New bike and rider: brave new world

**Mudfart** · 19th November 2009, 16:13

yes, I could smell burning rubber the other morning so pulled onto shoulder to check my tyres as I had just gone through road works and gravel. It was a truck who had been rubbing a tyre and it was smoking hard, about 2kms up the highway!
Also its really noticeable when people are smoking in their cars, ciggies or other, with their families sitting in the back....
I've been riding my ninja hard, but have found cruising just as enjoyable.

**Grasshopperus** · 19th November 2009, 19:30

Originally Posted by Mudfart

yes, I could smell burning rubber the other morning so pulled onto shoulder to check my tyres as I had just gone through road works and gravel. It was a truck who had been rubbing a tyre and it was smoking hard, about 2kms up the highway!
Also its really noticeable when people are smoking in their cars, ciggies or other, with their families sitting in the back....
I've been riding my ninja hard, but have found cruising just as enjoyable.

I know just what you are talking about. In the almost 2 weeks I've had my bike I've ridden everyday. Twice I've stopped the bike and sniffed it like a dog because I smelt burning plastic once and burning clutch another time. It hasn't been my bike in either situation, just me being unaccustomed to the amount of extra sensory information you get on a bike.

The flip side is that if you cruise around at dinnertime you can smell all sorts of yummy dinners being cooked up. Yes.... I will steal your pic-a-nic basket

Something I just found out today. Using earbuds makes everything seem calmer and frees up more attention for watching the road. Above 60km/h gets pretty noisy and hurts my ears after a little while.

**Dirty Heathen** · 19th November 2009, 20:03

Must be your helmet I find even at 100km I cant hear much wind noise at all really certainly not enough to hurt my ears I would say on a long trip would be good though all I mainly hear is the IL4 doing 8000rpm at 100km lol.

**crashalots** · 19th November 2009, 21:59

Originally Posted by Grasshopperus

So after the saga of choosing, buying and receiving my new (to me) bike I actually got the chance to ride this weekend. Super funtime. It's a 1990 ZXR250A and I absolutely love it.

Maybe one day you can upgrade to a ZXR250 C!

Here's my beast...

(for sale by the way too...)

**Mudfart** · 20th November 2009, 06:06

Do you reckon it would matter if I listened to my Ipod while I ride? Perhaps I am being overcautious at the moment as a noob rider, I feel as though I require every sense including hearing.

**BoristheBiter** · 20th November 2009, 07:14

The only problem i have had with having a ipod/radio on is that you loose your concintration when you get tired.
I have the sound set very low so you can shut out from the music when needed.

I waited for about a year before i tried them and it did take a bit to get used to.
for the moment i would wait untill everything becomes natrual then give it a go but remember don't try and change it while riding and have it inside your jacket.

**vifferman** · 20th November 2009, 07:45

Originally Posted by Grasshopperus

Here's some things I found out quick
* You can smell a whole bunch more stuff when riding a bike compared to a car

You have yet to experience Summer on a bike: the smell of fresh-cut hay, and of honeysuckle in the hedgerows, and the feel when you ride through a pool of cool air in the shade of an overhanging bank or tree.

Then there's also the smell of cowshit, and riding through farmland and getting splattered by thousands of insects' innards...