First real day riding today

[nzspokes]

Had decided that this bike needed to be used other than just weekends.

So today rode to and from work, a whole 6 ks return. Dont think I warmed the bike up enough before going as it kept stalling at the lights. It was fine on the way home as I let it warm up better.

Then over to my girlfriends place, about 25ks each way. Just very cold on the way home. Ive got some riding pants coming which I very much need. Almost got home after 10 due to a RH turn light on Great South road wouldnt work under my weight. Had to go straight through. Went past another L plater on a crusier.

But cool, Im a rider for real now. :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[Oblivion]

Good on ya :2thumbsup

As you get better go for longer rides. Nothing beats going out for a 100k odd ride every now and again just for the sake of it. :yes:

[nzspokes]

Good on ya :2thumbsup

As you get better go for longer rides. Nothing beats going out for a 100k odd ride every now and again just for the sake of it. :yes:

Got a mate who is about to buy a bike, we have long travels planned. :yes:

[tigertim20]

in a year,youll look back at this post and laugh at yourself as you are taking off your gear after doing a 400km+ casual last minute ride you and your mates organised cos the weather was nice that morning.
Welcome to the journey, youre gonna have some fun...

[Oblivion]

Got a mate who is about to buy a bike, we have long travels planned. :yes:

Have the exact thing happening with a friend of mine. He is selling his dirt bike to get a CBR250R. Gonna go on rides with him. :woohoo:

[nzspokes]

Oh, I overtook my first truck tonight to. Braaaaap.....

You wouldnt think I was 43......

[sinfull]

Took me to 50 to overtake my first !

[DrunkenMistake]

in a year,youll look back at this post and laugh at yourself as you are taking off your gear after doing a 400km+ casual last minute ride you and your mates organised cos the weather was nice that morning.
Welcome to the journey, youre gonna have some fun...

Or when you realise you just rode close to 1000km in just a few days on a 250, just to go to your mates wedding and back.. You learn to love the cold mate, I ride in jeans every day, Felt the cold once on my legs, and that was Sunday morning riding to work in the snow.. But I found some cheap warehouse water proof pants will do the trick if its raining or really windy and your worried about cold legs.

[ducatilover]

You'll be begging for an excuse to ride now!
I accidentally took the long way home from uni on the 600 today, it turned itself down my favourite road, so I let it go down there at a nice moderate (Read: I'm not fast at all...) pace :yes: Was absolutely epic.

I just sold some riding pants on TradeMe tonight....

[DrunkenMistake]

You'll be begging for an excuse to ride now!
I accidentally took the long way home from uni on the 600 today, it turned itself down my favourite road, so I let it go down there at a nice moderate (Read: I'm not fast at all...) pace :yes: Was absolutely epic.

I just sold some riding pants on TradeMe tonight....

Im lucky enough to live down my favourite road, my next fav been 3 mile hill but been winter im not game enough to ride it, due to the amount of grit etc

[ducatilover]

Im lucky enough to live down my favourite road, my next fav been 3 mile hill but been winter im not game enough to ride it, due to the amount of grit etc

Lucky bastard! I'm only 20km from my two favourite roads :yes: Gives my engine/gearbox/clutch time to warm up fully. Tyres don't need to be warm, I'm too slow.

[DrunkenMistake]

Lucky bastard! I'm only 20km from my two favourite roads :yes: Gives my engine/gearbox/clutch time to warm up fully. Tyres don't need to be warm, I'm too slow.

My tyres are warm when I get to work but its not that far, watch this space ill add a google map link to this post.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps/ms?msid=217073928462136105352.0004a8f765973b9ba5db e&msa=0&ll=-45.884751,170.562401&spn=0.166575,0.363579

[ducatilover]

My tyres are warm when I get to work but its not that far, watch this space ill add a google map link to this post.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps/ms?msid=217073928462136105352.0004a8f765973b9ba5db e&msa=0&ll=-45.884751,170.562401&spn=0.166575,0.363579

Looks fun!!!!
Link fail, just a sec
Pahiatua track
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=214098631555518638102.0004a8f798053ee933130
Saddle road added, I usually do this little loop after uni when it's sunny

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=214098631555518638102.0004a8f798053ee933130

[Oblivion]

Looks fun!!!!
Link fail, just a sec
Pahiatua track
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=
214098631555518638102.0004a8f798053ee933130
Saddle road added, I usually do this little loop after uni when it's sunny

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=
214098631555518638102.0004a8f798053ee933130

What do you mean fail? It worked fine for me.

(Edit) Your links lead to a map of the US....

Work now.

[ducatilover]

What do you mean fail? It worked fine for me.

(Edit) Your links lead to a map of the US....

Work now.

I fixed them :yes:

Sorry for the epic thread hijack nzspokes

[DrunkenMistake]

dont know what ya mean by link fail, but here it is,
its about 7km one way.
and they look sweet

243551

[ducatilover]

dont know what ya mean by link fail, but here it is,
its about 7km one way.
and they look sweet

243551

My links failed when I posted them.
I must do a south island blast when I have the cash, I always said I would once I got a comfy bike :yes:

[DrunkenMistake]

My links failed when I posted them.
I must do a south island blast when I have the cash, I always said I would once I got a comfy bike :yes:

I done Dunedin to Blenheim on a CBR 250, round trip. I done Dunedin to Blen in two days, and Blen to Dunedin in 7 hours. :facepalm:
NOT RECOMMENDED Haha

[ducatilover]

I done Dunedin to Blenheim on a CBR 250, round trip. I done Dunedin to Blen in two days, and Blen to Dunedin in 7 hours. :facepalm:
NOT RECOMMENDED Haha

I did Auckland to Pahiatua (550km) on an MC22 for a mate....not quite as far, but, fuuuuuu...never again, I did the trip from Pahiatua to Aucks in a 1.3 EK Civik hatch too, horrible! I can sit on the ZZR for a day and not be sore, whereas on the CB400 I was cramped and munted. I do have a few old broken bits on me though :facepalm:

[DrunkenMistake]

I did Auckland to Pahiatua (550km) on an MC22 for a mate....not quite as far, but, fuuuuuu...never again, I did the trip from Pahiatua to Aucks in a 1.3 EK Civik hatch too, horrible! I can sit on the ZZR for a day and not be sore, whereas on the CB400 I was cramped and munted. I do have a few old broken bits on me though :facepalm:

Good to see this thread has gone wildly off topic thanks to us, yet again..

I had a MC19, by the time I got back to Dunedin the blood had rushed from my knees and wrists and my fingers had cramped to the throttle grip haha, because I only do about 14km riding daily, I tend to suffer a little on longer trips, but I havnt been lucky enough to take the VFR on a long trip yet.

[ducatilover]

Good to see this thread has gone wildly off topic thanks to us, yet again..

I had a MC19, by the time I got back to Dunedin the blood had rushed from my knees and wrists and my fingers had cramped to the throttle grip haha, because I only do about 14km riding daily, I tend to suffer a little on longer trips, but I havnt been lucky enough to take the VFR on a long trip yet.

I expect the viffer will be much like the MC19, I haven't ridden either for years (No excuse, I know).
If I didn't pile into a fence at a silly speed in '05 I'd be sweet on more bikes
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/20154-my-160-kph-crash....

Warning, severe retard content :facepalm: Makes me lol something chronic, what a muppet...

[marty]

I did Auckland to Pahiatua (550km) on an MC22 for a mate....not quite as far, but, fuuuuuu...never again, I did the trip from Pahiatua to Aucks in a 1.3 EK Civik hatch too, horrible! I can sit on the ZZR for a day and not be sore, whereas on the CB400 I was cramped and munted. I do have a few old broken bits on me though :facepalm:

cambridge to nelson non-stop on a DRZ400SM for me. via fields and paihiatua tracks. the ferry was a welcome break.

[Icemaestro]

viffer = hell of a lot more uncomfortable than an mc19, and even more so than the mc22 - well at least mine is...could be cause my suspension isn't all saggy though :-P I did 100kms yesterday, neck usually sore by the end of the day

[ducatilover]

cambridge to nelson non-stop on a DRZ400SM for me. via fields and paihiatua tracks. the ferry was a welcome break.

:gob: You win

[nzspokes]

in a year,youll look back at this post and laugh at yourself as you are taking off your gear after doing a 400km+ casual last minute ride you and your mates organised cos the weather was nice that morning.
Welcome to the journey, youre gonna have some fun...

Well in saying that MikeD400, Pyeman and I did a 200k ride on Sunday. :woohoo:

And today I rode through peak hour traffic to see the doc from Manurewa to Henderson and back. Just doesnt bother me. :woohoo:

[DrunkenMistake]

viffer = hell of a lot more uncomfortable than an mc19, and even more so than the mc22 - well at least mine is...could be cause my suspension isn't all saggy though :-P I did 100kms yesterday, neck usually sore by the end of the day

Im really short, and I dont feel too bad on the VFR compared to the CBR, but I find my neck becomes killer sore pretty fast

[nzspokes]

Small update. Hit 1000ks on my bike tonight. :wings:

First of many. :Punk:

Its now forgiven it previous breakdown. <_<

[LBD]

Small update. Hit 1000ks on my bike tonight. :wings:

Careful there spokie....kms can be addictive....

[ducatilover]

Good stuff dude!!!!! :Punk::Punk:

[Old Steve]

One day I'll ride up to Auckland and take you down to Mercer for a bacon sandwish or to Okoroire for the best burger on two wheels.

(Every new rider should get to Okoroire at some time)

By the way, my favourite road is over the Kaimais and back. Going south you get those lovely downhill twisties on the Waikato side, then coming back up on a 250 you reach the last three or four tighter corners and you're down to 3rd gear at 9,000 rpm leaned over like a maniac/

[nzspokes]

One day I'll ride up to Auckland and take you down to Mercer for a bacon sandwish or to Okoroire for the best burger on two wheels.

(Every new rider should get to Okoroire at some time)

By the way, my favourite road is over the Kaimais and back. Going south you get those lovely downhill twisties on the Waikato side, then coming back up on a 250 you reach the last three or four tighter corners and you're down to 3rd gear at 9,000 rpm leaned over like a maniac/

Sounds good to me. Lets just wait untill its a bit warmer?

Im just trying to get my head around the riding at 100kph thing. 80 is fine but 100 and I feel like I get blown all over the road. Bike has the power.

[Old Steve]

Hey spokes, it sounds as if you're getting along alright. As someone said before in this thread, you'll look back at this and laugh. Cruising along at 100 (and plus) will just become commonplace, you won't notice when you start doing it. Great philosophy is to get as many kilometres as possible under the wheels, and do a RoadSafe course or such.

Funny you should mention getting blown around. One thing I learnt and would pass on is for you to fade to the left of the road when a big truck comes the other way, that way you are further away from it and the wind blast from it knocks you around less.

As for side winds, I find their effect is less the faster you go, it all comes down to vectors. If you're riding at 30 km/hr and there is a 30 km/hr side wind then the apparent wind you feel is a 42 km/hr wind coming from 45 degrees to your front. Now if you are going 100 km/hr with a 30 km/hr side wind the apparent wind seems to be only a 105 km/hr wind just off the front of your bike and while there is still a 30 km/hr component to the wind you feel, the increased speed gives you greater momentum/inertia and stability. You'll find when riding in side winds you'll be compensating with a just little countersteering, i.e you're pushing very slightly forward on the wind side handlebar to make you lean slightly into the wind.

But be alert! Lerts survive on motorbikes. Watch ahead for grass on the side of the road being blown in the wind, or tree branches being blown, or dust being blown across the road. These may show that there is a gap in banks alongside the road ahead creating a gust which might blow you sideways before you can react to it.

[allycatz]

Took me to 50 to overtake my first !

Is that 50 bikes or 50 years????

[sinfull]

Is that 50 bikes or 50 years????

Take ya pick ! No wait, only owned a doz !

[nzspokes]

Hey spokes, it sounds as if you're getting along alright. As someone said before in this thread, you'll look back at this and laugh. Cruising along at 100 (and plus) will just become commonplace, you won't notice when you start doing it. Great philosophy is to get as many kilometres as possible under the wheels, and do a RoadSafe course or such.

Funny you should mention getting blown around. One thing I learnt and would pass on is for you to fade to the left of the road when a big truck comes the other way, that way you are further away from it and the wind blast from it knocks you around less.

As for side winds, I find their effect is less the faster you go, it all comes down to vectors. If you're riding at 30 km/hr and there is a 30 km/hr side wind then the apparent wind you feel is a 42 km/hr wind coming from 45 degrees to your front. Now if you are going 100 km/hr with a 30 km/hr side wind the apparent wind seems to be only a 105 km/hr wind just off the front of your bike and while there is still a 30 km/hr component to the wind you feel, the increased speed gives you greater momentum/inertia and stability. You'll find when riding in side winds you'll be compensating with a just little countersteering, i.e you're pushing very slightly forward on the wind side handlebar to make you lean slightly into the wind.

But be alert! Lerts survive on motorbikes. Watch ahead for grass on the side of the road being blown in the wind, or tree branches being blown, or dust being blown across the road. These may show that there is a gap in banks alongside the road ahead creating a gust which might blow you sideways before you can react to it.

Pretty much sorted the 100k thing today. My mate gave me some ear plugs. Think the wind noise was getting to me. With them in 100kph was easy. Got up to 114. But found an issue with the bike. It doesnt like long runs at higher revs. Think the carbs are not getting enough fuel. Will check tank filters etc.

But Yay!! Great fun today.

[nzspokes]

Old Steve, I will take you up on a ride. Im still torn over long term what style bike I would like but after a great ride today with MikeD400 Im loving what I have. And with the panniers on I can carry gear and cameras etc. So it may hang around longer term. I can see a trip away being easy.

im still buzzing about our ride today.:wings:

[GrayWolf]

Good on ya :2thumbsup

As you get better go for longer rides. Nothing beats going out for a 100k odd ride every now and again just for the sake of it. :yes:

Going out for a 4-500km ride for the hell of it, does!!!! :D

[LBD]

Going out for a 4-500km ride for the hell of it, does!!!! :D

4-500km ....your are just getting into the zone at 400....that just wets the appetite.....

[DrunkenMistake]

4-500km ....your are just getting into the zone at 400....that just wets the appetite.....

Exactly! I make sure I do long rides when the bank account is low, that way I cant keep topping up my tank leaving myself stranded someone at the top of the south Island..:laugh: