A place to share all your motorcycle braaaps and adventures!
@motorcycles I had my first ride on a motorbike the other day, It was scary but exciting at the same time. Really want to get my CBT & my own bike in the future
That's a lot of bike for a beginner! Glad you had fun and stayed safe!
It was only basic clutch control, turning and breaking. Didn't get over 10mph, also will do (I did wear full gear well riding as well)
I started on a zx6r, you’ll be fine on this too.
Trick that kept me safe was a buddy telling me to start with my wrist flat. People get in trouble because they reach way over the throttle with their wrist bent upwards meaning to open it to a comfortable flat position, and when the bike starts it rocks them backwards, completely opening the throttle accidentally.
Instead start with a flat wrist and instead of twisting your wrist to open the throttle just lean forwards. The change in arm position will naturally open the throttle and your lower body position will help keep you from sliding back anyways.
Thank you, yeah this is a friends bike. I hope that when I pass my training to get a Honda CB125r as my first bike.
My friend also did mention about the flat wrist, luckily I will also be doing a training course before I can actually be on the road.
Awesome. Training courses are such a good idea, they should just be mandatory for all new riders. Definitely kept me from making dumb mistakes as a new rider lol.
There is a course that is called a CBT (Compulsory basic training) in the UK. I won't be able to ride on the road until I have done it. Luckily it's just a 8 hour day course and the only two ways I can fail is if I quit or am that bad at driving the instructor thinks I'm a danger to myself or others on the road.
Oh that’s cool. I’m in the states and the California Highway Patrol course I took was optional, but did count as the driving portion of my license test.
They put me on a tiny little bike for the course though that was way too small for me haha. Probably wise from their perspective but it was still a long two days of riding.
Oh, good. Because I was also going to comment on your lack of gear! When you do get a bike, budget 80% for bike, 20% for gear. You don't have to go top end, but certainly avoid low end. Affordable comfort and safety is what you're aiming for, consider your weather conditions and gear up for that 👍
Yeah certainly didn't get low gear, have paid about £500 on gear so far. Need a new helmet as I was donated it, along with some trousers as I'm using my friends atm. Probably costing another £300 at least but least I'd be protected.
Going to spend about £3,000 on a bike so think I have actually spend more than 20% on gear.
It says "125" on it though. It seems like a 125cc bike made to look like a faster bike. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I spent so many years, as kid, day-dreaming out the car window that I was riding my bike and keeping up with everyone. I still get that rush every so often after a couple decades of mostly commuting on my bike. Get on that CBT and get riding! It's great fun, and great for many other reasons as well.
Get obsessed with learning new ways to be safe. It's more fun than it sounds like, I think doing a great job being in traffic and choosing the right way to control your bike is a really rewarding path. And the safer you are the longer you get to ride.
"Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook" is an excellent read. Get it early and you won't have to unlearn anything.
Thank you, I will certainly look into getting that book as it could be a great help to learn how to ride safely :3
Do you know what kind of bike you're wanting? Adventure, sports, cruiser etc? No more unasked advise I promise, I just like talking bike.
I'm currently looking at a street bike. The Honda CB125R, also no problem at all, I love talking about bikes too, don't know everything but getting there
Good choice, my first bike was a 125 CBR and my current cb600f doesn't bias my opinion at all. Do you have friends/family to toddle along with?
I have a friend that has been coming across and having me pillion for them at the moment but I know a few others I might be able to reach out to for advice and things... maybe.
Family is supportive but sadly don't have bikes themselves so going to going alone with that aspect.
Not so much advise as finding good roads and solid stops. I prefer solo rides but it depends on who you are and why you're out. Come to Yorkshire, we have wonderful roads and beautiful scenery and a 125 won't run you to afoul of our notorious police.
Yorkshire is a little far from Southampton but I should really do it, I know it's quite beautiful up there and haven't been in many years.
It's a bit far, maybe you'll get pulled into the Iotn Butt UK stuff and start ranging farther afield
Possibly, If I'm going it will rather have to be done through several days or I might need my full licence to be able to go on the Motorway.
Twisties out beeline home is how I do fun days, also how I commute too. Do you have a car license or is this going to be your main form of transport?
It's going to be my main form of transport, as it's kind of pricy these days to get lessons at £50 an hour.
A fellow all weather rider, welcome to the club, we had snacks but they're soggy now.
Gosh, I am so excited for you, my first year was so fun. Particularly riding the tits off a 125, fully pinned throwing the thing around like it's nothing, genuine "happy place" stuff.
Yeah going to be a fun time, especially as it won't take long to visit family as at the moment with busses it can take upwards of 2 hours.
Oh, I forgot about independent mobility... Going where ever and whenever you want is AWESOME. Probably the best bit if I'm honest, though I like riding for riding's sake.
I think my riding for riding sake is going to come over time, I've enjoyed my experience on the back of a bike and will probably enjoy when I'm in control of it even more.
Here's hoping, I find it fun even when it's scary. Bombing too hot into corners or cars merging into where you are intense situations.
I do hope you get the book, I wish it came with exercises but it's intention is to be used along side the practical police instruction. Learning to E brake without ABS, trail break through corners, etc are useful skills not just to go fast, but to stay alive when things don't go as planned. But, helping make accurate plans are what the book excels at.
I haven’t ridden in forever, but i liked to get into first and get a feel for the clutch of whatever I was riding first before going out on the main road. I usually rode cruisers or standards, but I hear sport bikes are a bit more touchy/sensitive.
Once they get a bit cheaper used and i clean up my finances I’d love to get a e-motorcycle….or something easy around town like a Rebel or similar. I mostly road a 80s Suzuki Intruder 750 before the wiring bit the dust when I was a teen/20s (older millennial)….then the Buddy50 my sister bought🤣
I keep looking at these forums like a kid looking in a candy shop lol.
Yeah my first little ride was only around the car park but it was great fun and each time I'm pillion for my friend I've got a great big smile on my face, I love it so much and can't wait to see what I can do with Motorbikes in the future.
I'm hoping to get a Honda CB125r in the future what's a street bike. I always love seeing some really nice bikes across forms and the web, or even in real life where I can admire them.
Oh yeah I had a blast ripping down the little bi-way in my town. Now I’m in the middle of a halfway decent sized city and something like that would be great around town. If I wanted to commute to work though I’d probably want a 250cc bike or a bit more for the highway. I’m just out of practice anymore 😭
Eventually I'd get a 300cc or something when I get my full licence to the motorways in the UK but a 125 is good enough especially as I'm only doing my training meaning I'd need Learner plates on till I decide to actually do my licence.
It's much scarier being a passenger on a motorcycle than it is being a rider. Being a rider is pure fun.
Then I should do wonderfully, I've gotten so used to being happy as a pillion. I'd probably love being in control of my own bike
There are few feelings like it in the world. I've been riding for 32 years and I still have a blast every time.