Tips for a complete newbie, and some questions.

[who_me_33]

Just got my bike and licence. A few questions, that Id like answered. With the l-plate, is the supplied velcro enough to attach it with, or should i just chuck a bolt through it. And im planning on riding in the suburbs for a bit first, (I live central city, and dont want to be chucked in the deep end straight away, and have a mates place where I can leave the bike at in the burbs). Anything that I should pay particular attention to for the first wee while. And how long should I be expecting untill I have the skills to handle inner city riding. And with round-a-bouts, are they are scary as they appear. Ive also had a look round in this part of the forum, and seen the bits about riding in the middle of the road, and avoid oil etc.
Thanks in advance for the advice.

[NighthawkNZ]

I personally would bolt the L-Plate on... as for the skills practise practise practise, join some of newbie rides and get a mentor

[crashe]

Welcome to KB.......

Read BuckBuckNo1 training thread.... it is a insight into what you need to know. Also read all the survival threads in the survival section - it has many tips and pointers in there as well.

Practise practise and practise.

Get a mentor from the Chch area to help you out.


Oh yeah bolt on the "L plate" so that you dont loose it.

[Ixion]

Velcro will not keep the L plate on.

After 40 years practice I'm far from sure I have the skills to handle inner city riding in Auckland. I rely on very load yelling and threatening gestures. But of course Christchurch may be another matter .

And yes, roundabouts are as scary as they sound . Vicious horrible things.

Welcome, by the way. Yes, you.

[Pumba]

Welcome to riding.

I think all you need to do is ride around a bit and get up some confidence, be aware of everything that is going on around you. As for when you will be ready for the centeral city etc. you will known when just dont rush it.

O and Velcro wont hold that L-Plate a bolt or a cable ties should do the job

Just enjoy yourself

[sunhuntin]

bolt the lplate on with the same bolt that holds your rego/warrent [either] and make sure it doesnt block indicators, brakelight or reflectors. [bolt it on and get someone to follow you to make sure all of the above are clearly visable]
try and keep it clear from the tyre as well [my plate is nearly non existent after the tyres had a munch]

the velcro is not worth the time it took to make, and is designed for car windows. imagine how strong the wind is against you at 100k..then imagine being a square of velcro and trying to stay on.

[Mom]

Velcro will not keep the L plate on.

After 40 years practice I'm far from sure I have the skills to handle inner city riding in Auckland. I rely on very load yelling and threatening gestures. But of course Christchurch may be another matter .

And yes, roundabouts are as scary as they sound . Vicious horrible things.

Welcome, by the way. Yes, you.


You stole my words.....tho my experience is only 30 odd years, and I am sure CHCH will present its share of ummmm "idiots" tho they do have a large population on 2 wheels of the man power variey.

You will be fine, just keep you eyes open and your wits about you, welcome to KB!

[who_me_33]

Welcome to KB.......

Read BuckBuckNo1 training thread.... it is a insight into what you need to know. Also read all the survival threads in the survival section - it has many tips and pointers in there as well.

Practise practise and practise.

Get a mentor from the Chch area to help you out.


Oh yeah bolt on the "L plate" so that you dont loose it.
Thanks for that, ill be bolting it on (or if I dont have one kicking round in my room, and cant use the licence plate one ill be cable tying it on. And re chch traffic, its good most of the time, but the road code seems to be "here are some guidlines that may help" for quite a few drivers round here.

[crashe]

Thanks for that, ill be bolting it on (or if I dont have one kicking round in my room, and cant use the licence plate one ill be cable tying it on. And re chch traffic, its good most of the time, but the road code seems to be "here are some guidlines that may help" for quite a few drivers round here.

Here is BuckBuckNo1 training thread.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=30010&highlight=BuckBuckNo1+Training+thread

[sunhuntin]

Thanks for that, ill be bolting it on (or if I dont have one kicking round in my room, and cant use the licence plate one ill be cable tying it on. And re chch traffic, its good most of the time, but the road code seems to be "here are some guidlines that may help" for quite a few drivers round here.

how is your rego/warrent held on? my rego is above the plate, and wof bolted to the back. that bolt has the l plate.

[Grub]

Anything that I should pay particular attention to for the first wee while.

Your lines through corners will become one of the most important things in safe riding and it's a hard one to get right. We all (still?) have 'oh shit' moments when we find ourselves drifting wide on a corner exit and praying there's nothing coming. And that's not on fast corners either. The slow ones are the worst.

So the trick is to find a quiet country road (pref a No Exit one) where there's only locals going home and just ride up and down it for hours practicing your lines, getting smooth and seeing how your speed in and out of the corner gets smoother and less scary. Oh, you're it Chch ... the road has to have corners :)

[Drum]

Welcome to the site WM33, and welcome to biking too.

Get as many miles under your belt as you can - some learners do 10,000 to 20,000 k's in their first year. Keep your head up!

[Lteejay]

Hey, welcome to the sight. Take it easy to begin with, the movements will slowely become much smoother. Get a mentor - awesome idea. Ride around and round your neighbourhood to begin with to get used to the bike. The first time you head into the city ask your mentor to tag along.
Happy riding.

[who_me_33]

Just zip tied my l-plate on for now (but when I get round to buying a bolt it will be getting put on better). And just went for my first ride, I see what you mean about the corners (been out playing in the suburbs, and theres a couple of roads with a few windy bits). And as for the city riding, ended up going back home (but back through the side roads). And stumbled across a round-a-bout, (it was very quiet though, so not a huge problem). And as for mentors, how hard is it to come across someone who is willing to do it (I know of 2 people who would be more than happy to do it, but both of them are in Reefton, which is not much help to me).

. . . Ride around and round your neighbourhood to begin with to get used to the bike. The first time you head into the city ask your mentor to tag along.
Happy riding.
I live in between Fitzgerald ave, and barbadeous st, on hereford st, so ill be learning out of my neighbourhood. Probably out in redwood, as I know people out there, and know the area quite well.

[nigelp]

Hey, if you are looking for someone to go for a ride with in the next couple of weeks I am available. I live pretty close to where you are (on Forfar St, off the end of Madras) and have a slow as hell 200cc trailbike so keeping up wont be a problem. Send me a pm if you are keen. :scooter:

As for the "L Plate", bolts are best, even so I managed to lose one that was bolted on during a trail ride!

[NighthawkNZ]

even so I managed to lose one that was bolted on during a trail ride!


lol... thats not hard to do... its a wounder thats all you lost :dodge:

[Terminated]

Who_Me_33

Yes you 33: gidday and welcome to the site. I see Crashe has pointed you to my newbie training thread [awww shucks Crashe, you're embarassing me:scooter: ]

Here is an extract from that thread:


As At Wednesday 15 November
Elapsed Time Since Last Update: 8weeks
Riding days completed since last update: [Average 4 days a week approx]
Distance Travelled 2,146km
Total Distance 8331km [since 12 May]

Training Strategy:
DEE-FAP Discipline - Focus - Attention - Personal

Just because I have passed my Restricted Licence today, this does not give me a personal licence to ramp it up to the 100kph immediately, I got to earn my personal skill level progressively and gradually too - and my mentor [Uncle B] said 'take your time in pushing the envelope a bit further'.

DEE-FAP is your personal approach to your riding development I have selected the keys as:

Discipline - You will know when you get that pit gut feeling when something goes awry - Expect the Unexpected. Discipline yourself to not let that moment pass and if you have the time then immediately pull over and stop.

Ask yourself 'what happened? What did I do wrong? or What didn't I do?

And don't get angry because some cage may have cut you off or pulled out in front of you at an intersection or from a parked space. Think about it you can't control the other road user, but you can control your approach to riding strategically.

Focus - Have one or two things as key review points each time you get on your bike. Think ahead where and when you want to focus your attention on those keys. It does not have to be immediately, you may have a pre-arranged location in mind [eg slalom - cone weaving - countersteering technique] you may have a good quiet road [without the cones] or that empty carpark with the cones.

Attention - Develop a habit of cycling through your safety strategy for me as an example [check mirrors, heads up horizon, glance at gauges and speedo, heads up horizon peripheral sensitivity - here exercise your visual awareness your peripheral vision can be 'shut down' because though you are looking ahead your mind may be wondering and your peripheral vision may not be alert [day dreaming] and back to checking mirrors and repeat the cycle. When coming back into increased traffic flows this Attention drill takes on greater meaning.

Personal - How you approach your DEE-FAP Discipline Focus Attention Personal strategies will be evolving as your riding skills develop. Above all be true to yourself when you next go for a ride and think again about where you're riding and how you're riding. Remember you do not have to be overly tense and completely locked into your training program remember to relax.

There will come a time when you get on your bike and very shortly maybe a kilometer or two or three and you know that you are not completely 'at one' with the bike, recognise it for what it is and if necessary don't venture out on that recreational ride, stop go [home] back inside and have another cup of tea/coffee. Revisit that feeling in your mind's eye and when you feel ready then perhaps go for that ride and definitely have one or two keys things to Focus your Attention on. You may have had the initial not 'at one' feeling with the bike because you just got on the bike and headed off without a DEE-FAP

Heads Up and Enjoy

My strongest recommendation for you is to seek out a mentor to periodically review your riding over the next 6 - 12 months. And next I would encourage you to spend 20 minutes minimum practising your slow bike control each time in a quiet cul de sac or parking lot - before you go out for your ride.

Enjoy your new found freedom.:rockon:

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Lteejay]

And as for mentors, how hard is it to come across someone who is willing to do it (I know of 2 people who would be more than happy to do it, but both of them are in Reefton, which is not much help to me).

Heres a list of mentors

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showgroups.php

There is bound to be someone in CHC - look at their profiles. I am sure most are willing to help as they put their names down as willing to mentor. I suppose it just depends on whether they have time at this moment in their lives.

I have found all on site very very helpful - luv you guys long time :banana:

[Roj]

Welcome to KB, good luck with the riding and keep those eyes open,:shit:

there will be times when things go well and times not so well, as has been said, read BuckBuckno1's thread, he has set out a very methodical approach to learning:scooter:

maybe it should be said again, read BuckBuckno1's thread:scooter:

[who_me_33]

Who_Me_33
And don't get angry because some cage may have cut you off or pulled out in front of you at an intersection or from a parked space. Think about it you can't control the other road user, but you can control your approach to riding strategically.
Thats helped me a couple of times already, (and many times in the past on a bike round traffic, some people dont understand that cars are not bikes (also that reminds me, I take it its illegal to ride a motorbike in a cycle lane). Also read a fair bit of buckbucks thread, if a mods reading this, maybe it should be stickyed. Has been very helpful reading. And am chasing will be getting a mentor, thanks for the list of them by the way. Also out of interest, is it necessary to drop it into first when ever you come to a stop, or is it aceptable to stop in second, and then click it down to first, while stopped. Or is that a bad idea.

[Lteejay]

I never use 1st apart from when I am starting. I usually glide to a stop at corners etc in either 2nd or 3rd. Similar to being in a car - it just depends on what is the easiest at the time. Ya might wanna wait to see what the grey haired ones think though :dodge:

[mstriumph]

Velcro will not keep the L plate on.

After 40 years practice I'm far from sure I have the skills to handle inner city riding in Auckland. I rely on very load yelling and threatening gestures. But of course Christchurch may be another matter .

And yes, roundabouts are as scary as they sound . Vicious horrible things.

Welcome, by the way. Yes, you.

WHS

and welcome!!

[quickbuck]

Also out of interest, is it necessary to drop it into first when ever you come to a stop, or is it aceptable to stop in second, and then click it down to first, while stopped. Or is that a bad idea.

Yes it is (necessary to go all the way down to first).
Most bike gear boxes HATE being shifted when none of the internals are rotating.
The good thing about them is you can change without the clutch (as almost all are constant mesh, or sequential in other words). That is a lesson for the future mind you.
Bike manufactures have made it easy for you to find 1st by putting neutral between 1st and 2nd (on most bikes it is).

Keep the questions coming. We don't mind.
Remember the only silly question is the one that wasn't asked.

[quickbuck]

Ya might wanna wait to see what the grey haired ones think though :dodge:
Steady, I'm not that grey... honest!
Well, maybe a little...

And the balding is years of wearing a crash hat.... (Tui anyone?)

[NighthawkNZ]

Steady, I'm not that grey... honest!
Well, maybe a little...

And the balding is years of wearing a crash hat.... (Tui anyone?)

:lol: hey wait is that why im going bald... :scratch: ... :cry:

I'll take that Tui now :D

[quickbuck]

:lol: hey wait is that why im going bald... :scratch: ... :cry:

I'll take that Tui now :D

There is a doz in my fridge.

Bring some Speights up with ya, and they are yours.

[NighthawkNZ]

There is a doz in my fridge.

Bring some Speights up with ya, and they are yours.

deal.... :) bling

[Dodger]

Bike manufactures have made it easy for you to find 1st by putting neutral between 1st and 2nd (on most bikes it is).
This also makes it easy to sometimes find neutral when changing up from 1st into second.:doh:

Anyway,
Welcome to the site :)

[quickbuck]

This also makes it easy to sometimes find neutral when changing up from 1st into second.:doh:

Then there are the manufacturers who put random neutrals all through your box at random times ;)

[who_me_33]

Went for a ride nigelp today, was very helpful, pointed out that I should be further over, and also that my speedo was out (when its reading 63kmph its doing 50, that will explain why traffic was always building up behind me, wasnt that they were all breaking the speed limit). And I also checked my chain, which is too loose, (I now know how tight to have it aswell, which is very helpfull).

[nigelp]

Went for a ride nigelp today, was very helpful, pointed out that I should be further over, and also that my speedo was out (when its reading 63kmph its doing 50, that will explain why traffic was always building up behind me, wasnt that they were all breaking the speed limit). And I also checked my chain, which is too loose, (I now know how tight to have it aswell, which is very helpfull).

Glad to be of assistance! Look forward to doing it again! :yes:

[Indiana_Jones]

Make sure you look before you take off from traffic lights, might not be so bad down there, but in Auckland there are 1000's of pricks running them.

-Indy

[Indiana_Jones]

Went for a ride nigelp today, was very helpful, pointed out that I should be further over, and also that my speedo was out (when its reading 63kmph its doing 50, that will explain why traffic was always building up behind me, wasnt that they were all breaking the speed limit). And I also checked my chain, which is too loose, (I now know how tight to have it aswell, which is very helpfull).

Oh yea, not just your speedo that is out, seems to be the same on all FXR's

Mine does like +15kph what your really doing. Kinda annoying. :whocares:

-Indy

[SDU]

Welcome who_me_33 to the freedom of bikes & KB:sunny:

You are right to be wary of dodgy drivers there are heaps around, keep ya eyes open & give yourself space. there are quite places to not far from your place to practise in if you pick your times. don't get overwelmed/intimated by all the learning & other drivers, it takes practise.
Check out Mainland driving school, they do some good courses.

There's a meeting at the Speights Ale house by the Tower Junction Riccarton Wed 17th 7pm. Check out the thread & bowl on out & meet some of the KB locals.

[who_me_33]

Welcome who_me_33 to the freedom of bikes & KB:sunny:

You are right to be wary of dodgy drivers there are heaps around, keep ya eyes open & give yourself space. there are quite places to not far from your place to practise in if you pick your times. don't get overwelmed/intimated by all the learning & other drivers, it takes practise.
Check out Mainland driving school, they do some good courses.

There's a meeting at the Speights Ale house by the Tower Junction Riccarton Wed 17th 7pm. Check out the thread & bowl on out & meet some of the KB locals.

Went to mainland driving school for my handling test, and am probably going to do one of there courses there. And as for the meeting tomorow night, would like to go, but im off to get my chain tightened that night (probably only a short job, but got to go round to my flatmates dads, as I have no tools here).
And as for finding neutral when you dont want to, ive ended up doing that a couple of times (it only seems to happen at bad times, bloody murphy).

[Guitana]

Yeah plenty of dodgy drivers here in Wellywood they like to pull into your lane without looking!!! I always keep in front of cages they just don't look for bikes.
Always be cautious at round abouts and intersections and look for slicks or shiny patches on the road. Avoid white lines and cats eyes in the wet and scan ahead for any cars that may pull out-watch their tail lights and front wheels they quite often don't indicate before pulling out but brake lights going off and front wheels turning can tell you they're about move. Cage drivers have the attitude that if you're smaller than them you should give way!! Always be aware of your surroundings and take it easy on unfamiliar streets and roads. Skill comes with practice and experience. Thats the best advice I can give you.
Good luck and ride safe


Enjoy the freefall while it lasts the next bits gonna hurt!!!!!

[SDU]

...as for finding neutral when you dont want to, ive ended up doing that a couple of times (it only seems to happen at bad times, bloody murphy).

Yeah Murphy is rife in these parts, just be positive with your changes, it can happen to us all at times.
Keep an eye out for meetings & rides Or start your thread for a ride.