Nervous about test riding new bikes..

[blackdog]

If you want to have a go on my bike up and down the road prior to going to the bike shops you are more than welcome. Might be a little less pressurised.

good lad....

[hellokitty]

Good luck ! I find having a heavier and biggger bike (went from a 250 to a 750) when I want to move it around, I get on it and walk it rather than push it - no chance of dropping it - yes I look like a dork, but a dork in control!
I also did that in the parking area of bike shops to see if I could cope with the weight, as the 750 is 100kg heavier, but it is easy. I would take an experienced friend with you and get him/her to ride to a quieter place - less pressure without the entire shop watching.
I rode back to the shop I got my bike from today and did the meanest stall going from the road into their drive as I was going too slow in 2nd gear - huge big lurch and looked like an idiot!
I just played the dumb blonde.....

[Gone Burger]

Some great advice from you all, thank you very much. I will head into TSS and take something for a quiet pootle out the back. I'm sure it will all feel so much better after the first bike or two. Have just remembered that I may get to test ride some sports bikes next Monday. am booked in for the next training day at Manfield, and I believe the local Suzuki dealer will have some bikes there to demo. Didn't have my licence in time for it last time, timing is much better this time round.

Will let you know how I get on. I reckon I am going to end up with something I never expected to get As if motorcycling couldn't be any more fun - I really have no idea what I'm in for. What a life - what a bloody fantastic life!

[blackdog]

from memory stu(tss) has a nice 900 monster(very similar to Quasi's) at a well reasonable price, i reckon that should def be on your 'to try' list....

[John_H]

from memory stu(tss) has a nice 900 monster(very similar to Quasi's) at a well reasonable price, i reckon that should def be on your 'to try' list....

They also have a 600 monster that has been hanging round for a long time. I emailed them and asked about the price and they instantly knocked a grand off so they are obviously open to negotiation. While these new bikes are more powerful it's more just fear of the unknown, all you need to do is take things very gently and you'll wonder what you were worried about.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

So, I am sitting my full license test on Tuesday. If all goes to plan, I should finally have my full license and then the real fun begins (Going to cry like a baby if I don't pass).

Next weekend I am planning on heading out to look at bikes to upgrade to. Have some ideas about what I would like. Did completely have my heart set on a cruiser, but after attending some training on a race track, I just HAVE to test ride all sorts.

I'm pretty damn nervous actually about test riding these bigger bikes. I have gotten use to my tiny, light-weight bike. I know that anything I ride will feel completely different, and that it's about finding the bike that suits me and feel good. But test riding new or near new bikes just makes me nervous. Purely because I don't know how quickly I will get the hang of handling a larger and heavier bike. Did many other people out there feel that same way?

I am incredibly excited, as I know that this is where my fun really begins, just want to shake these nerves and not stuff up the test rides.

Looking forward to seeing what I end up liking, might suprise myself!

Hey Katie,

Good luck with the test.

I didn't realise that there was a chance to test bikes at the training day - I'll be up for a a test ride on a gixxer myself.

Let me know when you will be heading up for palmy.

[blackdog]

They also have a 600 monster that has been hanging round for a long time. I emailed them and asked about the price and they instantly knocked a grand off so they are obviously open to negotiation. While these new bikes are more powerful it's more just fear of the unknown, all you need to do is take things very gently and you'll wonder what you were worried about.

also, i'd be very surprised if a 600 monster is any more than about 10kg heavier than the keeway too (just did a quick check) 900 monster 183kg keeway 172kg

[DJSin]

Good luck with your test on Tuesday.

When you get to the shop that has a bike you want to test let them know you are a bit nervous and they might be able to help position the bike in the best place for take off and recommend a quite test ride area so you can settle into the feel of the bike.

I'm sure you'll be just fine with the test and then the test ride

[Gareth51]

You should have no problem there girl,just remember you're not doing the takas and you don't have to get your knee down to pass the test

[blackdog]

heres another one i reckon would be worth a ride, it might be the sort of thing that will pleasantly surprise you with real allround ability. low mileage and legendary reliability too.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-285392029.htm

[R-Soul]

Thanks everyone. Yes I know, lacking confidence whilst test riding some new beasts will make for a less enjoyable ride. I am semi confindent with me as a rider, just on a bike that I am familiar with. I guees what my biggest fear is, testing riding some sports bike (weeee that's going to be fun). I have been so used to changing gears out front of my cruiser, that changing with my foot behind me is going to rather tricky for the first few times. Completely different riding position from what I am used to. Keen to try many different types of bikes, and don't want to make the dealers on edge about me taking one out for a spin.


Right, more confindence. Got it. Not too worries about the test, feel good to go on the one. Just the shiny new bikes. I'm sure after the first one or two I'll get into the swing of it all.

Damn - this is going to be fun!

As your bike gets bigger, good technique becomes more important. At low speeds and at high. and planning for what you are doing (through all the stages) and how you are going to do it.

[R-Soul]

I also find I have to be careful where I park my bike, coz if there's a slight slope I'm absolutely stuffed!

YES - VERY IMPORTANT!! Nothing dents your confidence like dropping the thing at standstill.

If you are on a slope that runs from right to left or vice versa (and your legs are "vertically challenged"), make sure that your weight is on the upper side, and that you can put your foot down on that side when you come to a stop. With heavier bikes, if the bike goes over a just a little too much, it can become unmanageable. If you are forced to put your foot down on the lower side, the potential for a stuff up is higher (and you could drop the bike on yourself). You have to plan this stuff on heavier bikes if you dont have teh strength to hold them up yourself...

My wife did this just sitting on my bike, on a very slight slope, and it nearly ended up dropping on her!!

I have also done few stoopid things (like not seeing that the stand had been pushed in when pushing it into garage) but luckily was strong enough to save it. there is no way that wifey would have been able to.

Do yourself a favour as well: Check on youtube for lesson on how to pick up a bike that has fallen over. It goes something like this:

1) Stop engine and wheels spinning
2) Put bike in gear
3) Put stand up if bike has fallen on its right hand side (so that you can drop it over from the opposite side when you have pcked it up)
4) Bend knees and put back to bike saddle
5) Grab rails /frame under saddle
6) Use LEGS (NOT back) to lift bike.
7) Balance bike upright
8) Kick stand down with foot (if bike fell on left side)
9) Push bike over onto stand gently

Using this method, you will at least be able to pick up bike and get it home if you do drop it, and not add to teh experience by having to find a guy to help.
Can't remember if this is everything - I think I might have left something out - so check out teh Youtube videos as well.

[R-Soul]

After a week or so once you are getting the hang of it, limit your revs to say 5,000rpm. The bike mostly cannot bite you under 5,000rpm. If you rev the bugger out hard in 2nd or 3rd things change verrrry quickly indeed, limiting the revs helps keep a lid on this.

Practice counting gears. You really don't want to go down to first gear in town and slide the rear tyre, so you need to know when you are in second gear. As you come off the open road, go down from top (6th) gear and say to yourself "I'm in fifth", and then "I'm in fourth."

I beg to differ - my bike will bite her up to 5000rpm (if she is used to a GN250 or something like that!)-its more about the amount of throttle you give it until 5k rpm! If you dont open the throttle, it cant bite you. Just get used to the throttle first.

And gear counting is useful, but it takes up concentration when it could be used on other things. Just like a car, you can hear if an engine is laboured. If it is , change gear...

Again, it just takes a bit of getting used to what a laboured engine sounds like.

[Lurch]

I beg to differ - my bike will bite her up to 5000rpm (if she is used to a GN250 or something like that!)

Too right, if you give any 1000cc V-Twin 5K worth of throttle at the wrong time you're in for some fun!

And even though you never want to have to use it, here's how you correctly pick up a bike of any weight : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPjYweKeiLk

[Old Steve]

I've been looking around at bigger bikes - tho still 7 months away from any chance of my 6F. Lusting after a Shadow or Vulcan, oh yeah.

One thing I'd suggest, if you're going to try a sports bike, see if there is a naked bike of similar size that you can ride first. Going to the naked bike first will make the transition to a sports bike easier.

The naked bike has you sitting more upright with your gear change foot just slightly behind you and the bars are a little higher. On a sports bike you are almost lying down on the tank, your gear change foot is stuck up the crack of your bum, and all your weight is on your hands on the lower bars.

Old Steve - cruiser til I die