Wairarapa: Free motorcycle skills and education (28 Feb 2010) [Archive]

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Bald Eagle

1st February 2010, 07:10

Stormer

1st February 2010, 17:40

Stormer

3rd February 2010, 16:37

I gather from the no reply it`s for beginners then huh???????????????

I`ll just have settle for a few laps of the Taka`s ter hone my skills.

Bald Eagle

3rd February 2010, 17:50

OK, as expert police riders are doing this, it will be at 100.00kph or less max speeds, and obviously safety first.
Is it geared for beginner types , serious sportsters, or in betweens?
I`m interested, but don`t want to spend the day slow turning between cones.

I gather from the no reply it`s for beginners then huh???????????????

I`ll just have settle for a few laps of the Taka`s ter hone my skills.
all the info at hand is in the original post, haven't contacted the rapa people to ask the question but there is a phone number there.

Stormer

3rd February 2010, 18:07

Cheers Mr Eagle, just thought you might know seeming as you were the one advertising it.
I`ll give the number a ring tomorrow.

BuckBuck#1

28th February 2010, 13:05

A big thank you to the New Zealand Police, NZTA, Wairarapa Safety Council, and Ulysses - Wairarapa representative.

A successful morning, with quite a large turn up of bikes. The four skills events were good to do, for me the start and move off at full turn lock I don't think I ever did before and going left or right it was all good.

My feedback remarks in general are very encouraging and supportive of this type of event being held annually in February nationally. With the right endorsement and support particularly of motorcycle clubs and also NZTA, the New Zealand Police, and all commercial enterprises involved in the motorcycle industry, this could be a very well supported event throughout the country.

A few hours going over fundamental motorcycle control skills each year: I say promote it to the full and dare I say some funding allocation from ACC would not go amiss in this type of activity throughout the country. Cross funding appropriation from ACC (motorcycle levy's) to NZTA as the sponsoring agency of this national skills awareness and development event would be a good step in the right direction.

Thank you all involved for taking the time out on a Sunday to provide this event.

Gone Burger

28th February 2010, 15:50

Agreed - it was a very good morning indeed. Great to be taught the correct approach to those situations. And wasn't impressive to watch one particular police officer handle his bike like that? Pretty awesome to see the skill put into practice. Very pleased I went along.

Thanks to the Police and Roadsafe for organising it.

Trollkid

28th February 2010, 16:13

What a great day! Weather included. Always good to practice bike skills that I do not usually do and a nice introduction to emergency braking. Good to see a decent turnout and regardless of bike a huge variety of skill levels. And as previously stated, a huge thanks to New Zealand Police, NZTA, Wairarapa Safety Council, and Ulysses - Wairarapa representative.
Hopefully there will be more of these.

IdunBrokdItAgin

28th February 2010, 16:19

Really good to get to go to this - even if it did show me that all of my slow handling skills are crap and that I am badly in need of more car park practice. Hopefully there will be a few more of these in the future.

It was like the BHS on steriods.

Big thank you to the organizers, especially the patient policeman who kept telling me not to use my front brake.

elle-f

28th February 2010, 17:32

I took the DR250 and surprisingly enjoyed it although next time I think I will be more challenged taking the 850 BUT I didn't want to fall off! Will be practising for sure. If somebody had said to me I would be spending about 2 hours in the hot sun going slowly around cones I would have opted to not go and hoon around the roads but I am pleased I went because it showed me a couple of things that I wouldn't normally think about.

Big ups to those coppers who were as patient as!

Katie - that guy was pretty impressive for sure! Great meeting you and the others in our group as well :)

Lilly2w

28th February 2010, 17:39

Was great day, we had the choicest group for sure, rewarded ourselves with lunch at the ferry and a hoon round the lake!

BMWST?

28th February 2010, 17:44

slow speed bike handling skills are very valuable.You will find that the best racers have natural talant and have unrela bike handlings skills.We mortals have to practise.I beleive the confidence gained in these exercises do transfer to better control at normal speeds

BuckBuck#1

28th February 2010, 19:09

It was really good to catch up with you Elle and Carla, and a few of the guys - I know the faces, but I am hopeless with names. I remarked in another thread this evening in reply to one of the riders that attended today, and it is worth repeating here. ( As an aside I spent hours in the carpark moons ago it seems now, and the first few passes this morning on the salom, my eyes were down, "You know what you were doing wrong" came the comment, and when I did it again I was looking out a few cones ahead, and I weaved through the cones no bother.)

Remember the $2 shop - packet of tennis balls, cut them in half, find that quiet parking lot, and a way you go. You can set up your own salom course - close and spread further apart for counter-steering, your own box and figure eight/looking back over the shoulder where you want to go, your own narrow corridor twenty metres and slow ahead clutch/throttle/rear brake, and so it goes on. You are only limited by time available in your own schedule, time spent in the slow bike control skills is time well spent.

BuckBuck#1

28th February 2010, 19:11

porky

8th February 2011, 16:06

Recieved txt today to inform those that are interested that its on again this year on the 13th of Feb, 8.30am to 12 noon, Martinborough (Texas St). Contact is the same 06 377 1379

Gone Burger

8th February 2011, 16:21

Recieved txt today to inform those that are interested that its on again this year on the 13th of Feb, 8.30am to 12 noon, Martinborough (Texas St). Contact is the same 06 377 1379

Brilliant! Thanks for this. Went along last year and will be there again for sure! It's free, and pretty great skills for the day. Looking forward to it.

davebullet

11th February 2011, 07:58

I called WDC and got some more information about how it is run - see below:

- No need to pre-register – just turn up.
- Motorcycle officers take groups of 4 or 5 through a drill including a slow speed slalom, 90 degree turns and braking (and probably others)
- They got through about 8 – 10 groups last year – so you are looking at about 30 minutes of riding
- When you get there – you just queue up in the next group
- They had about 40 riders all up last year
- If cancelled – no notification (no radio etc..) but given the weather forecast – unlikely

Dave Ryan has replaced Ruth Lockyer as the contact at Wairarapa District Council for organising these things.

There are 2 more events planned this year with Roadsafe. Heavily subsidised. $20 for a full day of workshops and tuition – run by Andrew Templeton. Now that's bloody good value!

17 April for scooters / learners

15 may for all license holders

Registration for the april / may courses is required and can be completed this Sunday (Dave Ryan will be there). I’ve already put my name down. Numbers will be limited to groups of 12 for the all day sessions (not sure how many groups).

Gone Burger

11th February 2011, 08:15

Thanks for the added info Dave.

I will just add that we did actually get a fair bit more than half an hour in per group. It was very well run, and whilst waiting for to go through the next circut the officers would talk us through things individually.

Nice work Wairarapa District Council - GREAT to see more days happening like this.

davebullet

11th February 2011, 08:22

Cheers Katie.

Here's the info I've got so far on the other 2 days planned:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/134467-Subsidised-all-day-training-with-RoadSafe-April-and-May-2011

After Pro-rider, maybe the "may day", I'm thinking California Superbike School - yeah baby!!!

Cloggy

12th February 2011, 17:57

Allright, looks like I'll be coming along for this one. I need to brush up on my low speed skills (not that my high speed skills are any good either). We'll see those of you that are meeting up at Rimutex by 7.30am.

davebullet

13th February 2011, 15:31

They say some of the best things in life are free and today proved it.

What an excellent day it was. Thanks to the Police and WDC for putting this together (and sponsors for spot prizes - I think I scored a Honda cap which I'll credit Motomart for).

The tips were numerous as were the riding skills of the Police.

One deliberately "dropped" his bike just to show us the correct way to get it back on two wheels. Then Katiepie deliberately did the same to practice the technique. She had no problem bringing her Boulevard up by herself - much to her amazement, she received no help at all.

Here are some photos of the day:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/album.php?albumid=3932

I highly recommend this if they run it again next year. The police officers were very helpful. The best hour of instruction I've yet received. From very small things, to major things. All this stuff is practical in our day to day city riding.

sinned

13th February 2011, 17:41

The training session was well run and I could do with more of this type of training and skill development. The police riders have bike handling skills way above that of the riding public.

Nice pic of Katiepie - are you about to join the force?

davebullet

13th February 2011, 18:31

Nice pic of Katiepie - are you about to join the force?

She could be the first female officer who rides an R6!

junkmanjoe

13th February 2011, 19:08

i like to pulled over by this lass.......................

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_nRRVy1LvPzw/TVeEN5rDg4I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/VEoSjJdF2lQ/s640/2.jpg

JMJ

Hawkeye

13th February 2011, 19:18

Oh Bugger! This was today :facepalm:

Had my daughter this weekend so no Taka riding for me.

Gone Burger

13th February 2011, 21:30

Yes indeed - a fantastic day once again. A huge thank you to the Police for thier great training (and patience) and big thumbs up to the WDC!

Loved the exercises we were put through, and the police officer that my group had blew me away again, same as last year, with how he could handle his bike. Pretty inspiring to be honest.

As Dave mentioned, I asked him to help me learn how to get my bike off the ground, should it ever go over again, and he showed me a way that actually worked. Thought I had someone behind me helping.

Joining the force you reckon? Hehe I was thinking about doing so a couple of years back, but I prefer to just hang out and get pics on thier bikes :) What a top bloke he was!!!

Can't wait to do that again next year. Gotta love these free training days.

Gone Burger

13th February 2011, 21:32

davebullet

14th February 2011, 06:44

Oh... by the way - has anyone heard how the fallen rider on the takas is on the way home? It was not sounding good at all, and we all wait with our breath held to see if he or she is doing ok, and hope it is not someone we know :(

Oh no. I didn't know. Is there a post / stuff article? What time did it happen. I saw heaps of bikes coming over when I was heading back. Given the weather - not surprising.

sinned

14th February 2011, 19:46

jellywrestler

15th February 2011, 21:52

Video showing how easy the Police rider navigated this exercise.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8Mk2Zo5Avjk" allowfullscreen="" width="640" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>

shame he didn't read the manual for the helmet . I'm pretty sure it's an absolute no-no to ride with the chin up with these style of lid, good way to break your neck!!!!