CBT & Bike advice

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I've got my CBT in little over a week from now & I'm kind of nervous because I've never ridden one before or even sat on one. :/ but I've been driving for over 20 years so have plenty road experience, I do plan on doing the A licence at some point in the future maybe in a year time after some practise on the CBT.

Couple of questions.

As I've already bought my bike gear including helmet, can i use this on my CBT rather than use their supplied gear.?

Also as I'm only 5ft 6 with a 29inch inside leg which bike best to go for, I do like both the Honda CB125R & the Yamaha MT 125 but both seem a bit to tall for me or will i be fine, the other option is the Suzuki GSX-S125 which has a much lower seat height, & probably would be the best option for me as a new rider or is there any other bikes worth considering?.
 
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For the gear question, yes I can't see why not. When I did my CBT at 16 I already had my helmet too. I suppose they just have spare gear for those who are doing the test and haven't yet purchased anything.
 
I used my own gear when I done my test but that was back in 2008, however I can't see why they'd have an issue with it...

As for the bike choices, I'd say you'll be fine on a MT125, I'm 5ft 7 (ish) and sat on a friends one and found it spot on for size. I'm not being cheeky but what about a Honda Grom 125?
 
Bring your own gear.

As you drive a car, you'll already have road sense, the most difficult thing will be clutch and gears, although as you drive cars you'll know the theory of how the clutch works just different controls.

Assuming you are not doing it on a rev and go.

As for bikes, in your list you have already indicated you want to buy good quality Japanese made bikes, of which any will be perfectly fine and will just come down to personal taste/fit. Any dealer will let you sit on one to see how it feels.
 
I had a cb125r back in 2018 when they first launched. At 5ft8 I could flat floor with a bend in the knee so I can't see you having any problems there
 
Yes you can bring your own gear and I would strongly encourage you to do so.

Then go to the biggest bike showroom you can find and sit on as many bikes as you want, Wigan motorcycles has a fairly large showroom and a wide variety iirc.

 
I literally live 2 mins away from both Wigan Motorcycles & the Yamaha dealer hopefully they be friendly to a newbie, but sadly there now isn't a Honda bike dealer in Wigan anymore which i consider strange considering how popular Honda is.

I've checked the website where I'm doing my training and it say's you can bring your own gear. :), which I'm glad as i don't really want to wear something somebody else as been sweating in all day, even if they do probably clean & sanitize them after use.
 
I used my own gear when I done my test but that was back in 2008, however I can't see why they'd have an issue with it...

As for the bike choices, I'd say you'll be fine on a MT125, I'm 5ft 7 (ish) and sat on a friends one and found it spot on for size. I'm not being cheeky but what about a Honda Grom 125?
Doesn't the Honda Grom have abit of a following, I personally wouldn't get one as a first bike because i would feel a bit daft on one, but they do look like they are a lot of fun to ride.
 
Yes you can use your kit on the CBT. In fact I would recommend you do so, rather than use the school gear.

As for a low height 125 which is bigger than a Grom, maybe take a look at the Suzuki Van Van.
 
I've got my CBT in little over a week from now & I'm kind of nervous because I've never ridden one before or even sat on one. :/ but I've been driving for over 20 years so have plenty road experience, I do plan on doing the A licence at some point in the future maybe in a year time after some practise on the CBT.

Couple of questions.

As I've already bought my bike gear including helmet, can i use this on my CBT rather than use their supplied gear.?

Also as I'm only 5ft 6 with a 29inch inside leg which bike best to go for, I do like both the Honda CB125R & the Yamaha MT 125 but both seem a bit to tall for me or will i be fine, the other option is the Suzuki GSX-S125 which has a much lower seat height, & probably would be the best option for me as a new rider or is there any other bikes worth considering?.
I was the same when I did the DAS course back in 2007 - sadly they did away with DAS, so you have the whole module 1 and 2 malarky now - but you can still go for the restricted/unrestricted license as I understand it.

You can use your own kit, that's what I did - just means having a high vis bib on, and an earpiece. I was soaked after my first lesson, the weather wasn't hot - I think it was just something about the new experience maybe.

Imo - if you're in a position to pass and buy a bike, then go for a 'big bike' as soon as you can, as frankly the 125s are rubbish by comparison! Honestly, I couldn't believe the night and day difference getting off the 125, and jumping onto a 500cc Bandit - personally I don't know why anyone would willingly subject themself to riding a 125 for longer than a CBT... certainly if you have experience on the road, the age, and the funds (not to mention the license to do so).
 
I know 125's are no match to bigger engine bikes but I'm in no rush to get onto a bigger bike, I want to learn to ride one first and be confident in doing so once that happens then I'll put in for my unrestricted licence which the Government are looking into changing & get something bigger.
 
I know 125's are no match to bigger engine bikes but I'm in no rush to get onto a bigger bike, I want to learn to ride one first and be confident in doing so once that happens then I'll put in for my unrestricted licence which the Government are looking into changing & get something bigger.
125s are great fun, it’s only once I had ridden a bigger machine that I fell out with mine.
I was in exactly the same situation as you, I was 45 and had never sat on a motorbike in my life.
I was clumsy during the CBT however I redeemed myself once we got out onto the open road due to years of car driving experience. (The youngsters that has been so skilled in the car park were like lemmings).
Once I passed I bought my first 125 Honda XL Varadero (I’m tall), I remember my first ride down for petrol, never been so nervous in my life (I had it drummed into me all my life bikes are death traps).
Anyhow 5 years later I’m still here and still riding (mainly with a pillion too).
So it is possible but I found it challenging but highly enjoyable.
Just take it steady and don’t try to rush the learning curve. I rode my 125 all summer before I started lessons for my A licence.
 
I'm 46 got my CBT in just a few days now Wednesday to be exact, & like you had people at work mainly say they are death traps & what do you want to learn to ride a bike for in your 40's when you already drive, my Wife on the other hand has been fully supportive strangely enough.
 
I'm 46 got my CBT in just a few days now Wednesday to be exact, & like you had people at work mainly say they are death traps & what do you want to learn to ride a bike for in your 40's when you already drive, my Wife on the other hand has been fully supportive strangely enough.
We’ve really enjoyed it, my wife & I.
She enjoys it as much as I do and really looks forwards to going on the bike. I use it mainly for recreation so we do pick our locations and weather to suit.
Can’t ever forget the risks and you must be aware but it’s not stopped our enjoyment.
Every non biker has a naff story about someone who had a bad accident on a bike, I find it amusing. I know plenty of old bikers however.
 
for the last 20+ yrs I've ridden a 125cc .. and can't see the point for myself to get a bigger bike. being a short arse .. atm i'm riding the Suzuki GSX-S125 did have a mt-125 until it was knicked 9 weeks ago :( ..
i use it to get to work split shifts and only 10-15 mile runs cheap cheerful.. get a decent waterproof set up and nothing will bother you :)
 
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That one thing that worries me is my bike getting nicked not so much from work because it be very secure & out the way, but at home as i don't have any room for any kind of shed so it basically be in the back yard covered up.

I've already got a ground anchor, 16mm chain & lock & D Alarm lock for the front wheel from Oxford, then there are the camera's both at the front and back anybody walks into the garden at night, it alert me though Alexa & turn on the light in the bedroom, I'll know before they get to either the car or the bike.

I've already said to the Wife I'll give it a couple of months before some scrotes try their luck.
 
What a disaster my CBT was. :(

Wednesday started to learn on a newish Kawasaki 125 nice bike all was going well on doing all my slow riding training ect, i was on my own to that day to which made it even better, then weather turned crap & didn't let up, so the instructor decided cancelled the rest of the day which i was kind of pee'd of with tbh, as it was only to road element i needed to do & return Friday.

So yesterday weather was even worst gusty wind & rain all day but this time there was 2 extra bodies training that day, one of them was doing his DAS, so now with an extra instructor they decided to battle though it the other instructor was the boss so no wonder, the other lad was training on a scooter.

This is where it starts to go down hill, they took the Kawasaki off me to give to the bloke doing his DAS & left me with a banged up Honda CBF 125 to train on which i had to start all my elements again because of the new lad on the scooter, this bike was terrible wouldn't go into neutral unless you went into 2nd gear first, the clutch was shocking felt like i needed to visited gym to squeeze it, & the throttle was over sensitive to what i got use to on the Kawasaki, so i was making a lot more mistakes that day on this Honda than i was on the other bike.

Anyways i persevered eventually got use to the bike i was given, so now finally onto the road element did my U turn & emergency breaking no sweat, heading down the industrial estate I was lead bike to start with get's to the junction to turn right pulls out next thing I know the bike on top of me, didn't grab any front break that I'm sure about, a passer by said the front wheel just went from under me as soon as i started turning out of the junction, she said it looks like I hit some kind of spillage on the road, i wish i went to check now but I was pretty shaking up and busted my knee from the bike landing on me, obviously my CBT was over with had to ride the bike back to the training centre with a busted knee & fill out a accident report sheet, tbh he seemed more concerned about the bike than me & was told snottily to rebook 3 hours worth of training at £40 per hour.

This morning I've got up all round my knee looks like a balloon and i can't bend my leg properly I don't want to go A&E as it looks like just swelling & bruising atm, so i see how it goes over next couple of day's.

I'm not giving up, but i won't be going back there because of the attitude towards me after i came off.

I'll reset take this as a learning experience, let my knee heal properly then in a few weeks time rebook my CBT somewhere else do it from scratch again, then hopefully have a certificate at the end of it.
 
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