Complete Newbie

**placidfemme** · 26th May 2005, 09:27

Hi and welcome

I agree with a few of the people above, Doug Swanson in the North Shore is an awesome teacher and very patient. He taught myself and my partner to ride... from the start... neither of us knew how to ride... only took 4 lessons, and the fourths lesson was the Basic Handling Skills test. I don't think you could fail this.

Dougs number if you'd like lessons from him is: 416-5096.

He only does lessons on Sundays from 8am to 2pm I believe so you'll need to call him and book a time.

**Silverbug** · 26th May 2005, 09:51

Originally Posted by placidfemme

Hi and welcome

I agree with a few of the people above, Doug Swanson in the North Shore is an awesome teacher and very patient. He taught myself and my partner to ride... from the start... neither of us knew how to ride... only took 4 lessons, and the fourths lesson was the Basic Handling Skills test. I don't think you could fail this.

Dougs number if you'd like lessons from him is: 416-5096.

He only does lessons on Sundays from 8am to 2pm I believe so you'll need to call him and book a time.

Ah great, thanks guys. I'll have to give doug a call and have a chat with him.

Not looking at getting into off road riding, mainly something to work and back, and the odd trip up north. but to start with i think just work and back, untill i build up a bit of confidence etc.

**outlawtorn** · 26th May 2005, 12:07

Welcome to the site dude, may you have many happy miles and messages!

Like most people say a GN250 is a great 1st bike, I personally went for the GZ250 as I prefer the lower profile it has, and I think it looks nicer anyway. But each to his own, the GZ is normally about $2000 more expensive than a GN. But I'm going for my Intermediate to Full License course with Passrite this weekend so hopefully in the near future I'll be selling my GZ250. Woo Hoo! oh and welcome to the site, didn't I say that already........?

**XP@** · 27th May 2005, 13:55

Depends on how tall you are (and if you liked the beach)
I would go for a 200 to 250 cc 4-stroke dual purpose, they are really easy to ride give lots of visibility and will be happy in town on the beach or in a paddock.

**HDTboy** · 27th May 2005, 15:22

PM me when you get your lisence if you want to try out a cbr250 to see what they're like. I bought mine as my first bike and can testify that the are expensive to crash (maybe a good thing)

**Gremlin** · 2nd June 2005, 01:36

I did mine BHS with John Wright. 3 hours in one hit, certificate at end. Personally I would stay away from Passrite. How they do everything in 1-2 hours scares me.

I had no experience whatsoever, having never lifted my leg over a motorcycle. 5 hours riding time and I was going into the city, 9 hours and only need to learn hill starts and having a go at the Panmure roundabout.

When I did my BHS, there was a girl that crashed the scooter, and refused to get back on... so you could sorta call it a fail, but she was still trying to take off, and just about "took off" as well...

Then I can spend the rest of my life going faster and faster...

**Excal** · 2nd June 2005, 18:15

I onli knew the basics , pretty easy test . But if you dont know how to change gears , prolly should take lessons .

**Jeremy** · 2nd June 2005, 18:29

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I did mine BHS with John Wright. 3 hours in one hit, certificate at end. Personally I would stay away from Passrite. How they do everything in 1-2 hours scares me.

I had no experience whatsoever, having never lifted my leg over a motorcycle. 5 hours riding time and I was going into the city, 9 hours and only need to learn hill starts and having a go at the Panmure roundabout.

When I did my BHS, there was a girl that crashed the scooter, and refused to get back on... so you could sorta call it a fail, but she was still trying to take off, and just about "took off" as well...

Then I can spend the rest of my life going faster and faster...

How on earth did she manage to crash the scooter? You can only go at about 15km/h in the area that John has got set up. You'd have to try pretty hard to crash (if you could allready ride a push-bike).

**Gremlin** · 3rd June 2005, 02:13

Originally Posted by Jeremy

How on earth did she manage to crash the scooter? You can only go at about 15km/h in the area that John has got set up. You'd have to try pretty hard to crash (if you could allready ride a push-bike).

It took me a while as well to add it all together, but I think this is how it went.

First, she was 18, no clutch experience etc. The crash occurred right at the beginning when we were learning how to pull away etc. I was busy turning around manually when I saw most of the incident.

I think she was slowing to a stop, clutch in, kept the throttle open, it revved, she panicked (which is easy for a learner) and did the typical thing of pulling and releasing everything. First it revved, then she dropped the clutch, so it did a little wheelie, then somehow she managed a tiny stoppie, bit of a wheelie again, brakes and promptly fell over the left front sort of sideways.

Not really a crash, but I was glad I wasn't the first

(never did end up falling tho)... she decided there was no way she was going to get back on, and wanted to have car lessons instead, which, as John said, would probably make learning a bike more difficult.

Oh, and I did about 30 behind the containers... that was about an hour in... my speed desires were already showing, except slowing for the corner was difficult...

**FROSTY:Me** · 5th June 2005, 16:04

Originally Posted by WINJA

A GN250 IS A GREAT LEARNER BIKE, THEY ARE EASY TO GET OFF THE MARK AND HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO GET YOU OUT OF TROUBLE , THEY CRASH WELL AND ARE CHEAP TO REPAIR AND ARE ONLY $3000 NEW AND CAN BE FINANCED , THEY HAVE A GOOD RESALE VALUE AS WELL.
YAMAHA SR250 IS SIMILAR TO ABOVE.
OR YOU CAN GET A 250 TRAIL BIKE LIKE AN XR

Bugger me WINJA a friggin sensible sorta caring post ---Youre slipping man

Seriously though -I agree totally although Id add to that list
cb250rs,FXR150,cb250 and sv250 -all easy bikes to ride and are goood in a carpark type off