I'm an absolute beginner

[HalfAKiwi]

Hello fellow bikers,

I just bought myself my first ever motorbike the other day - a 2007 Honda CBF 250. The other half has in bits already - he's a mechanic, he can't help it - to service it, change the spark plugs....

Yesterday I got myself some riding gear, gloves, helmet and pants, and the jacket is on the way.

Weather permitting I want to take the bike out for my first go at it on the weekend (not on the road of course). My fiance is an experienced rider and will teach me how to ride, :hug: but I still think it is a good idea to do like a trainings course?

Can you guys recommend one in the Matamata area? (Hamilton or Tauranga would be ok). I'm not sure how slow or fast a learner I am - I only ever rode an automatic scooter once in my life (and that was in Thailand), and took a gn250 round the backroads with no traffic on it to see if I actually like riding or not :) I found I got used to changing the gears etc quite quickly but obviously I'm an absolute beginner... :(

How early or far down the track would you recommend such a course? I don't even have the skill handling test yet... I'm just planning ahead :)

Cheers!

[slofox]

You might look here...http://www.roaduser.co.nz/ . Click on Motorcycle tab.

Ward Fischer is pretty good. I did an advanced rider course with him and was very happy with the input.

[The Everlasting]

Welcome to KB,and enjoy your many future rides..:)

[Maha]

BHS is where you mind should be right now.
Get your learners then enquire about rider training.
The quicker the better really, will save you from settling into any bad habits.
A one on one session with a qualified riding instuctor is recommended.

I beleive Tricia O'Connor goes to Tauranga.
http://rcsom.co.nz/

Slofox's link is a good option also.

[caseye]

What they said! Welcome to the mad mad world of motorcycling. My wife has just recently got her full and is now away on here 400 to and from work everyday and riding at night to get to places.
BHS like Maha said, asap.

[zmlam]

ditto about the BHS - you would most likely ace it with your experience. I had next to none when I did mine and somehow passed it on the first go.

Reading up on the forums on other people's experience really helped me. For example:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/131620-Common-methods-of-dropping-bike

I do look up the newbies/wannabe section a lot - they have a lots of postings that helped me.

And I read a few magazines at the library, they have quite a few good tips there - but your experienced other half will surely give u many a good tips :) After my learners I went out very slowly in the suburbs, learning how to countersteer - before gradually driving to town.

but congrats!

[Beren]

Would definitely recommend some time spent with people that know what they are talking about... the guys at the NASS group here and the North Auckland Newbie group ride gave me some great helpers on slow manouvering as did the future inlaws who have been riding bikes longer than I have been alive!

Some stuff like slow manouvering with the back brake and clutch wasn't intuitive to me straight away... whereas after LOTS of pushbike use road sense, cornering lines and countersteering seem to be things I just naturally do. So a specific course might not be as much use as getting a couple of lessons with an advanced riding instructor to watch your riding and give you pointers?

Also slowly working my way through some motorbike technique books, not sure if it is vital which ones - they are all an aid to making you think about how you ride and what works for you.

But I'm a learner with oh 3000 ish k's under my belt so i would take Maha's opinion over mine!

[HalfAKiwi]

thanks guys for all your advice and support so far! Winter isn't the best time really, as it's dark by the time I'm home from work :mad: but hopefully I can take her out on the weekend and have a bit of a play. I definitely want to do my BHS as soon as possible.

I'll have a look at the rider training links, cheers for that! In the meantime I'll practice, pick my fiance's brains and read up here! :)