SusieW

I'm travelling from N Somerset, so A370 Long Ashton Bypass and Cumberland Basin, into central Bristol. That's a pain you can't just use all the bus lanes. Cheers for the tip off, cos I would probably have just used them!

Thanks for all the great suggestions & advice! I'm aiming to commute for the first time next week - I shall be sure to feed back on it (in the right place on the forum!) and I'm sure I'll discover I have loads more questions to ask. Cheers!

I'll try that this weekend - I'm aiming to commute in for the first time next week. Everything crossed!

I tried your technique a load of times, but hopefully now I won't keep losing my gears if I make sure I stop in 1st. I'm also less worried about revving it in 1st & 2nd. Every time I'm out on it I learn something new! You're right, things are starting to fall into place. Next step, to try to master commute into work.... Is it a long commute to work? The more you ride the better you'll get, I'm sure in a couple of months time you will be laughing how "easy" it is now. It's about 10 miles - into central Bristol. I think we can use bus lanes and I'm going to stagger my hours so I can travel when it's quieter to start with. You're right, I'll hopefully find it easy in a couple months, especially now I'm getting to grips with the clutch, etc. And I have only had my bike 2 weeks tomorrow!

I tried your technique a load of times, but hopefully now I won't keep losing my gears if I make sure I stop in 1st. I'm also less worried about revving it in 1st & 2nd. Every time I'm out on it I learn something new! You're right, things are starting to fall into place. Next step, to try to master commute into work....

I've certainly not heard about this? What year is your CB125F? Have you got any local repairers nearby that's had a look at it, even just to take it in and ask them to see if they can see anything. It's a 2018, though I'm its first owner as it was pre registered. I rode into Bristol today (first time ever as I'm 10 miles outside) and asked at bike shop. I think it's just my poor technique TBH, by not stopping in 1st gear. On the way back I practised some more, and I didn't lose my gears. They said if it happened again, to rock the bike forwards & back, so feeling a lot better now! It def wasn't a false neutral I found, just poor technique!

I'll try this, cheers Mike.

Just been out on the bike and that gear thing happened 3 times! If I've found a false neutral, how do I stop finding it? It's hard enough learning my gears! Cheers

Blimey, it might be a while before I master that technique! Changing smoothly from 1st to 2nd is what I need to master! But tell me, last time I was out on the bike, I was in 3rd at a junction. I wanted to change down, but I lost all my gears. I stamped on the gear lever and tried to go through the gears, but the even the display where I see what gear I'm in was blank, apart from 3rd. Eventually I got them back, but any ideas what I did? It happened at least twice.

Thanks for the help! I've been practicing with the clutch over the last couple of days, and although my hand is almost extended, I'm getting used to the biting point now. Its a steep learning curve, isn't it? Cheers!

Hi Sorry if this is the wrong part of the forum, but I picked up my first ever bike last weekend - a pre registered CB125F. I only passed my CBT a fortnight ago, having never ridden a bike before. So, question... I'm having issues with clutch control pulling away, and changing between 1st & 2nd. I notice that my hand is quite extended when I hit biting point - I only have small hands. Am I making excuses for bad clutch control, or should I adjust the clutch so it bites sooner? Cheers!

Many congratulations! I have all this to look forward to!

Hello all, I just wanted to say a I passed my CBT at the weekend, so big thanks for all the suggestions! In spite of only a limited time in a carpark performing some frankly dodgy manoevers, over revving the bike (is that a thing?) and stalling God knows how many times, in the afternoon the instructor took us for a ride through Bristol city centre on a busy Saturday. Now if that's not a baptism of fire, then I don't know what is! I am looking forward to picking up my Honda CB125F at the weekend and I guess now I'll really start to learn!

That's some great advice, thanks. I hope I get through it OK, cos I've got a nice little Honda CB125F with my name on it waiting for me! Cheers!

Thanks for the replies, I feel a bit better about it now! It's in just 2 weeks time, will let you know how it goes!