Hi All

[Stickchick]

I just got given a VT250F for Christmas due to my partner loving motorbikes and I love being on the back. I'm soo looking forward to learning to ride but he hasn't had the time to teach me so haven't had a go yet.

Was anyone nervous first time on a bike? I had never been on a bike until I met my man in August but wow what an amazing feeling. Now all I have to do is find time to learn. Is it that hard if you don't even have a car licence?

[Grumpy]

Welcome and congrats on the new bike. The trick is learn right first time and take your time. There are a couple of outfits out there that can help you on your way. You have to do a basic handling course anyway to get your learners so you'll get a good start. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

[KATWYN]

I just got given a VT250F for Christmas due to my partner loving motorbikes and I love being on the back. I'm soo looking forward to learning to ride but he hasn't had the time to teach me so haven't had a go yet.

Was anyone nervous first time on a bike? I had never been on a bike until I met my man in August but wow what an amazing feeling. Now all I have to do is find time to learn. Is it that hard if you don't even have a car licence?

Welcome to the site. Good on you for learning. I was nervous first time on a bike. Just take it at your own pace and ride in expectation of the unexpected & you will be ok.

[Stickchick]

What exactly is involved in getting your learners? Is not just theory like a car?

[Scorpygirl]

Hi there

Welcome to KB. Just take your time. If you have ridden a pushbike and/or a horse it makes it way easier. Sometimes I think it might be easier not knowing how to drive a car as you have to relearn stuff. Good luck and learn heaps from this site. :scooter:

[sels1]

What exactly is involved in getting your learners? Is not just theory like a car?

I did mine years ago and its all changed since then. Try doing a search on licences on this site, there has been plenty of posts about it in the past. Some of our newer members may help you out. Good luck with learning to ride - thats a awesome Xmas pressie!

Welcome aboard the site btw

[APPLE]

welcome 2 KB'r mrs fizz?(learner riding)hav your wits ''about yah''stay calm,and wotch those cagers?......:niceone:

[XP@]

It's ok if he dosent have time to teach you. Just give Andrew Templeton a call www.roadsafe.co.nz then any nerves you had will disappear.

( statistically it is better to get proper instruction )

[Riff Raff]

I just got given a VT250F for Christmas due to my partner loving motorbikes and I love being on the back. I'm soo looking forward to learning to ride but he hasn't had the time to teach me so haven't had a go yet.
Ah finally got yourself sorted and started posting Jodi. If that slackarse man hasn't started teaching you by the next time I come down to Welly then I'll do it. Actually, do you really want Drew teaching you? Terrifying thought.

As for nervousness and all that, you'll be fine. I started riding a motorbike before I learned to drive a car and I reckon it's better to do it that way. Best way to start is to do the Basic Handling course - not sure if that's still a requirement for getting your learners licence - was back in my day.

[SpeedyGirl]

Welcome, you will love riding, just take it at your own pace and mostly have fun !!!

[Philenstein]

Welcome, I got a bike for christmas too (from me). Didn't get to ride it for ages for several reasons. Did the basic handling course in november and was slightly nervous, but not really (I knew nothing about motorbikes except they have two wheels). Jumped on the bike the first time 2 weeks ago and was very nervous about going on the road and all that, but now 2 weeks later not nervous anymore (well maybe a bit coz I got sore hands still from gripping the bars so tight). Absolutely lovin riding now, so much fun and well worth the effort nervousness or not ! Good luck. :)

[Rosie]

I was pretty nervous when I first started riding a bike. And stalling all the time didn't help. I've been doing some practise in carparks etc and am getting comfortable with the bike, I haven't done the basic handling skills course yet because I'm being a big girl's blouse about it all.
I think it depends on the kind of person you are, I'm fairly nervous and timid at the best of times, so it has taken a while to get comfortable with the bike and figure out the controls, but some people could jump on the bike for the first time at the BHS course and do fine.
Other than figuring out the controls (driving a car didn't help there) I found the weight of the bike took a bit of getting used to (and mine is only little).
I hope you get the time to try your new toy out! When you are first starting you probably only want to practise for 0.5 - 1 hour at a time, otherwise your brain will become frazzled:crazy:

[Fishy]

Welcome to the site mate!. Just remember, ride at your own ability not the person's in front. :2thumbsup

[judgeshock]

Welcome along :apint:

[phoenixgtr]

Welcome to the site. The basic handling skills test is a requirement to sit your licence. Andrew Templeton is the man. He's really helpful. The course is really good. It just involves a few basic manouvers like stopping and cornering but he kind of teaches you as you go. I didn't have any experience when I did mine and I was fine.

Have fun with your new bike, you've just walked into a whole new world!

[The Stranger]

Mostly the BHS test is just low speed handling.

For practise set up a dozen cones (basically anything you can safely run over) in a strait line in a carpark at say 6m centres (just pace it) and weave them. 6m should be fairly easy for a nevrous learner, then once you have mastered them at 6m, drop the spacing by .5 of a meter and master that. Repeat until you can achieve 3.5m, which if memory serves correctly is what you are meant to be tested at.

If you get that ok, you should hose through the rest of the test. If not, you could book a lesson or 2 cause you are doing something/s fundamentally wrong, which will be easy for an instructor to correct.

The most common problems a learner will encounter during this exercise is
A) throttle control. If you are winding on or off the throttle even a tiny bit it can/will stuff you up. Place you thumb on the switch block beside the throttle if necessary to steady your throttle hand during this exercise
B) where you look. Simple, you look at a cone you hit it. So pick a point on the horizon and DON'T take you eye off of it - there are NO exceptions to this rule in this exercise. Spot the cones only out of your peripheral vision.

Another exercise worth trying is to get in a carpark and do low speed figure eights using a couple of cones as centre points. Set them a comfortable distance apart and reduce as confidence builds. Same throttle control and where you look applies here too, except look where you want to be in a couple of seconds, again DON'T look at the cones - ever!

Once you are happy doing this exercise, then try weighting your outside foot peg (only at low speed) as you go around a curve and see what difference this makes. What difference does a heap of weight make?

[Drew]

. If that slackarse man hasn't started teaching you by the next time I come down to Welly then I'll do it. Actually, do you really want Drew teaching you? Terrifying thought.
That'll be enough outa you thanks woman! The more people that ride like me the better!:finger:
I'll get off my slack arse soon, time has been a bit hard to come by lately, but I'll make a special effort over the next couple weeks.

[JWALKER]

welcome to the site

[babyB]

welcome to the site Mrs Fizz
lol get a spatula under partners ass & tell him nothing sizzles till he teaches u:whistle:

[socialites]

I just got given a VT250F for Christmas due to my partner loving motorbikes and I love being on the back. I'm soo looking forward to learning to ride but he hasn't had the time to teach me so haven't had a go yet.

Was anyone nervous first time on a bike? I had never been on a bike until I met my man in August but wow what an amazing feeling. Now all I have to do is find time to learn. Is it that hard if you don't even have a car licence?
I would suggest you approach a crowd like DRIVE RIGHT in Onehunga. It cost about $280.00 to do a course, but its well worth the money if you a newbie. Do the effort to at least find out what they have to offer...you may be pleasantly suprised.

[Sniper]

Welcome and congrats. As said before, Im sure there are quite a few riders in Wellington that are more than happy to help you out.

[magicfairy]

It's ok if he dosent have time to teach you. Just give Andrew Templeton a call www.roadsafe.co.nz then any nerves you had will disappear.

( statistically it is better to get proper instruction )
I second that. Give Andrew a ring and tell him where you are at, and he'll tell which courses to go on. You can even "rent" one of his bikes if you don't want to risk dropping your shiny new one. There is a Learn to ride half day course you can do before the handling skills one you must pass before you can sit learners test.
I did both of these with him last year, and there were people there that had never ridden a bike at all. After a few hours they were riding round the car park and went on to pass Basic Handling.
And he knows the right way to go about explaining and teaching....

[Riff Raff]

There is a Learn to ride half day course you can do before the handling skills one you must pass before you can sit learners test.

That's a very good idea. Seriously consider it Jodi. Get the absolute basics sorted and then Drew can fine tune your riding and get you out on the road.

[Stickchick]

It's ok if he dosent have time to teach you. Just give Andrew Templeton a call www.roadsafe.co.nz then any nerves you had will disappear.

( statistically it is better to get proper instruction )

I tried the website you guys gave me but for some reason I can't get access. Is there any others that would be helpful?

[2much]

Their wesite doesn't seem to be working, but you'll find their contact details here:http://www.sawyers.co.nz/roadsafe.html

[magicfairy]

ROADSAFE Motorcycle Riding Techniques Limited
Ph: (04) 2320110
Mobile: 027 245 9510