First actual ride.

[kilgh]

Well got the bike lowered and am able to walk it around now and hold it up fine.

So, decided to get some real riding practice in.

Geared up fully. Backed it successfully out of the garage. Pulled out of the driveway nicely. Got to the end of my cul-de-sac. Came to a safe stop and prepared for the first turn.

Stalled the bike taking off. Took a deep breath. Restarted...stalled.

Got impatient...took off jerky, started the turn. Mastered the noobie death grip and dropped the bike.

Decided good chance to try that "back walking" pick up technique. Couldn't master it. Hauled it up instead.

Realised that it is VERY hot out here today and am overheating in a bad way. Jacket vents only work when going at speed, huh?

Took a short rest sitting on the bike trying to cool down.

Right, start off again a bit too jerky trying to control. Stop to reset my brain into that calm place I began in. Start off again, notice my elderly neighbour has come out to watch me, lose concentration and prove the "you go where you look" rule and head toward the neighbour occupied footpath. Re-master the noobie death grip. Brake too hard and....drop the bike!

Haul it up again. Neighbour impressed and gains the attention of two more elderly neighbours who are now watching me. Have lost all composure at this point and am sweating like a pig from the extreme heat and hauling up the bike twice in short order. But I'm game...so!

Start off again with full audience...get going, death grip due to surprise I'm actually going, stall, drop bike.

Call it a day. Put bike away.

Get cheered up when middle aged next door neighbour comes home with four stitches in her head after being smacked in the head with a virtual table tennis bat while playing Wii with her husband.

[Rosie]

Sounds like an eventful ride. Good on you for persevering.
Slow speed clutch and throttle control can take a while to learn. Some days I swore I would never learn to take off without stalling.
Being really smooth with the clutch helps. Even once the bike is underway, ease the lever all the way out, pause for a couple of seconds, then take your fingers off the lever.

If you haven't done so already - installing a set of hand guards (like barkbusters, or Zeta armour guards) will protect your clutch and brake levers when you drop the bike.

[kilgh]

Thanks Rosie.

Must say I hate sucking at anything! Argghhh! Have momentarily lost my happy place today. But it's why I started...new year, new challenge.

Need to find a Zen zone. I blame video gaming. When everything goes wrong on the PS3 you just mash all the buttons together frantically. Not good training for motorcycling.

I will have to get some hand guards! Bit late for the brake lever however....

[Grubber]

Hi Kilgh.
Not even gonna ask what that means.
so another couple of months of the start stop thing and you won't know yourself.
Kidding! It won't take you that long to get the hang of it.
Just reeellaaaxxx and it will all come together slowly. No rush is there??
I shudder when i look back at when i started. In comparison, you're doing great really.
Have a wee rest and go out there and have another go. If you fancy a bit of help, if you don't already have some, just pm me and will give a hand.
Good on you all the same!!

[kilgh]

Thanks Grubber. Appreciate it. Might take you up on the offer.

Relax. Yes. I'm learning that this is a skill I need to practise. This is my biggest issue.

[wysper]

Sounds like at the moment you are doing all this on your own.

Bloody well done you!

And good that you kept having a crack even under the pressure of being watched.
Don't be shy to take up the offers of help, most on here are really good, even the dodgy ones online are often ok in person

Good luck!

[kilgh]

Thanks, Wysper.

I am my friends' experiment in biking. Not many bikers in my circle. I'm the first.

Certainly am doing this the hard way!

[Grubber]

Nothing wrong with the hard way....means a whole lot more when you beat the jitters.
Riding is very much done with the head...so when you get that bit sorted you should be good to go.
I would lay a bet that once you get out there riding you may find some of your friends follow along behind. It can get quite addictive once you get on your way.

[nomnomnom]

Top effort Good to hear you kept up your efforts in the sweltering heat AND after dropping the bike! That might sound sarcastic but im actually serious.First ride, I dropped my bike after taking off too quick, swerving hard to avoid hittin my mates ute, in the gravel this is not a good idea. and I had to get 2 people to help me pick the bike up again! fail on my behalf....

keep at it!

[kilgh]

Thanks,

Yeah, well the thing my audience was most impressed with were my quick reflexes. The bike went down, but not me with it!

Must conquer my unhelpful reflexes however.

But getting a good workout.

[DEATH_INC.]

Good on ya for giving it a go
As already offered, if you want some assistance/ advice, don't be shy to ask.
What part of auckland are you in?

[PrincessBandit]

Good on you for persevering - it can be easy to get disheartened, but it sounds like you really put 110% into it!

I remember the first thing we got taught at the BHS course (after we had to push the bikes to the area we learnt in - our first lesson as to the many disadvantages of running out of gas): it was simply sitting with feet flat on ground and barely getting the bike to move a few centimetres before having to pull the clutch back in. Did it over and over!

The main thing is to know when to call it quits for the time being and go back later when you've had a cool down. It sounds like you have a good handle on that.

Maybe going out on the bike in the cooler evening might be a bit more attractive, in that the heat of the day can be a bi-atch to ride in! (Let alone if you have to manhandle your lovely beastie).

Sounds like you will have plenty of offers of help. Im in South Auckland if you want to get in touch - happy to help if you'd like.

[varminter]

As the Pricess said, play with the clutch, just ease it out until you find it bite, feell the bike start to pull, then in with the clutch again. Keep doing this until you know wher the clutch starts to engage. Morning or evening when it's not so hot, and even better if you know of a flat paddock you could get someone to take it to. Good luck and dont get despondent.

[maggot]

Yeah, if you can, grab the local sports field and go from there, stops bits falling off when you crash.
Just work on the clutch control, like said above, feeling the clutch bite and pulling it, getting used to where it engages etc.
Once you're there work on going forward and stopping, about a billion times, until it comes naturally. You'd be surprised at how quickly it'll come to you.
Just take baby steps, and keep at it, don't get too discouraged, you'll get there in no time

And there're plenty of us in the AKL area that'd be more than willing to help out, so flick some PMs around

[davebullet]

I second a school or otherwise unused carpark.

I rode the VTR to the car park then Mrs B practised without anyone watching (well except me).

Just start by learning to start off in first gear then stop. turn by waddling if you need to - then repeat.

Only try to learn one thing at a time. Limit you time to 20 mins for the early sessions.

The above helps build confidence and slows down the "too many things to learn".

Don't be too hard on yourself. We've all been there. Persevere. It really is a wonderful thing and I wish I had got back into motorcycling sooner.

don't worry if you tense up in the early stages. It is quite natural. The key thing is to learn to keep your eyes up at all times. Never look at the ground. I put this in importance above having a relaxed grip. Relaxing will come with confidence and practice.