Proposed "ADOPT A NEWBIE" Discussion thread

[Paul in NZ]

First person that comes along with and old nail with cartwheels and I'll adopt em...

[SpankMe]

I think the forum should be for any topics relating to learning about motorcycling. I need suggestions for a name / description.

I would also help with putting together an intro to motorbikes page/s for newbie’s. Don’t have the time to do the content myself. Anyone who knows their web stuff could put some stuff together and send it to me.

Links to info on getting your license and going through the learner/restricted licence process. Not just one link to the LTSA page, but in the form of a FAQ with each question linking to the appropriate page maybe. Info on learner riding courses etc.

It will also have info for the "ADOPT A NEWBIE" process which Quasievil is putting together.

It someone wants to put their hand up to help with the page and others can put forward ideas on what it should contain.

[Flyingpony]

I think this is a wonderful idea. How can a not so newbie sign up?

I'm seeking some advice from the more wiser members regarding looking after bikes and ride handling tips.

Thanks.

[Quasievil]

I think this is a wonderful idea. How can a not so newbie sign up?

I'm seeking some advice from the more wiser members regarding looking after bikes and ride handling tips.

Thanks.

Go to your user cp and click group memberships, this should take you there.
Be patient as we only have started this.

Cheers

[FROSTY:Me]

somewhere burried in the mists of time someone started a -what ya need to know thread.--It was bloody good stuff---the stuff a rider in the first few months of riding should know and also should practice.
who can remember where that thread went??

[MadDuck]

ok ...i will crawl back under my rock just about now.

[bugjuice]

what's your qualifications for a 'guru' to adopt? Not asking for myself, but do you have any standards to work to? Just don't want a newbie who 'thinks' they know, adopting another newbie, and things goin a little pear-shaped.
I'd be keen, but I wouldn't know how reliable I could be at the moment.. Don't mind trying to be the 'nanny' of the newbs..

oh, and I thought there weren't 'newbies' any more.....

[FROSTY:Me]

I guess that makes me grampa frosty then --bouncing lil noobs on his boney ol knees

[Waylander]

somewhere burried in the mists of time someone started a -what ya need to know thread.--It was bloody good stuff---the stuff a rider in the first few months of riding should know and also should practice.
who can remember where that thread went??

Any clues as to who started it or what forum it was in? Stuff like that and give me some time I might be able to find it.

[jaybee180]

Great idea. I desperately need someone to adopt me BIG TIME. Want to ride but have no idea what I am doing. Don't know anyone else that rides so I'm a bit lost. Even had to ask someone the other day why my helmet kept fogging up. So, as you can see I need help. If you don't have access to this information you just don't know - and believe me, you feel like a real idiot when you have to ask!

Please keep me posted as to how this goes. Would be really keen.

[justsomeguy]

I guess that makes me grampa frosty then --bouncing lil noobs on his boney ol knees

10 fucking characters

[Waylander]

somewhere burried in the mists of time someone started a -what ya need to know thread.--It was bloody good stuff---the stuff a rider in the first few months of riding should know and also should practice.
who can remember where that thread went??

Was this it Frosty? If not I'll look more tomorrow my eyes hurt now.

[750Y]

Good on You Quasi & Spank. Excellent to see something good like this coming about.
Top effort people....

[FROSTY:Me]

heres on excerpt
A couple of things came up in discussion last night -I would definitely ammend this document mate.
Braking. --
Of course your tyres have tread and are propperly inflated, You have propper riding gear on. etc etc-The tyres must be warmed up
What you need is a straight / flat piece of tarmac to practice on.
Mark a spot you want to stop by --maybee a lampost or maybee just mark a spot in chalk
Whatever spot ya choose make 100% sure that no matter what you will stop without hitting something (even potentially)
First of all get up to 50km/h and then when you think is the right time use both brakes and pull to a stop on the mark you chose.
Easy wasn't it ??. Now what you want to do is brake A LITTLE harder and a little later --OOPs -did ya get a little squeak from the front tyre?
This time try pulling the front brakes on a little bit then pull em on as hard as you are comfortable with.
WOW --You stopped short of the mark diddn't you.
What you did was load up the front suspension and tyre a lil bit before you actually braked hard.
Now we just keep practicing-- a little bit harder and a little bit later -Youll find the back brake will get less and less effective and the front will get more and more effetive as you brake harder.
Now most important--You WILL stuff it up -thats why you are practicing.
You will overrun the mark -you may even have a squeak/skreech out of the tyres -
Emphasis is on comfort zone here so shorten your braking distance down in easy steps
Cornering.
The same idea really applies here ---Find a stretch of tarmack with maybee 8 corners in it -preferably with easy turn around zones either end.
Ride these 8 corners at 1/2 your normal riding pace-noteing any diesel/gravel etc to watch out for.
the idea is to get round in a smooth arc using constant throttle or accelerating out of the corner.
So first corner-you are barreling along -You will brake -using the knowledge of your brakes you already have .
You will give yourself the widest possible line round that corner you can.
Wide into a corner will mean tight out of a corner-it gives you so many options.
so a left hand corner you are almost on the center line aiming for the left side of the road -youll come out of the corner still to the left with half your lane to play with. the reverse applies to a right hander
Looking at the exit of the corner we select out line and lean in
What we want to acheive initially is a constant throttle round the corner and a smooth sweeping motion -rather than a series of bites.
Again--You WILL stuff it up but you are not out to prove anything to anyone.You want to be a smoother more consistant rider.
I personally put little emphasis on how far you lean over on the tyre.
But for this exersize just mark a line from side to side of your tyres.
Youll be amased how much further you will lean the bike once you have mastered smooth cornering.
Speed is definitely NOT an issue here so ride at a comfortable pace
__________________

[Quasievil]

what's your qualifications for a 'guru' to adopt? Not asking for myself, but do you have any standards to work to? Just don't want a newbie who 'thinks' they know, adopting another newbie, and things goin a little pear-shaped.
I'd be keen, but I wouldn't know how reliable I could be at the moment.. Don't mind trying to be the 'nanny' of the newbs..

oh, and I thought there weren't 'newbies' any more.....

Hi Bug
I dont want to get into who is good enough and who aint, you can decide that yourself, there are no standards to work to.
The idea is for someone with alot of experience to be able to mentor a new rider through the intitial learning period, offer guidance and a few clues about riding techniques, a bit of constructive critque etc. Also a few clues about things like tyre pressures and how to ride in the rain etc.

The rider offering to adopt a newbie can decide if they have the skills to help out, if someone offers and they dont have the skills then they are a bit of a dick really huh and it will stand out like a hairy tongue.

When someone registers I have the option to accept or deny or ignore their application for this scheme, so I will filter them out a bit, wont be hard.

We already have about 6 people registered so already its a success !!