In October 2006 I passed my CBT (Compulsary basic training) although I had started the training on a Honda CG125 I wasn't doing to well, so the instructer, Keith, quickly put me on a ped, and when he asked me if i've ever ridden a ped before I said no, and the look on his face was to die for, but as he watched me go round (I found the ped stupidly easy to ride) he asked me again if I was sure that i had never been on a ped before and so we continued. 7 hrs later (yup) I was given my CBT certificate.

I had told keith that I had a 125 geared bike andhe told me the other procedures i needed to know (clutch control more than anything). He also said I was one of the politest people he has taught, which put me in a happy mood :).

The first real test for me on my bike was going to college on it for the first time. It was a wednesday, I had first and last lesson so I thought I could get some practice in. Although ,my bike still scared me to bits (and still does sometimes).
So I went for me first longish trip (remember my bikes not fast, 55mph top speed but its plenty enough for a begininer) to college, after getting there alright I made my way home (after my computing lesson of course). And sat and watched tv (this being a first in my life, not the watching tv but the being home being able to do "stuff" bit) and talked to my mum.

Afterwards I headed out towards college again, and this is where my bike really killed my confidence, better that than myself I suppose. Halfway to college on a dual carriage way my bike cut out on me. Little shakken but ok.
Took 10 minuites to start again but it started (remember my bike was running rough as I hadden't done anything to it yet) and I continued down the dual cariage way....... for it to do it again, I was not happy. I then rang my mum, as all bikers do, and rang college to let them know I would be late (actually I think my mum rang college for me... anyway) . I got it to start again and managed to get to a petrol station, don't know why but my bike was fine after that. But I never forgave it.

Problem 5: Gear indicator doesn't work with all gears Solution: I took apart the headlamp to look at the wiring, noticed some connectors where bent and in the wrong place. Took quite a while actually but in all happily done.

Problem 6: Speedo Says im going at 0, hmmm Soltuion: Check cable. Bloody heck the cable snapped! Placed in vice and used some very strong adhesive, left to dry for a week. Fixed

Problem 7: Won't idle well, only at about 3000rpm, and hunts Solution: I checked the craboratoer over and over again, still no idea what the hell was up, took it off and read the good old haynes manual. Says adjust piolot screw, now wheres that? underneath? nope theres a great wooping whole there.......ah.......thats all it was? yup, baught replacement piolet screw works like a dream.

Problem 8: Speedo says im going 50 when stopped? Solution:I checked the speedometer unit (ie took it apart noticed the spring was damaged, rather badly, so spent a month looking for a replacement. David silver quoted £130! Bloody heck. But i managed to find one through ebay (but not on it) for £30. Brand new and unbranded as you can see in the pictures.

Problem 9: None Feels strange theres actually nothing wrong with the bike now. Just need to pass my test now *gulp*

Now that i've passed my full test :) i'm looking to sell this bike on. So if you know someone who might be interested then let them know.

Ok so straight after my CBT, I popped into the honda garage to pick up some L plates for my bike. And, as any excited teenager would do, as soon as I got home I put the L plates on with some help with my dad. Put my jacket, gloves and helmet on and went down the track towards the farmers house. I don't know what it was but it felt so free to be riding my bike, and that to MY BIKE gave me the biggest feeling of independance i'd ever had.

So I took here out a bit further this time, just to get used to going up and down the gears and corners. Oh theres a story too, I was quite nervous about biking because of corners, i'ld seen bikers leaning over all the time and woundered how, just how can they manage that? Well in my CBT, (even though I was on a ped) , I found myself going wow, i'm leaning, and i'm not even trying to! anyway back to my little adventure out. I was on what I thought to be a quiet, long straight road in the middle of nowhere to practice a bit higher speeds and emergency braking, but my god the amount of learner car driers going up and down that road! So I quickly left and went back home.

So then two months whent by and i just didn't use my bike, to scared I suppose. I used it again for new years, to go to my lovly girlfriends :) and it was fine, but rough.

Then the work started, I was fed up of a none working well bike, which I had spent my hard earned money on.

Heres a list of things that i've done to the bike.

Problem 1: cuts out whilst riding Solution: No idea, took to mechanic who had no idea. Cleaned carbs out - seemed to work as i've never had a problem since!

Problem 2: Electric were abused by previous owner Solution: redid them so that it was safe to go out in the rain!

Problem 3: Front brake very spongeey Solution: Tighten up brake lever. Then do a few brakes, then adjust again. Took a week to fully rectify

Problem 4: Neutral Light doesn't work Solution: I followed the wire all the way allong and fixed some looses conections

Note: The carborator on the bike was replaced with one from a Honda CG125-C, as the origional one doesn't have a place for a pilot screw, and ment you had to let the bike warm up for 4 minuites before you can ride, otherwise when ever you touch the throttle it would die. This was replaced by origional owner.

And here we are, i've had a lesson, and i've got a few more to go ready for my test on the 1st of august *shaky hands*

You would have thought why bother, why not just get a new bike and not worry with all these problems as new bikes have warrenties on them. Well i kept going because it was fun. You find the more you work with something, no matter what it is, the more proud you are of it. And at the end of the day I don't have deep pockets, deep enough for the bike I want anyway.