is also crap. It feels so detached and impersonal compared to a bike.

After one two hour lesson I feel relatively safe to drive on the road, as in I'd definatly want someone there and wouldn't be going to fast..... I'm going to have another lesson and then have a break for a while I think.

Its probably not the best thing to do but I'm being held up by the lack of controls not the lack of road sense. Therefore my theory is to get insured on dads car and do a lot of general driving with him. Then once I can actually master the controls and move the car without thinking about it too much, resume lessons and do the car specific things to pass the test.

My instructor came out with some gems... "Your used to riding a bike with a little 600cc engine, this car has a whole thousand cc's so its a lot more power than what you are used to...."

[ms51ves3]

[Alexio]

[smegballs]

[GSF Jamie 600]

Heres a sad phrase for you;

A car moves your body
A bike moves your soul

Now i know its a bit ott lol but its true, i have both car and bike and the car will never put the grin on your face like a bike.
But when it comes to practicality you cannot beat a car.

I would say your doing fine, its oly your second lesson man take it easy lol. I passed after 24 lessons first time but that was before i was riding geared bikes, i bought my 125 and the 3 lessons later passed my car test. So i think being able to use a bike will help you greatly for your lessons. Now have a Bandit 600 and a fiesta

[The Original Muzza]

I won't even say how many hours it took me to pass, but I did so first time with only 5 minors. This was before I had a bike. Your progression sounds similar to mine, so don't worry too much unless you have only few pennies for lessons!
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Current Bikes: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (2020)
Former Bikes: Honda MSX125 (2014), BMW Funduro (1996), Honda VT500 (1983), Yamaha FZR250 (1989), Suzuki GZ125 Marauder(2005),:Triumph TT600 (2002) (stolen)
From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.

[rac3r]

I hate driving but love cars

I had about 8/9 lessons 2 years ago before I started riding then just got bored and got a bike On my 3rd lesson I was on quiet roads but doing things like 3 point turns, I think I'll start again in summer just to get it out of the way.

Good Luck and have fun!
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[ms51ves3]

[The999Kid]

[MattHirst]

I've had a right laugh in my car on some fantastic roads (Despite having a slow arse car!).

It's a different sort of rush to the bike. On the bike i'm always focused and the adrenaline is pumping but in the car i just drive along pissing myself laughing
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It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's bloody hilarious!!!

[slyrob]

[Alexio]

[smegballs]

[slyrob]

i possibly didn't make my point that well, i think that few motorists (drivers) experience the feeling of being connected to the road and their surroundings like motorcyclists do but i also believe that this is due to things like power steering, comfy seats, air con, stereos, etc and that lack of power is one small aspect of that. I think this also is why a lot of drivers forget they are involved in an activity with potentially fatal consequences for themselves and others. While i may not have your level of riding experience on the road (only about 500 miles ) i did ride motocross bikes as a teenager for a number of years have cycled and driven through London daily for 12 years. Anyway all i'm saying is get yourself in something where your arse is 6 inches off the floor with no driver aids and less metal round you and see what you think then, i think its a personal thing

you are also talking from the point of experience with bikes going to driving, i have gone the other way and to me driving both a car and a bike feels fairly natural.
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[Alexio]

[slyrob]

I think the feeling of being conected is something that varies wildly with cars and not so much with bikes, most cars are designed with removing these feelings in mind. As for assisted braking, remember the weight of what you're stopping, my first ride was a 50's tractor with no braking assistance that weighed less than most modern cars and yet any stopping had to be planned in advance!! Braking feel also varies massively from vehicle to vehicle as does the comitment required to get it through a corner, e.g an old front wheel drive hot hatch if pushed to hard through a corner will understeer and plow on in a straight line, a tvr cerbera is a bike quick car with no steering assistance or traction control too much throttle in a corner and you are backwards through a hedge before you know it! a fiesta or family saloon will do neither. I guess car drivers make their choices through their choice of vehicle, whereas those who choose 2 wheels are already showing a certain level of comitment to getting close to the road
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Pitslayer wrote "it could be Ndubz.....ruining this once great place with donkey gobbling loafer knobbing "music".
silky666 wrote "In my eyes, when you shake cocks with the devil, you may as well go for the full reach around"
Villers wrote "as reliable as a ginger stepchild on smack"

[ms51ves3]