Learning to ride, dropped on the 1st lesson
Discussion
Feeling a little demotivated, always wanted to learn to ride and today I had my first lesson, with a CBT booked with the same guys on Saturday. Prior to this I’ve never ridden before.
Having started/stopped experimenting with finding the biting point etc and having no issue the next task was to turn. Turned as soon as I pulled off and managed to very slowly drop the bike. Stayed out for another hour with no repeat but he obviously deter confidence pretty quickly and I was finding I was applying front brake fat more than I should. Finding I’m a little too tall for the 125 and wasn’t comfortable resting my foot on the pegs, once I realised I was doing this and concentrated on keeping my foot on the peg I stopped snatching the front and improved, by the end of the hour was doing some large figure 8s. Spoke to the instructor he’s still happy for me to do the CBT Saturday but I’m not entirely convinced.
Anyone else had a shakey start to life on a bike? Do I accept this might be a terrible idea before I go too far with it or persevere?
UPDATE: 9 weeks after my start mod 1/mod 2 both passed on first attempt.
Having started/stopped experimenting with finding the biting point etc and having no issue the next task was to turn. Turned as soon as I pulled off and managed to very slowly drop the bike. Stayed out for another hour with no repeat but he obviously deter confidence pretty quickly and I was finding I was applying front brake fat more than I should. Finding I’m a little too tall for the 125 and wasn’t comfortable resting my foot on the pegs, once I realised I was doing this and concentrated on keeping my foot on the peg I stopped snatching the front and improved, by the end of the hour was doing some large figure 8s. Spoke to the instructor he’s still happy for me to do the CBT Saturday but I’m not entirely convinced.
Anyone else had a shakey start to life on a bike? Do I accept this might be a terrible idea before I go too far with it or persevere?
UPDATE: 9 weeks after my start mod 1/mod 2 both passed on first attempt.
Edited by Heartworm on Tuesday 19th October 11:30
Heartworm said:
Feeling a little demotivated, always wanted to learn to ride and today I had my first lesson, with a CBT booked with the same guys on Saturday. Prior to this I’ve never ridden before.
Having started/stopped experimenting with finding the biting point etc and having no issue the next task was to turn. Turned as soon as I pulled off and managed to very slowly drop the bike. Stayed out for another hour with no repeat but he obviously deter confidence pretty quickly and I was finding I was applying front brake fat more than I should. Finding I’m a little too tall for the 125 and wasn’t comfortable resting my foot on the pegs, once I realised I was doing this and concentrated on keeping my foot on the peg I stopped snatching the front and improved, by the end of the hour was doing some large figure 8s. Spoke to the instructor he’s still happy for me to do the CBT Saturday but I’m not entirely convinced.
Anyone else had a shakey start to life on a bike? Do I accept this might be a terrible idea before I go too far with it or persevere?
Crack on, it's just a case of getting the feel for the balance and controls, which only comes with a bit more practice - it sounds like you've already managed to improve quite a lot - it feels very alien at first, but stick with it and you'll improve rapidly (even if you still don't feel confident at the end of CBT - it took me longer than that before it felt natural). Having started/stopped experimenting with finding the biting point etc and having no issue the next task was to turn. Turned as soon as I pulled off and managed to very slowly drop the bike. Stayed out for another hour with no repeat but he obviously deter confidence pretty quickly and I was finding I was applying front brake fat more than I should. Finding I’m a little too tall for the 125 and wasn’t comfortable resting my foot on the pegs, once I realised I was doing this and concentrated on keeping my foot on the peg I stopped snatching the front and improved, by the end of the hour was doing some large figure 8s. Spoke to the instructor he’s still happy for me to do the CBT Saturday but I’m not entirely convinced.
Anyone else had a shakey start to life on a bike? Do I accept this might be a terrible idea before I go too far with it or persevere?
There's a reason most of the learner bikes are fitted with crash bars, bungs and have bent levers and scuffs. I dropped the SV on my CBT, but with some superhuman effort I managed to stop it clattering onto the floor and had it upright again before anyone even noticed (not that the instructor would have minded)
You can’t let your whole biking life be defined by laying the bike on it’s side on your very first day riding.
I bet you’re a car driver. How many times have you stalled you car but I bet you haven’t thought of giving up driving because of it.
I’ve seen riders with 20-30-40 years experience drop their bikes.
Just pick yourself up literally and figuratively and carry on.
I wouldn't worry about it.
I dropped a school bike when I panicked a bit on a tighening left turn by braking.
Things could always be worse, you could pass your test, then break your collarbone trying to show off near the ace giving it a bit too much (a lot) throttle like someone I know....
I dropped a school bike when I panicked a bit on a tighening left turn by braking.
Things could always be worse, you could pass your test, then break your collarbone trying to show off near the ace giving it a bit too much (a lot) throttle like someone I know....
I’m in a similar position to you. I had my first go on a bike last weekend and passed my CBT this Wednesday. I was doing absolutely fine with all of the slow speed manoeuvres, came to a simple right hand turn from a junction and my head went, kangarooed the bike with a combination of poor clutch control and pulling the front brake. We went around the block so I could try again and the same thing happened. It really knocked my confidence but now I was out on real roads with real traffic. I knew that if I kept thinking about that mistake I wouldn’t be focussed on riding on the road, I had to shrug it off as one of those things. I put it to the back of my mind and nailed the rest of the CBT.
I’ve been driving nearly 20 years but its a very new skill that I’m trying to learn. I haven’t got the muscle memory yet and my brain tries to control the bike like a car or mountain bike (pulling the front brake). I found that it does get a lot easier, you have to be fair on yourself and accept that you’re a learner again. Go for it and do your CBT, you’ll love it.
I’ve been driving nearly 20 years but its a very new skill that I’m trying to learn. I haven’t got the muscle memory yet and my brain tries to control the bike like a car or mountain bike (pulling the front brake). I found that it does get a lot easier, you have to be fair on yourself and accept that you’re a learner again. Go for it and do your CBT, you’ll love it.
I did the same, dropped the bike on first lesson. Went on and dropped the bike in the CBT out on the road in a quiet side street.
Bought a 125 rode it for a year never dropped it. Now have full licence never been an issue.
Some things are set backs. You've got to look at stuff in life as being things to be learnt rather than stuff you are "good" and "bad" at. You made an error, a common one through inexperience. Just get on with getting more hours riding under your belt and it'll be fine.
Bought a 125 rode it for a year never dropped it. Now have full licence never been an issue.
Some things are set backs. You've got to look at stuff in life as being things to be learnt rather than stuff you are "good" and "bad" at. You made an error, a common one through inexperience. Just get on with getting more hours riding under your belt and it'll be fine.
I stuffed a bike straight into a hedge on my first go; knowing and doing are two different things! If you've driven cars before remember it takes about 10,000 hours to master a skill and you're on hour 2, 3? You may have xx years of roadcraft to help keep you alive but you've got a long way to go to become 'good' at riding a motorbike.
Back in the late 70s my new to me Yamaha RD125 was sitting on my drive.
My dad came out to watch and on I got. Went forward, tried to turn, down I went.
Embarrassed and sore, I thought about giving it all up there and then but a mate ran over and told me to get back on it and ride.
I wish he hadn't as 40 odd years later I have spent a fortune on bikes and had a few crashes, only one bad one
But a hell of a lot of fun, some great trips abroad and made friends for life.
My dad came out to watch and on I got. Went forward, tried to turn, down I went.
Embarrassed and sore, I thought about giving it all up there and then but a mate ran over and told me to get back on it and ride.
I wish he hadn't as 40 odd years later I have spent a fortune on bikes and had a few crashes, only one bad one
But a hell of a lot of fun, some great trips abroad and made friends for life.
You're overthinking. Are you always immediately perfect at every new thing you try? Of course not. Just get your head around the fact that nobody cares if you drop a training school bike, including the school. That's what they're for and why you've paid a load of money to learn. Move on, you'll be fine
I dropped the 125 three times (taking too much front brake) on the morning of my CBT. Left standing with a piddly little bike on the deck between my feet, looking at a pissed off instructor shaking his head at me 
It pissed me off no end, but the subconscious worked away overnight and the next morning, I got on the 500 and ran it round the car park a few times, went out on the road, no problem.
Trust yourself and your brain, you'll process what you did when you don't even know you're thinking about it, and you'll come back next time better. Don't sweat it, it'll come.
It pissed me off no end, but the subconscious worked away overnight and the next morning, I got on the 500 and ran it round the car park a few times, went out on the road, no problem.
Trust yourself and your brain, you'll process what you did when you don't even know you're thinking about it, and you'll come back next time better. Don't sweat it, it'll come.
mate, dont give up. The big thing sticking out for me here is you are reflecting on your riding and working out where the mistakes are made, and making adjustments. this is a great approach to learning and if you keep doing that you'll be a rider with a good deep understandning of riding...which makes (hopefuly) for a safe rider.
Keep at it!
When I first rode a motorbike I didnt know how to pull away or change gear, I just rode around a field in 2nd and had a giggle!
Keep at it!
When I first rode a motorbike I didnt know how to pull away or change gear, I just rode around a field in 2nd and had a giggle!
Heartworm said:
Thanks all, feeling better about it this morning, still embarrassing at the time though!
I don't know how to get over embarrassment, because I rarely feel it, but you are already cooler than most other people in the world: you're learning to ride a bike. Once done, you'll be a biker. Instant cool. When you drop your bike in front of a large crowd, just laugh uproariously and lots of people will come to help you pick it up.
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