Biased family members

[Sheba]

Just thinking of buying a first bike and read a thread by someone who just bought their first bike, second hand and already has problems with it. I have a friend who also bought a bike second hand and always seems to be working on it. I'm not mechanical at all and don't know many mechanical people. This has got me concerned that in order to get into riding, you'll be fixing things all the time. Is this too general of a statement? Should I stay away from second hand bikes? Maybe stay on paved, normal roads?

[paddy]

Just thinking of buying a first bike and read a thread by someone who just bought their first bike, second hand and already has problems with it. I have a friend who also bought a bike second hand and always seems to be working on it. I'm not mechanical at all and don't know many mechanical people. This has got me concerned that in order to get into riding, you'll be fixing things all the time. Is this too general of a statement? Should I stay away from second hand bikes? Maybe stay on paved, normal roads?

That's all part of the fun. I'm sure they'd be plenty of folks here to help you out. I learnt heaps just taking my bike apart and using Google. Having said that, there are plenty of folk who buy new and just ride back into the dealer at the appropriate service intervals...

[denefoster]

FWIW: There is a KLE 250 as well. I've got one It's a bit colourful (pink, purple, green and white) but it's alright. My girl uses it as her first bike. It's a bit of a hoot, if you can live with the crap suspension. She still hasn't told her parents that she rides though, and everyone she has told thinks she's a nutter. But she's a pretty tiny, prim and proper young Pole.

With my parents (who live in a different country, and have since I started riding) I just don't tell them about minor biffs until I heal up. They're generally pretty encouraging about it all.

edit: pink, purple, green and white AND orange !

[Hiflyer]

Now there's a social group we need: "I want to be a KB base jumper".

Done



I hope no-one else made a group cos I couldnt be bothered reading all the pages so I just made one haha

Clicky

[paddy]

Done



I hope no-one else made a group cos I couldnt be bothered reading all the pages so I just made one haha

Clicky

Took a wee while - but I'm glad somebody got there!

[paddy]

FWIW: There is a KLE 250 as well. I've got one It's a bit colourful (pink, purple, green and white) but it's alright. My girl uses it as her first bike. It's a bit of a hoot, if you can live with the crap suspension. She still hasn't told her parents that she rides though, and everyone she has told thinks she's a nutter. But she's a pretty tiny, prim and proper young Pole.

Looks like it's got a nice low seat too. The pictures I can find don't quite look as nice as the new KLE does - but still a good first option. I wonder if it's much lighter than the KLE500 or if you'd be better off waiting for the law change and buying the KLE off the bat (who knows when that will actually go through though - does anyone know if it's part of the November 1st changes)?

edit: pink, purple, green and white AND orange !

Might have been easier to perhaps list the colours that they chose not to use?

[denefoster]

We had some seat foam removed for the wee girly. Good for her, but it was all the foam in front of my man bits. Ow =\

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...9&d=1248160160

Still haven't heard time frames for the new learner regs.. if they're not far off. I'd wait. Only because buying old clunkers sucks.

[paddy]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...9&d=1248160160

That's funny. I saw that bike on TM and was wanting to bid - I just didn't have the wherewithal at the time. I wondered if that was it based on your colour description. :-)

[denefoster]

Just thinking of buying a first bike and read a thread by someone who just bought their first bike, second hand and already has problems with it. I have a friend who also bought a bike second hand and always seems to be working on it. I'm not mechanical at all and don't know many mechanical people. This has got me concerned that in order to get into riding, you'll be fixing things all the time. Is this too general of a statement? Should I stay away from second hand bikes? Maybe stay on paved, normal roads?

Better to spend a bit more up front than to get nickle and dimed later on. Especially as your safety can be compromised. Sure there's a few on here that'd be willing to help check out a bike for you. My KLE 250 was a decent deal (2k or so). But was never registered in NZ, so needed a bunch of running around, new rear rotor, new pads all around and could use a new chain,WoF and reggo.. That was another grand right up front. And I'm still left with a 15 year old bike. Spend as much as you can afford up front to get the latest and greatest is my opinion.

[retro asian]

Just dealing with family members that are discouraging me to pursue motorbiking because of safety issues. Just wanted some input from those who have came across the same from either family or friends...

Attend NASS or do riding courses to learn how to ride safely, then prove your family wrong by not having any accidents!

[Sheba]

Attend NASS or do riding courses to learn how to ride safely, then prove your family wrong by not having any accidents!

Or I could not tell them 'til I heal up nicely like 'denefoster' said. I'm pretty good at hiding injuries and pain. :-)

[Sheba]

[QUOTE=denefoster;1129427132]FWIW: There is a KLE 250 as well. I've got one It's a bit colourful (pink, purple, green and white) but it's alright. My girl uses it as her first bike.

Ah, that's great to hear! And good advice about just spending the money on something newer. I'm learning that is generally the better way to go with most things, especially if you are not a DIY person.

[paddy]

Or I could not tell them 'til I heal up nicely like 'denefoster' said. I'm pretty good at hiding injuries and pain. :-)

Yep. Just push that bone back in and carry right on along. :-)

[denefoster]

Yep. Just push that bone back in and carry right on along. :-)

I'd never had a broken bone till I moved here (thank god, I used to live in Fiji.. hellish medical system), then got hit by a car. Still nothing broken. Then a week later the wee Pole stepped on my foot (which was the one hit by a car) a few times.. broken ! So I got off easy on telling the folks about that one ! Motorbikes fine, girlfriends baaad.

But yeah, second the notion about RRRS, or NASS. Heck, ask to be signed up for a birthday/christmas present. You can say "I'll do it regardless, but you can help make me safer" kind of thing. And I'm no AGATT guy (I ride to work in shorts most days, but it's 1.0kms in stop start traffic in my defense ;p), but good gear is a good thing. I get far more respect from people when I turn up in full leathers than my shorts and feel a hell of a lot more comfortable.

[Sheba]

Yeah, I'm thinking of buying good gear first to let people know I'm serious.