hsvboy06
15th January 2006, 06:11
Hi. I thought it was probably time I introduced myself. I've been browsing this site for a while now, I've made a few insignificant posts, and I've even been on a couple of rides with some of the Welly crew, so some of you may be able to put a face to me.
I've been riding since June '05. I was out driving the cage one day when I saw a group of riders who were clearly doing some kind of course and I thought to myself "I wish I could do that". Then I thought "what the hell's stopping me?" The ball was rolling... In my excitement I started browsing the net for bikes, and it wasn't long before I'd bought the FXR – it was cheap, low mileage, "mint" condition, and looked good (IMHO) – ok, so I had no idea what I was doing, and in hindsight I probably should have bought something else, but never mind! So, I did my BHS course, got my learners licence, found some nice quiet streets, and practiced and practiced some more. Two months later and I was really getting the hang of things, so it was time to lose the loser plate, and I did the RoadSafe CBTA Restricted course. Since then I've done about 3,000km through commuting (Whitby to Wgtn) about once per week, lots of trips over the Paekak' Hill just for fun, about 6 trips over the 'takas with TSS and KB, and a few other trips around the region. If motorcycling is a drug then I'm addicted. If I'm not actually out riding then I'm probably thinking about motorcycles in one way or another, and every other time I open my mouth it's to talk about them (the other times are usually to put food in!). My friends and family are probably sick of me going on about it, but I don't care because I just love it!
I've never ridden any motorcycle other than my FXR, so clearly I have nothing to compare it to, but it seems to me that it is a great little bike, especially for a complete novice. However, the key word there is "little", and at 6'3" I'm not. Although the "clown bike" look in my avatar is exaggerated, it's probably frighteningly close to what I actually do look like on my FXR. On the open road the wee girl struggles to keep up with the cages, especially into a headwind or uphill (although I'm learning to rev it higher and that's helping). I can be racing along at 100kph, full throttle in 6th, and then a big gust of wind hits me and all of a sudden I'm doing about 80 – one day that will happen with a car right up my arse and... well, let's not go there. On really windy days I don't ride at all, or if I have to then I take the "back roads", preferring to take on the crazy suburban traffic than the motorway *and* the wind. Needless to say, with only about one more month until I can sit my full licence, I'm looking forward to upgrading to a bike with more get up and go. Not wanting to buy myself a ticket to certain death, I'm currently eyeing up a SV650S – from all I've read about them, it seems like the perfect next bike for me. However, unlike my first purchase, I fully intend to ride a variety of bikes to find the one that suits me best.
Anyway... (hopefully at least a few people will read this long enough to get to my question at the bottom!) Next week I'm moving up to P'ram (my commute will then be much longer and a bigger bike so much more appealing) and I was wondering where Kapiti riders go to get their fix? My range at the moment is only about 200km before I'm knackered. Where is a good place to ride from Kapiti other than just up and down SH1?
Looking forward to meeting more of you.
HSVboy.
I've been riding since June '05. I was out driving the cage one day when I saw a group of riders who were clearly doing some kind of course and I thought to myself "I wish I could do that". Then I thought "what the hell's stopping me?" The ball was rolling... In my excitement I started browsing the net for bikes, and it wasn't long before I'd bought the FXR – it was cheap, low mileage, "mint" condition, and looked good (IMHO) – ok, so I had no idea what I was doing, and in hindsight I probably should have bought something else, but never mind! So, I did my BHS course, got my learners licence, found some nice quiet streets, and practiced and practiced some more. Two months later and I was really getting the hang of things, so it was time to lose the loser plate, and I did the RoadSafe CBTA Restricted course. Since then I've done about 3,000km through commuting (Whitby to Wgtn) about once per week, lots of trips over the Paekak' Hill just for fun, about 6 trips over the 'takas with TSS and KB, and a few other trips around the region. If motorcycling is a drug then I'm addicted. If I'm not actually out riding then I'm probably thinking about motorcycles in one way or another, and every other time I open my mouth it's to talk about them (the other times are usually to put food in!). My friends and family are probably sick of me going on about it, but I don't care because I just love it!
I've never ridden any motorcycle other than my FXR, so clearly I have nothing to compare it to, but it seems to me that it is a great little bike, especially for a complete novice. However, the key word there is "little", and at 6'3" I'm not. Although the "clown bike" look in my avatar is exaggerated, it's probably frighteningly close to what I actually do look like on my FXR. On the open road the wee girl struggles to keep up with the cages, especially into a headwind or uphill (although I'm learning to rev it higher and that's helping). I can be racing along at 100kph, full throttle in 6th, and then a big gust of wind hits me and all of a sudden I'm doing about 80 – one day that will happen with a car right up my arse and... well, let's not go there. On really windy days I don't ride at all, or if I have to then I take the "back roads", preferring to take on the crazy suburban traffic than the motorway *and* the wind. Needless to say, with only about one more month until I can sit my full licence, I'm looking forward to upgrading to a bike with more get up and go. Not wanting to buy myself a ticket to certain death, I'm currently eyeing up a SV650S – from all I've read about them, it seems like the perfect next bike for me. However, unlike my first purchase, I fully intend to ride a variety of bikes to find the one that suits me best.
Anyway... (hopefully at least a few people will read this long enough to get to my question at the bottom!) Next week I'm moving up to P'ram (my commute will then be much longer and a bigger bike so much more appealing) and I was wondering where Kapiti riders go to get their fix? My range at the moment is only about 200km before I'm knackered. Where is a good place to ride from Kapiti other than just up and down SH1?
Looking forward to meeting more of you.
HSVboy.