Proposed "ADOPT A NEWBIE" Discussion thread

[Quasievil]

There has been alot of "newbie" discussion of late, unfortunately mostly for the wrong reasons.

Out of all of it, we as a community have been on edge (some of us more than others) For this reason I have decided to do something pro active and something that will raise the skill level of our newer riders on a permanent basis, this proposal will also increase KB's approach to safety particularly for the new riders joining us.

Spank and I have had a discussion on this subject and we felt it was important to put up a thread to open up some ideas and give us all a chance to give our thoughts and opinions.

The general idea is to have a link on the KB site where newbie riders can register themselves as interested in getting help for there bike riding and other related issues.

There will also be a link for Riders of experience to register their interest in offering some time to these registered newbie riders.

The newbie rider may not necessarily be new to riding it might be someone who has been riding for sometime but needs some help with whatever it is they require.

The Riders will be of an experienced nature and this will be determined by the rider himself.

What is important here is it wont be visible for all to see, if you have registered and you want some help no one but me (at this stage) will know.

Also if you are registering as one to offer help don’t do it as an ego boost because no one but me will know about it.

Therefore it is only a one on one situation. Which is good?

THIS IS ONLY FOR ROAD RIDING AT ROAD SPEEDS IF YOU WANT FAST AND RACING SKILLS GET ON THE TRACK "I WANNA GO FASTER ON THE ROAD" ITS NOT FOR THIS THREAD.

Obviously this is not going to be a serious structured training session is just an opportunity for people to ask for a bit of help and a chance for some KBrs to offer it. Within our folds we must have 20,000 years of riding experience lets pass it on to those that have none! Consider it a Mentoring programme or "adopt a newbie "Please keep your posts in line with the topic and give good focused commentary and debate.

Cheers

Quasi

[aff-man]

Great idea that man.

Could it the level of experienced riders be on a sliding scale??

For eg: I would love to help new riders where i can with either riding or mechanical issues using my (all be it limited) experience.

Yet i would also like to get some tips from the "racers" etc out there to improve breaking and lines etc.

Great idea :niceone: :niceone:

[Quasievil]

Oh forgot to say this is nothing to do with racing and is COMPLETELY focused on

road safety. ( sorry Affman me ole china) if you want racing stuff get on the track :niceone:

[Matt Bleck]

I think this is an awesome idea!

Maybe also look at feed back from the pupil/newbie about how the mentor was. ie. did they get anything out of it, or was the person giving tips/lessons, good or full of his own ego.

[Skunk]

Great idea.

Don't mean to sound negative but I have one concern: I hope they would be trained in survival rather than "here's how ya get ya knee down". To have that skill is all well and good, but it won't teach you how to read traffic and the road.

A good 'rounded' training is necessary. Are there guys here that can train and overcome the flaws in their own skills?

In asking that I acknowledge that there's a lot that can give really good 'track' skills for sure.

edit: took me to long too write that and Quasi has covered it. :whistle:

[FROSTY]

GREAT IDEA QUAZI :Punk:
UM-could i ask for an exemption bein as Im sorta adopting most of the newbees anyhoo
:devil2:

[aff-man]

Oh forgot to say this is nothing to do with racing and is COMPLETELY focused on

road safety. ( sorry Affman me ole china) if you want racing stuff get on the track :niceone:

ummmm i am not talking about racing. I am saying the racing guys have a better idea on breaking into corners and lines to take so that you end up where you want to and not for example on the wrong side of the road.

[justsomeguy]

Will the mentors promise not to subject newbies to the cane, lots of stuff gaoing around in the news...........:D

As a newbie I think this is a awwwesome idea. Good on you Quasi. I'm sure this act will count in your favour when you are at the Pearly Gates.:niceone:

So who's gonna adopt me?? Any nice ladies out there??:whistle:

[justsomeguy]

ummmm i am not talking about racing. I am saying the racing guys have a better idea on breaking into corners and lines to take so that you end up where you want to and not for example on the wrong side of the road.

Since when do you need riding tips??

[MadDuck]

Damn Quasi you have all the good ideas.

I remember coming on here months ago when I was struggling with my new bike and asking for someone to come along and help me out. I have no mechanical ability and couldnt adjust the bike myself due to lack of knowledge and a bit of fear about getting it wrong - god what a poof. Thanks to Frosty and others it got sorted.

I wanted someone to follow along and watch my lines and my handling skills (or lack there of) and got only one positive that never eventuated.

We now have a bigger membership of guys and gals. I still would love to be "adopted" to learn more and ride the bike like its meant to be ridden.

Good on ya for this :ride:

[Quasievil]

ummmm i am not talking about racing. I am saying the racing guys have a better idea on breaking into corners and lines to take so that you end up where you want to and not for example on the wrong side of the road.

I knew that mate , you just prompted me to think about it thats all :niceone:

[Skunk]

ummmm i am not talking about racing. I am saying the racing guys have a better idea on breaking into corners and lines to take so that you end up where you want to and not for example on the wrong side of the road.Not sure I'd agree with you there. Road cornering to me is about seeing as far round the corner as possible without putting yourself in danger whereas on the track it's about the fastest possible line.

That's not to say they wouldn't know, just to say there is a difference...

[aff-man]

I knew that mate , you just prompted me to think about it thats all :niceone:

SHWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET........ so where do i sign up or is this still just in the idea set up phase ????

[Skunk]

Who dosent?Exactly. I've been riding for over ten years and still take courses when I can.
(Some say I need too :killingme )

[justsomeguy]

Who dosent?

Stop answering my rhetorical questions........:devil2:

Hey what happened in Tuakau???

[Paul in NZ]

First person that comes along with and old nail with cartwheels and I'll adopt em...

[SpankMe]

I think the forum should be for any topics relating to learning about motorcycling. I need suggestions for a name / description.

I would also help with putting together an intro to motorbikes page/s for newbie’s. Don’t have the time to do the content myself. Anyone who knows their web stuff could put some stuff together and send it to me.

Links to info on getting your license and going through the learner/restricted licence process. Not just one link to the LTSA page, but in the form of a FAQ with each question linking to the appropriate page maybe. Info on learner riding courses etc.

It will also have info for the "ADOPT A NEWBIE" process which Quasievil is putting together.

It someone wants to put their hand up to help with the page and others can put forward ideas on what it should contain.

[Flyingpony]

I think this is a wonderful idea. How can a not so newbie sign up?

I'm seeking some advice from the more wiser members regarding looking after bikes and ride handling tips.

Thanks.

[Quasievil]

I think this is a wonderful idea. How can a not so newbie sign up?

I'm seeking some advice from the more wiser members regarding looking after bikes and ride handling tips.

Thanks.

Go to your user cp and click group memberships, this should take you there.
Be patient as we only have started this.

Cheers

[FROSTY]

somewhere burried in the mists of time someone started a -what ya need to know thread.--It was bloody good stuff---the stuff a rider in the first few months of riding should know and also should practice.
who can remember where that thread went??

[MadDuck]

ok ...i will crawl back under my rock just about now.

[bugjuice]

what's your qualifications for a 'guru' to adopt? Not asking for myself, but do you have any standards to work to? Just don't want a newbie who 'thinks' they know, adopting another newbie, and things goin a little pear-shaped.
I'd be keen, but I wouldn't know how reliable I could be at the moment.. Don't mind trying to be the 'nanny' of the newbs..

oh, and I thought there weren't 'newbies' any more..... :whistle:

[FROSTY]

I guess that makes me grampa frosty then --bouncing lil noobs on his boney ol knees

[Waylander]

somewhere burried in the mists of time someone started a -what ya need to know thread.--It was bloody good stuff---the stuff a rider in the first few months of riding should know and also should practice.
who can remember where that thread went??
Any clues as to who started it or what forum it was in? Stuff like that and give me some time I might be able to find it.

[jaybee180]

Great idea. I desperately need someone to adopt me BIG TIME. Want to ride but have no idea what I am doing. Don't know anyone else that rides so I'm a bit lost. Even had to ask someone the other day why my helmet kept fogging up. So, as you can see I need help. If you don't have access to this information you just don't know - and believe me, you feel like a real idiot when you have to ask!

Please keep me posted as to how this goes. Would be really keen.

[justsomeguy]

I guess that makes me grampa frosty then --bouncing lil noobs on his boney ol knees

:shifty: 10 fucking characters

[Waylander]

somewhere burried in the mists of time someone started a -what ya need to know thread.--It was bloody good stuff---the stuff a rider in the first few months of riding should know and also should practice.
who can remember where that thread went??

Was this it Frosty? (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=156810) If not I'll look more tomorrow my eyes hurt now.

[750Y]

Good on You Quasi & Spank. Excellent to see something good like this coming about.
Top effort people....

[FROSTY]

heres on excerpt
A couple of things came up in discussion last night -I would definitely ammend this document mate.
Braking. --
Of course your tyres have tread and are propperly inflated, You have propper riding gear on. etc etc-The tyres must be warmed up
What you need is a straight / flat piece of tarmac to practice on.
Mark a spot you want to stop by --maybee a lampost or maybee just mark a spot in chalk
Whatever spot ya choose make 100% sure that no matter what you will stop without hitting something (even potentially)
First of all get up to 50km/h and then when you think is the right time use both brakes and pull to a stop on the mark you chose.
Easy wasn't it ??. Now what you want to do is brake A LITTLE harder and a little later --OOPs -did ya get a little squeak from the front tyre?
This time try pulling the front brakes on a little bit then pull em on as hard as you are comfortable with.
WOW --You stopped short of the mark diddn't you.
What you did was load up the front suspension and tyre a lil bit before you actually braked hard.
Now we just keep practicing-- a little bit harder and a little bit later -Youll find the back brake will get less and less effective and the front will get more and more effetive as you brake harder.
Now most important--You WILL stuff it up -thats why you are practicing.
You will overrun the mark -you may even have a squeak/skreech out of the tyres -
Emphasis is on comfort zone here so shorten your braking distance down in easy steps
Cornering.
The same idea really applies here ---Find a stretch of tarmack with maybee 8 corners in it -preferably with easy turn around zones either end.
Ride these 8 corners at 1/2 your normal riding pace-noteing any diesel/gravel etc to watch out for.
the idea is to get round in a smooth arc using constant throttle or accelerating out of the corner.
So first corner-you are barreling along -You will brake -using the knowledge of your brakes you already have .
You will give yourself the widest possible line round that corner you can.
Wide into a corner will mean tight out of a corner-it gives you so many options.
so a left hand corner you are almost on the center line aiming for the left side of the road -youll come out of the corner still to the left with half your lane to play with. the reverse applies to a right hander
Looking at the exit of the corner we select out line and lean in
What we want to acheive initially is a constant throttle round the corner and a smooth sweeping motion -rather than a series of bites.
Again--You WILL stuff it up but you are not out to prove anything to anyone.You want to be a smoother more consistant rider.
I personally put little emphasis on how far you lean over on the tyre.
But for this exersize just mark a line from side to side of your tyres.
Youll be amased how much further you will lean the bike once you have mastered smooth cornering.
Speed is definitely NOT an issue here so ride at a comfortable pace
__________________

[Quasievil]

what's your qualifications for a 'guru' to adopt? Not asking for myself, but do you have any standards to work to? Just don't want a newbie who 'thinks' they know, adopting another newbie, and things goin a little pear-shaped.
I'd be keen, but I wouldn't know how reliable I could be at the moment.. Don't mind trying to be the 'nanny' of the newbs..

oh, and I thought there weren't 'newbies' any more..... :whistle:

Hi Bug
I dont want to get into who is good enough and who aint, you can decide that yourself, there are no standards to work to.
The idea is for someone with alot of experience to be able to mentor a new rider through the intitial learning period, offer guidance and a few clues about riding techniques, a bit of constructive critque etc. Also a few clues about things like tyre pressures and how to ride in the rain etc.

The rider offering to adopt a newbie can decide if they have the skills to help out, if someone offers and they dont have the skills then they are a bit of a dick really huh and it will stand out like a hairy tongue.

When someone registers I have the option to accept or deny or ignore their application for this scheme, so I will filter them out a bit, wont be hard.

We already have about 6 people registered so already its a success !!

[Sparky Bills]

This is a bloody good idea!
Just need to make sure the teachers are open minded to peoples own riding styles.
Good luck.

[White trash]

Anyone who wants to ride like me shouldn't be allowed a licence. Plain and simple.

I've sorted ol' Mikey out quite well. Although he hasn't actually ever ridden with me (other than being a willing pillion, sick bastard), he has been allowed to come 'round home and get smashed with us.

Keep it up young fella, you're doing well. :niceone:

[Biff]

I've got loads of old riding notes handed to me over the years. I'll get these scanned and put into a decent format so that they can be posted here.

Good idea guys - We need a riding skills section me thinks.

[Sparky Bills]

Just a thought for EVERYONE here.

Go read (if you havent already) Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist".

That is one great book!!!
Well worth it!!!

[White trash]

Good idea guys - We need a riding skills section me thinks.

I agree, however peoples ideas of riding skills differ wildly.

A few people I know view a 1.5 km, one footer, stand up wheelie up the Hutt Rd as skillfull. Others see it as stupidity.

[Waylander]

I agree, however peoples ideas of riding skills differ wildly.

A few people I know view a 1.5 km, one footer, stand up wheelie up the Hutt Rd as skillfull. Others see it as stupidity.

Perhaps call it Riding safty then to keep the crazies like yourself out.:D

[Paul in NZ]

I think that there is a good point raised here..

'Helping' people is a noble exercise and this is genuinely a good idea BUT we need to consider the implications when we live in the era of the RMA, H&S and dodgy lawyers... If you give someone some advice and then that someone either gets it wrong OR the advice was not quite right... You could end up in a bit of bother. Now I have no idea of the legal status of a group like this but I'll bet that there is a law some place covering all this...

Having said all that....

There has to be a way to make this work... It's just such a good idea.

Example. Jazbug5 (sorry dearie I should have cleared this with you) had a wee off a while back... As a result of some of the discussions we had around that we changed her handle bars for a set that fitted her better out of my pile of old munt. She had never thought of that (not her fault - its not commonly done these days).. But it was a good result....

So for these sorts of things... Yes it is useful...

Riding tips might be best left to qualified people.... And to that end, perhaps we can arrange a KiwiBiker discount etc...

I dunno...

Look at my situation. All my old shitters require a completely different riding style to modern bikes. Following me with my skinny cartwheels, zero engine braking, minimal brake braking (yet linked so I can trail brake much deeper into corners and give them a dab to settle the beast) and you would get some bloody funny ideas about riding bikes. It would be as useful as explaining hand gear change techniques to an R1 test pilot. Technically interesting but practically pointless...

So there we go...

I give this idea my full support but with a few reservations..

Cheers

[spudchucka]

This is a very good idea. Hopefully plenty of people will get behind it.

[Quasievil]

I think that there is a good point raised here..

'Helping' people is a noble exercise and this is genuinely a good idea BUT we need to consider the implications when we live in the era of the RMA, H&S and dodgy lawyers... If you give someone some advice and then that someone either gets it wrong OR the advice was not quite right... You could end up in a bit of bother. Now I have no idea of the legal status of a group like this but I'll bet that there is a law some place covering all this...

Having said all that....

There has to be a way to make this work... It's just such a good idea.

Example. Jazbug5 (sorry dearie I should have cleared this with you) had a wee off a while back... As a result of some of the discussions we had around that we changed her handle bars for a set that fitted her better out of my pile of old munt. She had never thought of that (not her fault - its not commonly done these days).. But it was a good result....

So for these sorts of things... Yes it is useful...

Riding tips might be best left to qualified people.... And to that end, perhaps we can arrange a KiwiBiker discount etc...

I dunno...

Look at my situation. All my old shitters require a completely different riding style to modern bikes. Following me with my skinny cartwheels, zero engine braking, minimal brake braking (yet linked so I can trail brake much deeper into corners and give them a dab to settle the beast) and you would get some bloody funny ideas about riding bikes. It would be as useful as explaining hand gear change techniques to an R1 test pilot. Technically interesting but practically pointless...

So there we go...

I give this idea my full support but with a few reservations..

Cheers

Great stuff Oh wise one, youre right to.

I think however this is pretty low level stuff, more of coupling people up to go riding with and in doing this giving the new rider a opportunity to ask a couple of questions about riding in general.
Of course if riders want specailist training on braking cornering maintenance they should enrol in a bike school.
Legally there is no exposure because we are matching people up, what they do as licenced road users is there responsibility.
Kind of like a typical "KB newbie ride" without the 40 bikes going along, it will be a "KB newbie ride" with two bikes only.
Quality not quantity

We already have about 6 riders registered as being interested in having a mentor so already these people are in a better position than they were yesterday.
I appreciate your comments and glad to have your support.

[sAsLEX]

http://www.bikepoint.co.nz/portal/alias__bikepointnz/tabID__5779/BikeTipType__Tech/DesktopDefault.aspx here has some good info, i think

[Ixion]

Great stuff Oh wise one, youre right to.

I think however this is pretty low level stuff, more of coupling people up to go riding with and in doing this giving the new rider a opportunity to ask a couple of questions about riding in general.
Of course if riders want specailist training on braking cornering maintenance they should enrol in a bike school.
Legally there is no exposure because we are matching people up, what they do as licenced road users is there responsibility.
Kind of like a typical "KB newbie ride" without the 40 bikes going along, it will be a "KB newbie ride" with two bikes only.
Quality not quantity

We already have about 6 riders registered as being interested in having a mentor so already these people are in a better position than they were yesterday.
I appreciate your comments and glad to have your support.


Apart from any legal issues, there is the risk of passing on bad habits.

I am always happy to assist anyone if I can. But I am very conscious that any advice I gave might be bad advice. And certainly I am the last person to be advising on cornering lines and such like. "long in the tooth" riders always pick up bad habits and things "that work for me , but don't you do it" (OK, OK, you're the exception)

When I started riding I realised I knew nothing. Then after a bit of experience I thought I knew a lot. Then after much more experience I thought I knew everything. Then after still more experience I realised I knew very little. Now I'm not certain that I know anything for sure !

[dangerous]

Go read Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist".

That is one great book!!!
Well worth it!!!
And another is " the bikers bible" by Graham Allardice


Apart from any legal issues, there is the risk of passing on bad habits.

I am always happy to assist anyone if I can. But I am very conscious that any advice I gave might be bad advice. And certainly I am the last person to be advising on cornering lines and such like. "long in the tooth" riders always pick up bad habits and things "that work for me , but don't you do it" (OK, OK, you're the exception)

When I started riding I realised I knew nothing. Then after a bit of experience I thought I knew a lot. Then after much more experience I thought I knew everything. Then after still more experience I realised I knew very little. Now I'm not certain that I know anything for sure !
LOL... well said, also whos to say who is any good at teaching.... I have helped out a few riders and most are happy to learn and take in what I say.... but whos to say that I'm right.... I think I am but that dosent realy mean shit at the end of the day.

More than happy to offer advice, just remember that it is IMHO

[LED]

I agree, however peoples ideas of riding skills differ wildly.

A few people I know view a 1.5 km, one footer, stand up wheelie up the Hutt Rd as skillfull. Others see it as stupidity.

Definitely skills - hats off, well done. You better not be letting the truth get in the way of a good story!!