Another Welly Noob! (MiketheGuide)

[MiketheGuide]

Hey Guys,

I'm a brand newbie to the biking world. My name is Mike and I'm 33 years old.

I sat my BHS a couple of months ago in Porirua, halfway through we had a downpour and got soaked through to the bone (good start), there was surface flooding on the way home...

Got my Learners Licence last week (sucks to see Learner on my BLUE licence again!), and got my first bike today...

Ready?
.
.
.
2007 Suzuki GN250!!! It's got 11700km, is already missing the battery cover (so I don't need to lose it) and has the full tool kit and owners manual. $1900, with a good helmet and a shit helmet included.

I'm going to spend a bit of time on here looking for advice and gear recommendations, and listening to the "wisdom" of you seasoned veterans. My BS filter is pretty well tuned, so you can start with my choice of bike! :facepalm:

[MIXONE]

No doubt you will git shit about your choice but imo for a first bike it's a great choice.Light,easy to ride and it wont/shouldn't make you cry when you bin it.
Welcome to kb.

[oneofsix]

Hey Guys,

I'm a brand newbie to the biking world. My name is Mike and I'm 33 years old.

I sat my BHS a couple of months ago in Porirua, halfway through we had a downpour and got soaked through to the bone (good start), there was surface flooding on the way home...

Got my Learners Licence last week (sucks to see Learner on my BLUE licence again!), and got my first bike today...

Ready?
.
.
.
2007 Suzuki GN250!!! It's got 11700km, is already missing the battery cover (so I don't need to lose it) and has the full tool kit and owners manual. $1900, with a good helmet and a shit helmet included.

I'm going to spend a bit of time on here looking for advice and gear recommendations, and listening to the "wisdom" of you seasoned veterans. My BS filter is pretty well tuned, so you can start with my choice of bike! :facepalm:

Welcome. I started on a GN250 but many years ago now. Helmets are something I always go new with so I recommend at least tossing the shit one, could be not even as good as a bicycle helmet. Helmet, gloves, boots, jacket then trousers would be my recommendation of purchase order if like most of us you can't afford all at once. If you are sure of the helmet you got with the bike guess that would mean you are up to gloves. You will find plenty of examples of why ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) is so important on this site.

[Scuba_Steve]

with a good helmet and a shit helmet included.


If these are 2nd hand (which I suspect they are?) I would recommend replacing them straight up, use them to piss round not for safety. When it comes to something as important as a hemet & your safety best not to take chances.
Other than that congrats welcome to your new lifestyle :yes:

[Chunkyboi]

[QUOTE=MiketheGuide;1130081963]Hey Guys,

Got my Learners Licence last week (sucks to see Learner on my BLUE licence again!), and got my first bike today...

QUOTE]

Great incentive to get onto your full asap!
Definatly worth getting some decent warm gear.
Welly winds are a killer!
Theres a few decent gear shops around Wellington.
Just avoid second hand stuff if you can

[Hawkeye]

Welcome to KB.
As we are now moving towards the lighter nights again (all be it somewhere in the future) keep an eye out for the Bronze Tues night Learner friendly rides. These will kick in again once the clocks shift again.
It's a good place to meet like minded folks, get some advice and go for an organised ride at a decent comfortable speed with more experienced riders.

Note: this ride is not a mentoring ride. It's just a group of well meaning riders who are more than happy to travel at a sedate pace that makes learners/restricted riders feel comfortable.

[MiketheGuide]

Welcome to KB.
As we are now moving towards the lighter nights again (all be it somewhere in the future) keep an eye out for the Bronze Tues night Learner friendly rides. These will kick in again once the clocks shift again.
It's a good place to meet like minded folks, get some advice and go for an organised ride at a decent comfortable speed with more experienced riders.

Note: this ride is not a mentoring ride. It's just a group of well meaning riders who are more than happy to travel at a sedate pace that makes learners/restricted riders feel comfortable.

Keen! I'll definitely be up for this! I just put my bike in a mates shed for 6 weeks, we're off to the States for a holiday. It should be getting lighter when we get back.

I haven't ridden nearly as much as I would have liked so far. I am enjoying the Makara road though.

Oh, and I got a new helmet. Not flash, but feel much better with that. Now all I need are some good boots.

[ducatilover]

Good on you Mike, I had a GN a few years back, I should start the mocking. But, alas, I cannot be bothered. Good little bike for around town.
Those battery covers have a penchant for committing suicide, I lost both on a ride over the Rimutakas.

Invest in good gear, buy a new helmet to.
If it has the standard shit tyres, ditch them as fast as possible. Throw a set of Pirelli Sport Demons on it, they'll last for ever on a GN and transform it, especially the wet riding confidence :yes:

Ride it as much as you can and don't do the upgrade thing when you get bored of the power (which will be in 10 minutes from now...) get confident and safe.

[Bad Biker]

Hi Mike,

Welcome to KB. Like you I am new to the motorbike world and got my learner licence in April 2011 and did my BHS in Porirua. I also got a GN250 as a first bike because it was cheap and to last 12-18 month till I get a full licence and save some more cash.

Will be able to go for the restricted in early October 2011, sucks being restricted to 70km on the open road which I feel is dangerous considering the speed truck and cars fly past.

Didn’t last long just keep an eye on my mirrors for any cops behind me.

If you’re looking for someone to ride with send me a PM.

Paul :scooter::drinknsin

[MiketheGuide]

Hi guys,

I haven't looked at this thread for ages, and I missed the last few comments made. Thanks all for the support.

As an update, I haven't been riding much at all lately. In Friday I had my first ride since before Christmas. I checked the bike over, and it started and ran fine, I did my usual "not far from home" run, from Newtown>Island Bay>Miramar Peninsula>Motorway>Johnsonville>Makara>Karori and back to Newtown.

It was very strange, but after a month off I had my best ride ever. Confidence was high, riding was smooth and intuitive, and I found my riding position had shifted further forward up the bike. I think what really happened was I just let things happen naturally, and it was a revelation.

Also, it wasn't windy and I think that's how the rest of the world rides most of the time. It's much easier!

Anyway, I'm still here, and still learning. I can sit my restricted once I get the funds set aside.

[Hawkeye]

Hi Mike,

Good that your back on the bike. Check out the Tues night learner friendly rides organised by Bronze.

http://www.bronzwellington.org.nz/95/slow-paced-social-rides/

[MiketheGuide]

Thanks Hawkeye, will definitely try to get along to that.