At 50, I had my second lesson on a bike yesterday

[darthpunk]

I'm getting ready to take my mod 1 and 2 tests in the coming weeks, while I didn't buy a 125 I did want to take further training as my gear changes are a bit sloppy and I wanted to build some confidence especially with low speed maneuvers like U-Turns

The place I went to took you out on slightly bigger bikes, BMW 310R's, which compared to Honda CBF125's, are like a whole new world, better throttle, brake and clutch control. Why they don't just make the standard CBT bikes in the UK around the 300cc mark I will never know. Also, I only found one school within 50 miles that actually offered any training in between the CBT and DAS that would help build confidence and help you get to know the bike more. I know there are changes proposed to the CBT, this school already adopts a 2 day CBT which, but a 2 day approach seems like a much better idea. Taking this extra training gave me way more information and time on the bike.

The trainer had me practice going in circles, countersteering with one hand of the bar at one point which opened up just how much the bike doesn't want to just drop. He also explained more about how the bike actually stays upright and how steering/lean affects that.

Things I learned:

• Boots, buy the right ones in the first place. Switching from the lace up cafe racer style to the pull on Richas made a good difference, less grip to get stuck on the pegs and easier to slide the plates of meat under the gear shift

• I am not a massive fan of speed, that might be to do with the bike, the mirrors tried to shake themselves off at 60, but then I'm a big guy so I'm sure the bike was doing it's best

• Turn off the indicator, they're not automatic, but after being reminded for the 20th time it started sinking in
  Take you time when pulling away in first and give it some revs otherwise you stall - a lot

• Relax - I have a few pulled muscles this morning after gripping on too tight for too long

[Rockburner]

Keep on it, sooooo much of bike riding is muscle memory that once you've learnt the correct way to do a thing (and there are more than one correct way to do somethings), you need to keep practising it until it becomes a semi-natural action.

[Yorick]

Keep at it mate

[Count Steer]

Keep on it, sooooo much of bike riding is muscle memory that once you've learnt the correct way to do a thing (and there are more than one correct way to do somethings), you need to keep practising it until it becomes a semi-natural action.

The good ol' transition from 'conscious competence' to 'unconscious competence' and the beauty is, because you aren't using brain bandwidth to do the mechanical part of riding you have more available for the situation awareness ie hazard assessment (and for generally just enjoying the ride/world around you. )

Which reminds me of another little nugget of wisdom.

'Practice makes perfect'. Well, actually, 'practice makes permanent' ie you can perfect the wrong way of doing things through practice as well as the right way, so practice and make permanent the right ways.

Means you have to know which are the right and wrong ways which is where the training comes in. Prompting another nugget 'The self-taught man has an ignorant teacher'.

[darthpunk]

'Practice makes perfect'. Well, actually, 'practice makes permanent' ie you can perfect the wrong way of doing things through practice as well as the right way, so practice and make permanent the right ways.

Exactly what the instructor said yesterday.

I have to say, before I got there yesterday I felt like I had so far just flung a bunch of money down a drain, felt a damn sight more confident this morning. I think I will be looking for some lighter jeans though, the pair I wore yesterday, JTS triple A were just so damn heavy by the end of the day

I might be keeping the clothing companies in business at the moment

[cvilla]

I might have said on another thread, I started late 50's, gotta start sometime right! Practice and time in the saddle are key, so keep going, instructors do know their stuff, think of it as an investment;)

[ZRX61]

Take you time when pulling away in first and give it some revs otherwise you stall - a lot

Depends on the bike, older big Kaw's will pull away pretty much at idle. My ZRX11 will pull away at 1200-1500rpm.

[Yorick]

When I've taught folk to ride, I've told them to just use the clutch and no throttle to get used to the idea.

Then apply throttle later

They never stalled after that

[Noggin]

• Take you time when pulling away in first and give it some revs otherwise you stall - a lot

Don't do the opposite and dump the clutch turning right off a T junction

I wheelied a 125 "cruiser stylee" doing that on the CBT


It's all practice as the others have said - but all so soooo worth it

[Yorick]

• Relax - I have a few pulled muscles this morning after gripping on too tight for too long

Your arms steer the bike and operate clutch and brake. Nothing else.


Grip with your knees and keep arms loose.

[Horse]

When I've taught folk to ride, I've told them to just use the clutch and no throttle to get used to the idea.

Then apply throttle later

They never stalled after that

The late Dave Taylor used to train 'Riders for Health' people. He tweaked the tickover to about 3000, then clutch only.

[Cousin Jack]

When I've taught folk to ride, I've told them to just use the clutch and no throttle to get used to the idea.

Then apply throttle later

They never stalled after that

The late Dave Taylor used to train 'Riders for Health' people. He tweaked the tickover to about 3000, then clutch only.

That's the way I taught myself to ride, and how I was taught to drive. KISS - one thing at a time.