Let the fun begin...

[Old Steve]

Does your riding style change when you advance form your learners to your restricted?

Oh yeah it does, my bike leans over more and uses more of it's tire width. Only have chicken strips on the outer 10mm of each side on my rear tire now. Working hard to get those worn off too. I think its just a freeing of your inhibitions.

[Maha]

Oh yeah it does, my bike leans over more and uses more of it's tire width. Only have chicken strips on the outer 10mm of each side on my rear tire now. Working hard to get those worn off too. I think its just a freeing of your inhibitions.

Get some Wet n' Dry...works well and you end up with the desired look...

[Banditbandit]

Oh no .... that burnt down years ago...was the Rat Trap. Stopped there once with my parents when I was younger, much younger

That hill is awesome up and down, and up and down, and up and down....

Just shows how long since I've been that way .. loved looking down on the pub ... because the ride down (and up) that hill is awesome ... (especially after a couple of pints in the pub )

[Banditbandit]

Get some Wet n' Dry...works well and you end up with the desired look...

Yeah .. but then when you try to live up to that look (and some Bandit rider blows you into the weeds ...)

[R-Soul]

Oh yeah it does, my bike leans over more and uses more of it's tire width. Only have chicken strips on the outer 10mm of each side on my rear tire now. Working hard to get those worn off too. I think its just a freeing of your inhibitions.

Unless you are riding on the track, losing the last 10 mm means that your style is probably wrong. The idea is to keep the bike as upright as possible in the corners. Its only really on the track where you (should be) going that fast that you are using the last 10mm. I blasted around Pukekohe at the ART day - all day - and still never lost the last 10mm. A guy on a Z1000 was doing the same speed as me, but not leaning as much in the corners, and he had nothing left of his last 10 mm shoulder...

[Genie]

If you dont' succeed then try, try, try again until you do. Lucky for me (or is that unlucky) it only took the one trip up and my ride was sorted.

I'd gone out last Sunday and had thought to pop over to Havelock for lunch, didn't even start the Whanga's when I returned home. My ride was just all wrong and I thought it best to go home.
Upon returning and removing my helmet my phone rang, Tamarillo's in Takaka and would I like to met him on top of the hill....hell yes. If anything can sort out my ride the hill can.
So, headphones backin, helmet back on, bike was in the driveway ready to go, throw the leg over, press the magic button and up the drive and away to the smooth sounds of Pink Floyd.
I was so going to find my zone....uhuh.
Wasn't there on the roundabout gliding my way around, wasnt' there on the (ahem) motorway, wasn't on the Ruby Bay road....ok, stop at Tasman, breath, it has to be here somewhere.
Helmet on and yes, I can feel it it's on the hill, there's the hill, right, bum right, arms right, seating good....the fucker's not here, every corner I was stiff, rigid and the higher I went the worse I became. It was awful, rough, tight, rigid....not the way to ride. Never fear, here's the top, Hi Tim, awsome day up here, some sexy bikes on the road, the veiw spectacular, the air fresh and crisp.
My zone must be on the way down....it wasn't, it wasn't on the Westbank either, neither was it hiding along the Motueka Valley, maybe it was hiding along the Moutere Highway,....nada, not. Well fuck this, I'm getting a bit worked up so I dig deep within myself to get my bloody ride right but I failed.
I did make it home safely (for that I am thankful as some didn't) but the ride had left me hugely disappointed with myself, what was the point of owning a bike if I ride like this. I have one of the sexiest little learner bikes around (my opinion) and I'm letting it down by riding like a stick.
Have since been informed of some stuff going on at the same time so maybe my vibes, intuition was sensing something else in the air and it put me off my game. With that in mind I took myself out for a nice wee play around the port hills here in Nelson, nice homes up there and I just took note of the way I'm entering corners, exiting them, noticed that I dont' tend to use my brakes overly much, throttle on and off with little breakage so maybe I'll look at not being afraid to use that front brake. I'm not on my old pushbike that threw my over the handle bars when I used its' front brake.
So with that in mind I put the bike away ready for a Friday Special.
Oh boy and what a special day it was.
I finished work early, walked sedately home enjoying the sunshine and when I got home my bike was so ready to take me out, I just had to oblige.
Right, gear on and I'm happy to say that the give up smoking bottom is disappearing and my pants do not pop-a-dome anymore.
Off I went and the moment my feet left the ground I knew I had it. I was there before I left the driveway, this was going to be a magnificient ride. Oh the gear changes, smooth, free, easy, flowing...the whole ride was graceful....i found I can use my brake sharply and I will not go over the handle bars.
Right, then best I go conquer the hill. Such a awesome day, filled up the petrol in Motueka, I'm so glad they don't enforce that remove your helmet thingy, slow ride along High Street, which I must say has vastly improved, Thanks TDC.

Around a few sweeping corners, past a couple of campervans and trucks and here I was at the base of the hill and five slowpokes in front of me, how the hell will i test myself with these plonkers, i'm so not into overtaking on corners, oh looksie, what lovely people allowing the lady on her Ninja to sail past them...I was away and I was loving it, working out just what my issue is with tight left hand bends and overcoming that one, overcame and scrapped my toe a couple of times....
Yesterday's ride was like a new beginning in my riding life, something twigged inside my head, a light came on and I can see a whole new world...shame i have to wait until next Friday to go exploring

[scumdog]

working out just what my issue is with tight left hand bends and overcoming that one, overcame and scrapped my toe a couple of times....

Your not the only one to find the 'righ-hand-bend-cring-of-fear' thing...

Lefts?- sweet-as,
Rights?- gotta focus, always seem harder to get around when out on the open road.

[Genie]

Your not the only one to find the 'righ-hand-bend-cring-of-fear' thing...

Lefts?- sweet-as,
Rights?- gotta focus, always seem harder to get around when out on the open road.

I remember something years ago and I think it's has something to do with which is the strongest side of our brain...something like that. But tight left turns....yep, they're my one, some righties get me but mostly the lefties....sharp, tight lefties.

I'm pleased I'm not the only one and coming from you with your experience I'm thinking, yay, I'm normal

[Grubber]

I must be a well balanced character as i have no problem with left or right!

[Genie]

I must be a well balanced character as i have no problem with left or right!

Some of us are blessed with balance while others are blessed with looks

[Edbear]

Some of us are blessed with balance while others are blessed with looks

I have terrible balance....

[BMWST?]

....... and away to the smooth sounds of Pink Floyd.

i bet you would more easily find the rhythm of the road WITHOUT the music

[FJRider]

i bet you would more easily find the rhythm of the road WITHOUT the music

The only music I like to listen to ... is the four drummers between my knee's ...

[Genie]

i bet you would more easily find the rhythm of the road WITHOUT the music

For some you could be right, for others not.
For me, I ride without or without music and find that with music I get more of a flow on, I've always been influenced by music....my mind is too damn busy and I find the music slows it down to a level at which I can function...ADHD anyone?

[neels]

Some days for whatever reason it just doesn't seem to work, maybe the other stuff lurking at the back of your mind has more of an effect than you think. If it's not happening you can end up thinking too much and trying too hard, and making it worse not better. Usually when it gets like that I slow down, relax, and enjoy a cruisy ride. The road will still be there the next time.

I've don't ride with music going, after all what's the point of a big noisy twin if you can't hear it.