My first.

**nll** · 13th October 2009, 12:24

I got my first bike last night!
My biker flatmate and I went testing all Sunday and I ended up getting a 2004 gn250. The owner even agreed to deliver it round which was really good on him - considering he lived ages away.

Now to learn to ride!
Hehe I've probably been annoying the neighbors with the sound all morning by playing around at the car-park at the end of our street...

I expect it'll be about a month before I feel confident enough on the bike to get rid of scooter I've got. I was wondering how long did it take you guys to feel comfortable enough to use your bike as your main commute?

**retro asian** · 13th October 2009, 12:29

practice in well lit streets at night, worry about getting comfortable with your bike first before bringing traffic into the equation.

Best way is to find a mentor or friend who can come out with you and give you tips.

**dogsnbikes** · 13th October 2009, 12:41

Congrates it all takes time some longer than others,

for me I was lucky enough to gain experience rounding up stock from a young age on the bike and therefore legally riding through Traffic the day I got my licence,but I still never take anything for granted in traffic just like sheep and cows traffic will change direction without warning

Just stay alert and head out when your ready and your be fine

**Maha** · 13th October 2009, 12:50

I did it the same way round too, bought a bike, then thought, well better get legal. Done the BHS, the GN finally turned up (it was brand new and I had to wait for the next shipment) and I remember that a 180-200 km ride was enough for me in those first few months. It wasn't till I wanted something bigger, maybe 6-8 months?...so I bought a YZF600 from the same dealer while still on my leaners, maybe restricted, cant remember which. Sold the GN and rode the 600 and had to use my wifes GN to sit my full

**StoneY** · 13th October 2009, 13:08

Originally Posted by nll

I was wondering how long did it take you guys to feel comfortable enough to use your bike as your main commute?

Less than 3 minutes mate

I admire you stepping up, but if you believe its gonna take WEEKs to get to a 'ride it on the road' point quit now, you have not got what it takes

I rode my first road legal bike off the showroom floor........ but admittedly I had learnt to ride on uncles farm way WAY before legal license age

But weeks?????

**Laxi** · 13th October 2009, 13:18

Originally Posted by StoneY

Less than 3 minutes mate

+1 but a few years mucking around on dirt bikes might have helped

**Slyer** · 13th October 2009, 13:26

If you have never ridden a bike before but you are good at manual cars and push bikes, you should be good in 50kph zones in an hour. Realistically.

**TOTO** · 13th October 2009, 13:47

Congrats matey.

When I got my bike I ran cyrcles on my street and the connected next to it street for 3 days. I clocked up 278 kms on those two streets alone which probably have a combined lenght of 1.5kms

The kids playing outside loved watching me pass by, and eventually by the third day i became their main attraction

Eventually after I clocked up so many kms I had started to run out of gas so had to eventually get on the road lol.

So the answer to your question of how long it took to start using the bike as a commute is - 3 days (278kms).

P.s. Make sure you have all the protection gear as the first time you get on the bike you are most likely to have a mishap and a bike falling on top of you with no protection, quite frankly is not pleasent.

Welcome to the wonderful world of motorcycling buddy

**jared** · 13th October 2009, 13:57

I rode around my local neighbourhood when I could after work for about 2 weeks before using the bike to get to work instead of my scooter

Depends how much time you have to practise as to how quickly you get comfortable with the clutch etc...

... 3 mins???

**Laxi** · 13th October 2009, 14:07

Originally Posted by jared

... 3 mins???

like stoney said he'd been riding on a farm for a while, I owned 2 rms and cr years ago, 3 minutes if you already know how to ride is realistic, not a big jump from dirt to road, would have no idea how long it would take if you've never ridden

**nll** · 13th October 2009, 14:55

Bar the basic handling test, I've never ridden one before.
Just a scooter which is auto and easy as so it doesn't count. I've been going on the road today, by that I mean empty roads. Negotiating my way through Auckland to uni is a whole different ball game...

It's because of the gears that I think it will take me a bit to feel confident on it - I've never bothered to own my own car (hate them), and back in high school when I got my drivers licence my parents only had an automatic to learn in - so the manual thing is reasonably new to me. I know how to use a manual etc but I'm certainly not well practiced.

I'm happy be a Nana rider for a few weeks than do something dangerous because I'm not ready to deal with traffic

**Ferkletastic** · 13th October 2009, 15:28

Before the BHS I had never riden more than around a paddock a couple times on a farm bike about 15 years before. I passed, got my bike the same day and road up and down my road for about 2 hours, then road to a local huge carpark and practised the stuff I'd learned at BHS for another couple hours, then went riding around Auckland for about 4 more hours.

HIt the open road about a week after that. I'd been driving for about 12 years which helped as traffic didn't scare me overly.

Take as long as you are comfortable with, but don't get too scared, you'll do fine as long as you keep your head and wear your gear.