I got my learners! Yet I still need to learn to ride. HELP!

[Pratz]

Heya

I've been savin up for a bike for awhile, finally got a suzuki fxr150. Still saving up for gear. I got my learners but I Still don't know how to ride my bike, I'm just not confident enough I guess. I'm not scaryed of falling, I'm scaryed of Dropping my bike...

My drive way is a mission to get out off...I'm not meant to own a bike..coz friends and family think i'll die. I got life insurance so wat the hell? My dad won't teach me even though he knowz how...

I tried to start my bike, turns out I needed a new battery, so I changed it. Yet I still need to kick start it. Put it on 1st gear...and then it jerks because I forgot wat 2 do after that...my mind goes blank. DUH!

What do I doOoOo...waT do I doO..


PRATZ

[Mom]

You find a mentor. But I worry about your age here a little bit. Um, it's really hard to go against your parents wishes if you still live at home love. Welcome to KB too by the way. Give us a bit more information.

[mossy1200]

You need to start with getting your bike running.pull the clutch lever all the way in and put your bike into 1st gear.(left hand lever)
Then put both feet on the ground.
increase the revs to double the idle speed then let the cluch out very slow.
When you feel the bike begin to move pull the clutch back in so you have not even moved forward or if so just a few cms.
Continue this process of edging forward for a while as its teaching you how and where the clutch operates.
Once you have this mastered edges further forward each time .
Before you know it you will be taking short trips on you bike.
if at any point things get out of hand pulling the clutch lever in will stop progress.
If you find you are stalling the bike then its either to little revs or you have let clutch out to quick.
it would be ideal if you could find someone who will take you to a quiet spot to practice and teach you about riding.
Sometimes being distanced from family watching will help with nerves .
Remember everyone had to learn to ride because its not an ability anyone was born with so its normal to be apprehensive.

[Pedrostt500]

First tip relax, we have all been there done that, though many won't admit it,
Do you have your basic handeling ticket yet?.
There is a Mentor programe on this site, search for a mentor that you think you may get along with who is local to you, they have the Green Me, after their site name, don't be scared to ask lots of questions, the only silly question is the one you don't ask.

[Leyton]

If you know someone who has a dirt bike, or farm bike on a farm. Go nuts on the farm for a little while until you get the basics of how to operate a bike mechanicly. Farms tend to be a bit more forgiving and you do not have the other factors of the road such as traffic etc.... And if you stall, who cares, cows do not even raise there heads :P. And if you slip off, you get muddy :P It is a good place to learn the clutch because if you stall it.. it does not matter, if you let it out too quick, with too much gas you will spin the back wheel.. not a problem.. it just spins and you slip a bit :)

And Mom raised an important, find a mentor. Someone who can teach you, and there are mentors listed on KB. And go easy on your parents :) hehe

My fokes did not let me ride a push bike until I was 13years old out of the front gate.. until I did it anyways.. And it was not until 25 years of age that I acually.. hehe yeah... spoke to my olds on there opinion on getting a bike. Concerned for sure, old man now thinks its great! as we now ride togeather.

All the best on your learnings :)

[Metalor]

Hey Pratz, I'm in Auckland and could teach you the basics. Though you're bike should be starting with the electric starter. Are you sure it's in neutral when your starting it? MAybe you need to hold the clutch in to start it?

Where did you buy it from? Surely they would have shown you how to start it at least...

[CookMySock]

Is there a grassy park nearby you can practice in? If you have your L plate on, people don't mind you wobbling around on the grass - it's not like you are going to rip it all up.

Mostly you need time on the bike, with lots of breaks in between sessions. The time off the bike is just as important as the time on it.

Be patient with yourself. Theres no rush to learn it all. Just have a little play on it until you are bored or bothered, and then put it back in the shed.

Welcome to biking and KB.

Steve

[chef]

maybe you should get a car? haha

[The Stranger]

Heya

I've been savin up for a bike for awhile, finally got a suzuki fxr150. Still saving up for gear. I got my learners but I Still don't know how to ride my bike, I'm just not confident enough I guess. I'm not scaryed of falling, I'm scaryed of Dropping my bike...

My drive way is a mission to get out off...I'm not meant to own a bike..coz friends and family think i'll die. I got life insurance so wat the hell? My dad won't teach me even though he knowz how...

I tried to start my bike, turns out I needed a new battery, so I changed it. Yet I still need to kick start it. Put it on 1st gear...and then it jerks because I forgot wat 2 do after that...my mind goes blank. DUH!

What do I doOoOo...waT do I doO..


PRATZ

Get hold of somone who is experienced in dealing with people who are at your level.
Dawn, or Qkchk on KB is excellent. Her contact details are in her signature.

[Danae]

I have an FXR too :2thumbsup

They are light little things, don't be afraid of dropping it, it's so light you'll probably be able to save it.

And remember, motorbikes operate under the same gyroscopic forces that pushbikes do...the faster you go, the less likely you will just fall over :]

[steve_t]

Congrats on the L plate. Welcome to KB :rockon:

[Murray]

How did you get your learners????

You should have had to do a basic handling test to qualify???

This is all a bit scarey!! Stay off the road until someone has spent plenty of time with you in car parks or whatever!!

[Pratz]

I'm not on the road...I won't till I find someone who can teach me. I did do my basic handling skills test and sum how passed! but I still need learn how to use my own bike, its just not the same to practise on bike/scooter thing for the 1st time. I haven't got anyone to ask if I'm doing it right... its not second nature too me like it is to u...I wish it was though with practise hopefully :D. If I had a flat area thatz close by to practise on I would.

[Pratz]

I bought it from a guy in Wellington got it transported to Auckland. It works fine. Its just that I don't know how to work it without freakin out. Its my 1st bike, everyone is giving me shyt 4 it for many reasons. I am gonna ride my bike, just a matter of time :wari:. I wanna learn how to ride and maintain it. :D

[ckai]

I bought it from a guy in Wellington got it transported to Auckland. It works fine. Its just that I don't know how to work it without freakin out. Its my 1st bike, everyone is giving me shyt 4 it for many reasons. I am gonna ride my bike, just a matter of time :wari:. I wanna learn how to ride and maintain it. :D

hey I dig you're attitude. "Gonna do it no matter what". Good on ya. Like anything that involves balance, it comes down to confidence. If you're scared of dropping it, you probably will. If you're scared of falling off, you probably will (but you're said you're not, so that's good).

Now if you were down in the mighty waikato, there would be a heap of people that would pop around and show you the basics of how to work things. I'm sure someone up there will be keen to help you out. But like what everyone has said hook up with a more experienced rider.

If you can't get your hands on a mentor, just someone that has a few k's under their belt for you to ride with. Don't worry about technical stuff, just get your wheels turning and build that confidence up (I was the same).

Nice work on the learners though. Now you just need someone to go over your bike with ya.
:wari:

[CookMySock]

I am gonna ride my bike, just a matter of time :wari:. I wanna learn how to ride and maintain it. :DWell, heres your answer from your own words. "Time". Just do a little bit every day.. and have fun!

It doesn't matter if today you only put your helmet on, sit on it and start the motor.. next time you will want to try more. Very soon you will get past your fears and be on your way.

Steve

[Jizah]

Take Metalor up on his offer. Simple.

[Mully]

Welcome to KB too by the way.

+1


Get hold of somone who is experienced in dealing with people who are at your level.
Dawn, or Qkchk on KB is excellent. Her contact details are in her signature.

+ a million. Can't plus this enough.


Well, heres your answer from your own words. "Time".

And yeah, this too.

[Nasty]

Welcome to KB ... nice to see you wanting to get out there ...

This link takes you to the mentors ... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/mentors.php?do=list ... one may be right for you :)

Your parents are good and their worry .. that is their job ... life insurance doesn't count ... doesn't make you safe ... doesn't give your parents any comfort .. cos if something happens they do end up living with it and in some cases you won't. I would say .. just check that bit of the attitude before getting on the road - cos in saying that I would back your dad on not wanting to teach you to ride.

Not meaning to be grumpy ... but you need to have the right attitude to get on the road ... that is one of the most important things!

[Qkchk]

I'm not on the road...I won't till I find someone who can teach me. I did do my basic handling skills test and sum how passed!

I am concerned if you passed your BHS test and are still having problems with the basics. QUITE CONCERED.

What I can suggest is you can come and spend an hour with me and we'll get you back on the bike with some confidence. Since you have already passed (?) the BHS test it will be cheaper, I will only charge you $60 for the hour (which includes use of my bike). I have a bike that is very easy to ride (and it won't break as easy as your FXR if you drop it!) I'm based in Albany and teach people on Saturday mornings how to ride and also do BHS testing. Drop me a line info@ridertraining.co.nz.

[yungatart]

Take Qkchk up on her offer...
Like Nasty, I am a little concerned at your attitude towards riding.
Life Insurance WON"T keep you alive. Your parents are just worried, as parents do. It is up to you to prove you can do this sensibly and safely.
100% of your survival as a rider is tied up in the attitude you ride with...make sure it is appropriate.

[bikerboy011]

It is a little bit hard at the beginning but once you get use to it, you just can't wait to get on the bike next :D. Take Qkchk's offer it will help heaps get your confidence up. After i got my learners i did an on road practice lesson with riderskills but thats like 3 years ago. As with the parents they all like that they are just over protective, my dad was the same, at the end i convinced him and he bought me bikes.

[1wheel riot]

find some one with a farm or dirt bike and ride that till you get the hang of it when you feel your read take you road bike to a empty car park and ride it there till you feel your ready to move to the road and stay away from main roads.all wase take your phone and tell some one where your going. what ever you do dont take your road bike on grass because it can be like riding on ice. if you have eny questions just leve me a visitor message.

[bikergirl]

SNAP!! you are in the same boat as I was in. FXR150 was my 1st bike 2. I even had2 get my partner ride it home from the shop for me!! First lax,get someone to run ova da first steps with you,or untill you are going to fast for them to run next to you lol. then I found I nice block of left handers to go round in round on. then get someone to go 4 a cruse with you and that way they can tell you how you look on the road and what you arnt doing right. You will come off,I did my fxr ova good time,but I was fine. PRACTISE,PRACTISE and ask for help,even if they lol at you.Dont give up. I didnt,and you cant keep me off my bike :)

[Pratz]

I'll take some lessons.
I do understand where my parents are coming from, my dad fell of his bike riding and had the skin of his whole thigh hanging off his knee, back when he was young. I know the risk and I know its not the same being the back pillion of a bike aswell. My bike, my hobbie, sorry.

I just wanna learn to ride safely as possible on the road, and the fact that there is help out there makes me breath a little easy.
The person who taught me thought I was ready enough to get my bhs, but its been couple of months break since then so if I had kept practising I wouldn't be so buggered. I had got my learners first then got my bike months later...so of course I'm not gonna be confident. I don't blame the person who taught me.

Having a bike is a risk in itself. No matter how bubble safe one makes the roads it still will always be a risk.

Thanks for all the offers to teach me :) appreciate it. I'm not in any rush to learn, the fact that there is help means I know who to go to now. Besides weathers shyt, haven't got decent riding pants....can't wait till summer :D:D:D (Thatz a long time from now) :)

[varminter]

There has been lots of good advice on here for you. All I can add is possibly your Pa would be willing to take you and the bike somewhere safe, and possibly, soft, to practice. Farm drive/race, paddock etc preferably bone dry (tall order this time of the year) you Pa is worried and as a father (grandad) I can relate to that but perhaps he might help if he sees your determined and willing to try for safety first. Oh yes, GET THE GEAR & WEAR THE GEAR!!