New rider do's and dont's

NoNameNoNumber · 28 Jul 2015 at 10:39

Morning chaps,

I've done about 400 miles on the new CBF now and feel pretty confident about generally riding around without much traffic. As I gain experience I do find an ever increasing list of questions I want answers for... Bear with me

Textile trousers... Inside or outside of boots?

Gloves should overlap the jacket right?

Sat at a junction/roundabout/lights. Seems smoother to stay in first but I remember being told in a car to sit in neutral... If I'm waiting for a gap I'll sit in 1st, if I'm waiting at lights for instance I will probably drop into neutral.

Do you cover your brakes at all times when moving? I'd rather have a finger or two on the lever but then I'm not holding on as well.

The biggest thing for me is to NOT get any bad habits that'll cause me trouble when I do my full A licence.

Any help appreciated guys

NoNameNoNumber · 28 Jul 2015 at 10:44

That pretty much covers it Tom thanks!

What would the official line on covering brakes and sitting in 1st be on the test?

NoNameNoNumber · 28 Jul 2015 at 10:59

Kreeeee said:
Your knees hold onto the bike not your hands.

Ah that's why my inner thighs we're aching after my first couple of rides... Much more comfortable now I've relaxed a bit.

tom_e said:
I'd have sat in first on my test and it was never mentioned and as long as you still have full control of the bike then covering the brake will make no difference either.

Fair point. Back brake only when stopped?

NoNameNoNumber · 28 Jul 2015 at 18:10

Thanks for all of your input guys, I'll try and implement all of this on my ride back to Honda for it's first service tomorrow.

So to summarise,
Gloves over jacket.
Trousers over boots
Waiting at a junction, 1st gear, right foot on the brake.
Waiting with a longer pause eg. level crossing. Click into neutral but remain on the back brake.
Cover the brakes only in particularly hazardous situations, but this will come with experience

Thanks guys, stay tuned for more noob questions

NoNameNoNumber · 28 Jul 2015 at 18:35

Ok but what I meant still stands true? The logistics of it I'll work out tomorrow on the bike

NoNameNoNumber · 28 Jul 2015 at 18:37

Stovepipes said:
The biggest thing to get into that I just don't do anymore and I don't see anyone doing is to do lifesavers on both sides before moving off. You're instructors will mention this every time you forget to do it and you even have to do it on your Mod 1.

I'm still doing them. Good job too as I went to turn off a main road, single carriageway with cars waiting behind me a fellow motorcyclist was overtaking me just as I went to pull across the front of him!

NoNameNoNumber · 29 Jul 2015 at 19:10

No great dramas today. Had a busy head what with all of the info picked up from you guys but I think I implemented it all quite well. Still covering that front brake though... Force of habit.

The wind blew my sleeves out of my gloves so I adjusted the straps around the forearm and upper arm and then tightly velcrod the cuff of my jacket OVER my glove. Made for a much less breezy ride home.

Started to filter through some standing traffic on the 52 into Nottingham but me and my vagina chickened out :/ that's gotta be about the most dangerous part of it all eh?

NoNameNoNumber · 30 Jul 2015 at 09:33

Ha yeah I refuse to put a thundering exhaust on a 125 though

The difficulty came from all of the central reservations, I didn't wanna risk not being able to pull back in.

NoNameNoNumber · 30 Jul 2015 at 20:03

Do you know which gear you're in ie. do you specifically count as you go up/down the gears? 1st is a different sort of clunk so that's obvious and it's also obvious when I'm in top- 8krpm @60MPH. But I have found myself kind of caught out by not knowing how many clicks 1st is for example.

NoNameNoNumber · 30 Jul 2015 at 20:16

Assumed as much

When is the garage yesterday waiting for the service, I was sat opposite this monster. So much want but so little need lol

A lot of nice bikes in there, used bikes don't seem too expensive either IMO, the killer is the DAS

NoNameNoNumber · 30 Jul 2015 at 20:42

Tefal said:
2.5k will get you all the 186mph hilarity you want

Have you been that fast?

What advantages do 6/700's have over 1000cc+ Even if the smaller bikes are as fast surely the 1000cc's are less effort?

NoNameNoNumber · 30 Jul 2015 at 20:53

So the 6's are faster or just more drama?

Edit, just seen TallPaul's post...

NoNameNoNumber · 30 Jul 2015 at 21:08

TallPaul_S said:
A litre bike isn't a wise choice until you have a year or 2 experience under your belt.

That wasn't my plan, I'll ride the 125 for a while then maybe start making a more informed decision next spring time on what sort of bike I'm after.
I've always wanted a Daytona 675 bt recently gone off the full on sportsbike style...

NoNameNoNumber · 30 Jul 2015 at 21:28

So v-twin or I4?

My girlfriend has a mate who rides a ZX12R, they've been out a few times to help her get the hang of it. He's offered to let me get on the back of it. I just grinned like a 12 year old with a new action man. Waiting for a dry Sunday morning to take him up on his offer.

NoNameNoNumber · 31 Jul 2015 at 19:39

Looks to be a well argued point. I just need some balls now

That Street Triple looked sweet btw

NoNameNoNumber · 31 Jul 2015 at 20:00

Oleg? Got bored of his chatter after 3 minutes

NoNameNoNumber · 31 Jul 2015 at 20:11

Was he not in Portugal? Where lane splitting is illegal?

NoNameNoNumber · 31 Jul 2015 at 20:52

Only got a CBT

NoNameNoNumber · 31 Jul 2015 at 21:21

Craig, what was the time scale on your signature bikes?

NoNameNoNumber · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:03

Craig321 said:
Err, think it was 3 years. 1 year on the 125, rest on the Hornet and had my Speed for 4 months. Why?

Just curious, I take it you did your DAS after a year on the CBF then?

wazza300 said:
U wanna urry up n change that cbt to a full licence

I been on motorway on my kmx 125 it was fun but I had full license

No rush.