The first 3 days

[sanchez]

well, after dealing with the utterly fantastic bunch of people at TSS just over a week ago, friday afternoon I headed down to hopefully pick up a correctly assembled pile of korean awesomeness.

As this was my first time riding on the road ever, they were nice enough to lend me a gn to ride around the block a few times and get a feel for things. I started off not knowing if I'd be able to turn the first (very slow) corner. Half an hour later I was happy enough puttering around quiet 50k streets (and reflecting on what a hard life that particular gn must have had). I went back, picked up the hyosung and did the same thing again, trying to remember to cancel indicators and watch out for retarded dogs/cars/pedestrians. Then down windy wet SH2 to home with a whole 30k's on the bike.

Saturday I went up SH2 to just past upperhutt (the rimutakas are a big twisty roadblock), had another ride around in the saturday morning traffic, rode back around through and up to porirua for more of the same, back to upper hutt and home again. Was interesting to do the same corners a few times and see my reaction change from "OMG I'm going to DIE" to "ooh, it leans" Having the tyres scrubbed in a bit helped too, there was about 200k's on the clock by the end of saturday.

Sunday morning i decided to head up SH1 until i got bored or too tired. Ended up in taihape despite some nasty wind and roadworks. It was a good day, i stopped every 80-100k's to think, things are definitely getting smoother and faster all the time. I am stuck on the best way to approach a 70k+ downhill bend though, and getting chucked around by the wind just north of bulls sucked :(

Christ this is an addictive hobby though :D (almost 700k’s done now)
The waving thing is kinda neat as well.

I just hope I’m not taking things too fast, everyone else (buckbuckno1 etc) seems to do ?? in carparks for a while before venturing out anywhere. I definitely want to do a course at some stage to make sure I’m not developing any bad habits.

[yungatart]

Congratulations, on both your new purchase and the miles you have clocked up already. I wish I had half your stamina!

[Wasp]

I just cruised around on my hill for a bit (western hills - lower hutt) then slowly ventured out

next time your in tss check out the yellow lump of mashed up metal out back of the work shop called the bandit...

see you around sooner or later i guess

[Ixion]

Congratulations and welcome. As to downhill bends, it is no bad idea , especially on a single or Vtwin, to change down before the corner so that you take the bend on a rising throttle. The mistake beginners sometimes make is to go through more or less on the overrun.

[phoenixgtr]

Congrats on the new bike mate. Once you start you can't stop. Don't worry about taking things too fast, just stick to what you feel is comfortable. When I got my bike I ventured further out with each ride. I was on the takas after about 3 weeks.

Don't forget to check out TCWNR on Wednesday nights when you feel confident enough (if it's not raining that is).

See you around

[sels1]

Sunday morning i decided to head up SH1 until i got bored or too tired. Ended up in taihape .

lol, you have caught the bug.

Welcome aboard the site, come along to one the group rides - the Wed night one would be a good start - they are fairly cruisy

[beyond]

Sounds like you have caught the disease alright :)

Once you start you can't stop and once on board, well, there goes the day... the weekend.... the week. Oh, and the services coming around a lot quicker too. :(

[crazefox]

Good on ya mate

[Drum]

You'll do fella.
I know a convert when I hear one.

Looking forward to your "First time up the 'takas" thread.

[skelstar]

Good stuff mate. Yeah my fave motorcycle shop too.

[gijoe1313]

Woohoo! Sounds like you're having a ball of fun! I can relate to everything you said and did - those feelings of fear, suprise...and fun! Keep reading and learning as much as you can, reflect about your riding and where you are riding ... and watch out for those crazies out there!

Looking forward to reading your future posts and keep it rubber side down! :2thumbsup

[sanchez]

Congratulations and welcome. As to downhill bends, it is no bad idea , especially on a single or Vtwin, to change down before the corner so that you take the bend on a rising throttle. The mistake beginners sometimes make is to go through more or less on the overrun.

I think that is the problem, I am going in too quick, so i dont feel comfortable getting on the gas again at the right time.

Thanks for the welcome everyone, will definatley look at coming along on a ride in a few weeks. :)

I wish it was saturday already :(

gijoe, i was reading through some of your old posts and can definatley see the similarities. If you're still around with a bike in one piece, you must be doing something right :D

[sAsLEX]

I think that is the problem, I am going in too quick, so i dont feel comfortable getting on the gas again at the right time.



Its prob not the fact you are going in to quick but the fact you are in say 3rd instead of 2nd and the engine is not providing any resistance.

Find a couple of easy corners and go through them on a closed throttle in different gears to see the difference and also try it with the clutch in, you will find the bike behaves rather differently .

[XP@]

Welcome to the club, you are addicted now and there is no going back!

I would recommend doing a course or two asap, as well as keeping up with your practice :-)

Learning to stop and Cornering are really important to learn properly. Unless you know what you should be doing and are confident it will work you can quickly make a minor problem a lot worse.

[jumma]

Welcome Sanchez, I was in the same position as you about two months ago. Can't get enough of riding, it's so addictive. I live 2km's away from my workplace but manage to put about 150-200km's on the clock per week by taking a detour home each day.

Enjoy your new ride!

[Leong]

Congrats on the new bike and hobby... Like the others, I'm pretty sure your'e addicted too. The k's you've done is a giveaway!!


I just hope I’m not taking things too fast, everyone else (buckbuckno1 etc) seems to do ?? in carparks for a while before venturing out anywhere. I definitely want to do a course at some stage to make sure I’m not developing any bad habits.

All depends on your confidence. As someone else said, do what you're comfortable with, and yes beware the downhill corners. I'm sure you'll enjoy the courses - very good idea to hear different opinions from different instructors and decide for yourself whats right for you!

[gijoe1313]

Welcome Sanchez, I was in the same position as you about two months ago. Can't get enough of riding, it's so addictive. I live 2km's away from my workplace but manage to put about 150-200km's on the clock per week by taking a detour home each day.

Enjoy your new ride!

:lol: hear hear! Takes me about five minutes to ride to work... two hours to get home! :banana: :scooter: I've just checked my km's to date so far

7 weeks : 9400kms (just as well I lube my chain every 500km, changed the oil and filter and checked over the brake pads!) ... a rear wheel stand is a must!

I think the worst detour I've taken is a four hour trip up north (not including the return) when I was meant to be heading south! I was buying a magazine from Sylvia Park ... and decided to have a little ride to mission bay...ending up with me heading over the bridge and towards Whangarei...:doh:

[NighthawkNZ]

I use to go to hamilton for a packet of chips or an ice cream... errr from the north shore...

now its to Timaru :2thumbsup

[XP@]

7 weeks : 9400kms (just as well I lube my chain every 500km, changed the oil and filter and checked over the brake pads!) ... a rear wheel stand is a must!

One word "Scotoiler"

[gijoe1313]

One word "Scotoiler"

Yep! Was looking into one of those - but I like sticking my bike up on the ol' rear wheel stand :banana: When I head to the South Island, will definitely have one on!

[gijoe1313]

I use to go to hamilton for a packet of chips or an ice cream... errr from the north shore...

now its to Timaru :2thumbsup

:lol: Good on ya! I'll be doing a trip up to Cape Reinga this weekend ... just to go North of the North on my two-fiddy!

[sanchez]

:lol: Good on ya! I'll be doing a trip up to Cape Reinga this weekend ... just to go North of the North on my two-fiddy!

You're brave, from memory a decent chunk of that road is shitty gravel?

[Wasp]

i did white rock out the back of martinborough on a vtz after only riding for 2 months, 30 kms of course gravel.

if you can do the takas you'll be fine for the wednesday night rides that are on.

see you around sooner or later.

[NighthawkNZ]

One word "Scotoiler"

yeh i been meaning to get me one of them myself... as well as heated grips and new pipes and rejeted, new forks, and and and I have a few problems...







... :crybaby: each one is a dollar :(