Newbie - Wellington

[disableduser]

Hey guys,

Had a look around - nice forum.

Questions:
I don't have a bike. I have zero experience except quad bikes and er... a bit of mountain biking.

I've got a quick car... but just want to try two wheels.
If I want to have a good crack at bikes... where do I start?
I figure I'd ask those that are experienced before I make a start.

Is there a WGTN based beginners course people recommend?
Or is better just to buy a bike and have a go?

What's a 'beginners' bike worth and what should I be looking for (spec, makes, models?)?



Cheers!

DU.

[MrMelon]

Get yourself a bike license a little self restraint and then a 2 stroke 250 to learn to ride on.. rgv/nsr/tzr250. Probably not a bad idea to do the roadsafe learn to ride/basic handling skills course to begin with too.

[CM2005]

depends what you're after. get a four stroke. welcome BTW!

[dogsnbikes]

Hey guys,

Had a look around - nice forum.

Questions:
I don't have a bike. I have zero experience except quad bikes and er... a bit of mountain biking.

I've got a quick car... but just want to try two wheels.
If I want to have a good crack at bikes... where do I start?
I figure I'd ask those that are experienced before I make a start.

Is there a WGTN based beginners course people recommend?
Or is better just to buy a bike and have a go?

What's a 'beginners' bike worth and what should I be looking for (spec, makes, models?)?



Cheers!

DU.

Welcome to KB plenty of advice to be giving here some good some not so good

regardless of the fact that you dont have a bike when you do decide to get one make sure its a bike your comfortable on and that you feel as one with the bike...........:Punk:

[Colapop]

First off get a hold of Stephens driving School or Roadsafe and get yourself along to a learner day... Roadsafe do a whole day thing... This Saturday (?) Udy st Petone. Have a look, ask questions, see how you go...

[yod]

welcome....a 250 2-stroke might a bit of a weapon to learn on but once you got your legs they're undies full of fun!!!

im pretty sure there's a newbie crowd that ride outta wellington all the time - maybe search the forums for them...im sure they can point you in the right direction for more experienced bikers in the wellington area who will help you out with advice, etc, as well as a fun group to ride with

[LardEmbargo]

yeah I did my basic handling skills thing with that Andrew Templeton at Roadsafe. Udy St Petone on Saturdays, as already mentioned :)


Roadsafe link thing (http://www.roadsafe.co.nz/)

I did the whole day, which was a couple of hours of Learn to ride course for complete beginners (I'd never sat on a bike before), followed by a pretty determined charge through practising the things you need to be able to demonstrate you can do to get a BHS certificate. Then the actual BHS exam / practical / riding while someone's watching you with a clipboard bit.

They had a bunch of 100cc or so bikes you can hire for the day as well if you don't have your own to bring along. And you don't have to do the learn to ride, you can go for the afternoon bit by itself, or just show up for the test I think.

BHS certificate in hand I wandered off to the roadcode lucky lotto scratchy test emporium and got a learner licence, which theoretically let me visit shiny bike shops and try out some 250s and see what felt comfortable to sit on.

I say theoretically cos it might take you a couple of tries to find a bike shop that doesn't just flat out fscking ignore you until you leave and generally acts like they don't actually want any of your cash, but don't let this put you off. I think they just do it to make sure they've always got some stock in, or something. Work at it, it's worth it in the end : )

[Drum]

Welcome to the site there mate.

If you do a search (tool bar at the top of the page) you will find plenty of threads about bikes for newbies. You're probably looking at anywhere from $2000 to $5000, with at least $1000 for gear as well.

Just remember not to bring your 'quick car' attitude to riding. We require a different attitude to survive.

[sels1]

What they said. Welcome aboard the site.

[Romeo]

I say theoretically cos it might take you a couple of tries to find a bike shop that doesn't just flat out fscking ignore you until you leave and generally acts like they don't actually want any of your cash, but don't let this put you off.

LMAO, it's so true. I was in a few bike shops in CHCH the other day and no one even looked at me. I guess they can spot a newb without a licence from a mile away ;s.

Anyways, I don't have anything to add to this thread except to say I'm in the exact same position as disableduser, except I don't have any cash ;/.

[Nasty]

Hey DU, welcome aboard .... always nice to have new playmates on here. There are plenty of newbie rides in wellington, just keep an eye on the Wellington ride threads and calander.

I did my course through Stephens and found them good, and know the owners of ridesafe and they are good also, so six of one, half doxen of the other.

Sit on lots of bikes before you choose what you want to buy if you can - it makes sense as you will probably have the bike for a year or so while in the learning phase. What Steam says is right about the attitude of car and bikes being different - to survive on a bike you need to do so much more and see so much more. Good luck - look forward to seeing you on a newbie ride soon!

[johnnyflash]

Welcome to the madhouse, I agree with Drum & Colapop, sound advice.. have fun, be safe

[disableduser]

Thanks for the advice guys - gives me a good starting point.

This course in Petone sounds like the go.
Plenty to read in the forums too.

This question has been done to death I'm sure... but bikes and short people... a problem?
I'm about 5'5.... errr.



Cheers.

[LardEmbargo]

... but bikes and short people... a problem?
I'm about 5'5.... errr.

what kind of bike do you think you might like? Cruisers might have generally lower seats and maybe suit shorter people (like me). But then when I tried some out I didn't like the nearly-lying-down-feet-way-out-in-front riding position at all, so cruisers were no good after all. Plus I didn't think the cruiser look was really me :) You need to be comfortable with riding it so go and sit on some different types and see what style you like and feels ok first. Then try some different bikes of that style and work out which one suits you best in terms of the important things like riding position and comfort and wallet-depletion.

For shorter people looking for a naked non-cruisy roadbike I reckon have a look at a Honda VTR250 - nice and stable, low-ish seat, doesn't feel topheavy - but then I'm kind of biased :)

My girlfriend (about the same height as me) didn't like the naked look (ewww - you can see all its innards) and went for the Kawasaki GPX, which is also pretty small and has a low seat but is faired. And red, in her case. Red ones go faster.

Go sit on some, see what you think.

[Little Miss Trouble]

[QUOTE=LardEmbargo;1032310]My girlfriend (about the same height as me) didn't like the naked look (ewww - you can see all its innards) and went for the Kawasaki GPX, which is also pretty small and has a low seat but is faired. And red, in her case. Red ones go faster.
QUOTE]

Ahhaha! Im on a red GPX too:love:
Seat height is 745 which is fine for me and I'm between 5'3 and 5'4 (without boots.)
I've been told that basically anyone can ride any bike once its moving the difficulty comes at very low or no speeds i.e. manovering in your driveway.

Go check out the bike shops, annoy the sales people thats what theyre there for (I never had any problems with anyone at the bike shops here in Auckland, but maybe thats coz I look a little more interesting than you boys :bleh: ) Sit on a few, pretty soon you'll get an idea of what you like

[Insanity_rules]

what kind of bike do you think you might like? Cruisers might have generally lower seats and maybe suit shorter people (like me). But then when I tried some out I didn't like the nearly-lying-down-feet-way-out-in-front riding position at all, so cruisers were no good after all. Plus I didn't think the cruiser look was really me :) You need to be comfortable with riding it so go and sit on some different types and see what style you like and feels ok first. Then try some different bikes of that style and work out which one suits you best in terms of the important things like riding position and comfort and wallet-depletion.

For shorter people looking for a naked non-cruisy roadbike I reckon have a look at a Honda VTR250 - nice and stable, low-ish seat, doesn't feel topheavy - but then I'm kind of biased :)

My girlfriend (about the same height as me) didn't like the naked look (ewww - you can see all its innards) and went for the Kawasaki GPX, which is also pretty small and has a low seat but is faired. And red, in her case. Red ones go faster.

Go sit on some, see what you think.

I concur with Lard Embargo. VTR is cool but hey try on a few bikes for fit and finish. Hey Lard I see you also have a honda of Doom, well done! I have the infamous VTZ of doom (Well infamous on the TCWNR and a few tukka runs).

[Colapop]

Went out to the Roadsafe course this am (a couple mates were doing it) A good crowd there despite the rain. This is definitely the way to go and seeing them teach this morning just reaffirms my recommendation of them. Andrew and Lynn of Roadsafe are the way to go. Very good teachers and very comprehensive knowledge imparted.

[disableduser]

Thanks Lard Embargo.
I definately don't want a cruiser; and prefer the look of the Kawasaki - no offence ha ha.

I'll keep an eye out for the red ones.
As others have said - Roadsafe will definately be my first stop.


Thanks.

[rwh]

First off get a hold of Stephens driving School or Roadsafe and get yourself along to a learner day... Roadsafe do a whole day thing... This Saturday (?) Udy st Petone. Have a look, ask questions, see how you go...

There's also Streetwise (who is a member: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php?u=5442 ) - that's who I did mine with, and I understand is rather more relaxed - teach a bit, then do a bit of the test, then teach the next bit and so on. If you don't get it right first time, maybe a bit more teaching and have another go. I understand Roadsafe is a bit more formal, but of course I've never done one of their courses ...

Richard

[Colapop]

Well, there you go. Glad I don't know everything... Thanks Richy

[rwh]

Also, surprisingly nobody's yet mentioned ...

Don't forget to get some decent gear. Hopefully you're more conventionally shaped than me, and can actually find good clothing that fits ... I had helmet, gloves, jacket and boots from day 1 (well, the boots came after my BHS), but have only recently got custom leather pants (& jacket). I would have got pants much earlier if anything off the shelf had fitted.

Richard