Today is the day! CBT Incoming!

[AstronautNinja]

6 hours ago, ChrisBiggsUK said:

 

Yeah, I'd seen that one.  I can put my natural wariness of the Police to one side for a couple of days as it is certainly worth my getting booked on to (once I pass my CBT that is) as it will help me improve my skills and anything that improves my skills and helps me be a safer rider (not only for myself but for other people), is worth doing.

A day with the police also isn't my number one choice but I can imagine me leaving with a wealth of extra knowledge. 

 

Tomorrow is the day right? Hopefully all goes to plan and you'll be out on the Sunday (weather providing) 

[ChrisBiggsUK]

13 minutes ago, AstronautNinja said:

A day with the police also isn't my number one choice but I can imagine me leaving with a wealth of extra knowledge. 

 

Tomorrow is the day right? Hopefully all goes to plan and you'll be out on the Sunday (weather providing) 

 

Tomorrow morning, 08:00.

Instructor only has an hour to give me and the other chap that failed though, but he said that should be more than enough to get us both over the line.  Let us hope that he is correct so I can be signed off and start getting some real world experience and practice in.  If not, however, I shall gladly take the fail knowing that it is better for him to err on the side of caution, for my safety and that of others, rather than sign me off as ok to ride alone just for the sake of it.

I'd rather fail a hundred times and be safe, than have someone pass me by the skin of my teeth and end up being a danger to myself and others.

As I've said before, I've gone for 43 years as a pedestrian.  If I have to go a little longer, I don't mind.  I mean, I'd prefer to get out there on my bike and start riding, but safety comes first and my legs have served me well thus far.  A little farther shouldn't be too much of a problem.

 

[ChrisBiggsUK]

And the results of this mornings extra session are in;  I once again didn't pass.  However, all is not lost as the young chap who was with me the other day and who didn't pass then, managed to pass this morning!  Good job, young Matt!  

As expected, I simply need more time on the bike so I'm booked in for a two hour one on one session on Wednesday morning and we will then go on from there.

I'd be lying if I said I weren't a little downtrodden right now but again, it is better to fail and be safe than pass and be a danger to myself or others.  God willing, I'll get there in time.  And if not, then I will know that at least I have tried and had fun along the way.

I knew this would be a long, uphill struggle.  And I'm determined to see it through to the end!  

[bonio]

You've a lot to learn, starting from absolute zero. You'll get there.

[bud]

Don't feel too bad. I'm sure next time you will get your pass.

My mate is an instructor. He says there is so much extra to get through on a CBT now. You are going to see a lot more fails.

[S-Westerly]

How times change. Didn't know you could fail a CBT. Didn't have them in my day, just couldn't ride anything bigger than a 250cc bike. Happy days.

[AstronautNinja]

9 hours ago, ChrisBiggsUK said:

And the results of this mornings extra session are in;  I once again didn't pass.  However, all is not lost as the young chap who was with me the other day and who didn't pass then, managed to pass this morning!  Good job, young Matt!  

As expected, I simply need more time on the bike so I'm booked in for a two hour one on one session on Wednesday morning and we will then go on from there.

I'd be lying if I said I weren't a little downtrodden right now but again, it is better to fail and be safe than pass and be a danger to myself or others.  God willing, I'll get there in time.  And if not, then I will know that at least I have tried and had fun along the way.

I knew this would be a long, uphill struggle.  And I'm determined to see it through to the end!  

What feedback did he give you? 

[ChrisBiggsUK]

9 hours ago, AstronautNinja said:

What feedback did he give you? 

 

Just that I need more time on the bike.  This is entirely fine as I have plenty of time and can take all the time I need.  If I'm not ready, I'm not ready.  He is the instructor, he knows best, he is there to teach me and if I'm able to be taught, I will be.  

Gears seem to be my biggest sticking point.  No matter how many times I press down on the gear lever when coming to a stop, It never seems to go down to first, much to my annoyance, which then causes me to stall when I go to set off again.  This is probably not helped by the fact that the bike I'm using has a minor fault with the neutral warning light sometimes not illuminating when the bike is in neutral.  This is something I know I need to work on and, again, only time actually on the bike doing it will help me improve.  

Once I'm on the move, I'm fine.  Gears going up and down are fine (jittery, but smoothness will come in time), I'm happy at speed, I'm constantly alert and checking my surroundings and my mirrors and the issue with corners I'd like to think I've worked the kinks out of and know more what to do.

Just time and practice.  That is all.  And once (if) I pass, I'm going to get that neutral warning light repaired straight away so I know when I have accidentally knocked the bike into neutral!

[AstronautNinja]

49 minutes ago, ChrisBiggsUK said:

 

Just that I need more time on the bike.  This is entirely fine as I have plenty of time and can take all the time I need.  If I'm not ready, I'm not ready.  He is the instructor, he knows best, he is there to teach me and if I'm able to be taught, I will be.  

Gears seem to be my biggest sticking point.  No matter how many times I press down on the gear lever when coming to a stop, It never seems to go down to first, much to my annoyance, which then causes me to stall when I go to set off again.  This is probably not helped by the fact that the bike I'm using has a minor fault with the neutral warning light sometimes not illuminating when the bike is in neutral.  This is something I know I need to work on and, again, only time actually on the bike doing it will help me improve.  

Once I'm on the move, I'm fine.  Gears going up and down are fine (jittery, but smoothness will come in time), I'm happy at speed, I'm constantly alert and checking my surroundings and my mirrors and the issue with corners I'd like to think I've worked the kinks out of and know more what to do.

Just time and practice.  That is all.  And once (if) I pass, I'm going to get that neutral warning light repaired straight away so I know when I have accidentally knocked the bike into neutral!

Are you doing the cbt on your own bike? 

[ChrisBiggsUK]

32 minutes ago, AstronautNinja said:

Are you doing the cbt on your own bike? 

I am indeed.  

[Nick the wanderer]

You should practice at home, you don't even need to start the bike, just sit on it and put it in and out of gear while rocking it gently back and forth. You'll feel it click in and out of gear. Be direct with the changes, you don't need to stamp on the peddle, but be firm enough to engage the gear. Turn the ignition on to see your neutral light flick on as you do it, remember to turn it off after or you'll get a flat battery. Do it!

[AstronautNinja]

35 minutes ago, ChrisBiggsUK said:

I am indeed.  

 

11 minutes ago, Nick the wanderer said:

You should practice at home, you don't even need to start the bike, just sit on it and put it in and out of gear while rocking it gently back and forth. You'll feel it click in and out of gear. Be direct with the changes, you don't need to stamp on the peddle, but be firm enough to engage the gear. Turn the ignition on to see your neutral light flick on as you do it, remember to turn it off after or you'll get a flat battery. Do it!

This was going to be my suggestion. Out in the garden with the engine running, up a few gears, back down to 1st, find neutral, repeat. 

[AstronautNinja]

The bike I did my CBT on wasn't the smoothest gear wise, definitely took a little wriggleswasion into and out of certain gears. 

[ChrisBiggsUK]

16 minutes ago, Nick the wanderer said:

You should practice at home, you don't even need to start the bike, just sit on it and put it in and out of gear while rocking it gently back and forth. You'll feel it click in and out of gear. Be direct with the changes, you don't need to stamp on the peddle, but be firm enough to engage the gear. Turn the ignition on to see your neutral light flick on as you do it, remember to turn it off after or you'll get a flat battery. Do it!

 

Alas, my bike remains at the dealership (who are also providing training).  I have no way of transporting it there and back for training, since I cannot ride it unsupervised yet, so there it shall have to remain until I am permitted to ride it on my own.  I could get them to deliver it to my house, but then when I need to go back for training, I would be stuck with a bike at my house that I cannot then get up there for training.  I could use one of their bikes for that, but knowing that my bike has its quirks, I'd prefer to get to learn how to ride on my own one and overcome those quirks rather than learn on something else and then not have a grasp of the quirks of my own one, if that makes sense?  

I'll have to see how the two hours on Wednesday goes and then take things from there.  I know where my errors are, and I'm doing my best to resolve them, and as the instructor told me, I just need 'more time' actually on the bike itself.  This is fully understandable and I don't mind paying for the extra training.  If this is something that is going to happen, it must happen properly and in its own time.  

I'm in no rush.  Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer to be out there pootling around, practicing, learning how to ride in empty carparks first thing in the morning, and getting experience, but if the instructor feels I am not ready for that yet, then he is the pro and in his judgment I shall have to put my trust.

 

[Nick the wanderer]

Ah.. Of course yes you can't have one with out the other. You'll get there, relax and soak it all in, good luck.

[AstronautNinja]

1 hour ago, ChrisBiggsUK said:

 

Alas, my bike remains at the dealership (who are also providing training).  I have no way of transporting it there and back for training, since I cannot ride it unsupervised yet, so there it shall have to remain until I am permitted to ride it on my own.  I could get them to deliver it to my house, but then when I need to go back for training, I would be stuck with a bike at my house that I cannot then get up there for training.  I could use one of their bikes for that, but knowing that my bike has its quirks, I'd prefer to get to learn how to ride on my own one and overcome those quirks rather than learn on something else and then not have a grasp of the quirks of my own one, if that makes sense?  

I'll have to see how the two hours on Wednesday goes and then take things from there.  I know where my errors are, and I'm doing my best to resolve them, and as the instructor told me, I just need 'more time' actually on the bike itself.  This is fully understandable and I don't mind paying for the extra training.  If this is something that is going to happen, it must happen properly and in its own time.  

I'm in no rush.  Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer to be out there pootling around, practicing, learning how to ride in empty carparks first thing in the morning, and getting experience, but if the instructor feels I am not ready for that yet, then he is the pro and in his judgment I shall have to put my trust.

 

Ahh yes I had forgotten that part. 

 

Are you in a position to have the dealer fix said quirk before Wednesday? If you plan to get it fixed anyway I'd be pressing to get any little issues sorted to make Wednesday a touch easier. 

 

Just stick with the positive, patient attitude and all will be fine shortly

[Hairsy]

I'd suggest 2 things:

 

1) Get the dealer to fix the 'quirk'. You're a good customer - you've bought the bike AND the training. They should be looking after you.

 

2) Use their training bike for the CBT. Yes, they'll be slightly different to yours but that really won't make much difference. More importantly, they should have lots of crash protection on them and won't be particularly damaged with a low speed drop. You don't want your own bike to be taking that.

 

Keep going with it - it may be taking a little time but that will just make the victory sweeter.

[RideWithStyles]

The throw into first is alway longer throw, more sudden and feel. plus if you leave going into first to late it can be a arse for the gb - especially as this bikes gearbox maybe a little different in character to another one so I’d suggest - do it sooner than your doing now while it’s spinning and the engine is to help push in into.

There is other methods but your instructor /examiner might wonder as your meant to follow a very strict routine. 

[ChrisBiggsUK]

 After a nice big long ride around the Wirral, I've only gone and passed! Took longer than I thought but as I said, it would have been better to fail a thousand times and be safe, than pass by the skin of my teeth.

 

I can now bring my bike home and start the real business of learning. 

 

Well. I'll be bringing it home tomorrow. Could have brought it home this evening but there is a particularly unfriendly roundabout I would have to navigate in rush hour traffic and I know I'm not ready for that.  I'll bring it home tomorrow mid morning instead. 

 

I'm proper chuffed! And now, to celebrate with a cup of coffee and a chocolate digestive. 

[Simon Davey]

@ChrisBiggsUK

 

That's seriously good news Chris, really well done.

You can now get so much riding done, you'll soon be upgrading.

[AstronautNinja]

1 minute ago, ChrisBiggsUK said:

 After a nice big long ride around the Wirral, I've only gone and passed! Took longer than I thought but as I said, it would have been better to fail a thousand times and be safe, than pass by the skin of my teeth.

 

I can now bring my bike home and start the real business of learning. 

 

Well. I'll be bringing it home tomorrow. Could have brought it home this evening but there is a particularly unfriendly roundabout I would have to navigate in rush hour traffic and I know I'm not ready for that.  I'll bring it home tomorrow mid morning instead. 

 

I'm proper chuffed! And now, to celebrate with a cup of coffee and a chocolate digestive. 

I was literlly just searching for your thread to ask, popped into my mind on todays ride and had to ask.

 

Top banana dude. Enjoy your first ride out! Tis a liberating experience.

[Simon Davey]

1 minute ago, AstronautNinja said:

Tis a liberating experience.

 

The perfect description.

[rob m]

@ChrisBiggsUK

 

Well done and I share your excitement to get on your bike and start riding. Take it easy fella, it's the best feeling.

[Fiddlesticks]

Well done @ChrisBiggsUK

Edited October 22, 2024 by Fiddlesticks

[Old-codger]

51 minutes ago, ChrisBiggsUK said:

 After a nice big long ride around the Wirral, I've only gone and passed! Took longer than I thought but as I said, it would have been better to fail a thousand times and be safe, than pass by the skin of my teeth.

 

I can now bring my bike home and start the real business of learning. 

 

Well. I'll be bringing it home tomorrow. Could have brought it home this evening but there is a particularly unfriendly roundabout I would have to navigate in rush hour traffic and I know I'm not ready for that.  I'll bring it home tomorrow mid morning instead. 

 

I'm proper chuffed! And now, to celebrate with a cup of coffee and a chocolate digestive. 

Well done mate congratulations, the world is your lobster enjoy your new found freedom. Just watch out for all the muppets out there.