Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.................

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Shellywoozle

I don't know why I don't like cornering, I just gotta get over the sight of my SV on the floor the other week after dropping it.

Since I dropped my bike my confidence has been low

Heavily Edited for size :P

I can sympathise with you - I have been cornering badly recently (had a near-miss drop from taking a corner too fast/late) lost all my confidence with corners, and currently could turn a barn faster than the SV

I was quite shaken this morning after dropping mine, but the way I see it is - ok so its not as nice and shiny as it was 385 miles ago, but its still mine, I now know that a 20ish mph drop didn't hurt (thanks to correct clothing) and that its not the end of the world - bikes can be fixed (you should see some of the car-fixes I have had to get done in my cage-driving career).

Stick with it - I know I am going to - despite some soul-searching today (going through the what-ifs) - I am sticking with it, what has happened may have slowed me down somewhat, but maybe I needed reigning in anyways.

So I am off to practice my cornering, get my confidence back up and get the grin back again.

Shouldn't be too hard or take too long

Good luck with it all, and remember the bike is just metal and plastic, no matter what, if the rider is ok - well a new bike can be had from somewhere.

David

Hang on a sec. You rode your SV on the road and you're doing training? I must have missed something here.

Unless you did your restricted test and rode your SV and now you're training for your direct access.

CONFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSED.

well she's finished her lesson now so shes either or or i do hope she enjoy'd it.

[Shellywoozle]

Thanks David, how long have you been riding for?

It's amazing how much concentration you need to learn basics, it seemed like I was concentrating on the bike and how it reacts and sod the road .... driving a car is like an automatic function... this seems a whole lot harder.

But I keep thinking back to when I took my driving lessons, sure I felt the same.

I did grin when I went faster (only do 60mph) and thought WOW ! Bugger god invented corners :P

p.s Did a practise on an land on an industrial est not on an actual road and had permission from owner ..... so those rossers can't touch me hee hee. Boyfriend got me there so I was pillion.

p.p. s I am and tired

Welcome back from your ride.

About grabbing the front brake, that in itself is no bad thing. I was actually slightly reprimanded for using the back brake when I did my CBT. The instructors words were "I know you were going slowly when you stopped, but you used the back brake, do it again with the front!" (we were riding pretty much on gravel, so I'm guessing he didn't want me getting too confident & locking the back wheel).

Clutch control will come in time, every bike has a different clutch bite point, as does every car. Same manufacturer, same model, same year, clutch is different.

The cornering takes practice. Remeber the chuckle you had last week about me dropping the SV in a bush? Think back to just before that, about me almost ending up swimming on the CG125. I'm still paranoid like hell whenever I come up to that corner and still refuse to take it any faster than 25mph. This is another bike and around 6000miles after the incident happened! Don't beat yourself up about minor scrapes like I do One thing that helps corner confidence is to do a track day, if you can. I'm actually a little over confident I feel, and need to remind myself that I'm not actually on a track (as I did whilst shouting "Oh bugger" this morning, front wheel mid air after going over a bump in a right hand bend Almost a brown trouser incident!)

Damn good of them to tell you to pop back & mess around in the car park betwen lessons. Even though the guy that took me on DAS was blooming good, I doubt he'd of offered that! Take full advantage of their stupidity... sorry, I mean generosity (insurance claims could be complicated for them unless they're prepared to outright lie).

I am terrible for criticising myself & my riding. I dwell far too much on what just happened rather than look at what's about to happen. I know if I keep doing it, one day it'll be my downfall. Try not to let it be yours too.

Biking becomes an automatic function just as driving the car does. Think back to learning to drive the car, it's no different than what you're doing now (unless it's raining, then it's just not fun!)

Also, I'm with Kinvig about the ball'n'chain... and I finish at the same time

[Shellywoozle]

Originally Posted by Baph

Damn good of them to tell you to pop back & mess around in the car park betwen lessons. Even though the guy that took me on DAS was blooming good, I doubt he'd of offered that! Take full advantage of their stupidity... sorry, I mean generosity (insurance claims could be complicated for them unless they're prepared to outright lie).

Broke the end of the clutch, only the ickle round bit and he said they are a tenner and it's going on me bill ....... good job I paid up hee hee hope he was kidding or forgets .... else these lessons may be expensive.

Originally Posted by Baph

Also, I'm with Kinvig about the ball'n'chain... and I finish at the same time

You guys are a way from me but I will have the kettle on hee hee.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Shellywoozle

Thanks David, how long have you been riding for?

Did my 1st CBT July 23rd (1st wedding anniversary - woops :P)

2nd CBT 25th July

Started my DAS 29th July, failed test 1 2nd August

Got a hire bike (GN125) for a week, did 2nd test 17th August

Bought a CG125, rode that 2 weeks till 3rd test 14th Septm, been on the SV since

So 2 months on and off

David

If you broke the little ball shape piece from the end of the lever I reckon it's more due to the fact it was probably corroded & weak as hell, more than it was your riding.

When I did my CBT I paid an extra £60 for fully comp insurance. I knew this lasted two years, and if I went back to do DAS with them, I'd still be covered. At the time I was only planning to stay to 125cc's, but that soon changed. Glad I took the insurance out as it's one less thing to worry about when riding.

Be careful with that kettle, staffordshire aint that far from me, and I went to uni in Stafford (worked out at Cannuk of all places - beautiful area). Still got some friends that way, and will probably be passing that way at the end of Oct (NEC).

(Then again, the way I ride, Hull & Southampton aren't considered as being far from me either )

[Shellywoozle]

Hey that's a good idea hire a 125, didn't think of that. Did know you could but didn't enter my head.

I may look into that ... or borrow some idiots who is stupide enough to lend me one ..... mmm maybe I don't know anyone dumb enough !

Baph - if you are passing me let me know, if I am not at work I will make you that cuppa no worries !!

Originally Posted by Shellywoozle

Baph - if you are passing me let me know, if I am not at work I will make you that cuppa no worries !!

Just looked at your profile, and apparently, you live at Stafford Uni pretty much

Back at uni, I was living in a house with some other lads, if you follow the main road into town, there's a chippy on the right. Also a pub on the left. I remember the house was stumbling distance from the pub, and the road begins with a D, but other than that, memory is fuzzy.

I'm now getting scared that you've seen me make an a**e of myself on many a night out. But I suppose that's what happens when you go drinking with the rugby lads.
Edit: Please tell me you don't work as a nurse, because you can gurantee I've made a fool of myself if you do

I'll be posting in the ride out's section as to my schedule if I'm going, just in case anyone fancies meeting up on the way etc.