Passed my test, the learning begins!

Buy this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_...0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

I got my copy from here:

http://www.dvd.co.uk/Books/Motorcycl...uct.htm?sr=gsp

They may take a few more days to deliver but postage is foc.

Well done on passing! I had been riding for about a year on my CBR125RR before taking my DAS last week and surprised myself at how many bad habits I had picked up - With the CBR being so light and east to chuck around all my safe, slow work had gone out the window. On my DAS I learned how to use the back brake properly again assisting balance at slow speeds.

As all have said so far, take it slowly and if you make a mistake concenrate on those aspect on each ride until they become natural/instinct. My biggest problem was riding in the rain and roundabouts, the smaller the worse I was - Since my DAS 3 day training I can honestly say that roundabouts are just that, roundabouts....no wobbles, no slowing down in panic....observation observation observation is my key words at the moment.

When I get my SV I will be going to familiar roads and learning about my new machine.

Ride safe and good luck

Originally Posted by TheStudent

This was all yesterday, worst ride ever, so annoyed at myself!

We all had them. I would fluff shifts, jerk and wobble out of junctions, leave an indicator going etc etc. And I was always furious with myself too.

I think the best thing anyone told me (post-test) was that to do things more quickly, just doing everything more slowly. Like sat at the lights, in neutral, on a hill, holding front brake. Lights turn green, loads of cars behind you. Don't rush, trying to get the gear, get your foot on the brake, other foot back to the floor, hand off front brake and on the throttle, clutch in and out all at the same time. Just do it one thing at a time, slowly, methodically, and you get better in no time. Nuts to "making adequate progress" too. If you feel the need to stop at every single give way sign you come to, then do it.

Had another today, approaching a bend on an A-road, was doing only 30mph'ish, leaning over a bit around this bend, all of a sudden there were a couple of grids and loads tarmac joins where some pipes or something had been laid after the road. My immediate thought was that the bike was going to slip on them, paniced, leaned up, went wide, off the tarmac onto the dirt. Confidence has gone through the floor, i'm a menace!

Take a chill pill. Your bike can handle it at 30mph, you are barely leaning at those speeds, and todays tyres rock and roll! Confidence will come with time and miles under yer belt. Dont let it bite you it was your lack of confidence that lead you to the confidence hit, not the other way around.

Dont panic and know your limits. Get those miles under your belt and untill you are happy, stick to the speed limits and pay attanetion to those road signs on the bends. Dont push it untill you know you can.

R

[yorkie_chris]

We've all had a few like that, personally I've had about 4 incidents (in 2 months) of hitting things like road kill, puddles that were too deep for the tyres and manhole covers and feeling a tyre skip a few inches off to the side. Brown trousers yes, but definately one way to learn to be more careful!

Just be careful, go steady, watch out for scameras and find somebody experienced to go out and play with. (Somebody sensible who you're not going to race with)

Originally Posted by TheStudent

On another occassion i went into a light bend a bit too fast and crossed the centre of the road, of course breaking in a corner there aswell, probably why i went wide, should have just leaned over a bit more.

This will be what sent you straight on, as soon as your grab that right lever the bike will want to right itself up because the laws of phisycs say so lol,
you be better to practice your corners nice and early on a sunday morning when there is no one around.
one more thing try and be in 3rd for the nicer ( NOT BLIND ) sort of corners i found if im traveling above 30 i can drop into a corner and still have a good amount of power for a fast exit, i now find that i hardly let off of the throttle in the corners at all with keeping corner speed the goal, then you can work on your knee downs. after a year of riding i know consider my self ready for the Knee downs. i havent really rushed my riding and im not that stupid anymore to think because i passed my test i am rossi because im not. i already trashed my bike once because i thought i was gods gift to biking.
Honestly take your time and learn your bike, because falling off hurts . . goes without saying . . . but crashing hurts SHED loads more...
Be safe.

LyleJ