Best time of the day to go out and practice?

**Matariki** · 26th April 2010, 22:31

Hi guys,

For a rider who has just got their learners licene what would you think the best time of the day would be to go out a practice getting familiar with the roads?

I just got my learners and Iv'e been spending most of my time driving country roads, even before I got my learners. Now I'm ready to start driving around further but I still feel uneasy around traffic around intersections and roundabouts. I thought about practicing at night as the traffic dies down around after 9pm onwards, of course I have thought about additional safety gear and have purchased a reflector vest to fit over my jacket.

**CookMySock** · 26th April 2010, 22:58

No not at night. If you have an oopsie and end up on the road, no one will see you, and that will be bad.

With your L plate, reflector jacket, and full safety gear, and on a little trainer bike, people WILL give you lots of leeway. Do you have long hair? If so, let it hang out so they can see it. Little girlie rider on little girlie bike with full safety gear on, and everyone will do the best they can for you. Alternatively, dress in lots of girlie colours so they know. Don't be afraid of them.

Have your mentor check over your bike, especially your tyre pressures. If they can follow right behind you on a bike, that is even better. The learner rider always goes in front.

Steve

**Matariki** · 27th April 2010, 00:14

I went out just before on the bike (11pm) and drove around on the back roads, like you say DangerousBastard probably not the best idea. It was hard enough to see the giveway signs yet alone the lines, but still it was a good time to practice night time emergency braking. Well today I learnt that the lights on a motorcycle are far weaker than on a car, making it harder to see everything. Also for some reason the gears on my bike kept locking up, they were stiff and harder than usual to operate.

Little girl? Most people mistake me for a male with long hair.

**Hurrie** · 27th April 2010, 00:22

if you do alot of night time riding than i may recommend investing in some HID lights for your bike, little bit expensive but worth it since you can spot the bike from ages away and they make it easier to see at night.

when i started riding i was a bit uneasy about riding around traffic so i usually to it slow and stuck to one thing at a time like round abouts first, than traffic lights ( i had a fear of stalling dont judge me).

**Hurrie** · 27th April 2010, 00:24

and as to what time, i'd have to say either early morning before school/work hours if you can be bothered or between lunch and 2pm

**sinfull** · 27th April 2010, 00:32

What Hurrie is saying is go to the bike shop in town (understand the bloke down in masterton is a top dealer) and tell him your lights suck !

They do ! fix em if you ever intend to ride at night again !! Many, many riders Outride their lights before they think to increase their wattage (or check that they're on the correct tilt even) Not a hard fix and worth it !

In your neck of the woods, peak hour would be my vote for the best time to ride, more you ride in Mastertons peak hour the more you will learn to handle wellingtons off peak ! Or night time ! Hell i love riding at night !

Look at the AVATAR ! Would you trust a cat with lipstick who says girlie girlie let down your hair ?

**Hurrie** · 27th April 2010, 00:35

Originally Posted by sinfull

What Hurrie is saying is go to the bike shop in town (understand the bloke down in masterton is a top dealer) and tell him your lights suck !

They do ! fix em if you ever intend to ride at night again !! Many, many riders Outride their lights before they think to increase their wattage (or check that they're on the correct tilt even) Not a hard fix and worth it !

In your neck of the woods, peak hour would be my vote for the best time to ride, more you ride in Mastertons peak hour the more you will learn to handle wellingtons off peak ! Or night time ! Hell i love riding at night !

Look at the AVATAR ! Would you trust a cat with lipstick who says girlie girlie let down your hair ?

you make a good point sinfull, that cat is creepy as hell. and i agree if you can manage to fix a small problem with the lights you have now its a hell of alot cheaper than buying HID lights.

**sinfull** · 27th April 2010, 00:42

Originally Posted by Hotkebab

Also for some reason the gears on my bike kept locking up, they were stiff and harder than usual to operate.

Out of gear oil ? GN service manual ? Top dealer in town i hear !
Missed this on my first pass ! Thanks Hurrie lol

That bit where you said the gears are locking on you and harder than usual is not good !! Look into it ! could be as simple as a loose gear lever, but could be a serious issue if you Cleave it ! (the c wasn't a silent one)

**Mom** · 27th April 2010, 06:56

The GN has a nasty habit of the headlight lens being loose and turning so that the lines in the lens face the wrong way and the delivery of light to where it is meant to go is crap. I would check the adjustment of your gear lever. Sometimes even a notch or two on the spline can make for very non positive and difficult to do gear changes.

Get out and ride anytime. As sinfull says peak traffic times are as good as anytime to be out riding. Best advice I can give you is you own your bit of road. You have every right to be there and other road users can get stuffed if they want to use it at the same time. Honestly, just be as confident as you can, own your bit of road and go for it. Do you have someone down there you can ride with?

**crazyhorse** · 27th April 2010, 07:29

Anytime of the day or night. No one is going to ride outside their comfort zone at the beginning. Just venture a bit further as your confidence gains. Night time experience is also important, but not until you are ready for it. Now go and have fun

**CookMySock** · 27th April 2010, 10:01

Theres lots of problems with riding at night. You can't see little things like coke cans and sticks of wood that will give you a bad fright. It's just too easy to clip the edge of a roundabout which will throw an inexperienced rider for sure. If you do grab a brake, lock a tyre, and do a face-slide, you better hope you can get up and get off the road pronto before someone comes, coz they won't see you! Gulp!

The main thing to remember with peak traffic, is it's going really slow. Just stick with your 2-3 second following distance and relax.

For the moment, ride smack dab up the center of your lane and completely ignore anyone following you. With any luck they will see your L plate and give you some space. You have too much to work on in front of you yet, to be bothered with people behind you. Very soon that will change, and you can start directing some of your attention rearward.

Steve

**slofox** · 27th April 2010, 11:41

I find the least traffic in the early mornings - after it gets light and before the communter rush...

**2wheeldrifter** · 27th April 2010, 15:24

Best time of the day to go out and practice?

When you damn well feel like it, in the right mind set the world is your oyster

**dmoo1790** · 28th April 2010, 14:05

I'm not an instructor but I have been riding a while. I recommend you build up your basic skills in a low threat/danger environment first. This means good light, low traffic and good road conditions. IMHO heavy traffic should be avoided until you have good confidence in your bike control skills, e.g., you can handle hard starts/stops and minor loss of traction without too much mental effort. As you gain confidence and things become more automatic your brain will have more spare capacity to handle the additional threats from, for example, car drivers.

And _don't_ ride in the middle of your lane. This is where cars drop oil (especially at intersections) and you can't stop quickly on oil. My preferred position is the right side car wheel track unless there is something threatening (e.g., truck) in the next lane. Right side of lane gives you good viz of oncoming traffic and also means they can see you a little easier.

**R-Soul** · 28th April 2010, 14:41

Originally Posted by Hotkebab

I went out just before on the bike (11pm) and drove around on the back roads, like you say DangerousBastard probably not the best idea. It was hard enough to see the giveway signs yet alone the lines, but still it was a good time to practice night time emergency braking. Well today I learnt that the lights on a motorcycle are far weaker than on a car, making it harder to see everything. Also for some reason the gears on my bike kept locking up, they were stiff and harder than usual to operate.

Little girl? Most people mistake me for a male with long hair.

Get a Hella +90 bulb for your bike- brighter light.
Speak to toto about that.