Help for a girl just getting into it (oracle)

[R-Soul]

and you sound dangerous.

OK just to get my street cred back (do I lose it again for saying "street cred"?) here goes:

Nah, dont bother even coming on these forums to try and learn anything- biking is reaally easy and it all just comes to you naturally after you fuck around for years on end. Just make sure you wear really good gear, because you are going to need it. Eventually you will get it (or not...) - here's hoping that you will still be alive at the time. If not, hey, you can always try again next life (if your'e Buddhist - otherwise its game over for you).

[Ryder]

Hey sugar Riding is so much fun! it will give you a new lease on life! picking the right bike for you - sit on it and you will just know - it will feel right. don't just pick a bike cos you think its cool. make sure that its running right etc and get a background check and a mechanical done or alternatively buy from a dealer. Red baron do learner packages on some of thier bikes so that you are able to get a bike and get fully geared for a good price. you could maybe talk to Matthew there for some advice on picking the right bike. he is there every saturday.

Maybe try going to NASS on a Wednesday night once you get a bike. My partner often mentors there and there are some other great mentors the go to share their knowledge and experiences. they all practice skills of different kinds and then go to bar africa for a drink and a natter afterward. its good fun and good company and a great way to pick up new skills, tips and advice and squeeze in a little practice too and currently there is a lady going that is a almost learner in that she hasnt ridden in years and has just got back into it on a harley so don't worry about being new to it all cos they welcome all people from all walks of life and tend to all skill sets

[oracle]

I started on a gn250 and it was fine for me. If you want to catch up to talk, join us at Strata... Or give me a PM if you wanna females perspective.

Also, biomed, that's cool. It's what I wanted to do but ended up at Massey doing Bio instead. Hopefully will be able to get to AU to do biomed next sem or next year.

Hey Thandi, thanks I've got a lecture till 5 on fridays so I might try coming next week when lectures are finished, otherwise next semester.
I hope you get in, it's a really interesting degree full on though, just get in touch if I can help with anything to do with biomed

[oracle]

Hey sugar Riding is so much fun! it will give you a new lease on life! picking the right bike for you - sit on it and you will just know - it will feel right. don't just pick a bike cos you think its cool. make sure that its running right etc and get a background check and a mechanical done or alternatively buy from a dealer. Red baron do learner packages on some of thier bikes so that you are able to get a bike and get fully geared for a good price. you could maybe talk to Matthew there for some advice on picking the right bike. he is there every saturday.

Maybe try going to NASS on a Wednesday night once you get a bike. My partner often mentors there and there are some other great mentors the go to share their knowledge and experiences. they all practice skills of different kinds and then go to bar africa for a drink and a natter afterward. its good fun and good company and a great way to pick up new skills, tips and advice and squeeze in a little practice too and currently there is a lady going that is a almost learner in that she hasnt ridden in years and has just got back into it on a harley so don't worry about being new to it all cos they welcome all people from all walks of life and tend to all skill sets

Thanks Ryder, I've definitely been looking at that once I get a bike. I think it's so awesome that there are people who are willing to donate their time to pass on their knowledge to other riders. Good to see the real community that revolves around riding

[Thani-B]

Hey Thandi, thanks I've got a lecture till 5 on fridays so I might try coming next week when lectures are finished, otherwise next semester.
I hope you get in, it's a really interesting degree full on though, just get in touch if I can help with anything to do with biomed

We are usually there for a few hours, so if you can make it it would be good to meet you.
And yeah, I'm hoping too. What are you heading towards with it?

[oracle]

We are usually there for a few hours, so if you can make it it would be good to meet you.
And yeah, I'm hoping too. What are you heading towards with it?

Sweet as, I might come round this Friday then
Well next year, I'm thinking of focussing more on reproduction or cardiology but ultimately I want ot get into med school the following year. Otherwise idk really, maybe midwifery or something, can't really see myself stuck in a lab all day

[Ryder]

Thanks Ryder, I've definitely been looking at that once I get a bike. I think it's so awesome that there are people who are willing to donate their time to pass on their knowledge to other riders. Good to see the real community that revolves around riding

you're welcome and i very much agree with that! i was quite pleasantly surprised by that when i first joined KB too. Riding is a passion and a life long love. it is great being able to communicate on and offline with and organize rides and events with like minded people. We try to look out for each other as a community. for this reason i think a lot of people are happy to share their knowledge and experience freely with others. My partner says he does it so that people can be provided with the correct knowledge instead of having to make it up as you go like he had to - he learnt the hard way and wants to save the world! lol

[2nd2last1]

buy mine... lol
good learner.... taught my mate on the road in 10mins

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Here is a bike that would be VERY suitable for Learning on. CBR125 Currently for sale...........

Very good choose there and while you are at it would give dawn a call to help with the licence process. Have herd a lot of good feedback. I myself will go to dawn when i ready to go that step further.

[oracle]

My partner says he does it so that people can be provided with the correct knowledge instead of having to make it up as you go like he had to - he learnt the hard way and wants to save the world! lol

Haha well hopefully I'll meet him one day when I finally get licence and wheels, otherwise good luck for saving the world to him

buy mine... lol
good learner.... taught my mate on the road in 10mins

Wow, I think I'm gonna take a bit longer to learn than that

Very good choose there and while you are at it would give dawn a call to help with the licence process. Have herd a lot of good feedback. I myself will go to dawn when i ready to go that step further.

Sorry, I'm showing my ignorance here; dawn?

[Little Miss Trouble]

Dawn = Qkchk, shes's a license instructor. I have plans to send my brother to her for his license when he gets of his arse & gets motivated to get a bike

[Scorp]

Hey everyone, if you could help me with some advice that's be great. Atm I'm just looking into starting to ride, hoping to get my learners in the uni holidays once I'm out of the craziness that is doing biomed. Was looking round at a couple of bikes and would like to know if Lifan is any good? Also any advice for a real beginner. Cheers

Hi Oracle. I'm new to all this too, only a little further down the road. Personally, as someone who's working his way through the process of trying to learn how to ride a bike, I'd say that the advice given here by R-Soul and Sentox is worth it's weight in gold.

Some posters say things like: "if you're thinking about it you're doing it wrong." But acquiring knowledge through books, talking to bikers, learning from your instructor, is not the same thing as 'thinking it through' while you're doing it.

For example, I'm really glad I read, digested, and fully understood the physics behind counter-steering before I first applied it. But while I was doing it, I was not 'thinking' about the physics. I was thinking, "wow, this feels awesome," with a big grin across my face.

I will continue to consciously use the technique until it becomes second (unconscious) nature. Same goes for all the other techniques. For me, it makes sense to understand the techniques first, then apply them, then practice them, then acquire them as second nature. A good instructor is going to be invaluable, but books do help in the understanding of how a bike works. I found "Proficient Motorcycling" by David L. Hough to be a brilliant primer.

[oracle]

Dawn = Qkchk, shes's a license instructor. I have plans to send my brother to her for his license when he gets of his arse & gets motivated to get a bike

Oh right, yeah she looks like a really great trader. I've got a voucher for Riderskills, so would like to use that if I can. Does anyone know how they compare in quality? Or if Riderskills is any good?

Hi Oracle. I'm new to all this too, only a little further down the road. Personally, as someone who's working his way through the process of trying to learn how to ride a bike, I'd say that the advice given here by R-Soul and Sentox is worth it's weight in gold.

Some posters say things like: "if you're thinking about it you're doing it wrong." But acquiring knowledge through books, talking to bikers, learning from your instructor, is not the same thing as 'thinking it through' while you're doing it.

For example, I'm really glad I read, digested, and fully understood the physics behind counter-steering before I first applied it. But while I was doing it, I was not 'thinking' about the physics. I was thinking, "wow, this feels awesome," with a big grin across my face.

I will continue to consciously use the technique until it becomes second (unconscious) nature. Same goes for all the other techniques. For me, it makes sense to understand the techniques first, then apply them, then practice them, then acquire them as second nature. A good instructor is going to be invaluable, but books do help in the understanding of how a bike works. I found "Proficient Motorcycling" by David L. Hough to be a brilliant primer.

Thanks Scorp. Not that I have any real experience yet, but I would definitely agree with this advice from experience with other parts of life such as sports I've played. You may be able to do something and you may be fairly good at it but understanding whysomething works can only help improve technique (guess that what draws me to science).

I'll look for that book. Gonna see what the local library has first, hopefully can acquire some free knowledge. Knowledge may be freedom, but it is rarely free :P

[Riderskills]

Hi Oracle,

Good to see you taking the first step in your motorcycling career

Use the voucher for riderskills and save yourself some of the expense,

Then report back on here about your experience so everyone gets some feedback about the quality of our training. Any questions about our professionalism should be allayed by reading through the forums on kiwibiker.

I would echo the sentiment here that the Ride right ride safe course at whenuapai is a great add on to your basic handling skills training.

Philip McDaid Chief Instructor - Riderskills
Chief Examiner (motorcycles) - Institute of advanced Motorists (NZ)
NZTA Approved riding instructor

[oracle]

He, another question. When I do start to seriosusly look at bikes what sort of mileage should I be looking to stay under? It doesn't need to last forever, just about 2 years so I can get my full and maybe upgrade at that point.

There is an fxr150 on trademe here that looks good and I like the fact that it has a service history available but am afraid the k's could be quite high