AndyAlfa Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 So I bit the bullet and did my CBT. It didn't go well. Being old and never having been on a bike before I think the subconscious co-ordination of both hands and foot for throttle, clutch and rear brake while remembering to look where you want to go was all too much as realistically you've an hour of grasping these concepts before moving onto advance stuff like stopping cleanly, indicating and remembering positioning and indicators. I didn't stuff it or drop it but I do know myself. I think for me it will take hours and hours of just riding very slowly back and forward and in a circle to grasp it. I could go for a series of two hour training sessions through the week but the time commitment and related cost of me not being in work then is verysubstantial. Most bike schools are understandably fully occupied with CBT at the weekend. I'm fairly well off but very time poor during the week due to work. I also have a very large trading estate about 700 yards away which is virtually deserted at the weekend with many wide open spaces which are dead ends - remarkably there is no dogging nor the yoof presence so its really very safe. So the other idea (and believe it or not the cheaper one if I can flog a six month old 50cc bike for more than £500 in due course) is buy a lexmoto Hunter 50 and, as I've held my driving licence since the 1980s get it down to the trading estate on one or more Sunday mornings and just ride it up and down and up and down trying not to pick up any bad habits until the co-ordination is there. I've learnt enough to stay on a bike albeit I think my knees are splayed out like a novice high wire act - another thing to correct. I can get insurance for one for £100 with just my car licence.I wouldn't plan to ride on the "proper road" until certified with a CBT and probably some more training too. This is just to get the confidence to get through a CBT.Have any older riders developed very basic skills starting out doing this sort of thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old-codger Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Not sure where you are in the country but can I suggest you look up an off road motorcycle centre. Some of them run coarses for complete novices up to experienced riders. It will give you the time to learn riding the bike without the hassle of all the on road stuff. I know it will be hard what with lockdown kicking in again but I think everyone should give it a go you learn so much about bike control and balance and when you fall off its only dirt or mud this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyAlfa Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Thanks - there is one about 40 miles away but I think it trains riders for the Paris Dakar or similar. Part of the issue is time - I have little during the week when a lot of these events happen or the schools are available and learning on my own gives me that time flexibility at the weekend. As noted I'd be treating the trading estate as "off road" like a bike school yard - its that big and quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old-codger Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 The problem you have is if the industrial estate is public road and as I understand it you have not passed your cbt so cannot legally ride on the public highway, and the last thing you need is to get nicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyAlfa Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 I can on a Lexmoto 50 as I have held my driving licence since 1987. I have checked my driving licence and with the DVLA and I am allowed to ride one without l plate provided it is restricted. A Lexmoto 50 is so restricted. I have the necessary "P" catagory on my licence. From HM Gov website:Car driving test passed before 1 February 2001You do not need to take compulsory basic training (CBT) to ride a moped if you passed your car driving test before 1 February 2001. You’ll still need to complete CBT to ride a motorbike, however. Moped means any two wheel bike restricted to 50kph. The fact a Lexmoto Hunter 50 looks like a motorbike (albeit a very small one) and has gears is irrelevant. As a Lexmoto 50 is a 125 with a tiny 49cc 4 stroke it is for all intents an purposes like the CB125 on my CBT and as I don't plan to be doing more than 10mph and probably less than that as this is all about learning the co-ordination the whooping 3hp it puts out isn't an issue as I imagine I was only using a third of the Honda CB125 10hp (if that) during my CBT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James in Brum Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 You could do four cbts for five hundred pounds. You could do two one to one CBT days for that. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynax Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Why not compromise and do the CBT on a twist and go, takes out the need for the gears.I was looking at getting a Lexmoto Hunter, but i managed to get a barn find moped, which is just needs to be registered now, but there is no shame in using a 50cc to get some practice in, if that will help you then go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyAlfa Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 (edited) "You could do two one to one CBT days for that. Just a thought"I could but that's 2 hours for an investment of two solid days doing the bit I need to spend many many hours on which is maintaining a constant throttle with use of clutch and back brake. "Why not compromise and do the CBT on a twist and go, takes out the need for the gears""I was looking at getting a Lexmoto Hunter, but i managed to get a barn find moped"I've looked for a barn find moped but nothing round here. Doing a twist and go is probably a waste of time. I am doing this to learn a new skill I've wanted for a long time which is to ultimately be able to ride (say) a 500cc bike competently in a couple of years and its something to focus on while the world goes to hell in a handcart. I've got several cars and pandemic excepted I do very high mileages - touch wood without accident and only a few speeding offences ( now spent) in the past 33 years so if I get the Lexmoto I'm not getting it as a means of transport and after I've stopped wobbling and yanking the clutch in and out as I ride round in a circle at a desired walking pace I might try for a heady 20mph round the estate. Edited November 1, 2020 by AndyAlfa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynax Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 If you think it will help then get one, no need for CBT or L plates as you can ride on car licence, even though they are limited to 28mph, you will find that once they are bedded in can reach about 35/40 in some cases Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynax Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyAlfa Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 (edited) Reet I'll do that and stop reading reviews for the CB500X as I think I am a bit off that .Those cars overtaking it and drifting back in on the video straight after - I don't drive like that. Edited November 1, 2020 by AndyAlfa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackholesun Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 So you did the CBT but did not get the certificate?I also am new to it passed at 39 but had a 1 off 2 hour one to one that cost me £70 before I did my CBT 2nd time around...and then it's a case of learning on the job imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynax Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Reet I'll do that and stop reading reviews for the CB500X as I think I am a bit off that . If it makes you feel better i am only on a 125 and i love it, when thing's settle with this pandemic i will do my A1 test and stick with a 125 as it does all i need. I got the moped for nipping into town, as most of the roads are 20/30 zones, but till it's registered will still use my big 125 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyAlfa Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 So you did the CBT but did not get the certificate? No I wouldn't have certified me out on the road on a 125 let alone an instructor. I'm in my 50s with children so with a Lexmoto I wont be going anywhere other than the deserted industrial estate at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonio Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 I did this. It wasn't a planned thing, I just got a moped, stuck on some L plates, and rode it to work and back for a year. Then later I decided to learn to ride a bike and so did my CBT. It very likely made it a lot easier on the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rennie Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Hello and Welcome I can't see why your plan shouldn't work,I learnt to ride, off road way before I was old enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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