Learning to ride a motorcycle

[nicholab]

Is anyone else’s leaving to ride a motorcycle? I done my slow speed handing and just one more test before getting on the road.

[Garacesh]

I did my CBT last year, been pootling about on a 125 since. I'm probably looking at doing the rest of it over the summer.

 

Still need to get the hang of gears/clutch though. Ended up having to switch to an auto during my CBT because I kept mucking up the gear order, or letting the clutch out too quickly.

[mrnoisy]

I’m doing my CBT this year and hopefully progressing to a full licence.

Basically having a mid life crisis [emoji23]

I used to ride many years ago, my good friend is building me an RG 125 Gamma ( you’ll probably be able to work out my age from that )

It’s all very exciting, if anyone wants to follow my progress I decided to join TikTok ( so I’m down with the kids) to document my journey.

 

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLovNCsL/

[Andrew_C]

Being an old fart, I had my mid-life crisis 11 years ago! I did the "direct access" training (having ridden 5or so years as a yoof). Cuts out a lot of fiddling around with licence classes.

 

I'm now doing IAM training. Struggling to unlearn the instincts, so I can be more 'positive and confident' with inputs.

[nicholab]

Being an old fart, I had my mid-life crisis 11 years ago! I did the "direct access" training (having ridden 5or so years as a yoof). Cuts out a lot of fiddling around with licence classes.

 

I'm now doing IAM training. Struggling to unlearn the instincts, so I can be more 'positive and confident' with inputs.

 

Might be a mid life crisis at 39?! I am doing direct access so been learning on a Z650. Got up to 60mph on Saturday.

[Davit2005]

Being an old fart, I had my mid-life crisis 11 years ago! I did the "direct access" training (having ridden 5or so years as a yoof). Cuts out a lot of fiddling around with licence classes.

 

I'm now doing IAM training. Struggling to unlearn the instincts, so I can be more 'positive and confident' with inputs.

 

Good luck with IAM. doing any form of advanced/extra training is well worth it INMO, I find it does add extra enjoyment to driving. Roadcraft is your friend then of course the Highway code :-) I only got asked about 3 questions based on the highway code on my RoSPA exam but they were more interested in the practical driving side. Would love to get a bike and do either the RoSPA or IAM on that for the experience. Lots of videos on YouTube as well covering Advanced bike stuff.

Edited May 30, 2022 by Davit2005

[DaveTheTech]

I have had my bike licence coming up for 15 years - So never had the fun of mod1 and 2.

 

RoSPA, IAM, BikeSafe, Enhanced Rider Scheme. Well worth it - I'd suggest it to anyone that's been riding for over a year.

 

The best thing that I got from it was the correct process for overtaking. And that EVERY overtake needs to be 100% on - as youll do more than 100 overtakes!

[sigma]

I got my full bike licence in 1979 on a Honda 90. You could in those days. I did miles and miles on that bike, even Newcasle to London. I did bike safety training before I took the test. I sold my Honda 400/4 last year having not used it for a while.

[Dos_Box]

I miss my motorbikes. Gave up once we had kids and needed a bigger car. Wish I'd kept the gear though as I'd built quite a collection of decent clothing and gloves and was a huge improvement on the kit I had when I started, in the days before affordable technical fabrics!

[FragglePete]

I did my IAM test back in November. Managed to achieve a F1rst during the test. After 32 years of riding, it was interesting to see what they could teach me. Quite surprisingly, I learnt a lot and got a lot out of it overall.

 

I also did the Bike Safe course quite a few years ago, which was also very interesting. Quite daunting riding with a police motorcycle up so close to you while performing an overtake - but, very enjoyable day.

 

I'm hoping in the future to do Blood Biking, as my IAM group is affiliated with the local unit in our area. But, I haven't got the time to give to it just yet, so just biding my time riding the the IAM group for now.

 

Pete

[Chris_Cook]

I've been riding for about 10 years on CBT retakes. I've tried the Mod 1 direct access a couple of times, but didn't get on well with the U turn and the hazard avoidance parts especially on a big bike. Then lock-down happened and I haven't picked it up again since then.

 

I started on an automatic, and then the second or third time i did the CBT I borrowed the centers geared bike to get the training in. That worked well for me, but takes time to adjust to the clutch in your left hand rather than a brake, or not changing gears when going back to an automatic (I own and ride both). Gears can take time to get used to before it's smooth, and I preferred to get confident on the road with traffic etc before adding gears into the mix.

[jmak]

I thought about it when I was younger. Obviously partner and mother weren't keen, but the decider was the reaction from my mates I used to go mountain biking with. They expected me to die doing that and said I was totally unsuited to riding a motorbike. My own sense of fear is too strong now...

[TechMonkey]

I'm looking to get back on. I did an intense course to do Direct Access, took it as a holiday and it was fab. Rode every day along different routes, learning bits and pieces. I did keep it quiet from everyone though.

Stopped about 10 years ago when I moved and didn't have room for the motorbike, plus a partner that wasn't keen on it. Her words were, a boyfriend riding a motorbike is cool, a partner is a worry. Should have taken that as a sign!

Renting at the moment so still no room but when I buy my own place I'll make sure there is space, hopefully with a close external power point as I'm interested in going electric.

[foofighterjim]

I got my A license back in 2005 and have been RoSPA Gold certified since 2007. As others have mentioned, some form of advanced training can really add to the enjoyment of riding; I've just been on a weekend away with my group, the scenery, roads and company were fantastic. @FragglePete I'm in very much the same boat in terms of time commitments but if you do ever get the time for blood biking please do so, my local area keep going through phases of not wanting new riders and then panicking to get more involved and it really is an important service.

[Anonymous2000]

I used to ride when I was young but now know how much longer I take to heal.

Seriously thinking of buying a Piaggio MP3 or Peugeot Metropolis though - can ride on my car licence. Not many over here but massive on the continent.

[bald_pig]

Seriously thinking of buying a Piaggio MP3 or Peugeot Metropolis though - can ride on my car licence. Not many over here but massive on the continent.

 

Enough of them around London, and usually found with an absence of common sense!

 

I've had my license since 2009, I'm aiming to do the ridesafe at some point but something has always prevented me from doing it!

 

As for blood bikers, the lot round here are pretentious muppets, so I'll leave them to play hero by themselves!

[nicholab]

My motorcycle riding school had Jonathan Rea as a pupil!

[Andrew_C]

I'm now doing IAM training.

Actually, what I am doing now is looking for a new observer. Not heard yet what he did, but it involves a few broken ribs and £16000 of written-off, 6 month old, BMW. Which must be considered a good result really. Edited June 7, 2022 by Andrew_C

[nicholab]

What helmet have people got for their motorbike? Looked at a Shoe Neotech 2. It taking so long to get anywhere with learning to ride a bike. I just changed school as I could not get lessons at a steady pace.

[Andrew_C]

Shoei Qwest - pretty old now, and the whistle from the wind is unpleasent.

[foofighterjim]

Shoei GT-Air II; not overly fond of the ratchet style chin strap though, much prefer the D-ring style.

[HarryMonkey]

I was in Matlock Bath at teh weekend and was surrounded by dozens (if not hundreds) of bikes and stirred up a few "if only" thoughts.

 

I rode a lot 30-40 years ago (most of it illegally as I'd not passed my test, including a GPZ900 hardtail chop).

 

Regret not retaking my failed test (when you could ride up to a 250). Maybe I'll get round to it one day.

[Garacesh]

What helmet have people got for their motorbike? Looked at a Shoe Neotech 2. It taking so long to get anywhere with learning to ride a bike. I just changed school as I could not get lessons at a steady pace.

 

I went for an IXS HX 215 (I think...?). It's a little windy at 50+ but very comfortable.

[Chris_Cook]

I recently got a neotec 2. Its not a bad helmet, but had a few things I wasn't so keen on compared to my old HJC (which is no longer available).

 

The wind noise is quieter, but the external noise is more noticeable. Kind of hard to explain, but the ventilation is better designed to allow good airflow but keep the wind out.

 

The pinlock insert technically can't be used at night as its slightly tinted (down to about 80% through transmission which is right on the legal limit for night use - I've not found an alternative for this and its not clear when you buy it. It is very good for bright light though. Just the right amount of tint without blocking your vision in the shade. The built in sun visor is also really good.

 

The visor doesn't stay open like my old one - I used to be able to have it open just a finger width gap. But the ventilation on the helmet is actually quite good so that's not too bad, you have to just trust the helmet to do its thing.

 

The good things are there are lots of padding options available to custom fit the helmet to your head shape. They are pricy though. It is a comfortable helmet and the cover over the chin strap helps that to not bite in. The cut-outs for your ears are also much more comfortable. There's good parts availability, but they are more expensive. Overall, it just takes a bit of getting used to.

 

I'd always recommend going to a shop and trying different ones. They all have different head shapes and that makes a big difference. I had HJC before and they were good as well.

[arwen]

I've got an AVG K5. It's a nice helmet, very plush and comfortable liner and the visor and pinlock work well, as does the drop down sunvisor. However I find it noisy due to there being a gap behind my ears...

I have no idea what to replace it with.