Considering a CBT

Cormeh

Tank
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
4,855
Reaction score
0
So, recently I've been itching to try something new. A friend tells me of his desire to get a motorbike and to be honest, it's something that's been niggling the back of my mind for some time.

I wouldn't mind trying it, I'd like to think that I could get a 125cc bike as an alternative to the car. Zipping up the city bypass during rush hour would be absolutely delightful. Due to me already having a full license, I'd have unlimited access to very small engine bikes after completing a CBT, but within two years of this I'd be required to pass a practical bike test for anything larger than 50cc.

Who here has completed both a CBT and a practical bike test? Tell me about it.

I'M CURIOUS.

(http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopeds/DG_4022430)
 
You want a bike that you won't have to wring it's kneck to go places. Small class 2stroke bike (50cc - 125) are definately not suited for negotiating traffic. They've got the enough grunt to get you into trouble, but not enough to get you out. Plus a lot of small class riders don't let themselves be seen because they haven't the nouse, the nerve or the knowledge to survive. Plus all motorists alike have no respect for ya. In my opinion mate, i wouldn't go down that path, try getting a 4-stroke 250cc class bike, you've got some protection that way especially if you're learning. Much easier to manage in all conditions (even off road lol) and you don't need to have the throttle 8-8ths to get anywhere quick.

Prac bike tests over here are easy; just hand drops (e-stops), u-turns and practical riding. Simple. Which is why a lot of kids over here run themselves into brick walls.

Do what you will and wish mate, it's your life.
 
You want a bike that you won't have to wring it's kneck to go places. Small class 2stroke bike (50cc - 125) are definately not suited for negotiating traffic. They've got the enough grunt to get you into trouble, but not enough to get you out. Plus a lot of small class riders don't let themselves be seen because they haven't the nouse, the nerve or the knowledge to survive. Plus all motorists alike have no respect for ya. In my opinion mate, i wouldn't go down that path, try getting a 4-stroke 250cc class bike, you've got some protection that way especially if you're learning. Much easier to manage in all conditions (even off road lol) and you don't need to have the throttle 8-8ths to get anywhere quick.
See, here's the thing. The travelling I expect to do on a 125 bike is on a dual carriageway that is ALWAYS congested at both ends. Riders can negotiate traffic by going through the middle of both lanes. Cars do actually pull out for them.

I see this every single day I drive to work.

Another thing is the DSA strongly recommend high-vis clothing and protective gear, although the minimum requirement by law (correction if wrong please) is a helmet/head protection. True, people have no respect for riders, but they're not about to ram into them to prove this point.

Prac bike tests over here are easy; just hand drops (e-stops), u-turns and practical riding. Simple. Which is why a lot of kids over here run themselves into brick walls.
Well us pommey, limey bastards get put through their paces in all tests for all vehicles.

Do what you will and wish mate, it's your life.
/drama
 
Easy mate. Negotiating traffic is always dangerous. Riding down the dotted lines are extremely, extremely dangerous for several reasons.

1. Road surface. One thing you'll learn is your road position and what surface you're driving on. Driving down the centre of the road is stupid in this instance because not only is your room for error significantly ****in small, but you're riding over a surface which collects greasy shit from cars and stays there, which is then transferred to your tires. Next time you try to brake, or take a corner you could have the nose or the back end slide out from ya and end up low-siding the ****er. It's especially worse in adverse conditions. Brake too hard on a patch of paint and you'll see you're ass in your face soon enough.

2. Other cars. You may find that some innatentive dip shit will open his car door on you without checking which will send ya careenin down the flat or flying into some blokes boot. insurance won't cover you, .'. you're rooted, perhaps permenantly.

3. Pedestrians. For the same reason above, some pedestrian might step between traffic as they do most of the time in the CBD areas. The only warning you'll ever get is the look of white realisation in their eyes before thier eyes before their pelvis is ground up against the nearest cars door. Nobody wants a dead somebody on their conscience for no good reason.

4. Dumbass drivers. Simple. First rule of riding is the realisation that everyone on the road is trying to kill ya. It also takes a lot of skill to manage a bike whilst it's going slow. Not a lot of riders can ride well whilst on idle (we used to have slow races at the track on muck up days lol, many a rider was put on his ass).

I can see where you're coming from, but don't get uneducated delusions of the future stuck in your head. Just because you see some asshole do something doesn't make it alright for you to do it too. But i can also see why you find the attraction of doin it though, it's easy and simple. But you've got a good chance of killin yourself. Especially on a small bike, both for psychological and manouvrebility resons.

Good to see you're planning to wear protective gear too. Advice? Buy the best. Got a $10 head buy a $10 helmet. And i never said people run into ya to prove a point, don't throw words in my mouth. As i said, ultimately it's your choice.


/end bike lecture
 
@koola

i've been driving small 2stroke bikes for 8 years now although i had some close encounters it's not that dramatic as you like to describe.
i agree that 50cc i really to small to make quick evasions. i have a tuned 80cc scooter (from 50cc) that has almost agility of a bicycle and power to outperform at start the average 250cc 4 stroke and almost all cars. it goes from 0-80 in maybe less than 5 sec (but i'm not sure about that) it has really awesome acceleration.
this is probably the ultimate dense city bike.
i think with a 125cc you'd have enough agility for city driving and enough power for faster roads.
the only thing that you'd benefit from a 250cc 4t is that it drinks somewhat less and less maintenance.

and besides crashing at the same speed with an average 4t bike or a standard 2t bike is not that extremely different. visibility is more or less the same. what really count's here is the noise and speed.

edit: forgot to mention...yes heavier bikes do have better stability due to inertia, but that can be bad or good at the same time. trying to get a heavy bike back under control is more difficult than a light one. but i agree that in cases of impact bigger is better...at least for you not that much for the one getting hit.
 
So like, needless stern lectures aside, anyone actually done the CBT? A2? etc?

Looks like I can get booked in for the end of October if I act NOW!
 
I was going to suggest doing a DAS as what Koola said is quite right.

They've got the enough grunt to get you into trouble, but not enough to get you out.

I just got my new drivers licence through the post today with the full motorcycle class A category on it so i can ride any bike i wish. :)

However since the test changes on the 1st of October i would recommend doing an A2 and getting it all sorted out NOW as some people take to biking pretty easy and can learn in a few weeks. However as a car driver for a decade or so i had so many bad car driver habits that i had to eliminate that it took me twice as long as i thought it would and i reckon that I could have halved the time it took to learn had i not been a car driver. To find out how suitable you would be most centres do what is called an assessment to find out what sort of course would be suitable to you whether it be a 3 day DAS or a learn in your own time CBT to test. I did the latter on 6 days of road riding on a Kymco 125cc (shit bike) after passing my CBT (passed that after about 8 hours on the 'pad' and was dead easy) and then followed that with a 3 day DAS before my test on a Kawasaki ER5 500cc (decent bike and fun to ride).

Let me just say the CBT is the easy part. Out on the roads its a different matter.
 
See, here's the thing. The travelling I expect to do on a 125 bike is on a dual carriageway that is ALWAYS congested at both ends. Riders can negotiate traffic by going through the middle of both lanes. Cars do actually pull out for them.

I see this every single day I drive to work.

Filtering well and safely is difficult and potentially very dangerous...not the smartest idea to get a CBT which teaches you really very little and then go tearing through the traffic straight away.

True, people have no respect for riders, but they're not about to ram into them to prove this point.

You'd like to think so, but I can count at least half a dozen occurences where other road users have deliberately tried to kill me in the past year. You have to do the thinking for everyone else around you also as drivers WILL pull out on you.

There's no chance you'll be able to get your test done before October, they've all been fully booked up for months because of people with the same idea.
 
Not the test! The CBT. THE CBT!

RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWRWRWRW

My goodness. I was expecting a few encouraging "go for it's". You bunch of negative Nancies. You horde of dismal Dans.
 
Not the test! The CBT. THE CBT!

RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWRWRWRW

My goodness. I was expecting a few encouraging "go for it's". You bunch of negative Nancies. You horde of dismal Dans.

Oh, right. Well it doesn't make any difference whether you get your CBT before or after October because it's only the full test that's changing.

By all means go for it, but the CBT teaches you really the bare minimum needed to stay alive for five minutes. It's not a wise idea at all to get a CBT and then start commuting through rush hour traffic straight after, especially with winter approaching.

The way the L-plated Vespa morons ride through London, it's a wonder they live as long as they do.

There's a high level of risk inherent in riding a bike, and I think most people need to learn that the hard way. I just shudder when I think how dangerous I was when I was first on a bike, and the stupid and obvious mistakes I made, and I'm sure you'll remember the way I learnt my lesson.

Just give yourself the best possible chance if you're going to do it, those first couple of years are lethal. A one day (in reality, often half a day) shit course is not adequate preparation for rush-hour commuting in bad weather.
 
hi repi, i don't remember you being here lately. how's the leg?
 
hi repi, i don't remember you being here lately. how's the leg?

I've just moved to the other side of the country, haven't had much time of late. :)

It's getting better thanks, still nowhere near 100% but I can get around a lot better than I used to with a lot less pain.
 
I've just moved to the other side of the country, haven't had much time of late. :)

It's getting better thanks, still nowhere near 100% but I can get around a lot better than I used to with a lot less pain.

i see. well, it's nice to see you around again :thumbs:



oh and i apologize for derailing the thread :P
 
I've just moved to the other side of the country, haven't had much time of late. :)

It's getting better thanks, still nowhere near 100% but I can get around a lot better than I used to with a lot less pain.

Good on ya mate :)
 
As soon as I read "So, recently I've been itching" I thought to myself "Not this shit again".
 
No U! :D Got crook on friday night so haven't began the breakin in process yet :(
 
If you're thinking of trying something new, why don't you try CBT?

CBT stands for "Cock and Ball Torture". Torture can be inflicted by: Slapping, Squeezing, Pinching, Weights/Parachutes. The testicles can stand great pain but caution should be taken.

In some cases, "Torture" is considered "Play". The testicles are simply tugged on or stretched out.

Most men find handling, stroking and squeezing gently is a pleasurable sensation. Some enjoy using ball stretchers to achieve a longer sac.
 
Shes a mother?! Oh god, wont someone think of the children!
 
Back
Top