Had a bad feeling I might be a "squid"...

[carbonhed]

... only to be informed that I was in fact a "born again" biker. Suspect I might just be a "born again squid"... :(

Sold my last bike in 1980 (a Honda CB 750) and apart from a lot of mountain biking and road cycling haven't been on two wheels since. Still it's just "riding a bike"... how hard can it be?

Wandered down to Wellington Motorcycles with a major itch for a Speed Triple (it's just "riding a bike"... how hard can it be?). But, beautiful though they are, it was just too intimidating. Maybe an SV1000? At $12000 that's a stupendous amount of bike for the money. Torquey, relatively light and not too highly strung. Hmmmmm...

Finally fell head over heels for a Daytona 675 SE from Nelson (the joys of the interweb know no bounds).

The guys at WMC recommended a Roadsafe course before launching myself up SH1 and I'm really glad that I did it. Probably a life saver really.

The answer to the "it's just riding a bike... how hard can it be?" question, was in fact, "quite hard". Hard enough riding a 125 2 stroke with sit up and beg handlebars a metre wide in a closed parking area. Riding the Daytona around the Kapiti Coast the first few times was the scariest thing I'd done in years. Probably since having a few "Oh my God! I'm dead" moments racing on the mountain bike. I'd come back from my 30 to 40 minute training loop absolutely knackered from the stress.

Things have improved... thank fcuk.

So if you see a gorgeous Daytona (like the one below) with a dweeb perched on top of it... please be gentle.. and expect the unexpected :cool:

Greetings from carbonhed.

[98tls]

Welcome,indeed a gorgeous bike.Enjoy and take it easy (for awhile).:msn-wink:

[jtzzr]

Welcome back to riding Carbonhead , and welcome to the site.

KB is almost as dangerous as riding on the open road.:Pokey::argue:

Take your time with both and enjoy yourself.

Nice choice of bike by the way. BE SAFE!!!!

[McDuck]

Squids think there is nothing wrong with them, infact they are perfect. There is a big differance between a squid and sombody who knows they want to have a thou but know they are not up to it...... or somthing like that...

[Dan Mapp]

Weclome to the world of Hinckley Triumph onwership

[riffer]

Phew. Brave move coming back to biking with a 675.

Get yourself a mentor asap and work on that riding and you'll get the hang of it fast.

Welcome to kb.

[Gubb]

That engine is mind-blowingly awesome!

Good choice, I toyed with the idea of the SV1000 for a while as well. You made the right choice!

[Ocean1]

Hello dude.

No bodily fluids where they don't belong eh?

[Pedrostt500]

Welcome back to the fold, yep things have changed abit on 2 wheels since 1980, come to the Wednesday night ride, you will meet some good people.

[trumpy]

Very nice bike. A bit crouched forward for my ageing back but loved the handling, looks and that luuverly engine. Enjoy, lucky bugger.
Take your time getting back into the swing of things and you'll be fine. Just remember the body ain't what it used to be, at least mine isn't.....it seems to have changed shape since 1980......:o

[KiwiKat]

Welcome back to riding carbonhed. I can relate to your comments as I had a 29 year break from bikes. Test riding was interesting.

A good choice of bike. There are some mint Triumphs for sale at the moment.

Group rides are great for getting the skills back up to speed but bikes are vastly different now and your co riders will enter corners at speeds you are not comfortable with.

Always available for people wanting a quiet ride north of Wellington.

[carbonhed]

Thanks very much everybody.

Bikes certainly have changed almost beyond belief. Brakes, tyres, handling, grunt... what's not to like?

Brave move coming back to biking on a Daytona? I can imagine it biting if I'm not careful. There's a section on the Paekark Hill coming into it from the North where you leave the coast and run up a valley before coming back to the coast. Hitting that in second it's easy to go very quick while flicking it left and right but it's also really bumpy... So I get flashes of doing a Jorge Lorenzo. Head six feet off the ground, feet twelve feet off the ground :woohoo: That the kind of thing you mean?

A Street Triple like Gubb's would have been perfect... but then I saw the SE and it was lust at first sight. I must have this bike :done:

I will investigate these local group rides for sure. Sounds like fun as long as I don't get sucked in over my head.

Kiwicat... how did you get back into it? Straight onto the Katana?

carbonhed

[KiwiKat]

Thanks very much everybody.

Bikes certainly have changed almost beyond belief. Brakes, tyres, handling, grunt... what's not to like?

Kiwicat... how did you get back into it? Straight onto the Katana?carbonhed

If you're used to older weightier bikes you wouldn't be happy with a light one to start off. I chose the katana because it was 1) a comfortable fit and riding position I was used to, 2) proven reliability, 3) a bloody good price. I found the trick was not to use a lot of throttle or brake initially. It can be slippery.

I also allow for the fact that the mind and body doesn't react as fast as it used to and I am more cautious / wiser (maybe not).

[86GSXR]

Beautiful Daytona well done! If that doesn't get you back in the flow nothing will. My 80's machinary gave way to Triumph and I'm totally addicted now, enjoy that baby :woohoo:

[slimjim]

welcome...and take care...wise choice in less weighter bike...

[vifferman]

Welcome carbonhead, and congratulations on the new bike! :niceone:
Now make sure you keep it shiny side up!

[bluebird]

Hi fellow returnee, I got back into riding after 28 years too, I started meekly on a Magna250, but quickly realized that power is safety. The biggest change I have noticed are the new tyres and how they handle wet greasy roads. I bought my VS800 because of it's light weight and reasonable power, but ultimately I would like to get back to a skill level that could cope with an M109 or Victory.:drool:

[fire eyes]

welcome :Punk:

[carbonhed]

Thanks again everyone for the welcome.

I just got a PM from Rev DJ that I can't reply to because my post count is too low. So I'll just have to reply here and hope he sees it.

There was no particular reason I bought the bike in Nelson. I'd been hot on the trail of a blue 675 at Anza in Palmerston Nth but it got sold before I pulled the trigger. Motorad in Wgtn weren't advertising any 675's at the time and then I saw the SE online...

Good luck in your search.

carbonhed

[GrayWolf]

Welcome CarbonHead,
Understand your thoughts after such a long break from bikes. Things have changed remarkably. The only thing that hasnt is the ability to self regulate right wrist 'twitch' :blink: The power and pick up of modern motors is far less 'forgiving' than days of yore.
Taking the riding skills course was an excellent move, as was the realisation it gave as to how diminished skills and ability were/are. Enjoy and see you on the black stuff!

[Swoop]

A very nice choice of bike, Carbonhead! Wise words to take it easy for a while and possibly get a mentor to point out the rusty spots in technique.

This is the scary part of the year on the roads...

[carbonhed]

The power and pick up of modern motors is far less 'forgiving' than days of yore.


Days of yore!?? FFS you make it sound like I rode around in a suit of armour bestride a noble steed :2guns::laugh:

Are there any mentors around Wellington? I'll probably try and go on the Weds night cruisy rides in the new year... and if I fall off I'll blame the twat responsible... me.

[Taz]

Look in the dictionary under squid and it says CARVER......

[carver]

Look in the dictionary under squid and it says CARVER......

i had a look and it doesnt

[Taz]

i had a look and it doesnt

You obviously looked in an english language one then......:bleh:

[GrayWolf]

[QUOTE=carbonhed;1864002]Days of yore!?? FFS you make it sound like I rode around in a suit of armour bestride a noble steed :2guns::laugh:.[QUOTE]

LMFAO copmpared to todays 'Mounts' ? a CB 750 IS a bloody CARTHORSE!
Lets look at it logicaly, Z1 Kwacka? 80bhp........ modern 600? 100BHP approx! and rising. Lets not even discuss the weight difference between them, or brakes, or handling. or or or.......... ya get the 'picture'? :2guns: :wari: