Sorry, it's long, maybe even longer than Stella's but no where near as humorous I'm afraid.
Picked up my new bike yesterday (piccie in profile) - a 2003 CBR600F. Had it restricted on Thursday, ready to ride Friday.
I've bought it from my instructor's ex brother in law so have the benefit of knowing the history of the bike. I went down to Derby Thursday evening to complete the sale and to have training on Friday.
Lee (who I bought it off) rode it back from the dealer and said it felt SO SLOW - lol! He took it up to a huge carpark so I could get used to riding it. We went right back to basics and basically did the offroad element of a CBT. The bike is a lot higher than the CG and I'm on just on tiptoes and it's a lot heavier so I had a fair few *nearly* moments. I struggled quite a lot with simulated junctions, running wide and not controlling the speed or the turn very well.
After a couple of hours we went out on the road. Ran wide on the left turn out of the carpark - oops! Did really well on the open road and on the A50 - hit triple figures! (but only for a second).
Later on I decided to ride over to my Dad's friends house about 10 miles away (on my own). Had a good ride over but as I made the left turn onto Paul's street I dropped it. There was a white van waiting to turn right so I saying to myself, slow right down, take it steady, DON'T RUN WIDE, which turned into DON'T HIT THE VAN which lead to OH SHIT, I'M ABOUT TO HIT THE VAN - so made the classic fatal error of nipping the front brake and the bike fell over. (didn't hit the van though - lol). The driver jumped out and picked the bike up for me straight away and made sure I was ok before shooting off and the 3 young lasses that witnessed my fall from grace were very concerned for my wellbeing but I assured them I was ok and was more bothered about what I'd done to my new shiny bike. The damage was a broken indicator lens and a scuff to the altenator cover - phew! (the crash bobbins were already on order but I've only just got the bike so they're not on yet).
Rode off up the street to Paul's and had a much needed cup of tea. Dad arrived and promptly pinched my bike! He took it round the block and said it was nice, could he swap. Ha...an 2002 GPZ500 for an 2003 CBR600F....let me think about that for a minute! Errrrm NO!
Rode back to Derby in the dark (Dad followed) and I have to say, my confidence was pretty shot to pieces. I had hoped to get back with Mark some more today but that didn't pan out so Geoff came down to escort me home. Hit horrible traffic on the Derby ringroad and my confidence was at rock bottom, I was so scared and although this bike is so much easier to ride at slow speeds in a straight line I dread having to stop and/or set of and make a turn.
We got out onto the motorway and hit 101mph for a second (just seeing what it does) and then backed off to 70mph. Stopped at the services for something to eat and my confidence is so low that I daren't even turn into a parking space. I stop the bike dead in the middle of the road - lol, get off and push it in!
Set off again the noticed the fuel reserve has just come on so stop at the next services on the A1. After filling up I notice I have to set off and turn right, then left to go around the side of the building to the exit. I think (and say to Geoff), that looks tight. He suggested I paddled back a bit to give myself a bit more room but the ground is slippy and there's a raised metal cover behind me and with only having just tiptoes down I don't want to risk slipping so I set off and get the same target fixation of the barrier that I don't want to hit - you can guess the rest. Yep, the bike went down, this time on the right side - doh. Another busted indicator, scuff decal on the fairing and both mirrors are slightly scuffed now. All in all I've been very very lucky and Geoff said...the CBR600F topples very well - lol!
Well whatever confidence I did have left has long since deserted me and I'm still miles away from Geoff's. Tape up the indicator, buy and fit new bulb and set off again. As we negotiated the final roads near Geoff's he talked me through it, telling me to keep my head up and look where I'm going. It's just what I need and prevents me from getting bogged down with thinking too much about what I'm doing and getting target fixated on the wrong thing.
Got back to Geoff's with no more incidents and he set to work straight away on dropping the forks which as made a big difference. I can get both balls firmly planted and my heels are only about 1.5cm off the ground now. Hopefully my other boots (the daytona's with the inbuilt risers) will see me flat footing the bike which will improve my confidence immensely and hopefully physically enable to hold it up better.
The only problem I'm finding (apart from dropping it) is it's hurting my knees ALOT. They don't hurt whilst riding but as soon as I need to straighten them they've seized and are agony - not good for when you're trying to stop and reaching for the ground with your toes! I'm already taking diclofenac and tramadol before a ride so I'm not sure what else I can do there. I have a knee problem already and a wasted left leg and overall quite weak knees/legs so this contributes to my holding up the bike problem and is the main reason why I couldn't do DAS, I still can't cope with the weight even though I've learnt how to ride.
God I miss my L plates, I'm seriously thinking of getting some P plates for the next few months.
Well if you got this far - Well Done! Do I get the award for longest forum post now?
Not sure.... But you definitely get the award for best use of the phrase "both balls firmly planted" in a forum post
You also get the award for having balls! You might feel that your confidence levels are horribly low, but hell, you're getting straight back on and going for it. I think I probably would've ended up a crumpled girlie tearful heap in the corner, after half that lot!
Wow... when I think back to when you joined here and then when you were first considering whether you should do the CBT...
Roachy m'dear, you are a bloody inspiration! Just look at the distance you've come in such a short time!
aww I'm so sorry to hear of your mishaps hon....but being the strong minded person you are I just know you will master the bike.
tis good that geoff was with you ...top man
concerning your knees hon...I used to get that a lot on the thundercat and found that cutting the feet off a pair of football socks then pulling em over my knees did the trick somewhat..I sincerely hope you find something hon as it is very daunting.
You take care.
Cheers Lou, means a lot that does and you've made me go all leaky eyed. *note to self, send eyes back as they are obviously faulty*
I have shed a fair few tears and questioned if I'm really cut out for this but I did that on the first CBT, then when I kept falling off the CG and now with this but I can be a determined little bugger when I want to be and this is something that I've really taken to and it's taken me years to find something to captivate me in this way so I'm not about to give up now.
Anyway, don't they say that things taste sweeter when you've had to struggle and work your balls off for it.
Re the speeds...ermmmm, yeah, never went above 70 officer. Seriously though, this bike is mental even restricted (I know I'm bound to say that after the CG but Geoff's ridden it before and after and says that whilst it's clearly not as quick as a standard CBR600F, it certainly doesn't hang about!), I can't comprehend the power it will have derestricted and for now, I'm more than happy to wait to find out.
Awww extra 's for leaky eye syndrome! It's ridiculous that they issued so many faulty eyes, eh?! xx
You hang in there girlie - you have both the guts and the determination & I'm dead proud of you! I'll lay good money that I'm not the only one either It's not often I risk losing 50p on a bet as you know!
I know you don't "know" me in RL, but I hope you know me well enough by now to understand that I never tell folk something because I think it's what they want to hear... I'm strictly a "say it how I see it" kinda gal... xx
Geoff, you know what's coming next....you tit! That's the widest post, not the longest!
Silly me, of course HR, kmh *not* mph - it's these faulty eyes again.
Cheers WB, I hope it's not too long in the future before I can say that I do know you in RL too. right back at ya.
[WB mode] skips around spreading the lurve [/WB Mode]
Hey Roachy, am dead pleased you have got yr bike...if its any consolation i went through everything you have described. Ok, maybe not the same circumstances exactly, but not far off. I've struggled with my bike for a year but now i'm getting to love it....it is very hard when you get 'yr first big bike'....I still occasionally have that 'wtf am i doing' moment but more often than not, i can cope. It gets easier with time,believe me, just believe in yourself. Dont do anything you dont want to do but potter about, it does wonders for your self confidence. Even just a blast down the ring road or something makes all the difference. Whatever you do, do exactly what YOU want, not what you think you should do...i did that and it frightened me to death. Saying that, i learnt some things.....my bike will stick to the road, more than i thought it would, but i also learned my limitations. Just enjoy it...its a bike at the end of the day...same as a 125 just a bit quicker...you will drop it, you will do silly things on it....but we all do....bear that in mind....and give me a shout if you want a potter some time
Hi Roachy, firstly congratulations on your persistence! I can well sympathise with your lack of ability to flat foot it! I too have been riding a CBR600 for the last four years or so..........and have dropped it on several occasions................always when it's been stationary! It only needs you to put your foot down in a dip or drain cover, for it to go past the point of no return! (Once I did it with about 6x 2 litre bottles of coke in one pannier, which i think might not have helped! ) I love my bike to pieces, (even with the crack in the fairing and wobbly indicators!), and I just try and make sure I stop on level ground! (As you mentioned pushing it backwards is nigh on impossible.........and here's a tip.......DON'T ever park front wheel into a kerb!)
Oh and BTW I wear New Rock boots on my bike........the extra inch on the sole helps!
I must protest. Widest post not longest post indeed!
I think you'll all find that if you pick your laptops or monitors up and turn them through 90 degrees, then my post is a very long post indeed!
Doubters!
Oh yes, if anyone is wondering exactly why I'm posting at eight o'clock on a Sunday morning .... then ask Roachy, who just so happens to have a new bike which needs a wash!!!!
She'll claim this is pure coincidence .... all I'll say is cheap chinese watch!
Cheers DC and Dragon for the *me too* reassurance. It's nice to have fellow female riders to turn to, that have already walked in your footsteps (and on the same bike too ) and are prepared to give you the benefit of their experience.
I've been awake half the night like a kid at Xmas because I want to polish my new bike and make it all shiny...and give her some TLC because of this bad start we've got off to.
Don't want her thinking this is life as she knows it now, she might spit me off at speed next time!!
Hey Rach, Big hugs for ya You'll get to grips with her - Bike Whispering - that's the way to go!! Tallk to her, tell her she's a wonderful bike, tell her how happy you are that she's now in your life & she'll soon start playing ball (the other ball, not the one's that are on the floor! )
Am well impressed that you rode it back though - even with the slight mishaps (note the word slight!!) Given that it hadn't been lowered at the time. I'm sure that the more you get out on her, now that Geoff's worked his magic, your confidence will regain itseslf
**/WB mode on - BIG LOVES TO YA /WB mode off**
**tuts @ Geoff!!**
**Leaky eye syndrome - yep think I've got some of those dodgy eyes aswell!!**
Riding bikes is a steep learning curve. BUT in general big bikes are easier to ride as they are far more stable, have better tyres, better brakes ( as you found out!) and generaly, thanks to their weight, have better road holding and feel less skippy than a 125.
You have made the transition from pony trekking to riding a proper full on horse. It will have its little quirks and moods, the same as a horse. It won't however crap all over the road
You will find on a bike that turning into slow junctions requires you to slip the clutch to prevent the bike from stopping dead or juddering badly, treat turning into a junction as a slow speed manouver and keep some power on but use the rear brake and clutch slip to feed and restrain the power. You may find you get on better then.
Great post Roachy, keep up the great work.
Well done that Lady..keep it up Rachel, I,ve dropped the 850 more than a couple o times myself,when they start to go theres not much that,ll stop them! As for mistakes when turning, how do you think I got my thumb broke last month? Got cast taken off on Friday and am due back on bike Tues(I will admit to being wary of left turns again!)Having followed your threads from being a worried C.B.T Candidate through to your test & now on your 600 I know that you are not one to see a couple of drops as a problem, back on the saddle & enjoy this further learning curve on the way to Biker fulfillment...B.T.W I,ve only attained 85 on the big wide M/way so the balls aint just on the bottom of your feet!! Enjoy
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