Riders of the Noobie Sort

[vifferman]

I was riding to work today, as you do (well... as I do, at least), when I happened upon a Nooob.
"Kewl!" thought I, "another person taking up the gauntlet (and hopefully not throwing it in the gutter)."
So, I followed said yellow-plated Noooob, being patient at the slow cornering, wobbling, and general Nooooobiness, with a warm patronistic glow and all that sort of thing.
Butchoo know, after a while, I found being in close proximity to a Noooooob was VERY distracting. Car drivers are predictably unpredictable, and I find it easy to make allowances for them so I don't crash, die, explode into flames and die all over again. But not having had much experience with Nooooooobs, I was watching very carefully, wondering what was going to happen next. I really wanted to lanesplit past that bus, and those three cars, and get away from that ute that looked like it was going to change lanes without indicating or even confirminating (which it did, and didn't). But keeping one and a half eyes on the Noooooooob and two eyes on the pseudo-lane I intended to move into was impossible, as I was 1.5 eyes short!
So, I just shut all eyes, opened the throttle, and hopes that (a) the Nooooooooob wouldn't take fright and crash, (b) decide to lane-split in front of me at the last millisecond, (c) weave violently and clip my handlebar, or (d) explode into flames of jealousy at my l33t lanesplittering skills.

Whelp, I think I got away widdit.

So, if said Noooooooooob happens to read this (you with the GN250, who lives in Chatswood), here's some anti-Nooooooooooob hints:

Learn to use your front brake.
Hold the bars more loosely - don't strangle 'em.
Watch where you're going, instead of admiring the kewl person behind you in your mirrors.
Look where you want to go, and the bike will follow.
Don't be afraid to lean the bike in the corners - it's made to do that!
Learn to countersteer.
Don't lanesplit until you've mastered all the above.
Enjoy your ride! :niceone:

[stify]

shit thats gota be one of the more usefull posts i've come across in a while

go the nooobieee

[Uncle B]

Ditto to that. :headbang:

The amount of times I've seen a newer rider and wanted to pull them over and give them a bit of friendly advice was doing my head in....so that's why the Newbie rides have started up in Welly.
They (the nooobs) love getting together for a ride at a pace better suited to their abilities where they learn how to be a better safer rider with the help from experienced riders while having fun at the same time.

More of us should take the time to share and pass on knowledge of this wonderful obsession we call motorcycling.

Could save a life.

Well done vifferman

[Wasp]

Yup we sure do Unc B, and we luv ya for organising it (in a non-cowpoos kinda way .... ......)

I usually walk up and introduce myself if I see a motorcyclist havn't had any bad experiances (scooter guy excluded, never again, ill just let him kill himself...)

[Sketchy_Racer]

Ill have to come on one of these so called 'noobie rides'

i like meeting people.

and i like riding.

[Insanity_rules]

I'll second that Wasp, the noob rides are a bit of fun aren't they? I've been riding a few years but still pick up a thing or two from pack riding. I also like to talk to noob's.
I haven't had a bad experience yet but I've had a ticking off once from a guy on a Honda Custom about Lane splitting, he suggested that it was a dangerous practice and I should cut it out at once if I wanted to ride as long as he had (he must have been about 60ish).
I preffer to put people onto kb and invite them on the tcwnr to learn some skills rather than what custom guy did to me. Wasn't fun being dressed down on the street in Lower Hutt.

Ya run a tight ship Uncle B and we all appreciate it.

[Insanity_rules]

Ill have to come on one of these so called 'noobie rides'

i like meeting people.

and i like riding.

Yeah RG theyre real fun mate

[Bend-it]

Amen to that! Came out on my first ride last Wednesday, and will definitely be back!!

Just bought a bunch of gear from Sawyer's in Vivian St. Pretty good deal with the Nortech stuff. $649 for Jacket, pants, gloves and boots, freebie disc lock and bag thingy too! Got new helmet as well. The old one was retty bad... ;)

Should be set for next Wednesday! Woo hoo!