Cornelius

iTrader: (2)

I'm on my bike course this week.

Spent yesterday riding a 125 and on a 500 for the remainder with my test on Thursday.

Yesteday went from the instructor telling me I didn't have a lot of confidence on a bike to leaving everyone behind in the afternoon and kept being told to slow down so everyone can catch up!! I was well with in the speed limits and started to enjoy riding

spally

iTrader: (1)

lol wont be going over that way then!!!

good luck matey.

Cornelius

iTrader: (2)

Cheers mate

Though V1CK1 and Kemmers better watch out

bibo_boy

Good luck mate

John1uk

Supercue

iTrader: (1)

Good luck mate just be careful of drivers in dodgy yellow vans with orange lights on top

Adidas

Did yer skirt get caught up in the chain??

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

Nice weather to be riding in, you wait till the colder months and you spend every minute shivering. Oh yeah, freezing cold thumbs.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Good luck with all that mate, I keep meaning to do my test soon, how much did it all cost in the end if you dont mind me asking

yellowvanman

I think you will find paul is into leather now

EmEm

Good luck mate!! Make sure you cover yourself with plenty of leather... It may save your life one day!!
Riding a bike has got to be one of the best things ever!! It took me 3 attempts to pass my test, but I really enjoyed my bike when I did!!

Sami_D

iTrader: (1)

At the top of my road if its pro bike training?
Xs

darrens_here

Good going, I did my DAS in the week between Xmas and New Years, cold and wet every day !! Fantasic that was !! lol

Let us know how you get on, hows the bike coming on?

Cornelius

iTrader: (2)

Thanks EmEm, I've got all the gear, from Spyke Leathers, back protector, RST kevlar glove, alpine stars boots and a Shoei helmet, there's no way I'm going to risk riding without that lot on, as you say it could save my life!

Sami_D, yes, it's Probike Training!

darrens_here The bike is still in bits, found a nice shade of yellow, got some advice from ABW and will start preparing it for the respray.

I was on a 125 Monday, and everything was fine, a little jittery but made good progress, Yesterday I was given a Suzuki GS500 and it all went to pot, I was so nervous Ikept making stupid mistakes, couldn't even do the U-turn and have to admit when I finished yesterday, I was ready to sell the bike and everything. I had a good chat with the mate I bought the bike off and he gave me some advice what to do so felt a little bit of confidence seep back.

Today, went out on the 500 again and it felt wrong, we rode around Chelmsford taking the test route, back through Billericay and onto the A127 where we had to ride at 70MPH and overtake people and it really did scare the **** out of me, I was a complete nervous wreck, though managed to hold it together. We stopped for lunch, got back on the bike and then something clicked, I actually started feeling in control of the bike, so we took a few urban roads back round to the A127, stopping at traffic lights, the clutch control was getting easier all the time and the ride back at 70mph felt exhilerating, I loosened up and started enjoying it. We turned off at the Rayleigh Wier and went through Rayleigh, the clutch control was good, was pulling away confidently and I really started to enjoy the ride!

My biggest downfall was the fact that I kept looking down so didn't have control of the bike, when it came to sharp bends, I shat myself and poodled around them, but now I can cncerntrate on the road ahead of me, bends are so easy, roundabouts are cool and now got my confidence back!

The instructor said he couldn't belive the difference since this morning and I'm now a very good rider, I've just got to stop thinking about doing things and let it come naturally!

Anyway, it's my test tomorrow and I don't think I'm going to pass, but I'm going to give it a damn good shot, if I do fail I'll just rebook and not to worry about it, it isn't my time, but I know I'm now a confident rider and look forward to riding the FZR to a meet sometime soon

darrens_here

when you get the paint work done, give me a nod, would like to see it...... would give me an excuse to get mine out !!!

Dont worry about "the test" if you pass, great, if you dont, try again........

my girlfriend did hers earlier in the year. I booked her a DAS with a local school, first day she was in tears, all over the place, second day a bit better, thrid day she got into the groove, and did really well, passed her test on the 4th day............so no pressure mate !!! lol

She rides an SV650 now, me, I have the ninja, so if you see us about in SLH/ COrringham etc etc... give us a wave... mind you, wont be out much for a few months !!!!

Cornelius

iTrader: (2)

Didn't pass my test today, I put my foot down halfway through the U-turn and just clipped a kerb while doing a sharp left hand turn.

Apart from that, the instructor said I handled the bike very well and will be a very good rider!

Apparently he was impressed that when we came to national speed limit roads, I opened the bike up and got on with it. Then when I told him I had a Scooby, he wasn't at all surprised and said "No wonder you're used to the speeds then"

All in all, I'm not disappointed really, had a great time, now feel at ease with a bike, and I will pass the test next time.

Supercue

iTrader: (1)

Unlucky Fella good luck with the retake

Cornelius

iTrader: (2)

thanks mate,

oh well, it gives me more time to respray the bike, get it round to RB5 Mark for the graphics

At least I haven't got to fork out the extortionate price of £197 for insurance

Supercue

iTrader: (1)

£197 extra beer tokens hmmmm nice

spally

iTrader: (1)

bad luck Paul. Good luck with the resit.

Adidas

Unlucky mate,

I didn't pass my bike test the first time either .

I found it didn't feel 'right' leaning into corners etc and that I felt the bike would fall out from under me.

A little bit of patience and a bit more practice and I'm sure you'll be alright

darrens_here

Unnlcuky mate, easiest thing in the world is to put your foot down in U-turn....
there are plenty of tricks to avoid it, I hung right off the bike, the opposite way to which i was turning, seemed to do the trick... but thing is, you can do it 100 times in practice, and **** it up once in nthe test, game over..............

oh well,,,,,, loads oif time before the summer comes any how !!! lol

WRX_Dazza

next time cable tie your feet to the pegs.... that will do it....

interesting bike story on pistonheads at the moment!!!

Cornelius

iTrader: (2)

That's exactly how I felt mate!! going round roundabouts was a nightmare, but my problem was that I kept looking down in front of the bike instead of ahead, where I wanted to go, once I started doing that, it became a piece of cake. Slow riding at junctions aren't a problem, it's just the damn U-turns left to cure once and for all. Holding the revs at around 4000 revs and using clutch control to bring the bike around just seems totally alien, though got to get it out of my head that a bike engine is different to a car as you won't (normally) pull away at 4k revs, but a bike can rev over 12k so 4k on that is not the same.

ILike I said, I'll finish my bike and practice U-Turns in my street, fortunately it's quiet and a nice size to do it in, so by the time I'll do my next test, I can do them in my sleep

darrens_here

DO NOT FALL ASLEEP WHILST DOING YOUR U-Turn !!!




lol, bit of advice here, when doing the U-turn, pick a point back up the road (tree, sign etc etc) and focus on that,,,,

I think the U turn is complete crap. Ive NEVER done a u turn on my bike without putting my foot down.... WHY risk it.... lol... both feet down, gentley gently easy monkey with the bike.......... job done.

bibo_boy

You'll be fine next time

Cornelius

iTrader: (2)

I asked that, and the reply was that it shows you have full control of the bike in slow riding conditions.

bit of a pain really, seeing as though riding through Chelmsford at 9:30 in the morning, there's no choice but to ride very slowly, and I didn't put my foot down then! Nor did I at junctions, round abouts etc, never mind, one of those things, I'm not going to get worked up about it