Looking forward to seeing your journey Andy. Important tips. Shoulder check every turn. ( lifesaver ) Cancel indicators in case a car pulls out on you. Turn your head and look where you’re going and the bike will follow and balance will be better. Cut down the gears up to a stop and you’ll be in the right gear. You’re doing well and loving your enthusiasm.
Great to watch two lovely people discovering and enjoying a new passion together. I've only been riding for a year and started at the age of 53 so total respect to you mate...you're doing really well...love the bike by the way
Keep at it mate, it will become easier with time and practice. I’m 42 and did my CBT back in March. I’ve just done my DAS and passed my A licence last month. Doing all these slow manoeuvres on the 650cc was far easier than on the 125
Yeah - a larger bike WEIGHS a lot more. This makes a massive difference for us lads, as we ttend to be heavier than our female counterparts. A large man on a smaller bike shifts the center of gravity upwards a LONG way. A larger man on a heavy, full-size bike still moves the center of gravity up - but nowhere near as much. Add to thatt the wider tyres, longer wheelbase, and better mechanical components, and it is absolutely huge difference to throw your leg over your first big boy bike!
I second this comment. I struggled quite a bit on my CBT. The chap said to me the bike was too small for me. Just passed my full licence last week and the 650 is so much easier
I've got a mate been past his test about 18 months ago at the age of 70 he loves it ,when we bump into fellow bikers he talks as though he been doing it since the 70s all credit to him not many people of that age would pay and do that shit to get a licence
Hi Andy, Im 61 passed my test at 17, no learning you just got a 250 and went for your test, they sent you out of test center an told you to ride around the block of houses and come back, the examiner watching from end of street, he ran back into centre and down a jitty to do your emergency stop, back at centre he showed you some road markings and things on a flip board, an that was it, you passed, go and swop to a 750 that afternoon lol love both channels, best of luck to the four of you. Adi.
It was rubbish, lots of people fell off or worse just after passing and rushing out to get bigger bikes, but with you being a big bloke you would find a 500 or 650 a lot easier to balance at slow speeds.
I did same test in 1974, then bought an 850 Norton Commando straight after. Survived it, more or less intact, and, at almost 70 still ride nearly every day, all year round as my main transport.
I past my cbt last october at 57 now doing my mod 1 in a couple of day's at 58 . Like you i bought a 125 to practice. Ive done 3000 miles . It took a while to iron out the teething problems. Your doing great mate its all worth its the best thing I've done in years . Enjoy 👍🏴
I passed my full licence (DAS) last year at the age of 40. The best way to learn is to ride and get out as much as you can. Find a nice route and do it regularly, and over time, you will learn the road. The corners, the bumps, the traffic, etc. Makes commitment and trusting of the bike easier. Big respect mate, keep going and safe riding...
@@bikerofatlantisthis is one of the best advices given. Find a route you’re comfortable with and just enjoy the ride things will click naturally. Always have respect for the ride, it’ll keep you alive.
Welcome to the club! Greetings from Colorado, U.S. Lots of great advice below this comment. At 52 I've had a bike since I can remember. Below people tell you to look where you want to go. While teaching I tell new riders to point the tip of your nose where you want to go. This helps with balance. Keep your head up ,nose pointed forward and you'll go forward. What I noticed in your video is you drop your nose (head) to turn. "Look Down, Fall Down" Riding a motorcycle is a thing of pride. Act like it by keeping your head up. I'm a subscriber now! I enjoy watching people progress! Stay Safe, Stay Dry and Love Often You Two P.S. I have a video "Riding Top Down" where I was helping a friend advance her skill. When the camera is on me note the head position.
Remember that a bike had wet clutch and it is designed to be used differently from a car. Keep your revs up and slip the clutch. It won't damage the bike and it will be easier to control at low speeds
Another thing to work on is looking where you want the bike to go, the bike will follow your gaze. It’s too easy to look too close to the bike and get wobbly. Sounds mad, but it works, just a bit of practice.
You need to learn to feather the clutch for that slow riding and focus on where you want to go...One thing they didn't teach me when I was learning is counter steering....look at that....best of luck.
Been driving for 9 years and decided at 33 to go do my CBT and went straight into DAS lessons. I honestly find the 600/700s easier to ride as your not up and down the gears constantly especially around town. You can be in 1st/ 2nd for the majority of it letting you focus on everything else going on and the power delivery is alot more smooth imo(if you have your sane head on). I also only ever seem to find neutral by accident. Never when i need to when im parking up 😂😂. Great series btw!
I got my wife a small moped , now it takes her twice as long to clean the floors, LOVE the bike, take it easy, stay safe and good luck with the new channel
Love it. I did my first CBT at 40 years of age. Spent the following 6 months learning myself and not without some scary moments. Absolutely adore riding these days now everything is like second nature.
Great progress. Slow speed cornering comes from having a steady throttle and using the back brake to control the speed. Keep looking ahead, not down at the wheel / floor. When you look down, that's when you end up putting your foot down. Hope that helps. Tip from hubby biker of 50+ years.
@@finesoul677 Trail braking is irrelevant bollocks for road riding - a mantra spouted by yanks that can't ride for shit. If you are trail braking on the road it is indicative of poor corner assessment
Found your channel by chance and wish I had found it sooner when I did my CBT last year and my A1 a few months ago at 53. Still learning and realising I should have done this years ago. Keep practising, especially u turns. That really helped me pass my mod 1 the second time around and got me into the habit of turning my head and looking in the direction I needed to go.
I passed my cbt last May and my full licence in January. Promised my self I would finally get my full licence this year as I’m 50. It’s so daunting at first but just keep practising it will just click and everything comes without thinking . I now have a trident 660 and love it wish I had done it years ago but it’s never too late.👍
Three tips I always give new riders. 1) Always look where you want to go. Not at where you don't want to go (this is harder than it sounds). 2) The throttle is your primary speed control and it is analogue. 3) Moving the handlebars is the only way your bike can change direction, they are not for supporting your weight under decelleration because that affects the steering, use your feet and legs for that.
Nice videos. Hope you are enjoying the bike. I got my bike earlier this year after a 35+ year break. Dropped it several times in the first two weeks all when coming to a stop. Practice, practice, practice. Ride safe👍
Hi Andy, good work this week 🙌🏼. Paul says “keep the revs steady (and a little higher) and use the back break gently to control the speed and….look where you are going rather than where you are” You are doing very well, and good for you! Ego to one side will keep you safe x Nowt cooler than making it home every night! 😊
We love the channel, now there’s a bike involved it’s even better! You’re doing great for a week in. The slow speed manoeuvres take a while to get to grips with, some of it is counter intuitive. People have already mentioned to look where you want to go, feels weird at first but really works. Also, when you feel that wobble just before you want to dab your foot, let the clutch out a touch to give you more drive. Good luck, have fun and ride safe.
Instead of trying to go dead slow from the start, try starting at medium sorts of speeds, say 10-12mph around the carpark then gradually bring it down once youre happy with that. Stay off the front brake at those speeds, just the back if you need it at all.
Hey dude, 5 years riding here and that's a god damn beautiful 125. The 125's tend to be more forgiving when it comes to the clutch control for slower speeds but get in the habit of using it slightly when you dip down into the revs. Will make it super easy to control and bikes are made for that!! happy riding and stay safe
One thing i would recommend is an hour or two with a local instructor. They ride with you, observe you, and give you pointers. They have techniques too.
Keep learning and practicing, you will be fine. If you find that the bike goes from first to neutral instead of 2nd then all you need to do is pull up harder with your toe. The first to second shift needs to be a solid effort because you have to pull it through neutral. It will quickly become second nature to you. I'm from Ireland so we have IBT instead of CBT. I've had my full licence since 2021 and enjoying every minute of it. Learning every time I go for a ride and will never stop learning. Been driving a car 13 years, still learning.
As others have said bigger engine bikes are easier to ride slower, to help you while you’re on the 125 set off in 2nd gear to try your slow manoeuvres and figure 8s etc. that will give you the feeling of more torque at low speed, I found that much easier until I moved onto a bigger bike. For cornering and mini roundabouts, pull the clutch in a bit, it’s not like a car where you are then coasting, it’s a gradual clutch and removes some power as you pull it in, while still proving drive. Keep going, it’ll fall into place.
125cc bikes look a lot bigger now than they were back in my day. You’re spot on about the front brake doing most of the work to slow down; the rear brake comes into its own at slower speeds when you are finally coming to a halt or stopping-starting in traffic because it doesn’t cause the bike to “plunge” when you stop. Assuming you progress to the full bike test, when you come to do the slow manoeuvres in Mod 1 it’s mainly about finding the “friction zone” (the point at which the clutch begins to bite) and using it to control your speed whilst maintaining a constant degree of throttle, but you can also use light contact on the rear brake to moderate speed on U turns etc. And the golden rule… always keep your eyes on where you want to end up, rather than what is directly in front of you. Also when you have mastered maintaining the right amount of power through the turn using the friction zone and throttle, that will prevent the bike from falling and gives you the confidence to lean into the turn, which is also important especially on the U-turn. It all comes with practice and you have the advantage of being able to do so on that bike, so it should come more easily when you get on the heavier 600cc bike you will eventually be doing the test on. Good luck 👍
I love a motorcycle video with absolutely no ego! You two are super sweet. I am from the states but I just wanna give you free lessons so badly! Take care, ride safe!
You and Claire are a fantastic couple to watch. So funny. I love that she shows interest in the bike and supports your new adventure. True to nature with wives, she notes her concern when you go riding. Be safe as always, and happing many years of riding!
Clutch control in 1st gear if you're riding slow. If you stall you stall, it is what it is. Don't overthink by watching too many clips, get your reps in on the road at safe speeds, then you'll learn about your bike on your own terms. Bike life is forever.
Been riding since I was a kid... 1) first gear whenever you stop, everytime 2) get in the habit of using both brakes at the same time, wash your speed off before you enter a turn or you will eventually lose the front...trail breaking is an advanced technique 3) don't pressure your self to be perfect from the off, be safe first
Keep it going mate, it gets easier and controls become second nature after a while. Biggest thing I observed in your vid, do your shoulder checks. Even on an empty car park, just get in the habit of doing them every time. Life savers. Feather the clutch in slow traffic and when manoeuvring. Can give it plenty of revs, wet clutch won’t burn out. Be confident with your foot going first to second, click right through neutral into second. Have fun mate, enjoy the process
It's called a false neutral. When you change from first to second change up slowly and use a little force and hold it before you let the clutch back out slightly slower than you normally do to make sure second is fully engaged,and don't whack the throttle open until your sure it's engaged.
Tips, plenty revs and slip the clutch for slow speed manoeuvres. Point your nose and look in the direction you want to go on corners or slow turns. If you stare anywhere else, thats the way the bike will go, into curb or accross road meeting oncoming traffic. Not easy, but practice. No need to pay for online courses, there are plenty advisers on utube. I'm 72, and passed my test when I was 18. Returned to motorbike 2 years ago, after a 35 year rest. I have a 125 too, ideal capacity, ticks all the boxes, without having to remortgage the house. Ride your own ride and stay safe.
As others have mentioned, a bike (wet) clutch works differently to a car clutch. When you were riding slowly in the carpark, you need to keep the revs up, feather the clutch and use the rear brake only. The front brake will cause the suspension to dip and lose control. Also, regarding hitting neutral when changing gear, that is easily done on all bikes, not just yours. You just need to be a bit firmer changing to 2nd gear and it'll pass by the neutral position. It's just another of those "bike things" you'll quickly get used to. One of the other important things new riders will benefit from learning early on is to get your head around counter steering. You wanna go slightly left, so you turn slight right. It's all to do with the gyroscopic effect of 2 wheels. It seems totally alien at first. The next time you're on a quiet straight road, just push very gently on your left handlegrip (so you will be steering to the right) and the bike will want to turn left. It's a great technique for getting your lean for bends.
Accidently hitting neutral is very common for new riders. There's a ton of detailed information out there for proper technique, but you can concern yourself with that later. For now just focus on being smooth and solid rather than "quick".
Your correct about front brake .The correct way to apply front brake is called progressive brake .squeeze the brake, and as forks compress and more load on the tire, you can apply it much harder for maximum brake
Do you know an annoying thing... A bigger cc bike is easier to do slow manoeuvres on 😅 Try more throttle (higher revs) but use your clutch to control the bike speed, aim for walking pace 4/5 mph, but your speedo probably over reads by 3 mph, so aim for 8 mph on that. I passed my DAS two months ago, my CBT a year before that, so it's still fresh in my mind what it's like as a new rider on a 125. I'm now on a ER6F and I think it's too powerful 😂 I'd say just get out there and ride, don't spend more than 15 minutes on slow manoeuvres as it'll get frustrating, but every little session helps. As adults I think we expect to pick everything up immediately, but it's a whole new skillset you're tapping in to, so don't stress if you're in the wrong gear or not able to keep your feet up, it WILL fall into place.
The going into neutral bit... You need to pull the lever further between 1st & 2nd. That's just how they all are. It's to make room for the neutral detent. I used to do it all the time as well. Couple key points to help here: 1. Get in the habit of pulling 'til it stops. There's a hard stop for every gear to make sure you don't click up (or down) two instead of one. Pull 'til the lever stops there. 2. If it's not comfortable or natural, look into adjusting the lever position. In your case I'd lower it a bit. If it has a connecting rod, you loosen the locking nuts and twist the rod to raise or lower (you'll see which way it goes. Then remember to do up the locking nuts. Lower it no more than 5mm at a time and go for a test ride. If it's splined straight to the shaft... your options are limited, but you might be able to get it into a better position just taking it off and rotating one step (provided it still clears everything). As you make your adjustment, you'll notice that the 1->N stops happening. At some point (hopefully not before that) you'll start having the same issue in reverse (where 2nd to 1st doesn't quite make it into 1st). That's how you know you've gone too far. You may also have a problem getting your foot under it if it's way too far. Keep in mind also that your riding boots (if they're new) are going to be really stiff still. Take them for a walk or two and keep at it, they'll loosen up after a while. Also don't be afraid to revisit this adjustment down the line, as you progress your preference and what feels natural will change. That's normal, just go with it 😅 Now is probably a good time to adjust your levers too, if you haven't already. Taking that extra strain off your hands can hugely improve the experience.
You've probably sussed it by now, but looking up more will help your slow speed control. You seem to be looking at the ground in front of you. Coming round those curves you want to be looking right to the far end of the car park not at the floor closer to you. You go where you look, so if you are looking at the floor that's where you go, topple.
Love this,, Did the same thing four years ago and gone from wobbling round the playground absolutely petrified, through my d a s and now can’t get out on my bike enough! More please
First to second always needs a bit more of a kick. You are correct but as soon as you let off the throttle your engine will brake for you. Below 15mph, I always use my back brake. It stops your front end dipping and unbalancing you. Round corners 2nd gear max...sometimes first. Don't be in too much of a hurry to get into higher gears (probably 3rd will equate to 30mph). It keeps the bike more planted. Someone down there mentioned lifesaver checks. Couple of weeks ago, I pulled onto the motorway, used my mirrors to get into position, quick lifesaver checks and there, right in my blind spot, a massive red Harley. Forget the online course and moving your bum... you won't ever go fast enough to worry about it. If you want some practice, give me a shout. I'm in Chester. You are welcome to ride over and we can have a potter into North Wales and the Wirral. For a week in your doing fine. Claire would definitely suit a Monkey Bike!
@@bikerofatlantis I was thinking about your stability at low speeds when turning. Try a figure of 8, don't worry how big it is but choose some targets (or use cones) so you know the size of it. When you get comfortable with it, make it smaller, and smaller, and smaller. You should aim for a figure of 8 in a single car parking space, or as close as you can.
Nice to see you getting started on your biking journey. I had an MT125 for two years and put 12,000 miles on it. Finally did my DAS in September and passed! Now riding a Tracer 700, which is awesome. If you're anything like me one day you'll be out feeling nervous and flustered and it'll be like a switch in your brain suddenly clicks and you'll go "I got this!" Just always remember car drivers are ninjas and want to kill you! Cemetaries are full of bikers who had right of way. That said ride safe and enjoy the journey. Oh and yeah forgot to mention I'm 58!
You're doing exactly what you need to do. A couple of things: Turn your head and your eyes in the direction that you want to go. It's great practicing in the car park, but you don't want to be practicing the wrong thing. Really force your head and eyes around for those U-turns. Secondly, don't be scared to slip the clutch. This is not your Dad's pride and joy Cortina with a dry clutch. Motorcycle clutches can be slipped a lot without destroying them, and if you do, they're cheap to replace. Thirdly, focus on the basics "trail braking" is a great skill, but you're making things hard, if not dangerous for yourself at this point. And one last thing. If you're hitting neutral between first and second, try and be a bit more positive with the lever. Once again, this isn't your Dad's Cortina and you're not 17.
Part clutch operation at low-speeds is fine because bikes have a multidisc wet clutch. Cooled by the engine oil. And just a slightly harder kick gets you from 1st directly to 2nd. Two of the things I had to remember when I started trying to ride again after 50 years outta the saddle. I can ride and lean into turns just fine. But this low-speed, stop-n-go stuff is harder to get down smooth. I ride a 2018 V Star 250 I've been modding.
it will be the second nature in no time don’t worry just be smooth with your clutch and you feel which gear you should be in. I managed it by remembering that I got 30 years of driving a car experience and accessing that part of my brain the brakes did freak me out in theory after riding bicycles for so long, but you soon get used to it. i went from 125 to 1200 Bobber in 6 months. be calm. relax. feel it. i also found that the bigger the bike the easier it got. 125s terrified me. look where you want to go. have more revs than you need but control with the clutch.
I have been interested watching your first steps in riding. My advice to you would be to stay away from TH-cam videos. Everyone on the planet giving conflicting advice. The most important thing you can do is to ride as often as you can. Keep chipping away at the slow riding. Not just for the practical application in slow traffic, but because you will learn so much about the controls and how they feel, how your bike reacts, and about balance. It looks to me as if you are doing your slow riding in a straight line well but at the turn you are releasing the back brake, but slowing the bike. You should be aiming to turn at the same speed as you are going down the straight. ( That is what the Japanese police are doing ) You really need to keep the back brake applied, especially as you are starting out. You are not using the back brake to slow down but to balance. You should be driving against the brake slipping the clutch and using the revs to keep momentum. Also remember to look ahead. Look where you want to go, not at the ground where you are. Look through/across the turn to where you want to go. Watch MotoGP and see just how far ahead those guys look, and how their head position changes through a corner. I love your bike by the way. I have recently purchased its bigger brother a second hand V250 FI. Good Luck 👍
Hi Guys, I’m looking forward to following your bike journey. I took my first CBT August last month at age 48. I can totally relate to everything you’ve said. You’re ahead of me, as I cant decide on best bike to learn on, being 6foot1 and 15stone. I don’t want a small bike but then, don’t want it too big! Anyway, best of luck! I’m off to search TH-cam for kickstart clips. :-D.
I found riding a 125 much more difficult than my 600. More power and better brakes makes it easier and you tend to get bullied by cars less. Stick with it, it'll get easier I promise!
@johnbow100 you're totally right. 125's are a bugger to do low speed on because they don't have any torque, my 700 can trickle along at almost idle revs
Keep going it does get easier. Had my license over 30 years now but we all keep learning as we ride. Slow speed , like the other guy said, use the clutch and throttle control together to keep the speed where you want it and occasionally a bit of back brake if required till you get the hang of it. Sounds a lot all together but it will come I promise you. Best feeling ever out on a bike, nothing else like it, enjoy.
Remember when you are going slow it’s about having a balance of the clutch, back break and accelerator. Don’t be afraid to keep the revs at 4K and just the clutch and break for speed. If you feel yourself tipping and wanting to put your foot down then let out the clutch. The extra power brings the bike upright and prevents the fall. Love the honesty of the content, keep up the hard work and practice and it will start to feel natural
had my full license for 10 years - done 125s for 10 years before that - i say everyone needs a cbt first, move slowly - revs will balance the bike for slow riding, ride your clutch ( its a wet clutch) this helps you as its gyroscopic and balances the bike, never use your front break on bend, its sits the bike up right > remember your harry potter on that bike with your invisible cloak! stay safe and stay upright!
You are doing really well Andy, keep practising , practising makes perfect especially the slow riding which is a very useful skill. My Advanced Riding instructor taught me that just a tip as well when you are turning the bike on a slow manoeuvre look in the direction you are wanting to go that will help you tremendously all the best from John.
Glad you’ve started with CBT and bought your starter bike It’s been on my bucket list for 20 years I too would like to do direct access. Keep safe and enjoy Nice looking bike too
You’re doing great for slow moving on the bike always look forward to where you are going follow it right through your turn don’t look down I use the back brake and clutch no throttle it’s early days you will get it
I have just passed my mod 2 after doing my CBT in the middle of May, it does get easier i promise! As for the slow speed stuff keep a constant throttle and adjust your speed with the clutch, looking up will help with balance and when turning at low speed turn your head to the direction you are turning will also help with balance. Good luck and i am looking forward to see your progress
I'm glad you've decided to take to two wheels. Just take your time, everything will soon begin to fall into place smoothly where after a time, you won't even be thinking about the controls or gears. The engine sounds will soon let you know if you're in the wrong gear. Another thing I'll say when cornering, don't get fixated on a lamp post or wall you think you're gonna hit, look at where you want to go and it will come to you naturally. If necessary, go to a empty car park and practice turning through painted lines and slow speed manoeuvres. On the road try and anticipate what you think people in cars, vans etc might do because most are not looking for you, they're looking for another car or van and pre plan where and what you're gonna do if it goes pearshaped. It's a good idea to get a head cam as in my experience drivers act more cautious when I have it on because they know they're on camera if they do some stupid sh1t. Finally ride in your own comfort zone and never ride faster than your guardian angel fly. Enjoy your rides. Look after each other. One Love.
Really enjoyed this video I’ve been riding 10 yrs now ,and had same issues but practice practice practice makes perfect,keep the revs up and look where you want to go and the bike will go there don’t steer exactly ,I need to really show you
Just remember that everyone has to start somewhere. I'm the the US, and started my motorcycle adventures on a little 125cc Honda motorcycle. After getting my permit and then my motorcycle endorsement, I rode for two years, then upgraded to a new 500cc motorcycle. Now it's a new learning curve all over again. A bigger and faster bike means learning more control. Keep working at it.
Enjoying the videos, Andy. The two of you make a great team. I'm 56. A couple of years ago I came *this close* to buying a bike. But then I watched some videos of people having accidents and thought "I can do without that at my age". Cool bike. Best of luck. Stay safe!
@@bikerofatlantis I've since bought a van, so no. I used to watch a channel -- can't remember which one it was now -- but at one point he said: "There are only two types of rider: those who have been down, and those who are going to go down." 😬 Nah.
@@bikerofatlantis Friend of mine in Germany has a badass Harley. He loves it. Everyone I know who has one says they're great fun. My imagination is too good! I looked at the bikes, I looked at the gear, I bought a van!
Hi Andy , liking your blogs, I was a Das instructer few years back , slow riding ,bit more revs ,drag a bit on the back brake and look more forward to where you want to end up , keep head up and level don’t look down , bike will follow your eyes , good luck Cliff 👍
Hi Andy I wasn’t going to right anything after yesterday but here goes. You’re doing well. You problem is control and balance. So find a big car park ie Asda start by setting off with no power on get use to the point of bit on the clutch. Then add power. Rear brake under 10 mph for balance anything over front brake. You don’t just grab at front brake do it smoothly once it has hold then you can give it more. The same with you let the front brake off. As for getting wrong gear come down as you slow down that way as you are at 3 mph your in first stop on gear side foot. If the lights have just gone to red as you stop take it out of gear and rest clutch. Then sit with gear foot ready to put in first and go again hold on front brake and keep looking in mirrors to see if someone is going to hit you from behind. You can always go and move to path or between cars if they are going to. Safety at all times.
Dude, kick start was awesome. Just starting out myself, not commuting in a car any more, bought a Zontes G1 125 last week, dying to get out practicing. Good luck.
8:36 when you are doing slow turns put your weight to the opposite side to the way your turning, so if your going left, put your weight to the right side, and the bike will feel less like it's going to tip over. Hope this helps if it hasn't already been said
Loving the content mate, I can draw so many parallels to what you're doing. Im 55 took my CBT last August and bought the exact same bike! best looking 125 around in my opinion, absolutely love it! Same as you with the slow speed manoeuvres, I certainly need to practice more. Keep it up mate, look forward to next video.....
Im a completely new rider at 48. I also went for the RKV 125C and i love it! Comfortable, low seat height and 750 miles can honestly say its fantastic! Spring time for DAS and a bigger bike but similar style i reckon!
I'm sure someone has made a similar comment but when it comes to slow manoeuvring, especially when trying to do a circle is expand the circle to a large degree, just get confident driving in a big circle at like 5/6 mph and then gradually tighten the circle
@bikerofatlantis 5 or 6 mph is the lowest you should go, anymore and the bike will start tipping. Thats while you're turning at least. When just moving forward you should be fine as i was today in rush hour traffic, i saw my speedo get to 0 mph, i was so slow, it couldnt register anything.
You two are awesome. Instantly very likeable. I’ve subbed for more adventures. I’m 56 and only passed my full test two years ago after 3 CBTs. Bought a Honda Rebel 500 which looks very much like your Keeway but has the perfect amount of low end grunt and torque. I love having the option to now be able to buy any bike rather than be limited to a 125. I have no doubt that you will be ripping off those L plates and attaching them to the drone in no time 😂
I just passed my A license in march, went from a CBT straight to A, rode a Benelli leonchino 125cc to a triumph 765 RS 2024, riding a larger more umph, makes it soooo much easier to ride as you can roll around in gear 1 or 2 in towns, albiet the fuel!! but defo upgrade to larger bike you will love it!! Good luck! if you look in the direction where your wanting to go your body will tell the bike where to go, practice will make perfect! Relax stay safe ride safe!! N is the same on all bikes you will find it when you dont want to, just drop to gear 1 if your under 10mph or up into 2 if above 15 seems to work on the benelli 125
Nice looking Bike. Gear Change: As you come up to a set of lights or anywhere you may slow to a stop, just keep changing down, it will aid you in excelerating afterwards if the traffic moves off or the lights change to green, you may find it impossible to change down from 3rd to 1st when at a full stop, until you get moving again, it's totally different from a car gearbox! Slow maneuvers: in a slow turn, you are going to need to learn to "gently" drag your rear brake and get used to the bike leaning over, So, throttle control, clutch control (Slip/drag your clutch), rear brake control, weight distribution! Try this in a straight line: go right to the end of the car park and pull away, when everything is settled (by the first lamp post hopefully) put your weight on the left foot peg and the bike will want to go left, let it and let the handlebars move as well *BUT* under control. Go to the other end and do the same on the right foot peg! You will need to do this on slow maneuvers as well as gently dragging the brake and riding the clutch! Nothing to it!!
Love watching your videos and following your motorcycling journey. I'm 55, been riding many years and still learning. I found a big help was to watch "Twist of the Wrist 2". Lots of very bad acting but also lots of good advice for beginner riders and experienced riders too. Look forward to your next vid mate. Keep up the good work.
Hey man, When it comes to slow maneuvering do not forget to slip your clutch and look at where you want it to go not where it is going. You are looking forward when you are doing your turn.
Well done great to see a new motorcyclist taking the first 125 out we all started out the same way enjoy the journey and keep safe have eyes and ears every we're you go it's total different than driving a car but will make you abetter driver because you are a biker too ❤
Its fab to see a new rider! Keep that 125 as long as possible, even when/if you get a full unrestricted licence and look for bigger bikes, keeping the 125 for city runs and as a back-up when a potential future bike is in the garage for servicing etc is great to have, having something super lightweight to ride which is super fuel efficient is always good fun. They feel like toys and just put a huge grin on my face! Plus who doesn't love being full throttle 90% of the time! Few tips for your slow manoeuvring (although you may have already picked these up since posting), keep the revs high and let the clutch do the work for those slow U-turns. Once you have the clutch control down the handling becomes so much easier when you're not constantly close to stalling the bike. It was a mistake I made when learning because I wanted to be efficient and not over-rev it for what I was doing but for getting the control down, loud = good! For slow speeds you want to in essence counter-lean. Turning left - sit right, turning right - sit left. It mainly applies for slow manoeuvring as you're keeping your centre of balance over the middle of the bike as the wheels aren't spinning fast enough to give you that nice gyroscopic force you need to keep a leaning you and the bike up that you get at higher speeds where you can really lean into the turn (where sportier riders get their knee down all the time). Get your head turned a lot further round as well, its a bit scary at first but you'll find the bike will be turn around much quicker the more you direct with your head. Especially with bigger bikes, you'll feel like you're constantly about to drop it as you get used to the feel of leaning the bike but with a lot of practice you'll get used to it and trust the bike more. You'll eventually hit the point of feeling like you don't need to mentally do much and the bike is just riding itself. Other than that its practice practice practice! I even bought a bunch of those little plastic cones schools use for PE for me to use as my measurements for practicing for my A1 MOD 1 and spent a few evenings after work just constantly slaloming and U-turning etc and felt like a biking god with the level of control I had after. Outside of that, welcome to the world of Biking! 🏍
Keep at it, passed my test earlier this year after lots of off road riding over the years. Now have a honda shadow. A tip for braking if you are approaching a corner then use the front brake on approach to slow you then switch to the back brake if required, don't use the front brake when leaning or cornering
Andrew......just watched your first 2 uploads.......I'm hooked.......great premise for vids, the journey of a learner rider........all I can say is enjoy....I've always found riding a meditative experience, and have been on bikes since 16....now becoming a grumpy old fart.......keep it up, good job.......a fellow rider from downunder 🇦🇺
Look up the dirtbike 'attack' position for Motocross. You don't have to stand or anything, but if you put your nuts closer to the fuel tank lean over the handle bars for low speed control like doing U-turns and maneuvering it makes it far easier to control and less tippy feeling. They use that trick in slow speed controls for police bike training with the GS 1300 and such. The tip someone else said for slipping the clutch is true, you basically can't ride the clutch too much. It'll make it so you can slow yourself down to like 3-5km/h.
We all start somewhere. I did my first CBT 34 months ago and took my DAS 2 years ago. Slow riding will come with practice. Let the clutch out a smidge when it feels like it’s falling over, and that’ll straighten it up.
@@bikerofatlantis forgot to mention I’m 48 this year. So definitely late to the party. But loving every minute. Even got the 14yr old daughter out on pillion.
Keep looking where you want to be (not where you are), constant throttle, slip clutch (bikes are allowed to do this). Good luck with it all - brilliant.
Everything gets better with time in the saddle. It very much becomes second nature; except the slow speed stuff. That takes dedicated practice, but does get easy. Like a lot of other folks said, always look where you want to go and keep at it! Cheers
for the neutral selection instead of second gear - slightly lower the gear lever so you don't have to lift the lever as much and it will be a more positive change.. Back brake is good for stabilising your speed when travelling slowly. Combined braking is best for slowing from speed - mostly front, back brake is secondary. You will get the feel of it in time.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 88 | คู่เอก "ป้อมเพชร vs อัสลามจอน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ZqTVVbMgbo/mqdefault.jpg)
Looking forward to seeing your journey Andy.
Important tips.
Shoulder check every turn. ( lifesaver )
Cancel indicators in case a car pulls out on you.
Turn your head and look where you’re going and the bike will follow and balance will be better.
Cut down the gears up to a stop and you’ll be in the right gear.
You’re doing well and loving your enthusiasm.
Thanks for the guidance, it is appreciated 👍
great comment everything he said as well is spot on. ive been riding a 125 for over 8 years now haha ❤
@@bikerofatlantis also ride as if youre never seen!
Great to watch two lovely people discovering and enjoying a new passion together. I've only been riding for a year and started at the age of 53 so total respect to you mate...you're doing really well...love the bike by the way
Hi. Great to hear you have the biking bug too. Safe travels
Obviously never driven a manual transmission.
On a motorcycle EVERYTHING is manual.
He's in over his head.
this is so cute, i love the vulnerable, conversational format and you two seem so sweet
Thank you for watching
Keep at it mate, it will become easier with time and practice.
I’m 42 and did my CBT back in March. I’ve just done my DAS and passed my A licence last month.
Doing all these slow manoeuvres on the 650cc was far easier than on the 125
Hi, yeah heard this as a people have said easier on a bigger bike 👍👍 thanks for this
@@bikerofatlantis confirm 650 easier to handle, at least for me, Vstrom is so easy
Agree completely, did my cbt to full licence in the space of 4 weeks last month, clutch feel on a larger bike is night and day easier in my opinion
Yeah - a larger bike WEIGHS a lot more. This makes a massive difference for us lads, as we ttend to be heavier than our female counterparts. A large man on a smaller bike shifts the center of gravity upwards a LONG way.
A larger man on a heavy, full-size bike still moves the center of gravity up - but nowhere near as much.
Add to thatt the wider tyres, longer wheelbase, and better mechanical components, and it is absolutely huge difference to throw your leg over your first big boy bike!
I second this comment. I struggled quite a bit on my CBT. The chap said to me the bike was too small for me. Just passed my full licence last week and the 650 is so much easier
I've got a mate been past his test about 18 months ago at the age of 70 he loves it ,when we bump into fellow bikers he talks as though he been doing it since the 70s all credit to him not many people of that age would pay and do that shit to get a licence
Love this 👍
Wao I am 58 I thought I was to old to learn ,I can ride but no licence,I am definitely going for it
Hi Andy, Im 61 passed my test at 17, no learning you just got a 250 and went for your test, they sent you out of test center an told you to ride around the block of houses and come back, the examiner watching from end of street, he ran back into centre and down a jitty to do your emergency stop, back at centre he showed you some road markings and things on a flip board, an that was it, you passed, go and swop to a 750 that afternoon lol love both channels, best of luck to the four of you. Adi.
Hi Adi. Sounds a great test 😂👍
It was rubbish, lots of people fell off or worse just after passing and rushing out to get bigger bikes, but with you being a big bloke you would find a 500 or 650 a lot easier to balance at slow speeds.
Same here I’m 63😊
That's what my hubby been saying 😊
I did same test in 1974, then bought an 850 Norton Commando straight after. Survived it, more or less intact, and, at almost 70 still ride nearly every day, all year round as my main transport.
It’s really nice that Claire is by your side with you motorcycle journey 👏
👍👍
I past my cbt last october at 57 now doing my mod 1 in a couple of day's at 58 . Like you i bought a 125 to practice. Ive done 3000 miles . It took a while to iron out the teething problems. Your doing great mate its all worth its the best thing I've done in years . Enjoy 👍🏴
Hi. Thanks for this 👍
I'm so following this channel. Just passed my CBT a few weeks ago and have a 125. I'll be playing along at home.
Thanks for uploading this dude.
Thanks for watching. Safe travels
I passed my full licence (DAS) last year at the age of 40. The best way to learn is to ride and get out as much as you can. Find a nice route and do it regularly, and over time, you will learn the road. The corners, the bumps, the traffic, etc. Makes commitment and trusting of the bike easier. Big respect mate, keep going and safe riding...
Thanks for watching and safe travelling
Well said. I did exactly this vis a vis practicing.
using your bike to commute will do that, i noticed my confidence go right up when i started commuting on the bike instead of car
@@bikerofatlantisthis is one of the best advices given. Find a route you’re comfortable with and just enjoy the ride things will click naturally. Always have respect for the ride, it’ll keep you alive.
Very good looking bike.
Welcome to the club! Greetings from Colorado, U.S. Lots of great advice below this comment. At 52 I've had a bike since I can remember. Below people tell you to look where you want to go. While teaching I tell new riders to point the tip of your nose where you want to go. This helps with balance. Keep your head up ,nose pointed forward and you'll go forward. What I noticed in your video is you drop your nose (head) to turn. "Look Down, Fall Down" Riding a motorcycle is a thing of pride. Act like it by keeping your head up. I'm a subscriber now! I enjoy watching people progress! Stay Safe, Stay Dry and Love Often You Two P.S. I have a video "Riding Top Down" where I was helping a friend advance her skill. When the camera is on me note the head position.
Hello there in Colorado! Love that you have found my videos 👍👍 Will take a look at that video, Thankyou
Remember that a bike had wet clutch and it is designed to be used differently from a car. Keep your revs up and slip the clutch. It won't damage the bike and it will be easier to control at low speeds
Thanks great advice 👍
All that whilst just squeezing the rear brake and you’ll find slow speed control comes easily.
Keep the revs steady and adjust your speed by slipping the clutch whilst squeezing the rear brake more or less as required
Another thing to work on is looking where you want the bike to go, the bike will follow your gaze. It’s too easy to look too close to the bike and get wobbly. Sounds mad, but it works, just a bit of practice.
You need to learn to feather the clutch for that slow riding and focus on where you want to go...One thing they didn't teach me when I was learning is counter steering....look at that....best of luck.
Been driving for 9 years and decided at 33 to go do my CBT and went straight into DAS lessons. I honestly find the 600/700s easier to ride as your not up and down the gears constantly especially around town. You can be in 1st/ 2nd for the majority of it letting you focus on everything else going on and the power delivery is alot more smooth imo(if you have your sane head on).
I also only ever seem to find neutral by accident. Never when i need to when im parking up 😂😂.
Great series btw!
Thanks for watching
You are doing great. The best way to learn is get out on it as much as you can.
Thanks Carole 👍👍
I got my wife a small moped , now it takes her twice as long to clean the floors, LOVE the bike, take it easy, stay safe and good luck with the new channel
Love it 😂😂😂😂
i started 3 weeks ago ( i am 43) so I feel your pain. So far, I've been riding every day and really enjoying it.
Keep at it. Happy biking 👍
Andy, always look where you want to go. I’ll happily come down to Barnsley and ride with you mate 👍
Agree. Look at where you want the bike to go. Do not look at your tyre or just in front of it.
Love it. I did my first CBT at 40 years of age. Spent the following 6 months learning myself and not without some scary moments. Absolutely adore riding these days now everything is like second nature.
This is great. I’m enjoying it too 🏍️👍
Great progress. Slow speed cornering comes from having a steady throttle and using the back brake to control the speed. Keep looking ahead, not down at the wheel / floor. When you look down, that's when you end up putting your foot down. Hope that helps. Tip from hubby biker of 50+ years.
Hi. Biking for 50 years is impressive 👍
Instead of the rear brake when cornering, use the front brake only gentle. Look up trail braking😉
@@finesoul677 Trail braking is irrelevant bollocks for road riding - a mantra spouted by yanks that can't ride for shit. If you are trail braking on the road it is indicative of poor corner assessment
Found your channel by chance and wish I had found it sooner when I did my CBT last year and my A1 a few months ago at 53. Still learning and realising I should have done this years ago. Keep practising, especially u turns. That really helped me pass my mod 1 the second time around and got me into the habit of turning my head and looking in the direction I needed to go.
Thanks for this
Wishing you happy and safe travels 👍
I passed my cbt last May and my full licence in January. Promised my self I would finally get my full licence this year as I’m 50. It’s so daunting at first but just keep practising it will just click and everything comes without thinking . I now have a trident 660 and love it wish I had done it years ago but it’s never too late.👍
Hi thanks for watching
She's a keeper mate,enjoy your journey together. I too was questioning everything I did when first riding but you'll soon become a natural
I’ll tell her 👍👍😂😂
Good morning.
Been riding 50 years and still have moments with the slow speed stuff.
Enjoy the biking (expensive) world and keep learning 👍🏻
Hi, thanks for this. Loving it so far
Passed my CBT Monday, just finished my first week commuting, and have experienced everything you mention. Delighted it’s not just me.
Congratulations and keep safe 👍
Love this series! - just passed my CBT in my 30s, just finding a 125 and looking forward to getting out there!
Hi. Good luck with the search 👍
2-STROKES RULE !!! :)
Three tips I always give new riders. 1) Always look where you want to go. Not at where you don't want to go (this is harder than it sounds). 2) The throttle is your primary speed control and it is analogue. 3) Moving the handlebars is the only way your bike can change direction, they are not for supporting your weight under decelleration because that affects the steering, use your feet and legs for that.
Hi. Thanks for watching and great advice 👍👍
Nice videos. Hope you are enjoying the bike. I got my bike earlier this year after a 35+ year break. Dropped it several times in the first two weeks all when coming to a stop. Practice, practice, practice.
Ride safe👍
You too, thanks for watching
Hi Andy, good work this week 🙌🏼.
Paul says “keep the revs steady (and a little higher) and use the back break gently to control the speed and….look where you are going rather than where you are”
You are doing very well, and good for you! Ego to one side will keep you safe x
Nowt cooler than making it home every night! 😊
Hi guys, thanks for this guidance 👍👍
We love the channel, now there’s a bike involved it’s even better! You’re doing great for a week in. The slow speed manoeuvres take a while to get to grips with, some of it is counter intuitive. People have already mentioned to look where you want to go, feels weird at first but really works. Also, when you feel that wobble just before you want to dab your foot, let the clutch out a touch to give you more drive. Good luck, have fun and ride safe.
Hi thanks for this and another thanks for watching
Love that you’re starting your biking journey. Keep at it, it gets better.
Thank you
Instead of trying to go dead slow from the start, try starting at medium sorts of speeds, say 10-12mph around the carpark then gradually bring it down once youre happy with that. Stay off the front brake at those speeds, just the back if you need it at all.
Hi, great idea. Thank you for watching 👍
Hey dude, 5 years riding here and that's a god damn beautiful 125. The 125's tend to be more forgiving when it comes to the clutch control for slower speeds but get in the habit of using it slightly when you dip down into the revs. Will make it super easy to control and bikes are made for that!! happy riding and stay safe
Hi. You got a lovely bike 👍Thanks for watching
One thing i would recommend is an hour or two with a local instructor. They ride with you, observe you, and give you pointers. They have techniques too.
Yes thanks for this 👍
Keep learning and practicing, you will be fine. If you find that the bike goes from first to neutral instead of 2nd then all you need to do is pull up harder with your toe. The first to second shift needs to be a solid effort because you have to pull it through neutral. It will quickly become second nature to you. I'm from Ireland so we have IBT instead of CBT. I've had my full licence since 2021 and enjoying every minute of it. Learning every time I go for a ride and will never stop learning. Been driving a car 13 years, still learning.
Hi. Thanks for this guidance and for watching 👍👍
As others have said bigger engine bikes are easier to ride slower, to help you while you’re on the 125 set off in 2nd gear to try your slow manoeuvres and figure 8s etc. that will give you the feeling of more torque at low speed, I found that much easier until I moved onto a bigger bike.
For cornering and mini roundabouts, pull the clutch in a bit, it’s not like a car where you are then coasting, it’s a gradual clutch and removes some power as you pull it in, while still proving drive.
Keep going, it’ll fall into place.
Thank you 👍
125cc bikes look a lot bigger now than they were back in my day. You’re spot on about the front brake doing most of the work to slow down; the rear brake comes into its own at slower speeds when you are finally coming to a halt or stopping-starting in traffic because it doesn’t cause the bike to “plunge” when you stop.
Assuming you progress to the full bike test, when you come to do the slow manoeuvres in Mod 1 it’s mainly about finding the “friction zone” (the point at which the clutch begins to bite) and using it to control your speed whilst maintaining a constant degree of throttle, but you can also use light contact on the rear brake to moderate speed on U turns etc. And the golden rule… always keep your eyes on where you want to end up, rather than what is directly in front of you.
Also when you have mastered maintaining the right amount of power through the turn using the friction zone and throttle, that will prevent the bike from falling and gives you the confidence to lean into the turn, which is also important especially on the U-turn. It all comes with practice and you have the advantage of being able to do so on that bike, so it should come more easily when you get on the heavier 600cc bike you will eventually be doing the test on. Good luck 👍
Hi. Thanks for watching and your advice here. Have a great day
I love a motorcycle video with absolutely no ego! You two are super sweet. I am from the states but I just wanna give you free lessons so badly! Take care, ride safe!
Hi there in the states ❤️🇺🇸
Thanks for watching 👍👍
You and Claire are a fantastic couple to watch. So funny. I love that she shows interest in the bike and supports your new adventure. True to nature with wives, she notes her concern when you go riding. Be safe as always, and happing many years of riding!
Bach at you! Thanks for watching
Clutch control in 1st gear if you're riding slow. If you stall you stall, it is what it is. Don't overthink by watching too many clips, get your reps in on the road at safe speeds, then you'll learn about your bike on your own terms. Bike life is forever.
Good advice 👍
Remember to feather the clutch within the friction zone, keeping the revs up and always look where you want to go. You'll get there
Hi. Thanks for this 👍
Been riding since I was a kid...
1) first gear whenever you stop, everytime
2) get in the habit of using both brakes at the same time, wash your speed off before you enter a turn or you will eventually lose the front...trail breaking is an advanced technique
3) don't pressure your self to be perfect from the off, be safe first
Hi, good advice , thank you
Keep it going mate, it gets easier and controls become second nature after a while.
Biggest thing I observed in your vid, do your shoulder checks. Even on an empty car park, just get in the habit of doing them every time. Life savers.
Feather the clutch in slow traffic and when manoeuvring. Can give it plenty of revs, wet clutch won’t burn out.
Be confident with your foot going first to second, click right through neutral into second.
Have fun mate, enjoy the process
Hi, thanks for this, agreed 👍
Very good progress, at walking pace when turning make sure all your weight is on the other side of the bike makes it so much easier to balance 👍
Thanks for this 👍
It's called a false neutral. When you change from first to second change up slowly and use a little force and hold it before you let the clutch back out slightly slower than you normally do to make sure second is fully engaged,and don't whack the throttle open until your sure it's engaged.
Thanks for watching 👍
Tips, plenty revs and slip the clutch for slow speed manoeuvres. Point your nose and look in the direction you want to go on corners or slow turns. If you stare anywhere else, thats the way the bike will go, into curb or accross road meeting oncoming traffic. Not easy, but practice. No need to pay for online courses, there are plenty advisers on utube. I'm 72, and passed my test when I was 18. Returned to motorbike 2 years ago, after a 35 year rest. I have a 125 too, ideal capacity, ticks all the boxes, without having to remortgage the house. Ride your own ride and stay safe.
Also watch the videos on counter steering, sounds crazy but it works.
Sounds good
As others have mentioned, a bike (wet) clutch works differently to a car clutch. When you were riding slowly in the carpark, you need to keep the revs up, feather the clutch and use the rear brake only. The front brake will cause the suspension to dip and lose control. Also, regarding hitting neutral when changing gear, that is easily done on all bikes, not just yours. You just need to be a bit firmer changing to 2nd gear and it'll pass by the neutral position. It's just another of those "bike things" you'll quickly get used to. One of the other important things new riders will benefit from learning early on is to get your head around counter steering. You wanna go slightly left, so you turn slight right. It's all to do with the gyroscopic effect of 2 wheels. It seems totally alien at first. The next time you're on a quiet straight road, just push very gently on your left handlegrip (so you will be steering to the right) and the bike will want to turn left. It's a great technique for getting your lean for bends.
Hi. This is great advice. Thank you
Accidently hitting neutral is very common for new riders. There's a ton of detailed information out there for proper technique, but you can concern yourself with that later. For now just focus on being smooth and solid rather than "quick".
Thanks for watching
A few months from now and you'll never be able to find neutral again 🤣
Your correct about front brake .The correct way to apply front brake is called progressive brake .squeeze the brake, and as forks compress and more load on the tire, you can apply it much harder for maximum brake
Thanks for watching 👍
Do you know an annoying thing... A bigger cc bike is easier to do slow manoeuvres on 😅 Try more throttle (higher revs) but use your clutch to control the bike speed, aim for walking pace 4/5 mph, but your speedo probably over reads by 3 mph, so aim for 8 mph on that. I passed my DAS two months ago, my CBT a year before that, so it's still fresh in my mind what it's like as a new rider on a 125. I'm now on a ER6F and I think it's too powerful 😂 I'd say just get out there and ride, don't spend more than 15 minutes on slow manoeuvres as it'll get frustrating, but every little session helps. As adults I think we expect to pick everything up immediately, but it's a whole new skillset you're tapping in to, so don't stress if you're in the wrong gear or not able to keep your feet up, it WILL fall into place.
Hi. I’ve heard the bigger the bike the easier to turn! Thanks for this, really appreciated 👍
The going into neutral bit... You need to pull the lever further between 1st & 2nd. That's just how they all are. It's to make room for the neutral detent. I used to do it all the time as well.
Couple key points to help here:
1. Get in the habit of pulling 'til it stops. There's a hard stop for every gear to make sure you don't click up (or down) two instead of one. Pull 'til the lever stops there.
2. If it's not comfortable or natural, look into adjusting the lever position. In your case I'd lower it a bit. If it has a connecting rod, you loosen the locking nuts and twist the rod to raise or lower (you'll see which way it goes. Then remember to do up the locking nuts. Lower it no more than 5mm at a time and go for a test ride. If it's splined straight to the shaft... your options are limited, but you might be able to get it into a better position just taking it off and rotating one step (provided it still clears everything).
As you make your adjustment, you'll notice that the 1->N stops happening. At some point (hopefully not before that) you'll start having the same issue in reverse (where 2nd to 1st doesn't quite make it into 1st). That's how you know you've gone too far. You may also have a problem getting your foot under it if it's way too far.
Keep in mind also that your riding boots (if they're new) are going to be really stiff still. Take them for a walk or two and keep at it, they'll loosen up after a while.
Also don't be afraid to revisit this adjustment down the line, as you progress your preference and what feels natural will change. That's normal, just go with it 😅
Now is probably a good time to adjust your levers too, if you haven't already. Taking that extra strain off your hands can hugely improve the experience.
Hi thank you for taking the time to send me this advice. Safe travels 👍👍👍
@@bikerofatlantis You're more than welcome, kind Sir! Thanks for sharing your journey.
You've probably sussed it by now, but looking up more will help your slow speed control. You seem to be looking at the ground in front of you. Coming round those curves you want to be looking right to the far end of the car park not at the floor closer to you. You go where you look, so if you are looking at the floor that's where you go, topple.
Love this,, Did the same thing four years ago and gone from wobbling round the playground absolutely petrified, through my d a s and now can’t get out on my bike enough!
More please
Bike life is great 👍🏍️
First to second always needs a bit more of a kick. You are correct but as soon as you let off the throttle your engine will brake for you. Below 15mph, I always use my back brake. It stops your front end dipping and unbalancing you. Round corners 2nd gear max...sometimes first. Don't be in too much of a hurry to get into higher gears (probably 3rd will equate to 30mph). It keeps the bike more planted. Someone down there mentioned lifesaver checks. Couple of weeks ago, I pulled onto the motorway, used my mirrors to get into position, quick lifesaver checks and there, right in my blind spot, a massive red Harley. Forget the online course and moving your bum... you won't ever go fast enough to worry about it. If you want some practice, give me a shout. I'm in Chester. You are welcome to ride over and we can have a potter into North Wales and the Wirral. For a week in your doing fine. Claire would definitely suit a Monkey Bike!
Hi thanks for watching. Love the offer for help, thank you 👍👍👍👍
@@bikerofatlantis I was thinking about your stability at low speeds when turning. Try a figure of 8, don't worry how big it is but choose some targets (or use cones) so you know the size of it. When you get comfortable with it, make it smaller, and smaller, and smaller. You should aim for a figure of 8 in a single car parking space, or as close as you can.
Nice to see you getting started on your biking journey. I had an MT125 for two years and put 12,000 miles on it. Finally did my DAS in September and passed! Now riding a Tracer 700, which is awesome.
If you're anything like me one day you'll be out feeling nervous and flustered and it'll be like a switch in your brain suddenly clicks and you'll go "I got this!"
Just always remember car drivers are ninjas and want to kill you! Cemetaries are full of bikers who had right of way. That said ride safe and enjoy the journey.
Oh and yeah forgot to mention I'm 58!
Congratulations on passing!!
Thanks for watching 👍👍
You're doing exactly what you need to do. A couple of things: Turn your head and your eyes in the direction that you want to go. It's great practicing in the car park, but you don't want to be practicing the wrong thing. Really force your head and eyes around for those U-turns.
Secondly, don't be scared to slip the clutch. This is not your Dad's pride and joy Cortina with a dry clutch. Motorcycle clutches can be slipped a lot without destroying them, and if you do, they're cheap to replace.
Thirdly, focus on the basics "trail braking" is a great skill, but you're making things hard, if not dangerous for yourself at this point. And one last thing. If you're hitting neutral between first and second, try and be a bit more positive with the lever. Once again, this isn't your Dad's Cortina and you're not 17.
Part clutch operation at low-speeds is fine because bikes have a multidisc wet clutch. Cooled by the engine oil. And just a slightly harder kick gets you from 1st directly to 2nd. Two of the things I had to remember when I started trying to ride again after 50 years outta the saddle. I can ride and lean into turns just fine. But this low-speed, stop-n-go stuff is harder to get down smooth. I ride a 2018 V Star 250 I've been modding.
😂😂😂
it will be the second nature in no time don’t worry just be smooth with your clutch and you feel which gear you should be in. I managed it by remembering that I got 30 years of driving a car experience and accessing that part of my brain the brakes did freak me out in theory after riding bicycles for so long, but you soon get used to it.
i went from 125 to 1200 Bobber in 6 months. be calm. relax. feel it.
i also found that the bigger the bike the easier it got. 125s terrified me.
look where you want to go. have more revs than you need but control with the clutch.
Hi. Thanks for watching and this advice
I have been interested watching your first steps in riding. My advice to you would be to stay away from TH-cam videos. Everyone on the planet giving conflicting advice. The most important thing you can do is to ride as often as you can. Keep chipping away at the slow riding. Not just for the practical application in slow traffic, but because you will learn so much about the controls and how they feel, how your bike reacts, and about balance. It looks to me as if you are doing your slow riding in a straight line well but at the turn you are releasing the back brake, but slowing the bike. You should be aiming to turn at the same speed as you are going down the straight. ( That is what the Japanese police are doing ) You really need to keep the back brake applied, especially as you are starting out. You are not using the back brake to slow down but to balance. You should be driving against the brake slipping the clutch and using the revs to keep momentum. Also remember to look ahead. Look where you want to go, not at the ground where you are. Look through/across the turn to where you want to go.
Watch MotoGP and see just how far ahead those guys look, and how their head position changes through a corner.
I love your bike by the way. I have recently purchased its bigger brother a second hand V250 FI. Good Luck
👍
Hi thanks 🤩
Hi Guys, I’m looking forward to following your bike journey. I took my first CBT August last month at age 48. I can totally relate to everything you’ve said. You’re ahead of me, as I cant decide on best bike to learn on, being 6foot1 and 15stone. I don’t want a small bike but then, don’t want it too big! Anyway, best of luck! I’m off to search TH-cam for kickstart clips. :-D.
Hi, Thanks for watching. The Keeway I have is quite a chunky bike and I am happy with it. Have a great bike journey and thanks for watching
I found riding a 125 much more difficult than my 600. More power and better brakes makes it easier and you tend to get bullied by cars less. Stick with it, it'll get easier I promise!
Thankyou 👍👍👍
totally agree, much easier when you can make progress away from traffic etc
@johnbow100 you're totally right. 125's are a bugger to do low speed on because they don't have any torque, my 700 can trickle along at almost idle revs
Keep going it does get easier. Had my license over 30 years now but we all keep learning as we ride. Slow speed , like the other guy said, use the clutch and throttle control together to keep the speed where you want it and occasionally a bit of back brake if required till you get the hang of it. Sounds a lot all together but it will come I promise you. Best feeling ever out on a bike, nothing else like it, enjoy.
Thankyou for this. Happy travels
Looking forward to following your progress. It will all come with time and patience. good luck.
Thanks for watching
1:11 those are scumbags 😡
Naughty lads!
@@bikerofatlantis or thieving scumbags
@@bikerofatlantis. Just keep in mind those ‘naughty lads’ are possibly eyeing your bike up to steal it, be careful whose watching where you live 😡
Remember when you are going slow it’s about having a balance of the clutch, back break and accelerator. Don’t be afraid to keep the revs at 4K and just the clutch and break for speed. If you feel yourself tipping and wanting to put your foot down then let out the clutch. The extra power brings the bike upright and prevents the fall.
Love the honesty of the content, keep up the hard work and practice and it will start to feel natural
Hi. Thanks for watching and your comment 👍
had my full license for 10 years - done 125s for 10 years before that - i say everyone needs a cbt first, move slowly - revs will balance the bike for slow riding, ride your clutch ( its a wet clutch) this helps you as its gyroscopic and balances the bike, never use your front break on bend, its sits the bike up right > remember your harry potter on that bike with your invisible cloak! stay safe and stay upright!
Hi. Thanks for watching 👍
Love that your riding footage is barnsley, I’m also a barnsley lad doing my CBT next week so nice to get some perspective on those roads
Good luck 👍 More Barnsley footage incoming 🗺️🏍️
You are doing really well Andy, keep practising , practising makes perfect especially the slow riding which is a very useful skill. My Advanced Riding instructor taught me that just a tip as well when you are turning the bike on a slow manoeuvre look in the direction you are wanting to go that will help you tremendously all the best from John.
Hi John. Thanks for watching
Glad you’ve started with CBT and bought your starter bike
It’s been on my bucket list for 20 years
I too would like to do direct access.
Keep safe and enjoy
Nice looking bike too
Do it
@ThePaulBrewer drop the £100 and get your cbt done.... the rest will follow when it's time
You’re doing great for slow moving on the bike always look forward to where you are going follow it right through your turn don’t look down I use the back brake and clutch no throttle it’s early days you will get it
Thanks for this and for watching
I have just passed my mod 2 after doing my CBT in the middle of May, it does get easier i promise! As for the slow speed stuff keep a constant throttle and adjust your speed with the clutch, looking up will help with balance and when turning at low speed turn your head to the direction you are turning will also help with balance.
Good luck and i am looking forward to see your progress
Congrats on passing. I’m loving practicing 👍👍
I'm glad you've decided to take to two wheels. Just take your time, everything will soon begin to fall into place smoothly where after a time, you won't even be thinking about the controls or gears. The engine sounds will soon let you know if you're in the wrong gear. Another thing I'll say when cornering, don't get fixated on a lamp post or wall you think you're gonna hit, look at where you want to go and it will come to you naturally.
If necessary, go to a empty car park and practice turning through painted lines and slow speed manoeuvres. On the road try and anticipate what you think people in cars, vans etc might do because most are not looking for you, they're looking for another car or van and pre plan where and what you're gonna do if it goes pearshaped. It's a good idea to get a head cam as in my experience drivers act more cautious when I have it on because they know they're on camera if they do some stupid sh1t.
Finally ride in your own comfort zone and never ride faster than your guardian angel fly.
Enjoy your rides. Look after each other.
One Love.
Thanks for watching and your advice 👍👍
@@bikerofatlantis You're welcome. Ride safe. 😊
Really enjoyed this video I’ve been riding 10 yrs now ,and had same issues but practice practice practice makes perfect,keep the revs up and look where you want to go and the bike will go there don’t steer exactly ,I need to really show you
You will get it. I’ve been riding for more than 30 years and neutral still catches me out.
Hi. Thanks for waiting 👍
Just remember that everyone has to start somewhere. I'm the the US, and started my motorcycle adventures on a little 125cc Honda motorcycle. After getting my permit and then my motorcycle endorsement, I rode for two years, then upgraded to a new 500cc motorcycle. Now it's a new learning curve all over again. A bigger and faster bike means learning more control. Keep working at it.
Hi. Thanks for watching and your advice. Happy travels
Great start Andy. Practice, practice, practice. It’ll be second nature in no time at all. Good luck
Thanks 👍
Enjoying the videos, Andy. The two of you make a great team. I'm 56. A couple of years ago I came *this close* to buying a bike. But then I watched some videos of people having accidents and thought "I can do without that at my age". Cool bike. Best of luck. Stay safe!
Hi. How are you? Do you think you will change your mind?
@@bikerofatlantis I've since bought a van, so no. I used to watch a channel -- can't remember which one it was now -- but at one point he said: "There are only two types of rider: those who have been down, and those who are going to go down." 😬 Nah.
Eeek
@@bikerofatlantis Friend of mine in Germany has a badass Harley. He loves it. Everyone I know who has one says they're great fun. My imagination is too good! I looked at the bikes, I looked at the gear, I bought a van!
Hi Andy , liking your blogs, I was a Das instructer few years back , slow riding ,bit more revs ,drag a bit on the back brake and look more forward to where you want to end up , keep head up and level don’t look down , bike will follow your eyes , good luck Cliff 👍
Hi Cliff, thanks for this 👍👍
Hi Andy
I wasn’t going to right anything after yesterday but here goes.
You’re doing well. You problem is control and balance. So find a big car park ie Asda start by setting off with no power on get use to the point of bit on the clutch. Then add power. Rear brake under 10 mph for balance anything over front brake. You don’t just grab at front brake do it smoothly once it has hold then you can give it more. The same with you let the front brake off. As for getting wrong gear come down as you slow down that way as you are at 3 mph your in first stop on gear side foot. If the lights have just gone to red as you stop take it out of gear and rest clutch. Then sit with gear foot ready to put in first and go again hold on front brake and keep looking in mirrors to see if someone is going to hit you from behind. You can always go and move to path or between cars if they are going to. Safety at all times.
Hi. This advice is welcomed, thank you 👍
Dude, kick start was awesome. Just starting out myself, not commuting in a car any more, bought a Zontes G1 125 last week, dying to get out practicing. Good luck.
Happy travels. Keep safe 👍
8:36 when you are doing slow turns put your weight to the opposite side to the way your turning, so if your going left, put your weight to the right side, and the bike will feel less like it's going to tip over. Hope this helps if it hasn't already been said
Thanks for this, will try 👍
Loving the content mate, I can draw so many parallels to what you're doing. Im 55 took my CBT last August and bought the exact same bike! best looking 125 around in my opinion, absolutely love it! Same as you with the slow speed manoeuvres, I certainly need to practice more.
Keep it up mate, look forward to next video.....
Hi thanks for watching. Nice bike!
Im a completely new rider at 48. I also went for the RKV 125C and i love it! Comfortable, low seat height and 750 miles can honestly say its fantastic! Spring time for DAS and a bigger bike but similar style i reckon!
Hey, loving the RKV 125C
See you on the road 😂👍👍
I'm sure someone has made a similar comment but when it comes to slow manoeuvring, especially when trying to do a circle is expand the circle to a large degree, just get confident driving in a big circle at like 5/6 mph and then gradually tighten the circle
Hi. Thanks for this 👍
@bikerofatlantis 5 or 6 mph is the lowest you should go, anymore and the bike will start tipping. Thats while you're turning at least. When just moving forward you should be fine as i was today in rush hour traffic, i saw my speedo get to 0 mph, i was so slow, it couldnt register anything.
You two are awesome. Instantly very likeable. I’ve subbed for more adventures. I’m 56 and only passed my full test two years ago after 3 CBTs. Bought a Honda Rebel 500 which looks very much like your Keeway but has the perfect amount of low end grunt and torque. I love having the option to now be able to buy any bike rather than be limited to a 125. I have no doubt that you will be ripping off those L plates and attaching them to the drone in no time 😂
Hi welcome to the channel and thanks for subscribing 👍👍👍
I just passed my A license in march, went from a CBT straight to A, rode a Benelli leonchino 125cc to a triumph 765 RS 2024, riding a larger more umph, makes it soooo much easier to ride as you can roll around in gear 1 or 2 in towns, albiet the fuel!! but defo upgrade to larger bike you will love it!! Good luck! if you look in the direction where your wanting to go your body will tell the bike where to go, practice will make perfect! Relax stay safe ride safe!!
N is the same on all bikes you will find it when you dont want to, just drop to gear 1 if your under 10mph or up into 2 if above 15 seems to work on the benelli 125
Hi. Congrats! Looking to do mine before Christmas 👍👍
Nice looking Bike.
Gear Change: As you come up to a set of lights or anywhere you may slow to a stop, just keep changing down, it will aid you in excelerating afterwards if the traffic moves off or the lights change to green, you may find it impossible to change down from 3rd to 1st when at a full stop, until you get moving again, it's totally different from a car gearbox!
Slow maneuvers: in a slow turn, you are going to need to learn to "gently" drag your rear brake and get used to the bike leaning over, So, throttle control, clutch control (Slip/drag your clutch), rear brake control, weight distribution!
Try this in a straight line: go right to the end of the car park and pull away, when everything is settled (by the first lamp post hopefully) put your weight on the left foot peg and the bike will want to go left, let it and let the handlebars move as well *BUT* under control. Go to the other end and do the same on the right foot peg!
You will need to do this on slow maneuvers as well as gently dragging the brake and riding the clutch!
Nothing to it!!
This is all fab, thanks for taking the time to share
Love watching your videos and following your motorcycling journey. I'm 55, been riding many years and still learning. I found a big help was to watch "Twist of the Wrist 2". Lots of very bad acting but also lots of good advice for beginner riders and experienced riders too. Look forward to your next vid mate. Keep up the good work.
Hello. Thanks for watching 👍👍👍
Hey man, When it comes to slow maneuvering do not forget to slip your clutch and look at where you want it to go not where it is going. You are looking forward when you are doing your turn.
Hi. Thank you for reaching out 👍👍
Well done great to see a new motorcyclist taking the first 125 out we all started out the same way enjoy the journey and keep safe have eyes and ears every we're you go it's total different than driving a car but will make you abetter driver because you are a biker too ❤
Thanks for this 👋
Its fab to see a new rider! Keep that 125 as long as possible, even when/if you get a full unrestricted licence and look for bigger bikes, keeping the 125 for city runs and as a back-up when a potential future bike is in the garage for servicing etc is great to have, having something super lightweight to ride which is super fuel efficient is always good fun. They feel like toys and just put a huge grin on my face! Plus who doesn't love being full throttle 90% of the time! Few tips for your slow manoeuvring (although you may have already picked these up since posting), keep the revs high and let the clutch do the work for those slow U-turns. Once you have the clutch control down the handling becomes so much easier when you're not constantly close to stalling the bike. It was a mistake I made when learning because I wanted to be efficient and not over-rev it for what I was doing but for getting the control down, loud = good! For slow speeds you want to in essence counter-lean. Turning left - sit right, turning right - sit left. It mainly applies for slow manoeuvring as you're keeping your centre of balance over the middle of the bike as the wheels aren't spinning fast enough to give you that nice gyroscopic force you need to keep a leaning you and the bike up that you get at higher speeds where you can really lean into the turn (where sportier riders get their knee down all the time). Get your head turned a lot further round as well, its a bit scary at first but you'll find the bike will be turn around much quicker the more you direct with your head. Especially with bigger bikes, you'll feel like you're constantly about to drop it as you get used to the feel of leaning the bike but with a lot of practice you'll get used to it and trust the bike more. You'll eventually hit the point of feeling like you don't need to mentally do much and the bike is just riding itself. Other than that its practice practice practice! I even bought a bunch of those little plastic cones schools use for PE for me to use as my measurements for practicing for my A1 MOD 1 and spent a few evenings after work just constantly slaloming and U-turning etc and felt like a biking god with the level of control I had after. Outside of that, welcome to the world of Biking! 🏍
Hi. Thanks for taking the time to share with me your advice. It is appreciated
Have a great evening and happy travels 👍👍👍
Keep at it, passed my test earlier this year after lots of off road riding over the years. Now have a honda shadow. A tip for braking if you are approaching a corner then use the front brake on approach to slow you then switch to the back brake if required, don't use the front brake when leaning or cornering
Thank you 👍
Andrew......just watched your first 2 uploads.......I'm hooked.......great premise for vids, the journey of a learner rider........all I can say is enjoy....I've always found riding a meditative experience, and have been on bikes since 16....now becoming a grumpy old fart.......keep it up, good job.......a fellow rider from downunder 🇦🇺
Look up the dirtbike 'attack' position for Motocross. You don't have to stand or anything, but if you put your nuts closer to the fuel tank lean over the handle bars for low speed control like doing U-turns and maneuvering it makes it far easier to control and less tippy feeling. They use that trick in slow speed controls for police bike training with the GS 1300 and such.
The tip someone else said for slipping the clutch is true, you basically can't ride the clutch too much. It'll make it so you can slow yourself down to like 3-5km/h.
This is great. Thankyou
We all start somewhere. I did my first CBT 34 months ago and took my DAS 2 years ago. Slow riding will come with practice. Let the clutch out a smidge when it feels like it’s falling over, and that’ll straighten it up.
Thanks for this 👍👍
@@bikerofatlantis forgot to mention I’m 48 this year. So definitely late to the party. But loving every minute. Even got the 14yr old daughter out on pillion.
You two are a winning team. Very enjoyable watch. Please keep going 😃
Thank you 👍👍👍
Keep looking where you want to be (not where you are), constant throttle, slip clutch (bikes are allowed to do this). Good luck with it all - brilliant.
Hi Thanks for watching
Everything gets better with time in the saddle. It very much becomes second nature; except the slow speed stuff. That takes dedicated practice, but does get easy. Like a lot of other folks said, always look where you want to go and keep at it! Cheers
Hi. Thanks for watching and this 👍
I went to the Harley Davidson training academy. That's the main thing they taught you was how to do slow maneuvers. I recommend it to everyone.
Where do you live?
@@bikerofatlantis Kentucky
I am 57 passed my test in May this year..enjoying the ride but everyday is a school day …Great vlog
Happy and safe riding 👍👍👍
Congrats on the bike and the drone. Looks like all is going well!
Thankyou Gail 👍
for the neutral selection instead of second gear - slightly lower the gear lever so you don't have to lift the lever as much and it will be a more positive change..
Back brake is good for stabilising your speed when travelling slowly. Combined braking is best for slowing from speed - mostly front, back brake is secondary. You will get the feel of it in time.
Hi, Thankyou for this