My backwards "L" progression. 3/4s there now

[SNF]

I bought the bike first (16.11.12). Booked and passed the BHS (19.11.12). Had to get new lenses, my left eye sucks so I can't pass the test. Had to wait a week for the optometrist to fix my glasses (ran over them with the cage a while back. Thank god for titanium frames, I can still use them!). At the optometrists I wore my non prescription sunglasses and did the test for a lol. Passed!

Today I went and booked the theory test - could have done it then and there but I didn't want to chance it, just got my road code today. December 17, 10 am is the day of reckoning. Should pass, going to be looking over it every day after work. That Monday is my first day of annual leave, so I'll be able to ride places all legal. I plan to take it easy, not hitting the motorway or any really twisty roads just yet. Going to look into finding a mentor and training.

[bosslady]

I know what you mean... had my first time on a bike, first lesson and BHS on 24/11, bought my bike 28/11, sat my learners on 30/11. Honestly, I studied for one night, no joke, and I'm not exactly great at tests. I must have done the 35 random questions on this website 20 or so times http://www.drivingtests.co.nz/roadcode/motorbike/ and it's free which is cool. Then I went here and paid I don't know, twenty bucks? and did the "real" test 15 times http://www.roadcodepractice.co.nz/ got the first 5 or so wrong and passed all the rest. When I got an answer wrong I looked up the right answer. When I sat the test there wasn't a single question I was hit with that I hadn't already seen. I did only get 32/35 so just passed but that was cause I was going too fast and gave some dumb ass answers to some questions. Try both those websites, I'm sure they'll be a great help.

[arcane12]

I hate test situations. I know my road code pretty well, you know been driving for 17 years, blah blah blah, and I do like to go over it every few years to see if I am still doing things correctly. I still spent a number of hours going over it one more time to be sure.

Took my time on the test, and had just one out there question that I didn't know - how much room to give a cyclist when passing. I mean one tiny little bit of information, from the entire rode code. I had only done a couple practice tests, so my initial answer would have been 'As much room as is safe'. But of course silly test wanted me to choose a precise distance, so I went with 2m. Aparently 1.5 was the 'answer' though the code says "Ideally, allow at least 1.5 metres between you and the cyclist." (emphasis mine).

Still I should be happy with 34 out of 35, rather than annoyed I got one wrong!

Anyway good luck, and stay safe!

[Tigadee]

I plan to take it easy, not hitting the motorway or any really twisty roads just yet. Going to look into finding a mentor and training.

Good plan. Find a lonely car park and practice your stops (at various distances, using both brakes), turns & U-turns (using the lines/boxes as a guide, e.g. three or four boxes to turn within and gradually trimming it down to two boxes), and of course, coordination of the clutch, brakes, indicators, etc. Slow speed balancing practice is a must too.

Here are two good online mentors for you:
Motorman857 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csx7J6u8WLI&list=PLB76B192649091250&feature=plcp)
RoadcraftNottingham (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIhycth8msU&list=SPC062163835B4F220&feature=plcp)

[n3Xro]

Did my test last Tues all went well 34/35 but had the usual pre test nerves... dont like em at all...
http://www.drivingtests.co.nz/ would be my no1 recommendation, these sample questions were very close if not identical to the test and they are free... got at least 3 questions in the test that I never spotted in the code.

[SNF]

Passed! Rode there on the Jog. Piss easy, did some online tests first. One wrong, but I didn't read the question properly - who cares. Happy as a pig in shit lol. Going to give the fizzer a nice full tank of 95 without looking about all worried for cops. Where do I get decent "L" plates from? I bought some from a 2 buck shop but they were cardboard and won't last.

[Glowerss]

AA sells em for 10$ for 2 plates. Or some supermarkets carry some for cheap as.

[SNF]

Just got a decent pair (haha) 5 bux off tardme, although the stapled car ones I have seemed to be holding up fine. Unlike the bike which decided not to start on Gt North rd when I stalled. That pissed me off, at least some people got a good laugh while I was swearing and trying to start it. Then I valve bounced it in frustration when it did go for being such a little slut, must admit it sounded lovely. Working on slipping the clutch on hills, got it sometimes but mucked it up as well. I guess that bloody battery was half flat and I must have used what little power it had doing short stints here, there and everywhere.

[wharekura]

Passed! Rode there on the Jog. Piss easy...Happy as a pig in shit lolYou'd be amazed how the big yellow L plate encourages you to get your full.

[SNF]

I feel a bit silly with it on, but I guess it helped, people kept some distance behind me and weren't too mad when I stalled the odd time, I guess they could tell by the way I rode I was new and didn't have a heap of confidence. Had someone on a black sports bike take the inside lane around me through a round-a-bout on the way to Te Atatu (Suzuki or Honda maybe I don't know). Kinda gave me a fright but all good. Sure I was not as fast as him but I wasn't all that slow, wasn't holding anyone up.

[bosslady]

I feel a bit silly with it on, but I guess it helped, people kept some distance behind me and weren't too mad when I stalled the odd time, I guess they could tell by the way I rode I was new and didn't have a heap of confidence. Had someone on a black sports bike take the inside lane around me through a round-a-bout on the way to Te Atatu (Suzuki or Honda maybe I don't know). Kinda gave me a fright but all good. Sure I was not as fast as him but I wasn't all that slow, wasn't holding anyone up.

Well done to you!!! I must take a leaf out of your book and get out there too and not worry about stalling in traffic etc. good on ya m8!

[SNF]

Oh I have stalled plenty on the hills, still getting used to slipping the clutch. On top of the hill outside kelston boys the bike went flat and wouldn't start. And I was there hoping praying begging, yelling swearing lol..... had to leave it in the middle of gt north rd, called for help. Got back to it the fucker started straight up! Revved the hell out of it to keep it going. Had to miss another set of lights cos of impolite asshole cagers, which I half expected. Got a green and didn't stall, then parked it and tried to call back to say don't bother its going. But I stupidly turned it off and so when I came back no go. Rescue came and a guy with a GSXR helped me out as well. Should have got him a beer.

Went home, gave the batt some TLC and all is good. I have only ridden it properly maybe 3 times on my license so far

[arcane12]

Bugger. I hope you get the battery sorted! Nothing better to knock your confidence like a poorly behaving bike. Mine has only given me little niggles and I feel it. Still it's a good feeling when everything is going good again!

When I did my training course last weekend, the first exercise was to start off and ride around the carpark with the right hand on the tank! No gas, just clutch. It makes you realise with goof clutch control you _can_ get it moving without the throttle (even my cruiser). Of course in the real world you still use the gas, but for the exercise it was a great learning experience.

[nzspokes]

Let me know when you want to head out for a little ride, happy to give you some tips.

[jimichelle]

and put them on a friends road king with out him knowing as he backs it into the garage so all he does is jumps on and rides off
the plates are steel painted yellow and has security screws holding it on after all i would hate it falling off when he is out and about hahahahaha

[SNF]

When I did my training course last weekend, the first exercise was to start off and ride around the carpark with the right hand on the tank! No gas, just clutch. It makes you realise with good clutch control you _can_ get it moving without the throttle (even my cruiser). Of course in the real world you still use the gas, but for the exercise it was a great learning experience.[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah I take off like this on the flat heaps. Take off by letting the clutch out real slow, all nice and quiet change at 8 or 10,000. That's not giving it death, it revs until 18,000 but I'm not taking it there, the most I revved it out to was about 15,000 once, I don't want to kill it. On a hill you need the throttle and slipping the clutch is essential (is it?) Well I started slipping it on hills and yeah no stalling.

Got proper plastic L plates and put them on using some on my infamous mounting skills...... okay so its cable tied. But its not coming off easily.

[SNF]

A mate gave me his old Sidi riding boots. He said I'd notice the difference when shifting. He was not wrong - Wow! I can honestly say half my noob shifts etc were down to riding in street shoes. Changing gears is so much easier now.

Did some counter-steering today and emergency braking. Starting to feel a little more adventurous with my cornering - 55 km/h on a fairly sharp corner now, can hold a line better than I could before, confidence is growing too. Have been implementing things I have seen from Twist Of The Wrist.

I sometimes go slower than I could and am a little shaky with the gas (on and off) But I took some corners brilliantly and it was just...... amazing. Braked, into 4th, turned in leaned with it, looked through the corner got on the gas and was away. No scraping pegs or knee down - I'm no where near confident enough to do that, plus on public roads its not the best idea.

Bike felt very stable and I just loved every second of it. I'm starting to feel less tense, like I'm in control of the bike rather than it controlling me.

[bosslady]

that's so cool! I'm lookin forward to that feeling!

[arcane12]

A mate gave me his old Sidi riding boots. He said I'd notice the difference when shifting. He was not wrong - Wow! I can honestly say half my noob shifts etc were down to riding in street shoes. Changing gears is so much easier now.

Did some counter-steering today and emergency braking. Starting to feel a little more adventurous with my cornering - 55 km/h on a fairly sharp corner now, can hold a line better than I could before, confidence is growing too. Have been implementing things I have seen from Twist Of The Wrist.

I sometimes go slower than I could and am a little shaky with the gas (on and off) But I took some corners brilliantly and it was just...... amazing. Braked, into 4th, turned in leaned with it, looked through the corner got on the gas and was away. No scraping pegs or knee down - I'm no where near confident enough to do that, plus on public roads its not the best idea.

Bike felt very stable and I just loved every second of it. I'm starting to feel less tense, like I'm in control of the bike rather than it controlling me.

Nice! Actually I'd second that about the boots. It took me a while to get used to my motorbike boots. Not a lot of feeling so hard to feel the changes. Still I don't like wearing anything less on the open road so I quickly got used to them and now wear them almost exclusively on the bike over my work boots or Doc's.

[bosslady]

update yo?

[SNF]

Well after having 2 breakdowns (flat battery, the other low/bad gas) I finally hit the motorway. Rode from Hillsborough to the airport. Think I need a smaller helmet, while riding I could feel it moving and it freaked me out quite a bit. On the way there I was going about 90-95 k's in the slow lane. On the way back I was able to stick to the limit. Bike went well, sounded amazing at 16000 rpm! I'd go again but I'd rather do it with a better fitting helmet I think.

[Smallfishnz]

Think I need a smaller helmet, while riding I could feel it moving and it freaked me out quite a bit. On the way there I was going about 90-95 k's in the slow lane. On the way back I was able to stick to the limit. Bike went well, sounded amazing at 16000 rpm! I'd go again but I'd rather do it with a better fitting helmet I think.

A "new" helmet should feel tight/snug and as it conforms to your head will "ease" it shouldn't move around under speed.

I am also in West Auckland, if you want to go for a ride sometime give me a yell.
Cheers

[SNF]

Thanks I'd like to once I get a better fitting helmet.

[SNF]

Went to a friends house. Good ride apart from the bike jumping out of second gear (does it sometimes). I put it back in and may have jumped on the gas a little early cos it fishtailed slightly. Gave me a fright, just finished coming out of a corner.

[The End]

Went to a friends house. Good ride apart from the bike jumping out of second gear (does it sometimes). I put it back in and may have jumped on the gas a little early cos it fishtailed slightly. Gave me a fright, just finished coming out of a corner.

You want to avoid changing down in any part of a corner at all costs. It can lead to locking up the rear and lots of unwanted sliding action. Also try and manage your throttle control in a corner, you should be applying it smoothly and consistently throughout the turn as applicable, rather than a sudden jump. Likewise with chopping the throttle, it will cause the bike to stand up mid corner.

[SNF]

I usually don't change through the corners. Must have panicked a bit when it jumped out of gear and got on the throttle slightly harder and earlier. I may have not put it into second properly. My shifter linkage is bent which could be part of the problem but then again it may have been a noob shift. Edit: turns out it was me - I put it back to first instead of back up to second, oops. That'll teach me.

[bosslady]

any update on how it's going?