I need a riding partner + here's a short review about me

**Edbear** · 14th November 2010, 17:00

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Is that all? And yep, you have.
Near 38 years, and so do I. The day I stop learning, will be the day I croak.

40 years for me. You know a great thing about Altzheimers is you get to learn all over again and riding out there is like seeing everything for the first time again. It's cool!

**Edbear** · 14th November 2010, 17:12

Originally Posted by Emilio

Hay guys my name is Emilio and i joined a while ago but i never got a chance to post.
Anyways here goes my post...

Ive been riding for 8months now and im up to my 3rd bike!

I started on a 150FXR which i think is probably the best thing i could've started on due to my height and budget.
Im 5'7, 18 years old and 68kg.

I sold that off and got a brand new 2006 Lifan LF-125-30.
I know it was probably bad to get rid of a jap bike and get a chinese one but i wanted to own my first NEW bike.

I am currently riding a red 2007 Hyosung GT250R and im loving it!
I honestly don't know why people are so against them.
They're good, all around bike.

I know its hard to believe but i went for my FIRST cruise last week.
I've only ever used my bikes as fun commuters.
I went over the Haywards and hit the corners hard!!
It was sooooo much fun!!

Im looking for other areas to ride and other bikers to ride with...
I like riding places that take a fair bit of skill to ride eg. tight corners.
If ANYONE could show me where to ride or could introduce me to more riders, i would be so greatful!

Thanx for reading my post =)

Welcome aboard! It sounds like you're making the right progression through the bike ranks, the Hyosung GT250R is, I believe, still the best selling sports bike in NZ!

Don't be too put off by the sad farts on here who may not understand English and context too well. The advice is generally sound, but the delivery lacks understanding and tact. I doubt you're being an idiot on the road and your desire to learn from more experienced riders is to be applauded, goodonyer!

At 18 I was fanging my old T500 around at over 160km/h every opportunity I had and that had a rubber frame and rather inadequate drum brakes, not at all as capable as a modern bike! I fell off it once on a wet clay driveway at walking pace...

So it's not necessarily correct to assume you lack riding skills or common sense at your age.

However, do make sure you have that little extra margin for error, that sense of caution that makes you back off rather than show off when in company with others, it just may save your life. Don't ever worry, or care, what other riders may think or say if you feel you're getting out of your depth and slow down.

**Tink** · 14th November 2010, 17:55

Originally Posted by Edbear

40 years for me. You know a great thing about Altzheimers is you get to learn all over again and riding out there is like seeing everything for the first time again. It's cool!

lol is that what I have Altzheimers, I always thought it was the wine!!!!

**sugilite:Me** · 14th November 2010, 18:13

Heyya Emilio.
Ahhh, I well remember the amazing joys of finding how much fun riding the roads with corners away from the city was.

If your looking for riding buddies, then it would be good for you to hook up on one of those KB organized weekly rides. Let them know who you are at where your at in your learning to ride journey. (As others have said, the learning never really stops).
When following more experienced riders, follow at a respectable distance, so that you can react to the unexpected, but not so far away you can not see what they are up too, as in lines they take and bike position on the road etc (and for God's sake let them go if things start happening to fast for your comfort) You will find the balance.

My formative road riding days were on the same roads you ride on. Your asking for recommended roads in your area? There are awesome roads all around that area, but by their nature (ie very tight and winding with traffic, ever increasing due to lifestyle block types) they do really require a lot of respect and experience to navigate them competently and safely.

I seriously recommend you consider casting your net out a bit further. There are just as fun, but much safer roads to learn on in the Southern Waiarapa only 40-45 mins away. I suggest you gently ride over the Rimutakas, and just before Featherston turn right into Western Lake Road, there are a number of loops you can do on that road (check google maps or what ever). These roads have much, much less traffic, are wider with all sorts of terrain. Straight sections, sweepers, tight n winding, you name it, they are all there!

Once you get some experience on those roads, then you can have fun discovering those closer more challenging roads I mentioned earlier, Moonshine/Moonshine Valley Roads, Paekakariki Hill Rd, Makara through Ohario Valley and my personal fave (which many hate) The Akatarawas Rd between Upper Hutt and Waikanae.

Riding is such outrageous fun, but always keep in mind, the penalties for losing concentration are always very harsh, so keep your mind on your riding, always give your self space to react to the unexpected (which kinda happens a lot on the roads you want to ride) and yeah, max out that fun factor bud!

PS, Most of those old wingers really do know what they are talking about (thats why they have lived long enough to become old wingers), so keep your ears open and don't bump into their zimmer frames on the way out eh

**Edbear** · 14th November 2010, 18:23

Originally Posted by Tink

lol is that what I have Altzheimers, I always thought it was the wine!!!!

Huwwo, who are you and what are you doing in my house...? Haven't I seen you somewhere, you look like someone I think I know...

**junkmanjoe** · 14th November 2010, 19:19

30 odd years riding....today i got caught out on old hiway 52 with wind....

..pushed 2 of us off the road in to the grass.....

you never know what the next corner will bring.....

JMJ

**Edbear** · 14th November 2010, 19:26

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

30 odd years riding....today i got caught out on old hiway 52 with wind....

..pushed 2 of us off the road in to the grass.....

you never know what the next corner will bring.....

JMJ

It was that dodgy curry you ate, right..?

Oh, wrong wind...

**Eyegasm** · 14th November 2010, 20:23

Hold on a minute....

There are corners on the Haywards????....

**Ocean1** · 14th November 2010, 20:27

Originally Posted by Eyegasm

There are corners on the Haywards????....

There are not.

Couple of not-straight bits, but nothing you'd call a corner.

**dogsnbikes** · 14th November 2010, 21:10

hell I thought there had been mean a qucke and we gpt some kinks back into the road;s not sure I;m after gay sauna stuff that was mentioned by some R_____N

now too the Nebie . . .any how its been 34 years for myself ,fair too say I'm old schoolish and too see whats changed over the last 30 years i have been riding,so it means I may with younger rider too gain knowlegde on different riding styles ... other wise I will ride by myself

get down too the duck pond,on wednesday I think ,,,,,as its been mention make introduction,establish your bussiness get too know people understand how their bike is their joy

so much for you too learn
and remember don't dish up old dungy blue honda's

**Owl** · 14th November 2010, 21:34

Have you been drinking Bazza?

road roading

**kevfromcoro** · 14th November 2010, 21:56

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

30 odd years riding....today i got caught out on old hiway 52 with wind....

..pushed 2 of us off the road in to the grass.....

you never know what the next corner will bring.....

JMJ

Done the same thing myself..
Into a right hander, and blowout in the rear....
Ended up in a paddock with the moo moos...

**junkmanjoe** · 14th November 2010, 23:04

Originally Posted by kevfromcoro

Done the same thing myself..
Into a right hander, and blowout in the rear....
Ended up in a paddock with the moo moos...

spent most of the morning riding sideways on a straight piece of road...thats only fun for so long....ended up watching the trees, get an idea when the big winds are coming.....i got pushed off and i saw in the mirror my mate going off behind me...

i hate the wind thats pushes ya one way...then it whips around and has a go on the other side.....people in the cages must think ( what the fuks he doing.......learning left, now right..theres no corners....)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
that other sort of wind stays in my pants and keeps my butt warm.
makes its way up my jacket and says hello in my helmet.......

------------------------------------------------------------------------
WIND.
its good for keeping you alert and ya leaning and balance skills up...

JMJ

**sinfull** · 15th November 2010, 08:00

I still remember the day (after) back in 89 i bought a brand new bike (walked into WMC and told em to get that one down) and they conned me into joining the HOG club, as they had a ride the next day starting in featherston and looping around lake ferry, to finish at a reserve in the hills west of carterton (a brilliant party was layed on by Gary Mcfee) .

Just so happened i was staying down lake ferry road and knew it and how a norwester effects the ride through there.
So rode back into town next morning and joined up with these guys at the pub.
Mentioned to a group of em that were standing near where i parked, that the norwester was up and the ride was a bit dodgy, but got the HOG reception (look you up and down a bit, but dont have the leather cap and chaps and instead wore torn denims, so wasn't worth listening too) so shrugged me shoulders and grabbed a beer.

Fucking cracked me up when old leather cap n chaps was the first in the ditch only about 10 k into the ride, with 2 others close behind him, lovely straight stretch it is too !

Needless to say i didn't see much of him that night, while i partook in the 6 kegs and two spat pigs behind carterton, lept off the tall cliffs (right behind the trees i passed out under, gulp!) with the absailing gear that turned up in the AM.
But did crack up at most of the other riders (lawers, accountants, etc who back then were pretty much the only ones who could afford HD's, ME, i traded the wife and family in on mine) when they seemed to hit their tents after one or two beers, (thinking Ok, they wanna be sharp to ride next day), get up first thing, dress in their chaps and caps, wander round saying see you next weekend to their mates and then fuck off home to their million dollar wives... i mean lives !
WTF, the weather was brilliant and i had a spanking new bike lol, so went for a ride and had a few beers !

A few in Gisborne
A few in Hamilton
A few in Taranaki
A few in Wangas
The thirst was sated after that and i limped home with a sore ass !

Moral i guess i'm trying to put across here is, it don't matter how good ya look while ya ride (or hit the ditch for that matter), it comes down to callas's on yr arse !

I'd be far from the most experienced here , and miles off the pace when it comes to the fastest (on the track) but something i have learned in the aprox. 20 out of 35 yrs on a bike, is that hitting the corners hurts !