First Learner Plate incident.

**kilgh** · 10th July 2011, 21:57

It took awhile, but tonight I had my first experience of being targetted for my plate.

Some idiot youth starting his school holiday I expect.

Anyway, after 3 weeks without a ride, time and weather coincided to allow me out. Was a bit surprised that the wee bike started quite easily to be honest. However it was more than a little sputtery and conked out whenever I came to stop initially.

Cue dickhead.

Thought a long straight 50km/h plus blat should sort it out. The only other car on the road ends up to be this idiot who begins to tailgate me. I'm ignoring him as I'm going 55km/h in a 50 zone so not holding him up. He finally overtakes me and at the first set of lights pulls up beside me and starts laughing at me and calling out insults. Of course my bike sputters at the lights and dies. Cue more laughter and yells of "nice stall".

Restart and move off from the lights and now this guy waits for me further up the road to start heckling me again.

He's getting no reaction so finally leaves. I'll point out now that noone with a blonde affro, driving a cheap Jap import should be laughing at anyone.

Anyway, I'm more worried about the bike's behaviour which is getting worse since the first blat and turn off into a side street to pull over to give it a few revs. And check that I haven't left the choke out.

Forgot this particular street is a hill so got to practice a u-turn and hillstart with a bike that really doesn't want to cooperate! Finally get that sorted and end up retracing my path back towards home. The bike seems to get better as I go. No more major splutters.

And as I get home the clock rolls over to 100kms travelled! Whoo-hoo. Triple figures. That was a long time coming!

Poor dealer will be waiting forever for the 1000kms service at this rate.

So lessons learned:

Bike does not like being unused for 3 weeks.
Blonde affros exist past the 70s (who knew?).
Learner Plates do draw nasty attention.
Hillstarts are not difficult, even with a sick bike.

**Mom** · 10th July 2011, 22:05

Top effort that gal! You will go far on 2 wheels

People like that need your pity on many levels

**kilgh** · 10th July 2011, 22:08

Well, too old to be worried about that sort of crap. But I did laugh when he stuck his head out of the window and I saw the 'fro! I mean seriously?

**James Deuce** · 10th July 2011, 23:29

Burn him! Start with the affro!

**Banditbandit** · 11th July 2011, 10:29

Well handled!! Don't let dicks like that get to you ...

**hayd3n** · 11th July 2011, 12:00

give the bike a little more time to warm up say 3-4 minutes

**davebullet** · 11th July 2011, 12:26

If someone's tailgating, let them pass. Sounds like as he had stopped anyway up the road to harrass you that wouldn't have made a difference.

Report his license plate to the police. Maybe nothing would come of it. Then again, maybe if they have several calls about the same lout - they'll do something.

My concern with drivers like that, is once they get used to a certain level of harrassment - it doesn't give them a buzz anymore. So they escalate to get their power trip buzz... hoping they don't hurt someone in the process.

**rickstv** · 11th July 2011, 12:51

Good on you for handling that well.

Sounds to me like you may still have the original fuel in your tank.

Petrol only stays fresh for a few months, and then causes engines to run as rough as guts, won't idle etc.

Rick

**White trash** · 11th July 2011, 13:16

Are you a minter? Poor bloke was probably trying to introduce himself to ya if so.

But then if you're a bit of a pig, he was probably genuinely laughing.

**kilgh** · 11th July 2011, 13:29

Originally Posted by rickstv

Sounds to me like you may still have the original fuel in your tank.

Petrol only stays fresh for a few months, and then causes engines to run as rough as guts, won't idle etc.

Rick

Yes! I was thinking that myself.

**nzspokes** · 11th July 2011, 13:31

Originally Posted by kilgh

Yes! I was thinking that myself.

When i got my bike I was told it needed a big tune. New petrol solved its running issues.

**kilgh** · 11th July 2011, 13:32

Originally Posted by White trash

Are you a minter? Poor bloke was probably trying to introduce himself to ya if so.

But then if you're a bit of a pig, he was probably genuinely laughing.

You know, because it was dark I think he thought I was someone his gender and age. If I had got off the bike, taken off the helmet and he'd seen I was a female old enough to be his mother (only just old enough mind....) he might of had a different approach.

**kilgh** · 11th July 2011, 13:34

Originally Posted by nzspokes

When i got my bike I was told it needed a big tune. New petrol solved its running issues.

Yeah, I have been on this tank for a ridiculously long time. I'll put some fresh stuff in before the next long ride. It's almost empty now anyway. Well, at quartre tank.

**Parlane** · 11th July 2011, 13:48

Originally Posted by kilgh

You know, because it was dark I think he thought I was someone his gender and age. If I had got off the bike, taken off the helmet and he'd seen I was a female old enough to be his mother (only just old enough mind....) he might of had a different approach.

Why would you take your helmet off? Did you not know they are designed for headbutting and fist protection?