Help I want to get my licence . . .

[Str8 Jacket]

But I don't know where to begin?! One of my mates told me about this site and suggested that I get the info I need from here.

So here goes . . . .
I've only ever been a pillion and my first ride was over the Rimutakas on a 1000cc, it was one of the scariest things i had ever done at the time, but have really come to love it!
The only thing now is that I broke up with my partner who owned the bike and havent been on a bike since :no:
What im wanting to know is, is there anywhere in Wellington that will let me "hire" a bike so that i can get my confidence up to get my "handling certificate"? Also should I go for a 250cc or smaller?!! HELP PLEASE?!! Bearing in mind that I really haven't got much fof a clue! :D

[johnny]

But I don't know where to begin?! One of my mates told me about this site and suggested that I get the info I need from here.

So here goes . . . .
I've only ever been a pillion and my first ride was over the Rimutakas on a 1000cc, it was one of the scariest things i had ever done at the time, but have really come to love it!
The only thing now is that I broke up with my partner who owned the bike and havent been on a bike since :no:
What im wanting to know is, is there anywhere in Wellington that will let me "hire" a bike so that i can get my confidence up to get my "handling certificate"? Also should I go for a 250cc or smaller?!! HELP PLEASE?!! Bearing in mind that I really haven't got much fof a clue! :D


I dont think you can hire a bike if you dont have a full licence and if u go to the traing school they will provide a bike for you to learn on so dont worry, just go to your nearst motorbikeshop ask for the detail of a trianing school!! Good Luck!! I just got my learner not long ago!! :ride:

[Maximus]

Hello, welcome to the nut house . . . glad you could make it! :msn-wink:

[Str8 Jacket]

I dont think you can hire a bike if you dont have a full licence and if u go to the traing school they will provide a bike for you to learn on so dont worry, just go to your nearst motorbikeshop ask for the detail of a trianing school!! Good Luck!! I just got my learner not long ago!! :ride:

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know :niceone: Do you know what the training schools are like, how long, $$, anything like that?

[Ixion]

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know :niceone: Do you know what the training schools are like, how long, $$, anything like that?

I don't know the training schools in Wellington, though I think there are several. How long (and thus $$$) is pretty much up to you, how much you need to feel confident. If you've ridden a pushbike (and thus understand balance and steering) or can drive a car (and thus understand clutch and traffic and road code) that helps a lot. Most people take 2 or 3 hours training and then go and practice lots.

For your first bike I think most would recommend a soft tuned 250cc. It's better to get a bigger motor that is not highly tuned than a small engine that is very high tuned and thus unforgiving. The Suzuki GN250 is very popular and good value, lots of people here have them.

I'll be very heretical also, and say that if you are completely new to motorvehicles (no pushbike, no car) you might want to consider starting with a scooter (oww, arggh , don't hit me guys ). They often have auto transmissions and other "user friendly" stuff which makes it a bit easier to concentrate on the actual learning bit. You'll probably want to move on to a full blown bike in time though.

Once you have a bike, find a parking lot close to you and drive round and round it on a quiet weekend. Then practice riding on some quiet local streets Be VERY careful at intersections. Remember the reality is that bikes have no right of way (we do legally speaking, but that's not much comfort when you're squashed under a car that should have given way but didn't)

Welcome to the biking world. Have fun ride safe. You'll have a wonderful time. (PS There's quite a few other lady memebers here so you're not alone) .

[Str8 Jacket]

I don't know the training schools in Wellington, though I think there are several. How long (and thus $$$) is pretty much up to you, how much you need to feel confident. If you've ridden a pushbike (and thus understand balance and steering) or can drive a car (and thus understand clutch and traffic and road code) that helps a lot. Most people take 2 or 3 hours training and then go and practice lots.

For your first bike I think most would recommend a soft tuned 250cc. It's better to get a bigger motor that is not highly tuned than a small engine that is very high tuned and thus unforgiving. The Suzuki GN250 is very popular and good value, lots of people here have them.

I'll be very heretical also, and say that if you are completely new to motorvehicles (no pushbike, no car) you might want to consider starting with a scooter (oww, arggh , don't hit me guys ). They often have auto transmissions and other "user friendly" stuff which makes it a bit easier to concentrate on the actual learning bit. You'll probably want to move on to a full blown bike in time though.

Once you have a bike, find a parking lot close to you and drive round and round it on a quiet weekend. Then practice riding on some quiet local streets Be VERY careful at intersections. Remember the reality is that bikes have no right of way (we do legally speaking, but that's not much comfort when you're squashed under a car that should have given way but didn't)

Welcome to the biking world. Have fun ride safe. You'll have a wonderful time. (PS There's quite a few other lady memebers here so you're not alone) .

Hey Thanks heaps Ixion, yea was kinda thinking bout a GN250, tho my mate has a 96' bandit 250, that is comfortable and my feet can touch the ground!!
In my 25 years ive never gotten round to getting my D/L but have ridden lotsa a mountain and road push bikes so think i may be alright (fingers crossed!)
Now all I need is to find out where these school are . . . .

[bear]

Hi and welcome,
Check out the LTSA site for details about licencing (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/motorcycle/index.html), if on a provisional licence you're restricted to a bike no bigger than 250cc.
For riding schools and basic handling certificates you could start with Stephen's Driving/Riding school in Lower Hutt, or Roadsafe in Tawa (http://www.roadsafe.co.nz/).

Enjoy

[Ixion]

..have ridden lotsa a mountain and road push bikes so think i may be alright (fingers crossed!)
..

You'll be fine once you get the hang of the clutch and gearbox bit. Really it's just a bigger pushbike, but you don't have to pedal :niceone:

[MrMelon]

Yeah give roadsafe a call. They do a learn to ride course and basic handling skills course in the same morning and they'll teach you everything you need to know if you've never ridden a bike before. They provide bikes too. All you need to do after that is go pass your scratchy test and pay the feee and you'll have your learners license.

[Str8 Jacket]

Yeah give roadsafe a call. They do a learn to ride course and basic handling skills course in the same morning and they'll teach you everything you need to know if you've never ridden a bike before. They provide bikes too. All you need to do after that is go pass your scratchy test and pay the feee and you'll have your learners license.

Hey thanks heaps everyone, it sounds soo easy, but I know its not going to be! :no: Just realised that Im gonna have to get a road code etc, bleh!

New problem . . .
Just been talking with the guy's at work and some of them :mad: seem to think that I would be better of starting on a smaller bike?! Now im confused (and being a women it dont take much!) I thought that buying a 250cc would be better cause then I would get the experience etc that I need faster, then theres the fact that i wouldn't have to "update" it quite as fast?!!

Does anyone know if the riding schools would allow me to "try out" the different CC-ed bikes etc or do they just have 250's? Sorry to be a pain, I just really wanna be riding ASAP!

[Ixion]

..
Just been talking with the guy's at work and some of them :mad: seem to think that I would be better of starting on a smaller bike?! ..

Real question is not what SIZE bike, but how POWERFUL . Some 250's are very highly tuned (4 cyclinders full fairings etc). They are very fast but harder to learn to ride on. You certainly don't want something like an RGV250 or NSR250 - or even an RG150 really.

But bikes like the GN250 are very easy to ride - they're good for learners. Nowhere near as fast as the sports 250's and you may wnat to upgrade once you're comfortable with riding. A GN250 SRV250 SR250 isn't going to be powerful enough to get you into trouble (assuming you're sensible of course).

I'm sure some of the other lady memebrs (many of whom have 250's ) will give some advice here

Don't go for something too small - 50 cc bikes are quite dangerous in my opinion.

[Str8 Jacket]

Real question is not what SIZE bike, but how POWERFUL . Some 250's are very highly tuned (4 cyclinders full fairings etc). They are very fast but harder to learn to ride on. You certainly don't want something like an RGV250 or NSR250 - or even an RG150 really.



That's what all the guy's say! :laugh: :whistle:

Yea but the POWER bit is what I meant :o - Told you I had no idea! :killingme

[Ixion]

That's what all the guy's say! :laugh: :whistle:

Yea but the POWER bit is what I meant :o - Told you I had no idea! :killingme

Innocently ignores opportunity for double entendre - we don't want to scare you off so early. Once you're hooked - heh heh :devil2:

But seriously , you wouldn't want anything less powerful than a GN250, if you want to use it on the open road . You need enough power to be able to keep up with traffic (yeah I know about the 70kph limit on a learners. yeah. )

Anything under the GN250's 20 odd HP is only going to be usable for local commuting, and won't help you learn the skills needed for a bigger bike later.

(Says he who learned to ride on a BSA Bantam with all of 5 HP. But we were insane in those days )

[Str8 Jacket]

Innocently ignores opportunity for double entendre - we don't want to scare you off so early. Once you're hooked - heh heh :devil2:

But seriously , you wouldn't want anything less powerful than a GN250, if you want to use it on the open road . You need enough power to be able to keep up with traffic (yeah I know about the 70kph limit on a learners. yeah. )

Anything under the GN250's 20 odd HP is only going to be usable for local commuting, and won't help you learn the skills needed for a bigger bike later.

(Says he who learned to ride on a BSA Bantam with all of 5 HP. But we were insane in those days )

:killingme
Not one to get hooked into these kinda things, if im gonna sit in front of a computer voluntarily then its ONLY going to be to play my PS2 . . .

And yea I will be using the bike lots to go to Rotorua, Auckland, and everywhere so it would be nice if I could get there within a week! (hopefully more like 2 days!)

Im quite "lightish" in weight too, so im gathering that a GN would be easy enough to manouvre etc?

[Waylander]

:killingme
Not one to get hooked into these kinda things, if im gonna sit in front of a computer voluntarily then its ONLY going to be to play my PS2 . . .

And yea I will be using the bike lots to go to Rotorua, Auckland, and everywhere so it would be nice if I could get there within a week! (hopefully more like 2 days!)

Im quite "lightish" in weight too, so im gathering that a GN would be easy enough to manouvre etc?
Yea you can do those rides if you can put up with sitting on a bike for that long. Talk to Riff Raff. She did from Auckland to Wellington on a Rebel 250 a while back. But if you stretch the trip out over two days you should be alright. And a 250 will certainly make the trip but you have to watch out for other vehicles that will be going much faster than you.

[Str8 Jacket]

Yea you can do those rides if you can put up with sitting on a bike for that long. Talk to Riff Raff. She did from Auckland to Wellington on a Rebel 250 a while back. But if you stretch the trip out over two days you should be alright. And a 250 will certainly make the trip but you have to watch out for other vehicles that will be going much faster than you.

Did she do it one day? . . .

[Waylander]

I think so yea. Have to talk to her about it or give me a sec and I'll see if I can find her post about it.

[Str8 Jacket]

I think so yea. Have to talk to her about it or give me a sec and I'll see if I can find her post about it.

Well fuck me! :whistle:

If she did then I want to meet her! - Go that girl!!

[Waylander]

Ok I found it, such that it is. Seems she never did a proper ride report for it. Ohwell.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=8841&page=6&pp=15&highlight=Riff+Raff+Wellington

Post #79 but if you want to skim the whole thread you'll get a better picture. 9 hours and some odd minutes.

[Str8 Jacket]

Mate what an effort!! Think id be worried about my arse getting sore tho . . . I remember from my pillion days that my neck hurt a fair bit too sometimes, what a mammoth effort on her behalf. :Punk:

[Waylander]

Yea one hell of a ride. I would'nt suggest doing a ride like that for a while yet though. Not till you get the confidence in yourself and your ride. Start out with some mid length rides for the first few months. The folks down in wellington have them about once a week I think, then start thinking about longer rides up this way.

[Str8 Jacket]

Yea one hell of a ride. I would'nt suggest doing a ride like that for a while yet though. Not till you get the confidence in yourself and your ride. Start out with some mid length rides for the first few months. The folks down in wellington have them about once a week I think, then start thinking about longer rides up this way.


Yea they do, know a few of them . .. believe me I wouldn't think of going any near them on a "group" ride, not going to be up to their calibre for quite some time!
Was thinking though that I could just spend the first 6 months or so riding up and down my road until I grow the balls to get anywhere near the motorway!!. . lol!

[Waylander]

Well you can contact Slipstream. She's getting her licence soon aswell. The two of you could practice together. And then when she finnaly gets a bike the two of you can do rides.

[Str8 Jacket]

Well you can contact Slipstream. She's getting her licence soon aswell. The two of you could practice together. And then when she finnaly gets a bike the two of you can do rides.

Slipstream huh, cool name.
Yea mite give her a pm, see what she say's . . thanks dude :niceone:

[louisb]

A little while back I got my Learners with Andrew Templeton at roadsafe in wellington. it cost $180 for the 4-5 hours of learning and evaluations etc. I think it's cheaper if you bring your own bike.

Excellent course, lots of fun...

the bikes they use are pretty bog standard 2-strokes, pretty easy to ride.

Now i just need to do the restricted and full.

[Ghost Lemur]

Slipstream huh, cool name.
Yea mite give her a pm, see what she say's . . thanks dude :niceone:

There's also Celtic Sea Lily and Jazbug in Wellington. Both are on 250's.

[Str8 Jacket]

A little while back I got my Learners with Andrew Templeton at roadsafe in wellington. it cost $180 for the 4-5 hours of learning and evaluations etc. I think it's cheaper if you bring your own bike.

Excellent course, lots of fun...

the bikes they use are pretty bog standard 2-strokes, pretty easy to ride.

Now i just need to do the restricted and full.

Cool, im not too worried about the cost, I just wanna RIDE! Anyway its gotta be cheaper than a bloody car, rite?!
Looks like theres a few peoples down here I could turn to for pointers etc, but for now I best be staying away from the site for the rest of the day before my boss kicks my arse! Thanks everyone for your help :niceone:

[crashe]

Welcome to KB land.....

Go and sit your scratchy test..... etc...
and go to the bike school.....

Before buying a bike, go around the bike shops and ask to sit on the 250cc 's and under... get the feel of the bikes.... can you lift it up off the stand quite easily... do you feel comfy on the bike.... do you feel at one with the bike.

I ride a 250cc cruiser and I love my bike.

I just rode from West Auckland to Hastings and back the last long weekend.
It took my 5 1/2 hours one way.

Start also looking at the riding gear you will need as well.
You can buy a full-face helmet from $120 upwards.

With winter coming on you will need decent footwear and gear that you wont get drenched in when out riding. Look around the bike shops as well at the prices.

When you do get your license and a bike, enjoy riding, and ride safely.
In the rain always go slower.... as the roads are really slippery.

[surfchick]

hi-
don't get anything smaller than a 250cc- I bought mine to improve my commuting situation- it can do 100kph fine, but I still wish for that bit of extra power so it can do that & more in a more relaxed fashion. Now i'm pretty addicted- so i would say DON"T get a little bike for girls or even a scooter cause it won't be as fun after the first about 2 weeks- The initial 1st week after you buy your own bike is pretty hairy- i would say no matter what bike you get so go as grunty as you can afford- but as the prev. post said not to sensitive in the throttle. even if the 150's feel all nimble and light- still go for a 250 (unless you somehow score a super duper li'll cc one)- mine still blows all over the show in a cross wind as do i cause i'm only bout 65kgs.

but do get a bike! find slipstream- and when you're sussed come up to auckland on her 125cc wellington-auckland double dare. AWESOME. see you here in auckland in july!!

[marty]

.

So here goes . . . .
I've only ever been a pillion and my first ride was over the Rimutakas on a 1000cc, it was one of the scariest things i had ever done at the time, but have really come to love it!
! :D


maybve you should talk to wkid - he LOVES the taka's on a 1000cc

[CBRacer]

hey there. this is my first post. so here goes. i was in your shoes, (wanting a licence but not knowing where to start) even if you havnt ridden before, give roadsafe a call (04) 232 0110 they will give you every bit of information you'll need. even if you've never ridden before. they also hire bikes for learner licence tests. well worth it. :ride:

[surfchick]

hello CBR racer!!

[CBRacer]

hey there. nice to meet ya. sorry bout the late response. forget to check it again. :-)

whatdo you ride? im new to this whole thing if you hadnt gathered

[CBRacer]

im coming up to akl in a couple of weeks. are you keen for a ride somewhere? i dont know AKL tho...

[Waylander]

Reeled in another one eh Surf? lol.

[CBRacer]

ah? is there somethin i should know about this one? lol

[Waylander]

ah? is there somethin i should know about this one? lol

Don't mind me mate I'm drunk again. I was picking on you cause of the eager boyish tone that I took your post to be in. If you look across from her user name it shows what she rides. Same with everybody.

[CBRacer]

ooohh yea. im still learnin... im better on my bike. :-p

[surfchick]

Reeled in another one eh Surf? lol.

:devil2: :devil2: :devil2:

[surfchick]

im coming up to akl in a couple of weeks. are you keen for a ride somewhere? i dont know AKL tho...

Always.
'cept lately i've been cursed w. 3 flat front tires in 3 weeks- which pretty much guarantees no-one riding with me will get a flat. you don't need to know auckland- just the roads that leave it :msn-wink:

[Str8 Jacket]

hey there. this is my first post. so here goes. i was in your shoes, (wanting a licence but not knowing where to start) even if you havnt ridden before, give roadsafe a call (04) 232 0110 they will give you every bit of information you'll need. even if you've never ridden before. they also hire bikes for learner licence tests. well worth it. :ride:

Hello, and thanks. Yea gonna get all that stuff sorted by the end of the week, im getting all excited now!! :yeah:

[Str8 Jacket]

I have registered with Roadsafe via internet as no-one was answering the phone, does anyone know how long I can expect to wait before I hear from them? (it does say within 24 hours, but im getting impatient!)

[Waylander]

You could always show up at thier office. Or do they even have an office?

[Str8 Jacket]

You could always show up at thier office. Or do they even have an office?

Mate, the weather in Wellington is crapola! And as I don't drive I aint making my way through the wind and rain!! But thanks anyway :niceone:

[Waylander]

Mate, the weather in Wellington is crapola! And as I don't drive I aint making my way through the wind and rain!! But thanks anyway :niceone:
Oh come on now. What kind of biker are you gonna be if a little water puts you off?:msn-wink:

[Str8 Jacket]

Oh come on now. What kind of biker are you gonna be if a little water puts you off?:msn-wink:

Good point, you got me there, Bastard! (pt)

But I still aint going out there . . . .

[MSTRS]

send them a parcel bomb. That'll get their attention :laugh: :laugh:

[Str8 Jacket]

send them a parcel bomb. That'll get their attention :laugh: :laugh:

:killingme

But I think i'd rather get on there "good" side!

[Waylander]

:killingme

But I think i'd rather get on there "good" side!
So long as it doesn't blow you will be. Other government groups however....

[Str8 Jacket]

So long as it doesn't blow you will be. Other government groups however....

hehe, sadly I am a government employee, suppossed (sp) to be "enforcing" the law, but it is getting a little boring . . . . :whistle:

[Waylander]

hehe, sadly I am a government employee, suppossed (sp) to be "enforcing" the law, but it is getting a little boring . . . . :whistle:
Well there ya go then. You're a memeber of the governement group that would be upset, so there for you have nothing to worry about. How can you be after yourelf? It's the perfect crime!!:devil2: ALL HAIL PLAN Z!!!!!
http://www.hollywoodcollectorshow.com/Plankton.jpg

[Str8 Jacket]

Well there ya go then. You're a memeber of the governement group that would be upset, so there for you have nothing to worry about. How can you be after yourelf? It's the perfect crime!!:devil2: ALL HAIL PLAN Z!!!!!

:laugh: . . . . :devil2:
But you never know who's watching . . . . :shifty:

[Waylander]

Well to start with there is the American CIA...:whistle:

[Str8 Jacket]

It appears the boss is watching. . . . :whistle: . . . . Back to work I go :mad:

[Waylander]

:killingme:killingme Have fun lol.

[Maximus]

It appears the boss is watching. . . . :whistle: . . . . Back to work I go :mad:

That's why you need to be the boss!

[Str8 Jacket]

That's why you need to be the boss!

Being the boss would mean I would have to be reasponsable, not too keen on that, nor the extra work and hours it would involve.

I have now gone and bought a road code - not having any kinda licence sux cause now I have to learn the road code etc, bleh! The cool thing is that one of the guy's at work has just bought his wife a 250??? and said it'll be up and runnin in a coupla weeks, so he's offered to teach me to ride on that with her, which means it's not gonna cost so much to get my basic handling cert etc. Now all I need is a helmet and gloves . . . And my OWN bike, hopefully sooner rather than later!! :D

[Maximus]

Being the boss would mean I would have to be responsable, not too keen on that, nor the extra work and hours it would involve.



Well i know that im not responsable, just in charge. It's all about being able to delegate! :msn-wink:

[Waylander]

Now all I need is a helmet and gloves . . . And my OWN bike, hopefully sooner rather than later!! :D

Don't forget a good jacket. One that's actually for motorcyclists.