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General Bike Ravings

Biker culture, politics and general issues.

  1. Honda CBR600 with stuck throttle when turning right

    I regularly attend NASS, and one of the things I have been poor at is slow full lock turns. Recently it felt like I have been getting worse, not better.

    At a recent session I noticed I can do left full lock turns much better than I can do right full lock turns. Which got me wondering if it might not just be me.

    So for an experiment, while the bike was stationery, I tried holding the throttle open a little bit against the bar end, so that I was confident that the throttle ...
  2. Car driving skills don't convert to motorcycle road riding skills

    You often hear new riders who are experienced car drivers complaining that they have to go through the full licence process to get a motorcycle licence. Their primary argument is that their years of car driving experience transfers across to riding a motorcycle, so they should be able to get to a full licence in a shorter period of time.

    My personal opinion is that riding a motorcycle requires a different set of skills to driving a car, and that the dangers experienced riding a motorcycle ...
  3. L Plates - They're just a sign

    The topic of L Plates comes up frequently, predominately about weather complying with the learner licence conditions and using the L plate increase the danger of the rider on the road.

    The best place to start is by considering why we have L plates, and what they aim to do.

    When the majority of people first start riding a motorcycle they will have little or no machine handling skills. This includes basic but critical abilities such as counter-steering, emergency braking, ...
  4. Choosing a Motorcycle Helmet

    Overview

    Rather like emergency braking, a discussion on helmets can be like a discussion on religion. People often take polarised views. Unlike emergency braking you don't really want to practice coming off your bike and having head impacts to test which is the best kind of helmet for you.

    So short of repeated practical experience you have to learn a little bit about helmets to help you make a choice that is only like to be tested once.

    One thing you'll notice ...
  5. Fitting Oxford HotGrips

    With another winter approaching and my woman complaining of my freezing cold hands after each ride (which I was sure to rush in when finished riding, rip my gloves off, and promptly place on her nice warm stomach) I decided it was time to look at the options available.

    I have very limited mechanical abilities myself (to help you place your skills alongside mine if you’re going to do this yourself). But I have a lot of patience and perseverance and I try not to let the fear ...
  6. Motorcycle Emergency Braking

    Emergency Braking is a contentious discussion topic. Many people have different views - and often they are all right - in certain circumstances. Often views vary from country to country as different methods are taught, and people like to (rightly or wrongly) defend what they have learnt and practised over the years.

    What is emergency braking?
    Emergency braking is the act of bringing a motorbike to a complete halt in the minimum amount of distance.

    Overview
    ...

    Updated 29th March 2010 at 08:23 by p.dath (Added info about wheel locking)

    Categories
    General Bike Ravings , Survival Skills
  7. Auckland Harbour Bridge

    I was riding over the AHB from the North Shore to Central Auckland this morning around 9am. The traffic was unusually heavy for that time, and while I was at the bridge apex it came to a complete stand still.

    What a bonus. The view was great. But the wind - it was very blustery. While the bike is moving it doesn't seem so bad, but being stationery at the top of of the bridge was very notcable. The bike was being pushed from side to side.

    Now I think I can appreciate ...
  8. West Coast Road (North of Auckland)

    I was keen to go for a ride today, but alas my normal riding companions all had something on.

    So I checked out kiwibiker, and saw there was a normal Sunday ride starting just north of Auckland from the Caltex on SH16.
    I'm always a bit cautious about riding with new people, as I'm a bit risk adverse when riding. If someone wants some fun I'd rather they take off ahead, and I'll catch up in my own good time.

    So I headed over and met up with yachtie10 and outforaduck. ...
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