View Full Version : First ride today.
kazza_nz_05
24th July 2007, 18:03
Hi Guys. Well I took the bike out for a little ride around Taita today. Stalled a total of 3 times, what an idiot. Even noticed that I can't go below 2 revs in 2nd, stall. Bloody scarey, cause back wheel skidded a bit. What I did notice though was the Front brake lever is angled quite a way from the throttle and the bit and the end of the lever is turned up more than the clutch lever. They don't look the same, Looks warped....Is this normal???
Heres the good part.
Trying to put the bike in the garage backwards and i ended up almost dropping the damn thing, I placed it on the ground gently as I didn't want to fall over the bike. I wasn't even riding it and its already been on the ground. How blonde is that. No damage done though...Phewww..
T-Thunder13
24th July 2007, 18:10
nice work! it can only get better...................i hope:scooter:
merv
24th July 2007, 18:38
If you aren't happy with the lever positions you can loosen the clamps where they attach to the handlebars, rotate the levers and then tighten them up again. Good on ya for getting the first ride under ya belt.
Chrislost
24th July 2007, 18:43
Hi Guys. Well I took the bike out for a little ride around Taita today. Stalled a total of 3 times, what an idiot. Even noticed that I can't go below 2 revs in 2nd, stall. Bloody scarey, cause back wheel skidded a bit. What I did notice though was the Front brake lever is angled quite a way from the throttle and the bit and the end of the lever is turned up more than the clutch lever. They don't look the same, Looks warped....Is this normal???
Heres the good part.
Trying to put the bike in the garage backwards and i ended up almost dropping the damn thing, I placed it on the ground gently as I didn't want to fall over the bike. I wasn't even riding it and its already been on the ground. How blonde is that. No damage done though...Phewww..
i smashed my fairings turning into my driveway on my 2nd ride:shutup:
your not doing bad
Wannabiker
24th July 2007, 20:23
Yep...dropped my first (and brand new) bike on the first trip home. Parked it outside the garage and put the stand down....and then must have flicked it back up!! Jumped off to open the garage door and introduce my new bike to the collection of big boys toys in the shed, and down it fell. Busted indicator and mirror! The good news is that once you have got that out of the way, it will be plain sailing from now on.:scooter:
babyblade250rr
24th July 2007, 20:41
yeah clutch and braker levers are fully adjustable,
And well done on your ride
Slingshot
24th July 2007, 21:35
Cracker day for ya first ride!!
As mentioned, you should be able to adjust the levers, if you need a hand...just post and I'm sure one of the Hutt members will rock on over to take care of it for you.
Does your hubby ride?
When daylight savings start, we'll be kicking off the Wednesday night rides again. The Wednesday night ride is perfect for those learning or out for a cruise.
Also, once you get your confidence up, you should check out some of the group rides that go over to the Wairarapa. The Rimutakas is a fantastic but ya need to build up to it.
Anyway...welcome to the nut farm that is KiwiBiker.
gijoe1313
24th July 2007, 22:04
Good on ya for giving it a go! Don't worry about the incident, all part and parcel of the learning experience! :yes:
Note the crew you got down there can give you plenty of tips and mentoring... I'm sure you will be learning heaps and getting back out there! :scooter:
kazza_nz_05
24th July 2007, 22:10
Hey Guys, Thanks for your comments. I think maybe the lever bent out of shape a bit when i placed my bike on the ground. I just don't know as the levers are pretty stron and don't seem to bend easy. May ride out carefully to the place I got the bike and see what they can do. May need to replace the lever if its bent.
Hubby doesn't ride. Doesn't like bikes that much - safer in cars. He likes flying though (where I am not too keen, but do it anyway..lol).
I felt horrible for the rest of the day cause of the ? bent lever and me almost dropping the bike. Hubby was like its ok, just get back on. Its not broken...LOL
Slingshot
24th July 2007, 22:25
Hey Guys, Thanks for your comments. I think maybe the lever bent out of shape a bit when i placed my bike on the ground. I just don't know as the levers are pretty stron and don't seem to bend easy. May ride out carefully to the place I got the bike and see what they can do. May need to replace the lever if its bent.
Hubby doesn't ride. Doesn't like bikes that much - safer in cars. He likes flying though (where I am not too keen, but do it anyway..lol).
I felt horrible for the rest of the day cause of the ? bent lever and me almost dropping the bike. Hubby was like its ok, just get back on. Its not broken...LOL
I had my bike knocked over in a bike park once, bent the lever too. I thought about having it replaced, but I'm used to it now and kinda like it bent.
gijoe1313
24th July 2007, 22:49
I had my bike knocked over in a bike park once, bent the lever too. I thought about having it replaced, but I'm used to it now and kinda like it bent.
Stylish! I'm sure some people will wonder where they can pick one up! :lol:
Rosie
25th July 2007, 08:41
Sounds like you had an eventful ride! :shit: At least you are getting out there and giving it a go!
Everyone gives their bike a little lie down at some stage. At least there was no damage.
It might pay to take your bike back to the shop and ask about the position of the levers. They may just need to be adjusted to suit your hands. Or it may be normal. It's always a good idea to check, for peace of mind. It can dent your confidence a lot when you are learning and you think there might be something wrong with the bike.
Stalling is a normal part of the learning process. If you can find an empty carpark, or similar, it's good to practise lots of starting and stopping, so you are less likely to stall when you are out on the road.
janno
25th July 2007, 08:50
One of the first things my husband had me practise when he taught me to ride motorcycles was how to restart from a stall quickly without thinking. We practised this over and over, to get rid of my fear of stalling at the lights infront of cars and getting into a flap.
This was great to get down pat - one less thing to worry about. And of course, all that throttle practice meant I pretty much got over the stalling thing anyway.
Hope you find someone to help you out with your riding - it helps to have your mistakes pointed out before they turn in to bad habits which are a bitch to break.
Have fun!! :Punk:
kazza_nz_05
25th July 2007, 18:01
Hey Slingshot - Your lever looks quite cool, really bent but cool. Mines not that extreme. I took my bike out again today and had a great time. went from my place (Taita) all the was to Avalon park and just drove around the parks road practicing starting and stopping and emergency braking and going over jugger bars safely - cause there were some...lol... Might do that for 30minutes every day to build confidence.
bull
25th July 2007, 18:56
sounds like a very good idea - when i first started out i went to a carpark as much as i could and just rode around it practicing stopping and starting just like you. Also practiced emergency braking.
Just take your time and enjoy the learning phase and once youre ready join in on the Sunday Rides or even the Wednesday evening rides once daylight savings kicks off again. even a cruisy ride into Wellington then around the bays is a nice simple ride.
Wasp
25th July 2007, 19:05
I learnt by riding up and down my street (on a hill, newly sealed) locking the rear and sliding soon taught me not to change down at that point lol
keep up the practice and enjoy - see you in summer (or sooner)
quallman1234
25th July 2007, 19:06
I had my bike knocked over in a bike park once, bent the lever too. I thought about having it replaced, but I'm used to it now and kinda like it bent.
Bent sereval of em, almost identically like that off road.
They break so much easier like that, I would keep a spare if i was you :).
Welcome 2 KB :).
I had my bike knocked over in a bike park once, bent the lever too. I thought about having it replaced, but I'm used to it now and kinda like it bent.
OMG thats what EXACTLY happened to mine couple of days ago!
Let me post pics soon lol!!
P.S. AVOID dropping oh Right Hand Side. The rear brake footrest is long enough to act like a lever, and It did break off my bikes whole rear brake mechanism. It cost me $150 dollars for the repair :(
P.S. Kazza, you are doing WAYYYYY better than me lol
kazza_nz_05
27th July 2007, 11:06
P.S. AVOID dropping oh Right Hand Side. The rear brake footrest is long enough to act like a lever, and It did break off my bikes whole rear brake mechanism. It cost me $150 dollars for the repair :(
P.S. Kazza, you are doing WAYYYYY better than me lol
Thats no good EJK. My Bike did end up going on its right hand side. But i managed to have enough hold of it to place it on the ground. Which in my case was lucky or else I would be forking out money for the right brake mechanism too. Only ended up bended my right front brake lever - which isn't too bad. And a scuff mark on the end of the throttle. Photo was taken at night, so thats why its a bit bright. No paint damage though.
When I take my bike back to the garage at 500kms. I will get them to adjust the brake lever slightly and get a replacement lever.
No ride today as a bit to windy and yuck outside, plus I have work this afternoon so no rushing around for me.
delusionz
27th July 2007, 13:36
OMG thats what EXACTLY happened to mine couple of days ago!
Let me post pics soon lol!!
P.S. AVOID dropping oh Right Hand Side. The rear brake footrest is long enough to act like a lever, and It did break off my bikes whole rear brake mechanism. It cost me $150 dollars for the repair :(
P.S. Kazza, you are doing WAYYYYY better than me lol
Gutted bro, hehe this is my first 250 I've it had for 5 weeks now (1800kms), no drop yet, not even a scuff. I've been going hard since the day i took a 17km test ride and returned to the shop and said I want this!
ambler
27th July 2007, 17:08
yeah slingshot - I had a lever like that for a couple of years and got used to it. When I finally got it replaced the new one just didnt feel right!
carver
27th July 2007, 17:19
Hi Guys. Well I took the bike out for a little ride around Taita today. Stalled a total of 3 times, what an idiot. Even noticed that I can't go below 2 revs in 2nd, stall. Bloody scarey, cause back wheel skidded a bit. What I did notice though was the Front brake lever is angled quite a way from the throttle and the bit and the end of the lever is turned up more than the clutch lever. They don't look the same, Looks warped....Is this normal???
Heres the good part.
Trying to put the bike in the garage backwards and i ended up almost dropping the damn thing, I placed it on the ground gently as I didn't want to fall over the bike. I wasn't even riding it and its already been on the ground. How blonde is that. No damage done though...Phewww..
women belong chained to the kitchen..not anything else!
merv
27th July 2007, 17:22
That brake lever is looking very much like the one on the XT250. We're always doing stuff like that to our trail bikes and last time I bought a lever for the XT just a few months ago I got it from Richard at TSS - sold me a mongrel not OEM - looks just as good - for about $7 I think i.e. sweet f a.
BigRed2007
27th July 2007, 18:25
Keep it going :)
Dont worry just a bit of polishing and a few parts and its good as new:P
Keep it up
kazza_nz_05
27th July 2007, 18:46
women belong chained to the kitchen..not anything else!
Well Carver, Is that what you think? Or just something you tell yourself every day, as if it should be the ideal way. Does your partner have the same view?
What year are we in - thats right twenty 07, Women do everything now. Feel a little intimidated that one day you may be overtaken on the road by a chick???
LOL OMG Kazz! its bent the SAME way as mine! let me upload a pic later! lol
Zuki Bandit
27th July 2007, 21:14
Wicked mate, great to hear another two wheeler is rolling the roads.
Wannabiker
27th July 2007, 22:24
dont take any notice of Carver....He's from Hamilton.
Cache Wraith
27th July 2007, 22:35
Welcome to the road my friend. Was there not that long ago and it's been a blast. Took my sister out the other day for some lessons and she had a low speed drop which took off the end of the clutch handle. I thanked her, as theorietically I have a faster bike, what with less wind resistance and reduced weight. Check out Shiny Side Up www.shinypodcast.com a podcast for beginner bikers and not so beginners. There's one of picking up a dropped bike, you have to be careful or you can actually hurt yourself.
marioc
27th July 2007, 22:38
hahaha thats a top attitude mate :second:
LOL heres my front brake lever
<a href="http://img63.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2707071218ie6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/5378/2707071218ie6.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>
Slingshot
30th July 2007, 23:25
Well Carver, Is that what you think? Or just something you tell yourself every day, as if it should be the ideal way. Does your partner have the same view?
What year are we in - thats right twenty 07, Women do everything now. Feel a little intimidated that one day you may be overtaken on the road by a chick???
First rule of KiwiBiker...don't feed the trolls!
kazza_nz_05
31st July 2007, 20:35
Sorry Slingshot. Hard day at work and I read his post. Grrrr...I will have to bite my tongue.
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