L-platers

[Indiana_Jones]

I got my Learner license on monday and I just wondering what advice could you offer for getting use to traffic etc?

As in car you would have someone there with you in case you F-up they can help you, that boosts ur confidence, but on a cycle Learners no such thing (which is okay as after a while it would get gay i should imagine :bleh: )

-Indy

[Motu]

Just get out there as much as you can,going out at quiet times of the day and sticking to suburban streets where you aren't in the main traffic flow,then gradually wean yourself into the big time.And um....keep your eyes open OK?

[Hitcher]

I got my Learner license on monday and I just wondering what advice could you offer for getting use to traffic etc?

As in car you would have someone there with you in case you F-up they can help you, that boosts ur confidence, but on a cycle Learners no such thing (which is okay as after a while it would get gay i should imagine :bleh: )

-Indy
As soon as you get a bit of confidence, I recommend strongly that you take your L plate off (actually snap it off so you can plead ignorance if stopped by a cop). An L plate serves as a target for motorists to harrass. They do the same things with L plated cars as well but it is exponentially worse on a bike.

Don't religiously observe the 70kmh limit on the open road -- ride with the traffic flow. This is the dumbest of all of the L plate restrictions. I have yet to hear of a cop ticketing a learner rider for riding at 100kmh when that was the speed the rest of the traffic was doing.

Ride defensively, keep yourself safe at all times, and have a ball. Riding a motorcycle on the open road ranks 25th on the official list of the best 50 things you should do before you die!!
:Punk:

[k14]

Yeah, the only time i put a learner plate on was when i went for my restricted test.

I did hear of a guy that got done for going 100 in a 80 zone on his learners and got a ticket for 30 (or something like that) so some arsehole cops will do you, but it was his own fault for exceeding the limit anyway. Just dont give the cops a reason to pull you over and you will be sweet.

If you arent too confident at first, see if you can get someone to ride with you to start off with. When i got my first bike, it was the first time i had ever ridden a motorbike ever. So it took a while before i mastered the clutch/brakes but now i am sweet. Just make sure you break early for everything and dont be scared to pull over and let cagers past if they are tail gating you etc.

Good Luck.

[James Deuce]

(actually snap it off so you can plead ignorance if stopped by a cop).

Lol - I had a cop do this for me when I had my RG250 and I was still on my restricted. Back in the day when they were human beings with discretion and a sense of humour.

He reckoned it would cost me a fortune in plugs to ride around at 70km/h everywhere and that it was dangerous to ride that much slower than the traffic flow. Wish he was the Traffic Superintendent now :(

[Slingshot]

If I was you, I'd find a vacant parking lot somewhere and setup some cones. Practice cornering, using the clutch, changing up and down, using your indicators. While riding in a straight line practice using your front brake and try to get used to the point where the front wheel will lock up (so that you can hopefully avoid locking up when you don't want to), again in a straight line do the same with your back break and then practice using both breaks together.

When you're in traffic you've got to do the thinking not only for your riding but also for every one else on the road. Get into the habit of scanning driveways for cars reversing, look for cars that may be about to turn without indicating, don't follow too close etc.
Expect cars not to see you, cause the chances are that they won't!!!

I've been pulled over and not questioned about the lack of the Loser plate, although they did have some questions about the pillion I was carrying :Oops:

[KATWYN]

As soon as you get a bit of confidence, I recommend strongly that you take your L plate off (actually snap it off so you can plead ignorance if stopped by a cop). An L plate serves as a target for motorists to harrass. They do the same things with L plated cars as well but it is exponentially worse on a bike.

Don't religiously observe the 70kmh limit on the open road -- ride with the traffic flow. This is the dumbest of all of the L plate restrictions. I have yet to hear of a cop ticketing a learner rider for riding at 100kmh when that was the speed the rest of the traffic was doing.

Ride defensively, keep yourself safe at all times, and have a ball. Riding a motorcycle on the open road ranks 25th on the official list of the best 50 things you should do before you die!!
:Punk:

Yea that is true about being harrassed with an L plate on unfortunately. I used to get tail gated really badly when I was riding my CBR250 on my
learners licence...so I ended up taking it off....the harrassment stopped and I was willing to pay the fine if I was caught cos I thought it was more dangerous and a bit of a 'green light' for road terrorists with it on. Now on the YZFR6 I dont get tail gated as much (on the open road anyway)...being able to ride over 70kmph and at the rate of other traffic helps!

I do find myself pulling over to the side of the road and letting agro drivers, get past me...I have nothing to prove but I would like to live another few years to enjoy my love of motorcycling!!

[Big Dog]

I still reckon the best advice is to get yourself down to your local library. Your skills will automatically become much sharper and more natural if you understand the physics / mechanics of why your bike leans turns, pitchs lets go high sides etc.

If the terms "centrifugal force", and "gyroscopic tendancies" sound like Sci Fi novels get yourself either professional help (lessons) or someone who can interpret for you.

If you know someone you trust who you think is a good rider (not nessecarily a fast rider) to take you as a passenger through some light medium and heavy stuff and at each stage stop somewhere for a discussion about why he rode the way he did, what changed etc.

When following in traffic, until you get used to it give yourself a 4 second gap then a 3 second gap until when fully comfortable the normal 2 second gap. Until you have had a couple of close ones your reactions will be slow and clumsy even if you do braking drills.

One final peice of advice......
NEVER CHANGE LANES WITHOUT A HEAD CHECK!
Even in an emergency. It will probably be safer to hit that slow moving car than to get hit by a faster moving person from behind.

[KATWYN]

I got my Learner license on monday and I just wondering what advice could you offer for getting use to traffic etc?

As in car you would have someone there with you in case you F-up they can help you, that boosts ur confidence, but on a cycle Learners no such thing (which is okay as after a while it would get gay i should imagine :bleh: )

-Indy

Big Dog had good advice about the physics and mechanical side of your
bike. MY biggest adice is "LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO" that is a really
important thing to remember. If you are in a situation and you see an obstruction (ie) another car, bike, power pole etc do not fix your eyes on
it.......otherwise you will go straight into it.......LOOK WHERE YOU WANT THE
BIKE TO GO!" and it works!!

[Big Dog]

Big Dog had good advice about the physics and mechanical side of your
bike. MY biggest adice is "LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO" that is a really
important thing to remember. If you are in a situation and you see an obstruction (ie) another car, bike, power pole etc do not fix your eyes on
it.......otherwise you will go straight into it.......LOOK WHERE YOU WANT THE
BIKE TO GO!" and it works!!

For proof of how well this works try this simple exercise.
Change lanes a few times thinking "miss the rumble spots!" while looking at them. Then repeat the process thinking "hit the gap" and staring at the gap.

Its incredible the difference in the confidence let alone stability. (this comes in real handy when it rains!)

[Indiana_Jones]

Thanks alot all for all the advice :)
yeah, my old man keeps telling me about the head checks gotta remember them :sweatdrop

Also I can't take da L-plate off, my old man would kill me as I can't afford da fine and he would have to pick it up :p

And I was thinking would it help to ride at 5:00am around my area when there's no traffic? just an idea tell me what you think Hopeful i won't run into drunks :laugh:

-Indy

[bungbung]

And I was thinking would it help to ride at 5:00am around my area when there's no traffic? -Indy

Are you allowed to ride at 5am on a learners? I thought a restriction is in place on the time of day you are allowed to ride.

[KATWYN]

Thanks alot all for all the advice :)
yeah, my old man keeps telling me about the head checks gotta remember them :sweatdrop

Also I can't take da L-plate off, my old man would kill me as I can't afford da fine and he would have to pick it up :p

And I was thinking would it help to ride at 5:00am around my area when there's no traffic? just an idea tell me what you think Hopeful i won't run into drunks :laugh:

-Indy

You could be right, drunks are probably exactly what you will encounter at 5.00am in the morning!
There could be people that have got plastered and stayed at a mates place the night before or people that have been drunk the night before and are going to work...Alchohol is still in their system (actually on a real bender, they are usually still legally drunk until lunch time the following day)
......but in saying that, drunks are always on the road whatever time of the day or night :argh:

[duckman]

Heya BungBung,

Your right there is a restriction of riding during the hours of Daylight.
So now we need to hear from anyone that has seen 5am lately ?! :sleep:

[bungbung]

anyone that has seen 5am lately ?! :sleep:

Not likely, I'm not awake until after 7... :)

[DeanOh]

You could be right, drunks are probably exactly what you will encounter at 5.00am in the morning!
There could be people that have got plastered and stayed at a mates place the night before or people that have been drunk the night before and are going to work...Alchohol is still in their system (actually on a real bender, they are usually still legally drunk until lunch time the following day)
......but in saying that, drunks are always on the road whatever time of the day or night :argh:


Or you could run into other L-plate riders out practising at 5am, and have one big L-plate accident. :apint:

[jrandom]

Now on the YZFR6 ... I do find myself pulling over to the side of the road and letting agro drivers, get past me

No disrespect meant, Katwyn, but on a fscking *R6* you are pulling over for aggro cage drivers? Jeez.

Still, props to you for not outriding your abilities and staying cool. Must be one of those sensible female rider things, eh? :cool:

[Zed]

I got my Learner license on monday and I just wondering what advice could you offer for getting use to traffic etc?

As in car you would have someone there with you in case you F-up they can help you, that boosts ur confidence, but on a cycle Learners no such thing (which is okay as after a while it would get gay i should imagine :bleh: )

-Indy
Gidday Indy,

As a rider with 18 years experience I strongly recommend that you ride using the following unwritten rules:

Improve your confidence- this comes with riding experience. Every new bike you ride on will take about 2-3 months to get to know.

Stay in front of the traffic where at all possible- this reduces the chance of an accident (there are too many would-be drivers out there who must have got their licence from a wheatbix carton or somewhere?)

Fanatically use your mirrors at all times & look over your shoulder when changing lanes, etc.

As soon as you get your full licence and confidence, endeavor to get on to a bigger bike- 600cc+...this is where you will discover the real riding experience!

Hope it's a help,


Zed

[wkid_one]

You could be right, drunks are probably exactly what you will encounter at 5.00am in the morning!
There could be people that have got plastered and stayed at a mates place the night before or people that have been drunk the night before and are going to work...
Ummm - I am more than likely to be still awake at 5 if I am drinking - than have gone to bed??

I can't recall anytime I was awake - let alone in a car - at 5am after drinking. I can't however recall many a time examining the contents of my stomach at that time of the morning.

As for pulling over on an R6 - that is blasphemy, butmost likely sensible. I prefer leaving them well behind me

[Indiana_Jones]

Thanks again everyone :D

Well, I might go for a 5:00am ride sometime just to get to know the feel of the streets sometime, but bad timing though as I'm off with my family to da coralmandel tomorrow and won't be back till monday, then it's svhool on Tuesday :buggerd:

-Indy

[erik]

Heya BungBung,

Your right there is a restriction of riding during the hours of Daylight.
So now we need to hear from anyone that has seen 5am lately ?! :sleep:

Actually, the restriction is that you're not allowed to ride between 10pm and 5am
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/motorcycle/motorcycle-learner.html#conditions

It does sound logical that there might be drunks driving at 5am. But I've been for a few rides early in the morning and I think it's pretty neat with the quiet roads. I rode to Mt Eden a couple of weeks ago and got there just a bit after the sunrise (the sun was still low) and it looked awsome :)

[wkid_one]

. I rode to Mt Eden a couple of weeks ago and got there just a bit after the sunrise yeah - trying to beat that lockdown curfew is a bitch

I didn't know the 10-5 thing also applies to your restricted!

SO the only difference is then - on your restricted you can ride at 100kph?

[KATWYN]

Ummm - I am more than likely to be still awake at 5 if I am drinking - than have gone to bed??

I can't recall anytime I was awake - let alone in a car - at 5am after drinking. I can't however recall many a time examining the contents of my stomach at that time of the morning.

As for pulling over on an R6 - that is blasphemy, butmost likely sensible. I prefer leaving them well behind me

Hehe true true! I know what you are saying and I did origionally actually say I "chop it down and leave em behind!".....but then I saw the origional post of a new rider wanting riding advice and thought it wasnt a smart thing to say at the time (although true!) so I edited that part out...don't want to encourage that type thing with a new rider.

[KATWYN]

No disrespect meant, Katwyn, but on a fscking *R6* you are pulling over for aggro cage drivers? Jeez.

Still, props to you for not outriding your abilities and staying cool. Must be one of those sensible female rider things, eh? :cool:

er yes that IS what I do.....honest :Police:

[Indiana_Jones]

Or you could run into other L-plate riders out practising at 5am, and have one big L-plate accident. :apint:

Or an L-plate Party, or race!
Just make sure we both don't go over 70kph :laugh:

-Indy

[erik]

SO the only difference is then - on your restricted you can ride at 100kph?


That and you don't need an L plate.

[spudchucka]

I got my Learner license on monday and I just wondering what advice could you offer for getting use to traffic etc?

As in car you would have someone there with you in case you F-up they can help you, that boosts ur confidence, but on a cycle Learners no such thing (which is okay as after a while it would get gay i should imagine :bleh: )

-Indy

Keep your eyes open and treat every other road user as if they are a complete idiot waiting to kill you through neglect. Never assume that another motorist can see you because most don't.

[Draco]

Welcome Indi,
Along with all the good advice you've been given here, i learnt very quickly NOT to keep left. Arrogant car drivers try and push you off the road. If you sit out in the middle of the lane or a little closer to the centre line (not too close) then cars are forced to move to the other side of the road to overtake you, and you don't end up lookin at the ditch. When you're first practicing in traffic, my advice would be to ride routes you already know well, so you don't have to think about where you are going and can concentrate on dealing with the traffic. Eventually you just have to get out there and ride in it. Just treat all car drivers like idiots and assume they are going to wipe you out from any direction. Keep your lights on at all times. Try and get gear (helmets, clothing etc) that is as bright as you can. White is very visible from a distance, and any fleuro colours help too.

Be safe and have fun!