Safe Speed Forums

Went to my local 'bikers world' shop today - in the Midlands area. To my horror I witnessed a young lad trying to ride his new Apprilia 125 - his dad had just bought him it. Brand new on an 08 plate, he stalled it about 20 times whilst trying to pull away - into a 50mph main road, I might add!!

A friend was with me and he went back into the dealership and asked if this young lad had a CBT. They said that he had, but came out to give the kid some 'help'. After about 3 more attempts at trying to ride the bike and stalling it on each occasion, the employee came away saying 'what the hell do they teach them in the CBT these days???'

Unfortunately, I had to get back and we decided to leave, rather than hang around and witness the enevitable. If that young lad did eventually get the bike running in first, I'm pretty certain he wouldn't have found 2nd gear, plus the added burden of having to stear it and use the brakes. OMFG!!

A statistic waiting to happen. I suppose I should have gone over to the dad and suggest that the lad should have a lesson with a qualified instructor before going it alone, but in this day and age, I would have probably been attacked for highlighting my concerns - I mean, loss of pride is probably worse than the potential of 'loss of life'.....

And a very good example of why it's a good plan to take CBT on the bike you're actually going to be riding...

I hope this kid survives his first 6 months...

The thing is, CBT lasts for IIRC 2 years, which is an awful long time to forget stuff like clutch control.

Shame on the dad for not seeing what was happening and insisting on laddie getting used to the bike somewhere quiet first too.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

Sometimes its all down to the standards of the school providing the CBT some just do it for the cash and little concern for the end result however, if it was a125 bike then something is wrong already there, I could quote all the regs but wont in case they have changed recently but I will check but this case seems to be a kid jumping the gun and often in past experience its not unusual for kids to turn up even with parents on a bike they are not entitled to ride or get through cbt on a twist and go moped then go buy something they are not entitled to ride anyway.