We don’t actually know who Jack is, but that’s not why we’re here. Instead, it’s all about riding for the first time, and not at rider training either. This was our first actual proper ride, on real roads, aboard the 2024 Honda CB125F.
Fear, anxiety, straight up crapping oneself, whatever you want to call it, those are the thoughts that enter your head when you’re about to go on your first real ride. Sure, you’ve got your licence, and you’ve done your pre-learners, but this isn’t those.
Both give you a little confidence, and that’s a good thing, but what they don’t give you is bravado, and if they do, then maybe riding is not for you, because that’s a pathway to being a statistic.
Confidence is what you’re ultimately looking for, in yourself, and in the machine beneath you. Suited up (in DriRider’s Titan jeans, Air Ride 5 jacket, Apex 2 gloves and Urban 2.0 boots, as well as our HJC i71 lid for those keeping tabs), we threw our leg over.
Insert the key, pull the clutch in, hit the start button, bring the throttle to the rev point and ease the clutch out in first gear as you start to accelerate. That’s essentially the process. Two stalls later, we managed to get out of the drive way, feeling a little sheepish.
Remembering everything you learned at your pre-learners is the first step, and one yours truly found himself going over before he got on the bike. Not forgetting the road rules is the second, and probably more important one.
Heeding some sage advice to think like everyone wants to kill you wasn’t bad either. That’s not to say people are actually out there to do that, but it does remind you to be properly cautious out on the road.
We were underway, shifting our way through the gears to get up to a reasonable speed. The Honda feels good for a first bike to ride, and was probably the most sensible choice, given it’s the fairing version of the bike we learnt on at Stay Upright.
That first go consisted of a trip from home to the local soccer club for a mid-afternoon meeting. Easy, or at least easier than anything too big. It was hot, damn hot – 37 degrees Celsius in fact, and it’s this factor that taught us our first lesson.
Fit the pinlock to the helmet, it stops fogging. In the astounding heat, paired with the fact that you breath fairly heavy when it’s hot and your wrapped in riding gear, the visor fogged multiple times.
No problem, we popped it a tiny bit to let the outside air in (we’ve since fitted the pinlock). It was all very nervous, and yet we were never not smiling. It’s an odd combination.
Part anxiety that you’re going to do something wrong rolled together with what felt like joy and amusement mixed together, is a truly unique experience. But it was on the ride home that things changed.
The trip back from the meeting was more confident, and definitely a relaxed, less stressful affair. That brought with it, a new experience. Exhilaration. Now I know why people ride. It’s adrenalin fuelled and wonderful, all at the same time.
Sure, you have to concentrate like nobody’s business, and remind yourself that you’re the master or mistress of your own safety and riding experience, but this is special. It’s like driving a car by yourself on a quiet country road, alone. It’s superb.
A dozen rides later, that feeling hasn’t changed. We’ve certainly become more road aware in that time, and come to the realisation that there are some people who legitimately have a thing against motorcycles, but that hasn’t dampened the enjoyment.
Our trusty steed has helped. Despite being what far more experienced riders might call underpowered, the 2024 Honda CB125F is easy to ride for a beginner. It has a manageable clutch, decent brakes and offers good acceleration.
Even better, it’s the same bike (in its CB125E form) that most rider training facilities use for both your pre-learners and in the case of NSW, your MOST or P’s course. We’ve also stepped on a few other machines.
We took a few turns on the Honda GB350, and a Kawasaki Z500 (which we rode home from Auburn, including stints on both the M1 and Old Pacific Hwy – a truly awesome piece of road, even at the speed limit).
We also took a whirl on the latter brand’s Eliminator naked cruiser. There are more planned, with bikes from Royal Enfield, CFMOTO and Harley-Davidson all on the agenda for learner rides.
For now though, it’s time to tell you all about our riding gear, from a learner’s perspective. Reviews of the HJC helmet, and all our DriRider gear are on the way. In the meantime, ride safe.
Our test bikes were provided by Honda Australia and Kawasaki Australia for independent review purposes. Pictures courtesy of Heather Ware/BikeReview.com.au
