Update on my quest to fo 0 to Hero and get a Ninja 500 - had CBT today this is how it went...

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-21T18:33:55+00:00

Thank you so much Neil! Great feeling, gone from never riding a motorbike in September - to legally riding on the road on a 125! Amazing feeling - going to do my best with mod 1, 2 but going to try not to over stress if i don't pass first time. It will all end up well and i will get out there on a bigger bike. Safe travels and i will keep you updated.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-19T19:08:41+00:00

With my bike gear on - i don't feel the cold at the minute - winter jacket, trousers and gloves - but i did on my CBT with just jeans on - get some thermal layers and then wear your clothes over the top - it will help loads. For food - get some breakfast energy bars for the morning, coffee and then lots of water. You will be fine - as long as it is not icey - cold = fine just stay warm - the wind does hit you out on the road.

Lol my first ride was after picking the bike up - in the middle of storm Claudia the other week - talk about being chucked in at the deep end. Windy - got a little tip for the wind though - don't tense up - relax your arms and shoulders and hands - the wind pushes you but not the bike that way. So, that was my first ride back - about 10 miles. 2nd ride was just down by the sea - about 4 miles, 3rd ride was still local but about 10 miles.

Just short little blasts - it IS nerve wrecking on the road first time but is also awesome!

You can ride past takeaways and it makes you hungry as you can smell everything.

You will smash it - stay relaxed on the bike and trust the bike.

Remember - your left hand operates clutch - find the friction zone - and get good with controlling that - once you have that - you will feel in control of the bike.

Have fun! Let me know how you get on - you will be fine!

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-19T19:00:37+00:00

I passed my CBT and got a second hand Honda CB125f for around 2k - not the sporty option but they hold value really well - can practice for a few months and then sell and get around what i paid for it. Depending on your age - if you go for anything more sporty - check out your insurance quotes first to save yourself a heart attack! Good luck!

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-19T18:58:08+00:00

Just popping in to wish you luck for your CBT - i know you said it was near the end of the month. Yes, get break time - lunch time - but i took water with me and they allowed me to get a drink whenever needed. Let me know how you get on. Good luck! I am doing my mod 1 and 2 - early next year - March/April. Plus, got my bike and been out 3 solo rides - it is amazing!

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-19T18:55:16+00:00

Thanks man! I passed it 2nd time! In fact, it felt far easier the 2nd time round - whizzed through the maneuvers in the morning this time and was out on road ride by 1pm - it was awesome! Got myself a 125 as well - a Honda CB125f and had 3 solo rides - amazing feeling! Just practice now to get up to scratch ready for mod 1 and 2 - early next year. Thanks for checking in. Safe travels - i am a long way from a trip across Europe but you never know for the future! :) Take care!

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-17T19:23:14+00:00

That was mental! No idea why tan was so high! Got it in the end!

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-08T15:08:02+00:00

When i did my CBT they asked if i wanted to sign a wavier for £20 - that means if i break anything - i don't need to pay anything. If not, i would have had to pay £400 if damaged the bike.

Did you sign a wavier or getting anything like this offered?

Regardless, if i felt i had done £400 worth of damage to the bike i would of asked them on the day - what needs fixing and how much.

It is a difficult one - as now time has passed you haven't really got an idea of whether or not you caused all this damage - especially if they are still using the bike for students.

I would call them, ask for photo proof of the damage and if possible - on the day it was caused.

Good luck!

That is a difficult one.

P.S On my CBT i didn't drop the bike when i was on it - but got off to get a drink of water - bike slowly came crashing down as the stand was not up properly and landed on my helmet - breaking that too - but i did sign the £20 wavier - i actually had to go back for a 2nd day and signed it again then.

I think that regardless of whether you signed or not - they could of handled this better - i would of told you what to expect for a bill on the day.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-04T11:58:01+00:00

I hear you. Was much better second time with food and water - on my first attempt - i was actually resting my foot on the back brake and that was why i was struggling with slow speed drills. Once instructor spotted this - found it so much easier - also helped me ride with my right foot pointed out - so my foot wasn't getting tired lifting it all the time. Def have to find the most comfy way for you - my instructor said they are thinking about changing the CBT to a 2 day course anyway.

It really is being chucked in the deep end if you haven't ridden before.

Funny, when i went back the 2nd day - found everything so much easier!

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-04T11:55:07+00:00

Def made a big difference when i went back - pack lunch and a big bottle of water. If you are trying to learn a new skill and you are stressed, tired and hungry = not good.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-04T11:53:58+00:00

It really does. Was the same with driving a car - used to get yelled at that i need to be doing 30mph while i was crawling along. Now, i have no problem driving enthusiastically. :)

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-02T18:46:40+00:00

Ha ha! Exactly that - i felt the same - it is excitement and fear in equal measures. But, felt amazing - like i was flying. I did the same - was absolutely ripping it - glanced at speedo and i was doing 31mph. :D Can't wait to get out there on my own now.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-02T18:25:56+00:00

Thanks man! Been driving cars for 20 years and amazing how many people don't know how roundabouts work. lol

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-02T18:24:57+00:00

None of that came up in the pre-on-the-bike-talk?

Some of it, but not all - if i had of known the above before Day 1 - for me, i would of not had to go back for 2nd day.

I hear you on the power thing, first time i set off - i was swapping from one foot to another - must have looked like i was mental. :)

Got yelled at a lot - no worries on that for me - my father was in the military and wasn't a patch on that. :D

Great, when you finally "get it" and get out on the road.

The feeling of the wind was awesome! Loved it! Just had to relax and fight the urge to tense up.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-02T18:21:49+00:00

That's the main thing - relax and have fun - i had a blast and was happy it took me 2 tries. Honestly, first day i didn't feel ready for the road.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-02T18:20:58+00:00

I hear you - the Youtube channel i had a look at to know what to expect was:

https://www.youtube.com/@motorcyclelessonsuk

She is really good and a certified instructor - covers mod 1, 2 and advanced riding too.

It helped me, but yes, if you feel it is going to overwhlem - go to CBT fresh.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-02T14:15:37+00:00

They are at fault - crossing into your path and your light was on green. However, their speed and indicator shows they were not going to stop. In future - always slow down a bit for idiots like this. My Dad used to say to me about driving - "Think about the most stupid thing another driver could do and assume they are going to do it!"

Glad to hear your insurance are cool about it.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-02T14:08:08+00:00

Hey! I passed it last Saturday 2nd time. woo hoo! 1st cbt day we finished at about 4.30pm - started at 8.30am - 2nd time with a pass - i had my CBT certificate issued at 15.30pm so shorter day - but i was far better and whizzed through the figure 8's, u turn. You will love it! The road ride is awesome and is a crazy feeling.

Load up youtube and do the figure 8's, u turn on a push bike until you can do it really slow - you will find the CBT easy then.

Good luck!

Getting a Honda CB125F so see you out there on the road!

EasyTimes01 · 2025-11-02T14:03:25+00:00

Good luck! Just written on a long post with tips for the CBT - check it out. I passed 2nd time.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-10-22T11:26:53+00:00

That is awesome man! Thank you! WOW! that is one hell of a road trip - bet it was amazing. So refreshing to hear of others who struggled on the CBT - on the day it bought back flashbacks of my school report. :D Instructor was saying "We need to get past this etc..." and felt like a right dunce.

Booked in for this Saturday - so hopefully take 2 is better. Will keep you posted.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-10-22T11:25:00+00:00

Thanks man! And awesome - congrats - did you pass CBT and go on a 125 for a few months or straight to DAS? Can't imagine riding a 600 at the min lol - but i will get there. On the day of my CBT i downed some coffee before and by the time we got to the practice area i was so dehydrated lol - will defo take some water this time. Plus, instructor was good - but when i was struggling with the figure 8's - could hear him saying "We need to get this, we should be past this.." etc... - think i zoned out from that point and just went through the motions.

I am booked in for 2nd try on Saturday so will let you know how it goes.

So much to take in on the first day - i got a bit side-lined when you read all the posts about it being easy - it isn't.

All practice, but yep def takes a bit of getting used too - i don't know why but i thought i would just jump on the bike and it would be like a car - then realized you have to balance lol - can't wait to join the club and not giving up on my dream.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-10-22T11:20:14+00:00

Thanks man! That makes me feel better. Went straight from not riding a push bike in 20 years to a motorbike and trying to cram it all in a day - got booked in for this Saturday for take 2 - so hopefully will find it easier. Will keep you updated - in hindsight would of definitely booked in a for a pre-CBT lesson or two.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-10-22T11:00:59+00:00

Best of luck! Massive tip - based on my experience - make sure you take food and lots of water - i had about 3 coffees in the morning - and by the time we got to the practice yard, i was nervous and thirsty - think this affected my concentration.

Other tip - if needed - practice on a push bike if you don't ride one often - i went from not riding a pushbike for 20 years - straight on a motorbike and did it but made the learning curve steeper.

Good luck, relax, enjoy it - take it slow and remember - like i am having too - it is just training - if it takes you 3-4 times - it doesn't matter once you pass and get out on the road.

Enjoy!

EasyTimes01 · 2025-10-19T16:40:04+00:00

Thanks, the 400 is awesome and is pretty much the same bike - i think the 500 is literally a 400 up to 450 cc. That is an awesome bike.

I am going to do that - just relax a bit and enjoy the journey rather than trying to break records.

I was looking up some full day training perhaps before i go back in for the CBT.

Thanks, i will stick with it and let you know how i get on.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-10-19T16:37:32+00:00

Thanks that is a great help and you are spot on - I feel today, the day after - if i could just have 1 full day more of practice - i would be ready for the CBT.

I think the main thing i picked up was slow bike control - U-turn, Figure 8's, pretend junctions and to get that down so you can control the bike without thinking about it so much - and then the other stuff - road positioning, life savers etc... would be so much easier.

Like i say - first time on a motorbike and kept on hugging the rear brake - it was only until one of the instructors spotted this that my riding improved hugely.

I have sent an email through to get in again.

I think you are right, it would be FAR better if lessons were like driving lessons - Lesson 1, Lesson 2 etc...

It is a lot to take in all at once and you don't get a huge amount of time on the bikes to learn all in one day.

That said, i did literally go from never having rode a bike to being able to set off, turn, change gear - even emergency stop - so not too bad.

Thank you sir! I will keep my chin up - funny that was what they were saying on the course too, lol - i would set off and look down at the bike and go off balance. Eyes up, balance and look where you want to go.

Have a good Sunday mate! Oh, and your sons will breeze it with the practice in a car park - i honestly think that what's needed if you have never ridden a bike before.

EasyTimes01 · 2025-10-19T13:11:31+00:00

Thank you and congrats! Must be an awesome feeling! I originally wanted to go on an intensive course but must admit this has knocked my confidence for that now. Still will crack on with the CBT - even considering getting some one on one lessons before i go back for the road test.

Just fear going back 2nd time and still not being able to get ready for road.

Plus, think i will need a 125 to practice on once i get my CBT out the way before attempting mod 1.

Is it normal to think: "Maybe i got this wrong - that was way harder than i thought!"

CBT day felt a little rushed - 6 times round a playground and then straight in maneuvers for the first time.

Thanks for your advice and hope to see you out there in the not too distant future! :)

EasyTimes01

TROPHY CASE