Just done my CBT

[markhicko]

Well i say just, it was actually last Thursday but I only just got time to write about it.

Before I begin, up until the CBT i had never ridden or sat on a motorbike in my life, i do however drive and have done for 5 years with no claims, so road theory is fine. I found the first part the hardest, when on the trainers compound, you're very cramped and it takes time for you to think about what your doing yet you're forever worrying about running out of space, plus out of 3 of us the other 2 were just renewing theirs which didn't help my confidence.

All in all i was fairly happy with how it was going, just trying to stay positive and not let my mistakes wind me up. After some theory and a lunch break the ride out was so much easier, finally it gave me chance to enjoy myself. I literally got my certificate, got dropped off at my friends house and bought his Lexmoto Arizona off him, i was already insured on it as of the day before so i got to ride off straight away.

Since then I've found out fairly quickly and painfully that the CBT is just a pebble in a very big pond, you learn next to sod all about riding on it, it really is BASIC training, i simply cannot believe they let 17 year old's with no previous road experience or theory knowledge do a CBT then just jump on a geared motorbike. After 3 days i managed to wipe out on a roundabout in the rain (no damage other than a bruised ego) and there's many occasions where i find myself thinking i could have done things better.

It would seem i have allot to learn about riding a bike before i even think about going near MOD 1 and 2, i have until next spring mind.

[Tango]

Congrats on the CBT........yep, it is the first step on a long journey......

When I started riding there was no CBT.......you bought a bike (up to 250cc) and rode it away from the shop or wherever.......no previous experience necessary....

We've all dropped bikes at some time....it's all part of the learning experience.....

Keep it between the green....and shiny side up......

[MattB]

...When I started riding there was no CBT.......you bought a bike (up to 250cc) and rode it away from the shop or wherever.......no previous experience necessary....

 

Ahh yes, the "good old days". Although not being quite as ancient as tango they had cut this down to a 125 in my time.

It does what it says on the tin Compulsory BASIC Training. But at least you realised this - a lot of people don't. Glad you didn't hurt yourself.

[Weebl]

i simply cannot believe they let 17 year old's with no previous road experience or theory knowledge do a CBT then just jump on a geared motorbike.

 

I remember my 16th birthday when I was legal to ride my newly purchased CB50.

It was a geared Ped and I had never ridden anything other than a pedal bike before. No training, nothing. Applied for my license, saw the bike in the paper and bought it and got my dad to ride it home for me, got insurance ready to start on my birthday, that was it.

I got up that morning, my Dad had gone to work and told me to wait till he got home so he could at least give me a few pointers, of course at 16 I was far to clever to need that so off I went, stalled it about 40 times that day, including at various junctions and roundabouts in traffic and basically wobbled my way around for a couple of days until I had a basic grasp of how it all worked. In hindsight it is a miracle it worked out as well as it did.

My eldest son has just done his CBT and I must admit, I am much happier with his intro to biking, than mine, and at least I know he has been taught the basics and don't have a mild heart attack every time he goes out.