Hi All (squirrel)

[squirrel]

I got my learners and my first bike (Hyosung GT250 Comet) back in June, have hardly ridden it due to overwelming fear and nervousness - looking to sell it and get something lighter (have ridden a friends road legal Xt225 and loved it, much lighter and easier to handle). Live in Eastbourne, Welllington. Looking forward to getting out there!

[MyGSXF]

Hi & welcome!! great to see another chick out there doin it!!! :Punk:

Give Andrew & Lynne at www.roadsafe.co.nz a ring & book yourself in on one of their courses.. before you sell the bike.. it will do wonders for your confidence & ability!!!!!! promise!!! :niceone:

[CookMySock]

You pore thing. Whatever bike you are on, definitely get yourself and your bushy tail some training before you make big decisions, miss.

Also get some helpful person to lower the front for you, so you can get your feet down properly. It's just a ten minute job.

You will come right with some training, support, and time.

Steve

[hayd3n]

i suggest you get some training aswll the comet is a nice bike , and in 6 months you will be having a great time and will enjoy it heaps,
+1 for lowering the bike a little
those 250's are a full size bike

[crazyhorse]

Welcome to KB. Congratulations on your licence. Important to get a bike you feel comfortable to ride and isn't too big for you to learn on. :)

[CookMySock]

Can someone nip around and raise the forks in their clamps for her? I got two comets with shorty-bum lady riders, and this gets the riders' feet well planted and doesn't sensitise the steering at all.

All you need is a allen/hex drive (5 or 6 mm or something) on your 3/8" or 1/2" drive ratchet spanner. Loosen fork clamp bolts evenly, and wriggle the bars gently until the forks slide up until they almost contact the bars. Put a spanner or small sliver of wood on top of the fork cap in case the forks slide up too far - to be removed once the fork clamp is retightened.

Retighten fork clamps to 22-35 N.m.

Piece of piss.

Steve

[squirrel]

hmmm, am pretty commited to selling the hyosung - I didn't put nearly enough research time into purchasing it - I didn't have a licence until a couple of days after I got the bike and didn't test ride anything - pretty silly really but no harm done I guess. Now that I have had a look and try of other bikes I have more idea of what I want...and of what feels good. I don't really like the hyosung much at all, it's probably a case of it being tainted by uncomfortable first experiences but I'm not here to psychoanalyse the whole thing!

At the moment I have a bike in my garage that I don't want to ride.
I know the sort of bike I want to ride, have spent some time on one and had an absolute blast.

Solution - Sell the first one, buy the second one (or some similar after test riding)!!!

Thanks for the advice on altering the Hyosung though - if it doesn't sell I may try it (very handy with a spanner!!) and see what it's like.

Fortunately I can fit two bikes in my garage......:msn-wink:

[PrincessBandit]

Hi there squirrel! Great to see another chickie starting out in the control seat!

Take your time to get your confidence, ride at quiet times of the day with minimal traffic around, use deserted car parks etc. Enrolling in a riding course would be ideal but you need to be able to get yourself to it! The main thing is (and I might get a flaming here for saying it) use your L plate. It will straight away indicate to drivers and other riders that they may need to give you extra room. Remember you have as much right to be on the road as anyone else and as long as you are riding within legal requirements (own your lane too, btw) then others on the road have no right to push you around or intimidate you. That's not to say some dicks won't try to, but hang onto your resolve and stake your piece of the tar seal!

Good for you.

[squirrel]

Thanks Princess - I did a course with roadsafe before I got my licence, was very good and will look to do another course with them in the future. It's good to see that there are lots of women riders - and this forum is great.....

I always use my L-plate - didn't occur to me not to actually!!!!

S

[PrincessBandit]

You will find lots of helpful stuff on here - in many of the forums, and lots of shit too! you will soon learn to sort which is which.

There are a number of riders on here who push the "don't use the L plate" (despite this being worthy of a $400 licence breach if caught). They brag about how they were better off for not displaying them (largely so they could get away with other stuff and not have the big yellow square drawing extra attention to themselves while at it). The reality is that 6 months (min time before you can go for your R - which is pretty easy actually) goes very quickly. Some of us had heaps of fun turning the "graduated from the L" into a little ceremony and making it a wee milestone rather than just another day at the office so to speak.

p.s. we also have a mentoring system here in kb land - check it out in the Survival skills forum, and you'll be able to find one in your area.

[CookMySock]

Well sounds like you are onto it. Good luck, and take your time.

Steve

[squirrel]

Thanks Steve! Just need some more nice weather now.......

[bittertwistedcute]

I got my learners and my first bike (Hyosung GT250 Comet) back in June, have hardly ridden it due to overwelming fear and nervousness - looking to sell it and get something lighter (have ridden a friends road legal Xt225 and loved it, much lighter and easier to handle). Live in Eastbourne, Welllington. Looking forward to getting out there!

Hi Squirrel

I bought 4 bikes before finding the perfect fit so I am not going to comment on keep it or sell it LOL

I now have a 250 Zeal, looks like a bigger bike but feels small, I can flatfoot yay. You really need to feel comfortable to get confident, and going to a lighter bike might not get the results you are after. For me it seems to be all about the weight distribution. Funnily enough I sat on a 900 monster the other day (that I am not ready to ride) but I bounced off delighted because it FITS!!! I am a bit of a hobbit

Good luck, it's lots of fun. I love zooming around by myself, and am working up to riding with others.

[Gone Burger]

Hi Squirrel.

Well done on the licence! I too have only been riding since July last year, and have just gotten my restricted licence. Like you, I was always very nervouse about riding. But now I am completely hooked and just can't get enough. Over the weekend I went from Wellington to Taupo, accross the Forgotten highway to Taranaki and back down to Wellington (in the gale force wind I might add). I am growing more confidence each and every day and even brought my bike into work today (live in the Akatarawas, and work in Wellington).

I say it may be a good idea to sell you bike and look for something a bit smaller and lighter. I'm only 47 kg, and have a keeway supershadow. It's been absoltely brilliant to learn on. I'm definately ready for something with a bit more grunt now, but it has been perfect. It's very light, and a pretty small size in general. A girlfriend of mine also has the same bike as you. She is much taller than me, but doesn't ride hers much. She use to have a much smaller bike and regrets selling it. If you find something you are more comfortable on, I think your confidence and skills will be easy to work on.

If you want to go for a ride with me one day, nice and easy, let me know and I can meet you in Eastborne. I've only had my restriced for 2 weeks, so still know how you feel.

All the best! - Katie

[squirrel]

Hi Katie and thanks for your reply - would love to go for a ride sometime!!! I am in the process of changing bikes and once I have I will get in touch! Are you part of WIMA?

Cheers

[Gone Burger]

Awesome, sounds good! No I'm not part of WIMA yet, but am very keen to get signed up soon. I heard about the south island trip a whole bunch of ladies were doing last weekend and it just sounded so much fun. Best of luck with the bike change. Let me know when you are good to go, and we'll organise a rider sometime.

[tate35]

Hi there,

Whatever you decide to buy you have to be comfortable and feel you can handle it ok. I am short so like low seat height - feel much safer knowing my feet can touch the ground. Once you have found the bike for 'you' you will only need a few rides and the fear and nerves will disappear.

Good luck :)


I got my learners and my first bike (Hyosung GT250 Comet) back in June, have hardly ridden it due to overwelming fear and nervousness - looking to sell it and get something lighter (have ridden a friends road legal Xt225 and loved it, much lighter and easier to handle). Live in Eastbourne, Welllington. Looking forward to getting out there!

[Hawkeye]

Hi Squirrel (And Katiepie) Welcome to KB.
Good luck with the search for the new bike. I know you are set on replacing it but have you tried what has been suggested yet re: lowering the front end of the comet. Those comets are good bikes which have the potential to grow with you as your skill levels increase. It is suprising how once a slight adjustment is made, it can change the whole feel of a bike. You may be pleasently surprised.

There are a number of female riders in the Wellington region who will be willing to help and give you advise. I would certainly recommend someone like Trudes. She has been riding quite a while (for such a young thing) and would certainly make you feel comfortable.

But if you would like a slightly more experienced rider to ride with, just shout. I'm always keen for a ride.
BuckBuck has recently organised a 'learner friendly' tuesday ride and of course theres the TWNCR'. Just come along to the Avalon Duck pond and say hello. We don't bite. You might not want to go on the ride just yet but it is a sure fire way to meet up with like minded people.

[Bikemad]

howdy Squirrel...............theres tons of nuts here for you to sort through over the winter months............enjoy

[squirrel]

well the new bike arrives tomorrow - it's a yamaha serow (xt225), same as the one I have been riding. Can't wait! Still have the hyosung, there is room in the garage for one more I reckon....

[Cr1MiNaL]

Good your wanting to sell it. Hyosungs are the worst bikes on this planet - absolute scrap metal. Do make sure your exhaust hasn't rusted and fallen off and those shinko tires not melted to the garage floor due to the heat. Try on an fxr 150 you'll like it. Good luck.

[DJSin]

Welcome. I've been riding for just over a year now and know what you mean about fear.

I am definitely a nana and it has taken me a fair amount of time to get comfortable riding at speed - but getting out there and practicising is definitely makes the fear subside.

Might see you out on the road sometime around Welly :)

Hope you are enjoying the new bike!!

[squirrel]

Thanks - I'm taking the new bike out tomorrow - trying to sell the hyosung but whatever!

It's good to hear that plenty of people take a while to get used to the speed, when you see bikers out there (before you become one), it looks so damn easy!

I'll look out for you in Welly - I'll be the one on the little yamaha going slowly!

Sq.