Trying to get Class 2B at 54 yrs old

[duo]

You will be be a great motivation for others once you get your 2B licence.

 

You are most likely just nervous/tense. You really need to relax. Perhaps you could ride a bicycle from time to time before the practicals. Its basically similar. It will definitely help you alot. Falling is part of learning. However due to age of course you will be scared of falling. I believe its now compulsory to be wearing the pads during practicals right? Just remember to stay relax, motivated and focus. Take note of the pointers the instructors give. They are there to teach you and good luck.

[MR BIKER]

I hope so 736cc.

 

I start noticing riders on the road and they just do without thinking. They don't seem to watch their eye point, look up etc .... They certainly dont grip their fuel tank real tight. But I suppose they must all do. Just that they are so natural.

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

 

oooooo. joe . you are really wrong man. must grip fuel tank tight. its really something out of this world

[QuaXum]

Don't give up! Age is just a number!

 

Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk

[fw78j]

Dont give up keep trying .

 

Sent from my LG-H650 using Tapatalk

[Joe Jess]

Thanks fella.

I will keep you guys updated with my progress. Or the lack of it. Ha ha

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[nsr1980]

just keep on trying and enjoy the learning process. even class 2 student can fall.

[Shanghai]

Joe Jess, I'm 58 years old and passed my 2A in February (2016). I also struggled at the start. Persistence and will power got me there.

Listen to everything the instructors tell you and if in doubt ask them

Keep it up.

[Joe Jess]

Thanks Shanghai.

 

I took my plank/pylon lesson today. Fail again.

 

Give me a chance to be persistent. Ha ha.

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[Shanghai]

Look ahead past the end of the plank. Never look down.

Balance throttle and clutch to keep forward momentum

Use rear brake to control speed.

If you have no forward momentum you will fall off.

[kaizersg]

Come On Dun Giv Up , GoGoGo

[jbdoggy]

Joe,

 

Dont just move off from the starting line when its time to move off. Must AIM the bike to the ctr of the plank 1st. So focus your eyes to the ctr of the start of the plank & make a normal start. keep your eyes at that point always & then when your front wheel mounts the plank, flick your eyes up & look at the cones or whatever....

 

Diff people have diff eyelines....some look at the end of the plank. Some look at the 1st cone, some the last, some even further away. I personally alternate betn the 1st cone & the end of the plank. Do whatever works for you best.

 

But bottomline is.... you MUST AIM 1ST before anything else.

[Joe Jess]

Joe,

 

Dont just move off from the starting line when its time to move off. Must AIM the bike to the ctr of the plank 1st. So focus your eyes to the ctr of the start of the plank & make a normal start. keep your eyes at that point always & then when your front wheel mounts the plank, flick your eyes up & look at the cones or whatever....

 

Diff people have diff eyelines....some look at the end of the plank. Some look at the 1st cone, some the last, some even further away. I personally alternate betn the 1st cone & the end of the plank. Do whatever works for you best.

 

But bottomline is.... you MUST AIM 1ST before anything else.

You may be on to something here that I think is a part of my problem. I will try that next time. Thanks a lot.

 

I tend to fall off near the start. I feel that I get on the plank wobbling blindly. I don't really know where I am.

 

Then after that, it's breaking hard to slow down and then hanging on for dear life. And because of that feeling, I become tense. That's why not consistent.

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[tsleo85]

You may be on to something here that I think is a part of my problem. I will try that next time. Thanks a lot.

 

I tend to fall off near the start. I feel that I get on the plank wobbling blindly. I don't really know where I am.

 

Then after that, it's breaking hard to slow down and then hanging on for dear life. And because of that feeling, I become tense. That's why not consistent.

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

 

Yea, besides looking far - i tend to look super far, like another building kind - for your prob, you might want to try going up with abit more throttle, then for me i like to maintain half clutch and sufficient throttle to keep upright and reduce wobbling, foot brake to control the speed.

[Joe Jess]

Finally pass the plank. 6 times.

 

For me, I had to look to the end of the plank or the pylons. If I look too far, I feel I don't know where I am going. Makes me nervous.

 

I brake so hard until the engine was making knocking sound. But the instructor was nice. He told me to try and fix it in future practice. Let me pass. I even drop the bike and bang my knee on the road. Lol

 

Next stage emergency brake

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[nsr1980]

emergency brake maintan speed at 30kmph eyes look straight arms relax grip tank after the stop line brakes front and rear until nearly bike comes to full stop press hold back clutch left leg down then follow by right leg down left feet back to kick back to gear 1 signal right feet back to rear brake check right back then moving off....

[jbdoggy]

Finally pass the plank. 6 times.

 

For me, I had to look to the end of the plank or the pylons. If I look too far, I feel I don't know where I am going. Makes me nervous.

 

I brake so hard until the engine was making knocking sound. But the instructor was nice. He told me to try and fix it in future practice. Let me pass. I even drop the bike and bang my knee on the road. Lol

 

Next stage emergency brake

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

 

Great to hear that, Joe. Congratulations!

 

Knocking sound in engine?? Im guessing you were using the half clutch method?? If so then its not too bad cos thats what happened to me when i was really pushing for much higher timings. You will hear a slight knock or that the engine is beginning to struggle. Just be careful tho.... you may stall on the plank. Practice practice practice! I practiced the plank the hardest throughout all my revisions.

 

Emergency brake theres a slew of procedures. Instructors are also pretty anal abt your arms being stretched out when you brake. So the moment you reach the braking line just 'push' your handlebars away from you & brake - 70% front brake, 30% rear brake. Eyes look ahead. Dont look down.

 

The procedure is as follows (after you hv stopped):

1) Chk bk right & right foot down

2) Clutch in & kick down to 1st gear. (you may need to pump clutch if gears seem stuck)

3)Chk bk left, left foot down & right foot up

4) Signal right & chk bk right

5) Move off

Edited May 4, 2016 by jbdoggy

[Joe Jess]

Great to hear that, Joe. Congratulations!

 

Knocking sound in engine?? Im guessing you were using the half clutch method?? If so then its not too bad cos thats what happened to me when i was really pushing for much higher timings. You will hear a slight knock or that the engine is beginning to struggle. Just be careful tho.... you may stall on the plank. Practice practice practice! I practiced the plank the hardest throughout all my revisions.

 

Emergency brake theres a slew of procedures. Instructors are also pretty anal abt your arms being stretched out when you brake. So the moment you reach the braking line just 'push' your handlebars away from you & brake - 70% front brake, 30% rear brake. Eyes look ahead. Dont look down.

 

The procedure is as follows (after you hv stopped):

1) Chk bk right & right foot down

2) Clutch in & kick down to 1st gear. (you may need to pump clutch if gears seem stuck)

3)Chk bk left, left foot down & right foot up

4) Signal right & chk bk right

5) Move off

Yeah. Still have lots to practice. Need to half clutch more to prevent stalling. Only 1 go during test.

 

How long ago since you passed 2B, jbdoggy?

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[jbdoggy]

How long ago since you passed 2B, jbdoggy?

 

Oh...just over a yr ago. April 8th last year to be exact.

[Veil]

Double post

[Veil]

Only now at 54, I decided to take Class 2B. Enrolled at BBDC.

Thought it will be easy. But isn't. After 20 lessons, still trying to clear the plank/pylon.

Haven't even done emergency stop and S course and crank course.

 

Feel like giving up already.

Any advice from people learning to ride at this age? (been driving class 3 for 37 years).

 

 

Joe,

 

I know it sounds old to say this but just don't give up. Mentality is very important as a rider to survive on the road. Treat the failures during your training as a form of insurance when you start riding in the future.

 

For your age, must have the thinking of "Fail so what?! Repeat only mah! Uncle me have time and money! What i never been thru?!"

 

I got my 2B, 2A and 2 from BBDC and i enjoyed the process more than the moment i got my licences. In fact, i love going to the centre so much that i joined as an instructor last year. If you need help, i can share with you my personal experience on days which you have lesson.

[Joe Jess]

Joe,

 

I know it sounds old to say this but just don't give up. Mentality is very important as a rider to survive on the road. Treat the failures during your training as a form of insurance when you start riding in the future.

 

For your age, must have the thinking of "Fail so what?! Repeat only mah! Uncle me have time and money! What i never been thru?!"

 

I got my 2B, 2A and 2 from BBDC and i enjoyed the process more than the moment i got my licences. In fact, i love going to the centre so much that i joined as an instructor last year. If you need help, i can share with you my personal experience on days which you have lesson.

Hi Veil.

 

An instructor at BBDC. Wow.

 

I will pm you when I next make a booking. next week sometime. Maybe you will take our group.

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[Joe Jess]

Oh...just over a yr ago. April 8th last year to be exact.

So it's now time to do 2A.

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

[wahlau]

Don't give up! I passed my class 2b earlier this year at 41 years old. For plank, one of best advice an instructor gave me was to not worry about the timing, just go through the plank without falling off at a speed you are comfortable with. Once you're comfortable, you can start focusing on things to improve the timing like rear braking and more control of the throttle etc

[Siphon]

Finally pass the plank. 6 times.

 

For me, I had to look to the end of the plank or the pylons. If I look too far, I feel I don't know where I am going. Makes me nervous.

 

I brake so hard until the engine was making knocking sound. But the instructor was nice. He told me to try and fix it in future practice. Let me pass. I even drop the bike and bang my knee on the road. Lol

 

Next stage emergency brake

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

 

Joe,

 

Great to hear you keeping on the spirit!

 

For plank... there is a cheat... which you can try... when you go through the circuit revision for 2B cause its only for 6 seconds....

 

1. Calm your breath, look at the end of the plank. Aim and tell yourself you can do it.

2. Throttle, release clutch to biting point move.

3. Throttle more so you can climb up. Ensure you have speed fast enough to be STABLE. now use your tights to GRIP the TANK TIGHTLY! This makes you "become one" with the bike... VERY Important for plank and any turning courses eg.. fig 8... crank...

4. Once on the plank, Maintain throttle at lower (heard from the sound... must be able idle can already) CLUTCH FULLY RELEASE.

5. Cruise along smoothly as though you are riding a bicycle.... no matter how fast... you will also not be faster than 4 seconds... which is the passing mark...

 

As you gain confidence, apply the REAR BRAKE to slow down, release CLUTCH to increase speed and release clutch again once you have momentum.

 

Lastly... NEVER EVER USE FRONT BRAKE on the plank.

 

Next. E brakes.

 

1. Look up, fix your posture - Arms straight, back straight, head up (peep at the speed)

2. Throttle up! yeah make sure its loud!!! release the clutch slowly.

3. make sure you go fast enough at gear 1 and 2... by the time you hit gear 3... you should be the required speed already... at gear 3. Its to maintain speed... not to speed up anymore...

4. once pass the cone

5. apply Front and back brake GRADUALLY do NOT SNATCH at the brake feel the brake slowly the bike down. Front more than back because if you step on the back more... you will have a "fish tail" or skid on the back...

6. when you feel the bike knocking a bit and you almost slowed down... CLUTCH in and left leg down. HEAD continue looking at the front.

 

Ah... done...

 

You do not need to prepare yourself to fall if you do all these gradually. In everything, you will perform best when you are RELAXED. don't think so much about the instructor assessing you... just focus on applying the right technique. You will pass if he finds that you are confident to do the task. After that you will go to the Circuit revision to horn your skills for the assessments classes.

 

Don't think they are out to fail you... they are there to make sure you are confident to go on to the next step... because once you are on the road... you are truly on your own... and man... you know how nasty the conditions are out there. Especially with the trucks and lorries when they are rushing...

 

Enjoy your journey! I completed mine already... so its really a great feeling to ride and enjoy the raw feeling of air against your body.

 

All the best!!

[dchanman]

I'm 55 and haven't ridden in 30 years. Already have my 2A and planning to take class 2. Any advice for me? Anyone knows where I can rent a 400 cc bike for say 3 to 6 months?