elizabethf

Keep going out for little rides on it to get used to it, every time I park up for the night I wish Id stayed out a bit longer! I know what you mean. Bare with me on this... I don't like riding for the sake of riding. Meets, riding to Matlock etc don't interest me. So when I'm out I like to go somewhere on it where I would normally go in the car in winter, in other words use it for legitimate transport. So if I haven't got anywhere far to go, I end up parking the bike up for the night wishing I'd stayed out longer, but not enough to ride round for nothing. I am pretty much the same in thinking right now, it's a transport thing, but Im sure when I move on to bigger bikes Ill enjoy a nice ride out more!

Keep going out for little rides on it to get used to it, every time I park up for the night I wish Id stayed out a bit longer!

Its been well looked after (at least the last two owners) it seems. The guy i got it from did the odd commute each week while the suns good but it mainly lived in the garage and now he wants a car - he made it nice and shiny before i came though lol. He bought it off a lady who decided she didnt like bikes so again, just chilled out in the garage while it found a buyer. Most bikes I looked at didnt get to see a garage, just parked on a drive!

Thanks Not too horrific for a first bike insurance wise either

Over on Motorbike Chat I weas venting about finding a second hand 125 bike that i could actually fit on comfortably for a first bike (im a short arse) and wasn't overpriced/needing work/rusty etc etc. It's taken two weeks but finally found this! Honda CBR Repsol 2015, just 7000 miles and cost £1800. One scuff on the mirror and that's it. Loved riding it up and down the street - and that was only in low gears so excited to get it out properly! Gonna be great to build up my confidence on it, good times http://i65.tinypic.com/2gx2zdi.jpg

Bump for the new stuff added

Thank you! Looking at two more bikes first but found a nice little KTM Duke so far that suits my needs!

So, I passed my CBT about 10 days ago, I did a 2 day - day one on a 110cc scooter as a confidence booster and then the second day on the 125 geared. Won't spend too long going through day one - initially i was bobbing myself but once I found my balance I was happy as larry shooting round, found manoeuvres fine, loved being out on the road. Passed CBT there. Day two, proper bike time! I was a pretty nervous, but I knew I had my balance now so that certainly made shuffling around at the beginning easier (moving forward and back, finding biting point on the clutch). Before all that, the road safety talk of course and clothing. At first I fumbled a bit with the gears, because I was being too gentle lol! Bit rougher, I stopped accidentally slipping into neutral. I lost my head a bit trying to do manoeuvres - I was quite jerky. This was because I wasnt using enough throttle, and not feathering the clutch enough. I got a little bit of 1:1 time though to remedy this and once the penny dropped I was able to U turn, shalom and figure of 8 fine. I did lose a bit of control on one of my shalom attempts as I released the clutch then rested on the throttle so the bike shot off a little, but the instructor was happy because I didn't panic, i just removed myself from the cones, got back under control quick and swung around to go again, no problems then. I am still a bit weary of first gear tight turns but fortunately the street i live on is a close so I'm going to practice the hell out of tight circles and weaving when I buy my bike! Anyway once we were both happy I was understanding the bike a bit better and he could see I was fed up of pootling at 10mph (the academy uses a small yard rather than a car park, so not a huge amount of room for acceleration before you have to turn a corner) so we did the talk about riding out, and position at junctions/roundabouts, then he took me out on some country roads and housing estates - I LOVED it. I suddenly felt a bit more at one with the bike, and really got to grips with smooth gear changes. I was doing corners at about 15mph because I wanted to be sure to keep in lane and control them no matter how tight which Im sure the cars behind loved, but Im sure that will come with time! Currently spending ages just sitting on bikes and trying to find one I like (hard life being short) and cant wait to get practising and enjoying rides! (once the nerves have subdued) I feel my instructor (Matt) really helped me boost confidence and could read when I was getting frustrated and break it down for me. Plus there were plenty of cups of tea!

I can see them now! I signed back out and in again!

Says I dont have permission to view the images? But I have ordered the Kevlar leggings now so fingers crossed those are a good fit.

This! I don't see how you could get comfortable and familiar if you're constantly on and off. Also, what you described in exercise 3/4 - that was me too! I was getting a bit frustrated by lunch time as I couldnt figure out what was so wrong... but basically I was thinking with my car head not a bike head. I just needed to ride the clutch more, not fear the sound of a revving bike as me doing something wrong (plus if you're holding the clutch you can;t really shoot off anywhere) and just do a few more laps / cone work. Fortunately there are always at least two instructors on site where I went so while one took the more confident riders out, the other did a little more training in the yard with me round cones etc, broke it down a little more for me... and I got it then. Maybe I focused better being 1:1. After that I was happy to go out on the road and because you do have more time to change gear etc it doesnt feel as frustrating. Plus on 125cc riding around in first is hard, they are quite keen in low gears so can feel a little jumpy - especially if you dont have the revs on. The trick i was told is smooth, not slow. Did you feel you had actually find the bike's biting point? I found once I had a proper feel for it the rest came a little easier.

I’ve popped them up for sale and ordered oxford Kevlar leggings in petite instead! I feel this will save the hassle!

I have these padded trousers, size medium, for sale. They are about a size 10 - if you are under 5'4 these may swamp you though! Info: https://www.osxbikerclothing.com/store/Shannon-p79246892 Just looking for £20, plus £5 p&p. http://i65.tinypic.com/34ruom9.jpg http://i64.tinypic.com/2dcecmu.jpg Also have a Frank Thomas aqua textile jacket. Have a double zip so you can let it out at the bottom for better movement. Inserts in the back and arms. Size small, fits an 8 or 10. £20 http://i64.tinypic.com/2j4bzg1.jpg http://i67.tinypic.com/2emhic3.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/ru34g5.jpg

Decided to sell my other trousers on and go for leggings instead, they at least come in short person size and look like they have better give due to being leggings!

They were second hand, the waist is already too big to accommodate my bum lol (Ive sized up in all my bike gear just in case and for comfort). They are fairly thin foam.

I live in leggings so definitely going to check those out! its not a long drive to the shop for me.

Thanks both I’ll try the stand thing and if not look at some different inserts. I did find that after stretching around in the trousers they gave a little a moulders to me a bit better so hopefully if I do a bit more casual walking etc in them I can put the inserts back in and it won’t be an issue!

Hardcore noob question here! I bought a pair of textile trousers with knee and hip inserts inside. Im 5'3 and at least these aren't too long/ the knee inserts sit in the right place... but the hip inserts are a nightmare. I can get the trousers on and off fine with them, but i cant lift my legs, lean forward etc. I alrady have to do a bit of a karate kick and a jump to get my leg over most bikes, these inserts will make it impossible. I have removed them, and I have all my hip functions back. However Id rather have something in there to protect my hips... Should I buy smaller inserts (if that exists?) or maybe cut down the ones that come with it (they are second hand anyway)? If this a problem anyone else has run into?

Not necessarily - when booking mine I said Id never ridden any bike or scooter before and can be a nervous learner so we did a 2 day CBT. I passed on day one as it was done on a 110 scooter, so i could get my head around balancing, manoeuvres, lifesavers etc whilst also learning about the parts of a geared bike, went out on the road. Then on day two was just for learning to ride a motorbike with gears, no pressure.

thanks!

Thanks for the help! Yes so far finding items in second hand so small, even new, hasnt been easy!! i guess once you find it you dont let it go! My old boss was a biker and she was a size 6 and now i think of it i remember her finding it reallllly hard too! The only thing that was easy to find in shop sales was helmets - XS lid isnt a popular size!

Hi there! On the hunt for some textile trousers and a jacket suitable for a lady rider, UK size 8 or 10. If that's not an easy find will consider leather/mix material items too! Thanks all!