Summer's gone - Newbie riders' review

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As we are now moving out of the prime riding time of the year, I would be interested in posts in this forum that present riders’ views on what they feel they have improved upon in their individual riding technique, and indeed what feedback they may have received from their riding companions .

To get the ball rolling: this last spring and summer saw the introduction of my fourth bike since May 2006. I got my current bike, CB900 Hornet, in August 2007. With the Givi screen, well recommended, and the Oggie Knobs this bike has served me well and approaching 15,000km and a set of tyres back at 9,500km, I am more than satisfied with the bike and my level of riding ability.

Though I have clocked 40,000km since May 06, there is never a day goes by that I do not reflect on two or more things when I ride. Here is a very good example that jumped up and surprised me (Head Checks): Riding along the motorway I move to the right lane and pass a vehicle and move back to the left lane:

1. Gear selection shift from 6th to 5th
2. Steady throttle
3. Mirror check
4. Signal right
5. Head turn hazard check*
6. Final check 12 second horizon
7. Change lane
8. Passing 100kph vehicle, do not exceed 110kph** with good visual distance ahead
9. Lean slightly forward, view passed vehicle in left mirror
10. Signal left
11. Head turn distance check*
12. Change lane
13. Cancel Indicator
14. Gear 5th to 6th

Invariably I look back several times, twice before I accelerate to commence passing and twice again before I move back to the left lane. I suppose it is like checking the back door is locked 2 or 3 times before going to bed – I used to do that a lot but no longer. However, I still look back over my shoulder twice before changing lanes and will probably do it all the time while riding.

**Discretion, be aware in your rear view mirror of any following vehicle in your lane – no matter how far back, and scan your 12 second horizon ahead. Finally look at the driver’s shoulder of the vehicle you are passing before you get to his/her shoulder, this may often dictate your speed. :scooter:

I will copy five posts from this forum thread to the Newbie Update Blogg at the end of March.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[crazefox]

:msn-wink::msn-wink::msn-wink::msn-wink:Nice bb

[Radar]

Good stuff, BB - always good to have reminders about safety.
And I am impressed by the amount of km's you have put on your bike!

Yesterday a bikie friend came over and we watched about half dozen crash videos (YouTube, etc) and that sobered us up quickly! In each case they were simply going too fast so that the "12 second horizon ahead" and other safety factors were meaningless.

As far as I am concerned, the more I reminders I get about safety, the better.

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As we are now moving out of the prime riding time of the year, I would be interested in posts in this forum that present riders’ views on what they feel they have improved upon in their individual riding technique, and indeed what feedback they may have received from their riding companions .

To get the ball rolling

Bump........

[Radar]

As we are now moving out of the prime riding time of the year, I would be interested in posts in this forum that present riders’ views on what they feel they have improved upon in their individual riding technique...

In the last couple of weeks my cornering skills have improved greatly. I worked on it by going up to the Rimatuka summit three times, and various other rides in the Wairarapa including one today to Castlepoint on a group ride. I found several good articles on the internet about cornering, printed and read them, then went out to do as in the articles. Riding in a group has helped me quite a bit.

The other thing I have managed to cope with is riding in the wind. Holy crappola its been very WINDY recently! Trying to manage a tight corner with a sudden side gust of wind makes it all interesting, but I found total concentration was the key. Battling the wind on the Rimatukas yesterday and today to Castlepoint has left me knackered but also with a sense of accomplishment.

[Ixion]

As we are now moving out of the prime riding time of the year,...

Who says? The best is yet to come, that last for which the first was made.

Winter's just as good for riding as summer. Just different.

Don't agree with the notion that motorcycling is a summer only thing.

You'll have the newbies thinking they should garage the bike over winter.

Nothing beats a ride on a crisp overcast winter day.

[discotex]

Wow where do I start.

What I learned this summer.

a) 600cc supersports are farkin quick. Seriously, going for an inline-four thou after a 250 is suicide (and I'm 29 and responsible - well kinda).

b) One trackday is worth 1000km on the road. You learn so much more about cornering and braking in such a short space of time. Not for the beginner but once you're pretty confident on the road it's the next logical step.

c) You can never get complacent. Every now and again I find myself taking risks that I normally wouldn't. You have to spot it happening and dial it back a notch.

d) Actually more like part 2 of c. Bad situations develop so much quicker on a full sized bike. Yes that power and handling can help but they can also get you in teh shite real quick.

e) High beam on when splitting make a world of difference. Try it and be amazed.

I'm sure there's more but I got other threads to needle :Pokey:

[tri boy]

+1 with Ixion. April, May June are some of the best riding months.
Holiday traffic near nil. Slippery bubbling tar a thing of the past.
As is sweaty crotch rot from steaming hot summer days. Roll on April. (stick July, August, Sept up ya ar**e though)

[Terminated]

Who says? The best is yet to come, that last for which the first was made.

Winter's just as good for riding as summer. Just different.

Don't agree with the notion that motorcycling is a summer only thing.

You'll have the newbies thinking they should garage the bike over winter.

Nothing beats a ride on a crisp overcast winter day.

Point taken, all year is good. I suppose I am just asking about the last 6mths.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[discotex]

sweaty crotch rot

Mmmmmm :sick:

[gijoe1313]

Nice one Buckbuck, reminding all and sundry about the transitions of the different seasons of motorcycling! :yes:

Always a good time to ride a bike, riding through all weathers and night helps the skills and the confidence no end! :scooter: Or.. is that just me? :scratch:

[n0regret5]

FIIIIIIIIINALLY got my left knee down, unfortunately learning in the process what kneesliders are there for..sorry, don't have any pics of the resulting damage! there's still a little blood in the jeans though!:niceone:
fav jeans now. people ask why theres a huge hole in the left knee and none in the right and i show them my neat gravel tattoo..

[fizbin]

why do i get the feeling i got my bike at the worst time of the year lol:crybaby:

[discotex]

why do i get the feeling i got my bike at the worst time of the year lol:crybaby:

WTF?

The only bad time to get a bike is later.

[Radar]

c) You can never get complacent. Every now and again I find myself taking risks that I normally wouldn't. You have to spot it happening and dial it back a notch.

d) Actually more like part 2 of c. Bad situations develop so much quicker on a full sized bike. Yes that power and handling can help but they can also get you in teh shite real quick.



Wise words. I should probably print and stick this advice to the inside of my GIVI screen so I don't forget!

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Today Saturday, what a cracker out to Martinborough and around Lake Wairarapa, however on the way coming over the Rimutaka Hill it was quite foggy on the Featherston side - immediately had me thinking of winter conditions not to far away. The fog played with my concentration, I realised I was shifting my vision from way out to closer in scanning for diesel etc but I wasn't adjusting my speed to maintain smooth lines. I was mid way through the fog when I realised my technique was out of wack.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Patch]

As we are now moving out of the prime riding time of the year, . . .
bollocks



To get the ball rolling: this last spring and summer saw the introduction of my fourth bike since May 2006. . . . there is never a day goes by that I do not reflect on two or more things when I ride.
stop buying bikes :crazy:



Discretion, be aware in your rear view mirror . . .
bikes don't have rear view mirrors - cars do


Yes, I am bored . . . need some more :apint:

[Terminated]

bollocks


stop buying bikes :crazy:


bikes don't have rear view mirrors - cars do


Yes, I am bored . . . need some more :apint:

I coud go a :apint: this afternoon too but will wait for the Super 14 this evening.

Did you ride today?


Heads up and Enjoy

[Terminated]

Bringing this up for feedback leading to the end of the month soon.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Terminated]

Thank you for your replies to this thread, the following have been copied to the Newbie Update blogg.


Good stuff, BB - always good to have reminders about safety.
And I am impressed by the amount of km's you have put on your bike…


In the last couple of weeks my cornering skills have improved greatly….


Wow where do I start.

What I learned this summer…..


Nice one Buckbuck, reminding all and sundry about the transitions of the different seasons of motorcycling….


WTF?

The only bad time to get a bike is later.


Heads Up and Enjoy

[Damantis]

Damn right. Ive been riding 2 months and alot has been on the open road (took off the L plate cos I kinda like overtaking at 150kph and not having sum cock calling *555 to say a learner passed em on the hauraki plains)
It is getting colder tho, I have the gear to stay warm and dry, just gotta ride to the conditions eh? I reckon a crisp winters day is great for riding. you can be well protected without sweatn ur nuts off, and there's generally less traffic, sun is a lil lower in the sky tho. so, as allways, lets keep our headlights on?

[Dodger]

Hmmm, still haven't seen this winter weather yet this year.

The Wife has picked a great time to start commuting on the back of the bike :) I'm waiting for the first big downpour :msn-wink:

[Imti]

Cool thread!

I've learnt heaps over the summer. I got my bike in September last year, and thanks to the loooong stretch of dry weather we've had, the car has been relegated to the driveway and car cover :Punk: (I have used it the last 2 days though, really didn't feel like riding in that weather)

Commuting to uni/work everyday has def got my lane splitting skills up, though I will be trying the high beam thing mentioned earlier, especially in the darker weather. Haven't been out on as many long rides as hoped, so will be looking to in the crisp autumn weekends. My cornering skills have improved loads, learnt how to shift my weight better = more fun ;)

Time to sit my restricted now, and hope to have my full by the end of the year :yes:

[Ripperjon]

Had my bike for about 5 weeks now and covered 3500kms so 100k a day on average!

Pretty chuffed with my progress.

Doing things like blipping the throttle between changes automatically now and finding it comfortable to do it whilst braking now.

Using good combination of front and rear brakes.

Able to stick to a good, safe line through the corners, looking way out ahead but still watching for hazards peripherally.

Managed to avoid doing too many stupid things (dodgy overtaking, entering the head-on zone in corners etc.) and recognised when i have slipped up.

Did my first proper rain riding the other day in Invers. Proper horizontal, horrible stuff. Felt my rear end slide out exiting a roundabout despite trying to be conservative with my speed, lean, line. Feels good to know what to expect when it happens now. Wasn't too bad really.

Oh yeah, and pulled my first (accidental) (semi-) wheelie, (apparently) defying the poer / weight ratio of the green meany. Which was not really an achievement but still a first!


So, a pretty awesome and successful summer so far...
Here's to more of the same
:drinkup:
Cheers!

[Elysium]

Still plenty of good weather about. I was told it was going to rain all day Sunday but weather looked good so I took out my Hornet up to Waiouru today but the wind got strong when I stoped by the by the army museum as it looked like the weather was changing pretty fast on the mountain.

So I turned around and rode back home into warmer air and found muself amongst a group of riders on tourers. Good fun.