Tigs

To be fair I'm non to keen on a 125 - my bike does not like going those speeds uphill!!

Wait and get a 125.

If you go to a school they will run a course - or you can hire one - but I don't think you can go out on the road without a 'trained instructor' . (could be wrong about that). If you get really familiar with a 125 - riding a bigger bike is not that much harder (just the front breaks are 'fierce' )

Just heading to bed .. night!

If you have passed your car driving test you will have the 79(3) - in motorbike section it allows you to drive a 'motorised tricycle'.. not a motorbike. ETA if you want to ride a 125 you need a valid CBT cert

Ahh In my searching I miss-read magical as mythical - should try to find a magical pub too!! I meant - if it is not 6 - then I could use it as 10!

What does the white hart count as - 6 - equine - 9 mythical or 10 other?

1= Dog - Fox and Hounds! 3= Big 5 - Lion 10 = other random animal!

I'm not sure I explained myself well - with the break for example I was really grabby - fine on my 125 - lethal on the 650 with dual front breaks!! The instructor was trying to explain how to do it - lots of words- I just couldn't get it - I asked him to 'show me' - hand over hand' - ( I work with SEN students and we often use this approach to teach muscle memory tasks) .. he showed me once - and used the term SQU...eeze - described it as picking up a lemon - and then squeezing a lemon - one 'hand over hand' - demo and it's stuck - no 'words' would ever have done it for me Another example was him telling me my shoulder was tense -and arm position was wrong - 'blah blah blah' - After me asking him to move me to the right position - I instantly got it - The instructor was not 'grabbing me' - but - for me - I learnt the muscle positions quicker by being in them than any words would have told me! I hope that makes sense As for 'no touch' .. my instructor gave me a hug when I passed my CBT - and the other one at the same school gave me a hug when I failed my Mod 1- In both situations I was grateful for it. As I said though - I'm ok with physical touch. As for the blasted u - I will keep going - I don't 'twist at the waist' enough so my head looks where it should but my body does not follow - I also think I don't use enough throttle - or ease it on and off rather than using clutch and back break - I am getting better at them - unfortunately I often struggle with the first but nail the second and in a test - need to do it first time!! I'll get there though.

I am sure I was wary - I'm not great at 'doing as i'm told' .. I watch and learn and don't give a hoot if someone comes and moves me into the right position (Men are wary of doing that to a lady - I can see why - but its how I learn - even giving my permission they were wary) .. but I just need to 'master the u turn' - I don't twist my body enough - and whilst I know that is why it's going to fail I wobble about a bit and rescue myself by putting my foot down I did wonder what the outcome for the opening poster was -they never did come back!

It was a while ago now - and possibly not actual words - more a 'feeling' - (I'm dyslexic so often 'read micro body language' rather than hear the words). It was really obvious in his tone that he did not rate me - picking on road position or indicators - when he let it slide with the other rider .. He was critical of me not being sure about filtering - I'd not been on a bike for 20 years - and it was super busy and it was at the end of a long day - I was tired - The first instructor just made me feel like an idiot - He didn't seem to grasp that it might be physically demanding - by the end I was struggling to pull the clutch in - my hands just lacked the strength of driving without stopping for a whole day.. The men who had never used geared bikes were encouraged to go for a full access course whereas I was told to practice and think about a scooter instead - it was quite dismissive. At the end he told me at the end of my training 'i will pass you if you promise to go out with your fella' ... which made me lack confidence. I can't imagine he'd have said the same to a man - TBH I would have done better if he had said 'you need more practice come back for another session I retook my CBT at a different school and I really enjoyed it - the guy could see I was in my head about stuff - but just kept encouraging me - and made me feel like I could do this - He made me feel like I had skills and was capable. For my Mod 1 - even though I asked for 'slow and steady' lessons - I could not find a school that would oblige that as a result I did a course and then failed Mod 1 - I'm not a 'fast learner' - and would have done better to have gone out regularly rather than to learn it all in a few days - Full days are a bit too much _ I stop doing my best and can't take much on board. I think a lot of women are more cautious and need a different style of teaching - in my area 40% pass mod1 - as opposed to 70% of men , this has to have a connection with the training offered around here (I just don't believe the men are 'better drivers' - just they learn in a different way) In my case I over think so need to hear all the 'outcomes before committing - I also need 'short instructions' - so for the break it is SQ... eeze - (slight move of the hand then pull in slow' .. My second school were ace at seeing how I learnt in a different way and went the extra mile to support me. They went through breaking in lots of different ways - (so just clutch in - just back break - just front break - ect.. )it has made me far more confident). That said I learnt a huge amount in the few days I went out with them - but not enough to 'internalise' the u turn - I wobble and end up putting my foot down. The instructor told me to go away and practice and come back when I had mastered it - so that is what I am doing. The rubbish weather is a bit meh - I really want to be on a bigger bike - but I will get there. If you want to appeal to women - offer a 'flexible' approach - don't start too early in the morning (that might just be me - but round here all the starts are 7.45/8am - and to get there and be on it at that time is awful!) Talk through the 'this is why' rather than - 'just do this' - (women will over think.. ) Regular breaks - and listen to what they ask for!

well done I'm looking forward to joining you some time this year!

I'm not sure I will get many .. but it might get me out and about... Number 33 please.

No bonus - not working Christmas day. My Team leader - sent a card to the second in command - thanking the team - he didn't even email or message his thanks. I don't know - just felt a little appreciation would have gone a long way.

Hey, another Londoner - at the start of their bike journey too. I have a Honda CBF - and I can't fault it for reliability or nimbleness..

Welcome

Oh .. please recommend me some! What will you be using the bike for? mostly commuting to work - South London What's the budget? I'm thinking about 2-3K What style of bike do you want? I like naked bikes How much do you want to pay for insurance? As little as possible!! How confident a rider are you? Pretty confident - am finding my CBR 125 a touch slow - feel ready for something a bit bigger but not mad! Do you like spending hours polishing chrome? no Will you be carrying a pillion passenger? probably not - Do you need luggage? a little - sad to say I will probably need a topbox! Do you need a screen? I think i'd like one What other features would be useful? Having been out today I think heated grips is a yes - hand guards and bars look like a good plan What sort of performance are you looking for? More 'pull away' than my 125 - but keep in mind most of my routes are 20-30 mph - so not too mad anyway! Inside leg measurement? 31"

What was the first bike you got after passing MOD 2? What bike would you recommend - pictures welcome

Well done - must be a great feeling -

I'm not sure - but I got silk inners for my gloves and they do make a difference - my hands are warm - and not sweaty. I've been advised that a heated gilet - is the way to go (they are about £100 and I think heated with a a battery pack

I'm going for a full licence - I want a bit of a faster bike -mine struggles going up slopes! I figure if I have to borrow a bike for the test may as well do it all in one go! I went for my taster on a big bike today - I really enjoyed it - it is not that different really. . just need to 'look more' .. and have more confidence. Have booked to do full training in Dec. Fingers firmly crossed

Its getting the technique right - confidence and experience. My worry is leave the gap too long - and you may pick up bad habits. I've not done Mod 1.. not even been on a big bike yet - but have done over 250 miles on my 125 in the past month or so I think my confidence and road positioning are better - I have good slow control (have done lots of figure 8's and U turns)... but I still have to think through the lifesavers - earlier for example I life saved right - when I think it should have been left.. and sometimes I don't fit them in- and I think that is a straight fail -

Well done on passing Mod 1... out of interest why are you planning to wait for mod 2?

I'm wondering what they asked... How do you keep your cool in a mod 1 - would be a good question for myself!

I was so confused by counter steering - read lots - watched lots of videos which get more and more complex... In practice I think it is easy - if you want to go - right - you push forward and down with the right bar - and lean to the left - if you want to go left you do the opposite - it doesn't matter 'why' it works - it just does - You should be counter steering to do the figure 8 as for speed - sit on the bike stationary - push the handle bar forward and down and the bike will sway that way