GPXchick

G'day KBer's So here it is the good the bad and the ugly. the true and unedited tales from an L plater, i have been riding now 1 month and have clocked a massive 2974 km's. And i haven't even left auckland yet! I find reasons to ride, letting the wind kiss my cheeks, and at times let the rain drum a gentle melody.

I should start at the beginning i suppose. I'm a cage driver of 14 or so years. My current car ( well lonely car now) is a VP SS Commodore 5 litre V8. Smooth as custard and fast as shit when you want it to be. I had never ridden a motorbike in my life, had a play on a few quaddies, yet never anything to amount to being able to drive a bike. I think to my one and only advantage i love driving a Manual transmission and have a good understanding of gears and ratios. Having this power in your hands to control your motion was a BRANDNEW sensation to me. Having the wind lash you at speed on the motorway is an experience, i suppose you can relate to your dog sticking its head out the window. The freedom of natures airconditioning, or although it pains me to say this, aucklands smogconditioning.

My husband got his learners in jan and after two days of seeing his joy, i rang Trevor and booked a basic learners course and BHS certificate. Clint was stoked and our wallets looked forward to bike petrol costs compared to the beast.

The morning arrived and butteflies were already writhing throughout my entire body. I was so nervous, the whole concept of hand to clutch seemed SO ALIEN. I was greeted my a great patient man, shown the basics of the GN125 and advised of the tasks ahead.

You know that moment when you have your kit on, your helmet is buckled and the engine is gently vibrating beneath you. Well it's like i ws instantly set into a trance of this is it Now let the clutch out slowly and gently roll on the throttle. ooo ooo ooo here we go i'm moving, now clutch in back brake and Stop feet down. OMFG i did it, and in that instant a feeling of relief washed over me. No stalling or jumpy jumpy. No rossi knees cm's from the curb as i turned round the long sweeping carpark corners. Hillstarts Woohoo way easier than a car. I flew through the cones and emergency stops are great fun when you actually don't have your life in danger. Going throught the u-turns and slow work seem to come so easily i was shocked and awoken to this new fire. I left that carpark that afternoon BHS cert inhand and went straight to the AA, sat my 35 scratchys PASSED. 6L granted. Holly you may ride on NZ ROADS.!!!!!!!!!

With all the excitment of the days unfolding events, Hubby was stoked with the apparent instant ease i picked up riding and offered to take me to the local carpark for a go on his 3 week old Hyosung GT250R. BEEMING with temp licence in hand we arrived. I had a few wide sweeping circles at probably 5 - 8 kms. The control of the sports handlebars made my head postion very awkward. I had to literally ballerina tippy toe to reach one leg on the ground. Not good. The inevitable happend and i had a moment: On a routine drive to the end of the carpark a 4WD flew into the carpark and i swear freaked the living crap outta me, i slammed my hand on the front brake whilst turning the avoid the huge 1 tonne piece of car coming towards me, and OMG i tipped tried to hold the weight and couldn't. Down came the bike on my leg, the right indicator cover smashing into a million pieces. Now don't worry peeps i am a former kickboxer and karate student, my 2/4 legs stopped the tank from any dents, scratces of damage and the bottom of the right fairings looks as though a tiny few pebbles have chipped a few tiny bits of paint away. As i pick up the bike with Clint running towards me, shouting a mouthful at the idiot in the 4wd, i get the bike on its side stand and OMG The brake lever is still on the tarmack.

GUTTED, tears and hugs clint managed to get the bike home with the back brake. I followed in the car and was just deflated. After such a high my riding came crashing down on me LITERALLY. The next day i sourced and replaced his brake lever and also did the clutch so they were matching, Short levers and quite sporty. Clint says they are better than the factory ones to start off with. I got an indicator cover and fixed that. WHEWWWWW.

Trademe it was the HYO was wrong for me, after pep talks and hugs we decided i needed a smaller size bike so i could reach the floor and then i found him. My Kawasaki GPX250R 2007' I feel in love instantly He was mine.

The block and neighbous had 2 - 3 hours a day for the next few days of ZOOOOOM, up and down round and round. Then slowly the block got bigger and bigger until before you knew it i was confident enough to say lets go on the motorway.

WOOOOOHHHOOOOOOO. So i found my 6th gear - going the top end of 70 km's of course Wow i love this i would yell in my helmet, wind belting baselines into my ears as i whipped down the northwestern, Crosswinds. Ughhhh you know that feeling when your heart stops and for a split second you die and get reborn all in one, i was literally picked up and moved half a metre over in my lane. There was nothing i could physically do to stop this, my speed instantly dropped to 75 kms and the Noobie deathgrip kept me on for the remainder of the first half of my motorway journey. On the way home from Deep west i found the previous event hadn't fazed me and i relaxed and let myself become one with the bike. Another heartstopper on a corner, saw the wall coming and it just kept coming, DE THROTTLE DETHROTTLE brake brake Skidddddddy ( it was tiny) But my first tiny wheel locky skiddy changing down to fast. My heart was racing and the Deathgrip got me home.

I searched and searched threads and posts to seek advice and help on my riding. Being born blind in my right eye i have a slightly different approach to driving in general. I lose my vanishing point sooner when turning right and have to overcompensate to complete a good line through a corner. now i know this my riding has become alot smoother and commuting to work in the CBD is a treat i look forward to daily. I watched 2 dvd's that greatly increased, or should i say help me to realise my potentials in my abilities. RIDE LIKE A PRO by Jerry Palladino, and Twist of the wrist 2.

Now with a better understanding of throttle control and friction zones, head and eye movement. I practiced and practiced and practiced. I have met some really great people on here and been on 2 rides, one with Jayne from SASS, and Hellzie another fellow L plater. I have hooked up another couple of rides for this coming week and the excitement is growing and growing. With winter knocking the door, my heart saddens at the thought of no more long sunny afternoons on wide empty roads.

So i leave this first blog entry with a few wisdoms i have learnt so far.

NEVER TRUST the car in front, behind or beside you!
ALWAYS allow for the fact that some people indicate right as a joke, as they turn in your path left!!!?!?!?!?!?
Leaning is your friend and rolling gently on the throttle will get you round the corner smoothly everytime.
That my Kwaka having 6th gear and hubby only having 5 is BRILLIANT.
The Yamaha R6 has a slow note in the mail to me saying YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT

Happy riding everyone.