Biased family members

**paddy** · 24th September 2009, 21:22

Sheba,

You are just at the very beginning. Now I don't know what you "risk profile" is and I don't know what you motivation is. But he's what I would do:

Go to http://www.riderskills.co.nz/ and book yourself into a Basic Handling Skills course. It's $150 and if you want to carry on and get your learners you will need a BHS Certificate anyway.

You can book on-line. You just turn up with you. They will provide you with gloves (I didn't bother), helmet (I definitely bothered), and a suitable motorcycle (I found that bit essential). You get a couple of hours of instruction and practice and then the BHS test at the end. Presuming you pass the test that will give you the certificate you need to get your learners. You can then do the learners' Scratch & Win. The time period that you are required to stay on your learners will then be ticking away even if you are not riding and never do anything else with it.

(The only real difference between a learners and a restricted is that you can ditch the L plate which most folk will tell you is a good thing and you can ride up to the 100 km/h speed limit which ALL folk will tell you is a good thing. From what I remember there may also be alcohol differences but my personal opinion would be just don't.)

It sounds like it would be a good first step for you. Because you get some good support from the instructor to get started. You will get to figure out if it's "you" or not while riding someone else's bike that it's okay to drop. If you decide that it is you then you have your BHS Cert. that you need to carry on.

(Riderskills was just where I did mine because when I looked around he had the best price - there are other providers but I have no frame of reference to compare them.)

Good luck!

P.

**paddy** · 24th September 2009, 21:29

Sheba Profile:
Bike: Kawasaki KLE 500

There something we don't know - or is that "the dream" for you? (In which case might want to wack a "I want a" or "my dream" in front of it. Remember that you can't ride anything over a 250 on your learners. Nice bike though. I could see myself on something like that although I'm personally partial to BMWs. Perhaps a nice F650 Dakar or a F800GS. (Anything up from that would probably be a bit much for me at the moment - at this stage I break something on my DR250 every-time I take it off the road. [Mental note]Don't get sideways on a 40 degree slope with no momentum - your downhill foot won't touch the ground. Idiot.[/end mental note]).

New clutch lever for me....

**trailblazer** · 24th September 2009, 22:08

well my dad lost his life while riding a motorbike when i was 2yrs old so my family has always hated motorbikes. I have always loved bikes and have wanted 1 for as long as i can remember which has got me some pretty intense lectures from my family along with a threat that my uncle was going to burn my bike if i ever got 1. But last month when i finally purchased my first bike when i rang my mum to tell her she hit me with a suprise response. She said to me that Dad always loved his bike and he always had a smile after a ride so that she was glade that he died the way he did rather than some crap illness like cancer etc cause at least his last moments were happy ones doing what he loved. She just told me 3 things to do that will put her mind at ease. 1. take it easy and don't be a dick. 2. Always give my wife and son a hug and kiss and tell them i love them before i get on the bike. 3. Never ever get on the bike while i am angry. That meant alot to me cause now i can feal the passion that dad had for bikes and 1 day i will be able to share that with my son.

**PrincessBandit** · 24th September 2009, 22:17

Originally Posted by Dean

lol nah it goes alright with mum on the back, sure they go 70kph up hills but on straights they keep a healthy 100kph. ........ its so awesome having a biker family the garage is always full lol.

I hear you there! We have 3 bikes and riders in our house (me, husband and son). I have pillioned my 17 year old son on the back on the ginny once going home from school (one of the schools I teach at is his school). 2up on the wee ginny was ok for a short distance but I wouldn't want to do a longish ride like that! It was probably a little different for me as he was the heavy one one the back rather than me (he's on his R so is not allowed to pilot yet).

It is very cool having a family who ride. Even our daughter is getting a bit interested......

But the flip side is we are very aware of staying as safe as possible and minimising risks as much as we're able. Doesn't mean we don't have fun - we do. We're more easily delighted with just riding without having to indulge in acts which jeopardise our safety any more than need be. We'll happily leave that to others!

**Laxi** · 24th September 2009, 22:22

Originally Posted by trailblazer

1. take it easy and don't be a dick. 2. Always give my wife and son a hug and kiss and tell them i love them before i get on the bike. 3. Never ever get on the bike while i am angry.

mums do know best! awsome advice there

**Fatt Max** · 24th September 2009, 22:27

Originally Posted by ital916

your really are like a mom to the young uns on kb mom

Bless your kind heart.

Just what I was thinking. Mom, you are a legend and no mistake...

Can I have a lolly now?

**Sheba** · 24th September 2009, 22:33

Originally Posted by paddy

Sheba Profile:
Bike: Kawasaki KLE 500

There something we don't know - or is that "the dream" for you? (In which case might want to wack a "I want a" or "my dream" in front of it. Remember that you can't ride anything over a 250 on your learners. Nice bike though. I could see myself on something like that although I'm personally partial to BMWs. Perhaps a nice F650 Dakar or a F800GS. (Anything up from that would probably be a bit much for me at the moment - at this stage I break something on my DR250 every-time I take it off the road. [Mental note]Don't get sideways on a 40 degree slope with no momentum - your downhill foot won't touch the ground. Idiot.[/end mental note]).

New clutch lever for me....

The dream only at this point, I'm afraid. Changes made. Thanks for pointing that out. :-) I see you pay attention to details...

**Sheba** · 24th September 2009, 22:42

Originally Posted by paddy

Sheba,

You are just at the very beginning. Now I don't know what you "risk profile" is and I don't know what you motivation is. But he's what I would do:

Go to http://www.riderskills.co.nz/ and book yourself into a Basic Handling Skills course. It's $150 and if you want to carry on and get your learners you will need a BHS Certificate anyway.

You can book on-line. You just turn up with you. They will provide you with gloves (I didn't bother), helmet (I definitely bothered), and a suitable motorcycle (I found that bit essential). You get a couple of hours of instruction and practice and then the BHS test at the end. Presuming you pass the test that will give you the certificate you need to get your learners. You can then do the learners' Scratch & Win. The time period that you are required to stay on your learners will then be ticking away even if you are not riding and never do anything else with it.

(The only real difference between a learners and a restricted is that you can ditch the L plate which most folk will tell you is a good thing and you can ride up to the 100 km/h speed limit which ALL folk will tell you is a good thing. From what I remember there may also be alcohol differences but my personal opinion would be just don't.)

It sounds like it would be a good first step for you. Because you get some good support from the instructor to get started. You will get to figure out if it's "you" or not while riding someone else's bike that it's okay to drop. If you decide that it is you then you have your BHS Cert. that you need to carry on.

(Riderskills was just where I did mine because when I looked around he had the best price - there are other providers but I have no frame of reference to compare them.)

Good luck!

P.

Wow, thanks for the info. Sounds like a good place to start.

**Sheba** · 24th September 2009, 22:45

Originally Posted by trailblazer

well my dad lost his life while riding a motorbike when i was 2yrs old so my family has always hated motorbikes. I have always loved bikes and have wanted 1 for as long as i can remember which has got me some pretty intense lectures from my family along with a threat that my uncle was going to burn my bike if i ever got 1. But last month when i finally purchased my first bike when i rang my mum to tell her she hit me with a suprise response. She said to me that Dad always loved his bike and he always had a smile after a ride so that she was glade that he died the way he did rather than some crap illness like cancer etc cause at least his last moments were happy ones doing what he loved. She just told me 3 things to do that will put her mind at ease. 1. take it easy and don't be a dick. 2. Always give my wife and son a hug and kiss and tell them i love them before i get on the bike. 3. Never ever get on the bike while i am angry. That meant alot to me cause now i can feal the passion that dad had for bikes and 1 day i will be able to share that with my son.

Thanks for sharing that. Some very good advice out there. I'm learning that KB people have lots of opinions, mostly good ones, and heaps of life experience.

**NordieBoy** · 24th September 2009, 22:47

Mum gave me her Yammy SR185 for my 21st

That left her with her Yammy QT50 scooter.

**paddy** · 24th September 2009, 23:06

Originally Posted by trailblazer

well my dad lost his life while riding a motorbike when i was 2yrs old so my family has always hated motorbikes. I have always loved bikes and have wanted 1 for as long as i can remember which has got me some pretty intense lectures from my family along with a threat that my uncle was going to burn my bike if i ever got 1. But last month when i finally purchased my first bike when i rang my mum to tell her she hit me with a suprise response. She said to me that Dad always loved his bike and he always had a smile after a ride so that she was glade that he died the way he did rather than some crap illness like cancer etc cause at least his last moments were happy ones doing what he loved. She just told me 3 things to do that will put her mind at ease. 1. take it easy and don't be a dick. 2. Always give my wife and son a hug and kiss and tell them i love them before i get on the bike. 3. Never ever get on the bike while i am angry. That meant alot to me cause now i can feal the passion that dad had for bikes and 1 day i will be able to share that with my son.

That's a really cool story (not cool that he died obviously). I love that you are able to connect to you dad in that way. That really is very special. And topical given the situation of Alex/Anika/Connor in some of the other threads.

**paddy** · 24th September 2009, 23:08

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Mum gave me her Yammy SR185 for my 21st

That left her with her Yammy QT50 scooter.

Did ya say thank you? :-)

**howdamnhard** · 24th September 2009, 23:29

Originally Posted by Sheba

Just dealing with family members that are discouraging me to pursue motorbiking because of safety issues. Just wanted some input from those who have came across the same from either family or friends...

Well it is more dangerous than driving a car. But as others have said it depends on the person and their circumstances. Everything has risk. If you calculate it is worth it for you and your circumstances then do it. It's a balance between risk and reward. You need to have some risk to know that you are alive but not so much that you are dead. Just do it if thats what you want to do but minimise your risks by learning as much as you can and using the right gear. You will never minimise risk totally , in whatever you do and if it is your time then it is your time.
Riding is indeed great for making you know that you are alive , salve for the soul.

**Stickchick** · 24th September 2009, 23:32

My whole family (including me) hated motorcycles as my sisters boyfriend got killed on one when he got hit by a 66 year old drunk driver at the age of 21. When I started going out with a Motorcyclist it changed everything for me. I loved the freedom of being on the back and I wanted to have a go myself so my partner started to teach me. I moved to the Hawkes Bay and learnt to ride more up there by some great friends. I even had 11 Bikes escort me for my first proper road ride. My parents were mortified. Right up till the day they met the people I rode with. They soon changed their tune. They realised that I wasn't riding with a bunch of twats and that I was being well looked after when riding.

Now I recently fell off and thought "shit Mum and Dad are gonna kill me". But I didn't even get a lecture. The only thing my Mum had to say was just get back on and try again. She reckons the smile on my face after a ride is well worth seeing.

Your family and friends will eventually come around to the idea when they see how much you love it.