How hard can it be?

[ducatilover]

Paragraphs are our friends.

Everyone on the road needs more training, one can never be good enough.
I still think we have a shit licencing system.

[willytheekid]

THe old "thought i knew it all" syndrome. Not sure i was quite like that, but even though i could ride fine, i still learnt a bunch of shit that i didn't know about when i did my coarses.
It was more so recognising what lay ahead before it jumped out and hit me i think. The seeing through the corners much better did the world of good.
There is whole bunch of stuff that many riders out there on big cruisers etc getting back into biking or just starting out , have no idea about. One can see it in thier riding everyday.
I even have a couple of mates that won't declare they need some help. One evens says that he doesn't ride fast enough to be a worry. I have riden with him long enough to know that he travels around 120k's and that is fast enough to die.
Ego's don't ride well do they! The mightier than though complex usually crashes mid corner. Notice how 'corner' can be misspelt as 'coroner'. Ironic isn't it!

...amplified my youth!...and age!

I was young (16)I had been racing and riding for 8yrs...so of course I knew it all!

And as you mention, the older riders returing to bikes tend to think that because they rode 20yrs ago, and memory stated they where at a stunt rider/racer level in the old days...they too know it all!

This is why I tend to ride alone now days...I never want to hold a dying/dead person or friend in my arms again...due to stupidity or ignorance on the road.

Its also why I strongly believe in rider training for all, and repeat training to ensure our skills are alway updated and used daily...because sadly it IS the difference between "seeing" the corner...or the coroner!

[Katman]

The hatred for cagers is because most drivers are absolute fuckwits. Most people these days get taught to drive by their parents or friends (who usually can't drive properly in the first place), and since there is no legal requirement for people to take driving lessons from a qualified instructor, bad driving is inevitable. I will go as far as to say that the majority of people in NZ can't drive properly. Most people can't even indicate properly at a roundabout, they drive slowly in the right lane when they should be in the left lane, they brake during, rather than before a corner. They are too distracted by their passenger, mobile phone, radio, food etc to even notice what's around them. It's simple things that every driver should know how to do which is leading to the high road toll.

So how do you rate your motorcycling ability?

[SMOKEU]

So how do you rate your motorcycling ability?

Not that great. I'm still a n00b.

[pritch]

Spoken like a true perpetual victim.

Not necessarily. It does happen.

On another board I follow one of the riders reports that he stopped at a red light and a woman, more interested in her cell phone than her driving, just drove straight into the back of his bike and over him. Not a lot one can do about that, but by all means feel free to point out his error.

I recently read in BIKE that riding a motorcycle is likely to make you an impatient driver. It is common for motorcyclists behind the wheel to be venting verbal abuse at zombie like car drivers. I plead guilty.

As a motorcyclist you will be much more aware of your surroundings than the average car driver. Zombie motorcyclists are liikely to have a short life expectancy?

[James Deuce]

Zombie motorcyclists are liikely to have a short life expectancy?

I wish! In my experience, ZMs and WOFTs (Wound Open Fuck-Tards) seem to be invincible AND invulnerable.

[Katman]

Most people these days get taught to drive by their parents or friends (who usually can't drive properly in the first place), and since there is no legal requirement for people to take driving lessons from a qualified instructor, bad driving is inevitable.

So have you taken any riding lessons from a qualified instructor?

Or is it only everyone else's problem?

[ducatilover]

So have you taken any riding lessons from a qualified instructor?

Or is it only everyone else's problem?

Have you? I haven't. Are experienced riders any different from instructors?

[SMOKEU]

So have you taken any riding lessons from a qualified instructor?

Yes I have actually.

[george formby]

No idea where I read it but a survey of fully licensed car drivers & bike riders showed that over 70% thought they were above average in ability when asked. Er, don't think so. That was the point of the survey too, to high light this personal misconception.

Speaking for myself I had the pleasure of watching my girlfriend undertake some professional training recently for her basic handling test. It was a bit of a revelation for me, making me realise how lazy I have become despite having had advanced training years ago. I hope to take up an offer of training for myself in the future too, knock the rust spots off as it were. I have mentioned this to riders I know up here & all of them have put their hands up "me too please". Quite heartening to see them immediately jump at the suggestion of further training.

[Geordie_Biker6]

Hey guys. Thanks for all the feedback. I understand some people dont see it the way i do but its pretty simple really. If you drive a car, you must ensure you have adequate skill to do so. Same goes for a motorbike, only there are more hazards and therefore a greater skill level is required.

Yes the licence system isnt set-up properly for Biking, however it is our choice to ride bikes so therefore is it up to us to get the required training to not just ride, but survive. Even if the licencing system doesnt provide it.

I am 21, have been riding for 3 years and am still on my 250. Why? Because i will move up to a bigger bike when i feel i have the skills to do so, not the opportunity. I am quite happy to admit that i dont know it all nor will i ever.

Accidents will still happen but minimising the risk and eliminating the possibility of our own 'fuck-ups' surely is not a bad thing. Besides, who can say no to a day out on the track! And knwing that you will ride with more confidence and skill allowing you to take those 'hairy' corners smoothly and with ease sporting a big grin and feeling massive satisfaction.

GB.

[Grubber]

Hey guys. Thanks for all the feedback. I understand some people dont see it the way i do but its pretty simple really. If you drive a car, you must ensure you have adequate skill to do so. Same goes for a motorbike, only there are more hazards and therefore a greater skill level is required.

Yes the licence system isnt set-up properly for Biking, however it is our choice to ride bikes so therefore is it up to us to get the required training to not just ride, but survive. Even if the licencing system doesnt provide it.

I am 21, have been riding for 3 years and am still on my 250. Why? Because i will move up to a bigger bike when i feel i have the skills to do so, not the opportunity. I am quite happy to admit that i dont know it all nor will i ever.

Accidents will still happen but minimising the risk and eliminating the possibility of our own 'fuck-ups' surely is not a bad thing. Besides, who can say no to a day out on the track! And knwing that you will ride with more confidence and skill allowing you to take those 'hairy' corners smoothly and with ease sporting a big grin and feeling massive satisfaction.

GB.

Wow! 21 years old and has some brains. I'm impressed. You have restored my faith in the youth of today. Well done young man. In theory at least, you should live a long time.
I doubt there would be too many guys your age with that mentality and very likely you are the minority unfortunately.
If many others had your outlook on life they would probably tend to live a lot longer to enjoy most of it.

[Grubber]

Have you? I haven't. Are experienced riders any different from instructors?

Actually i believe they are. Not saying experience doesn't count, but an instructor should at least have the technical knowledge to execute tuition far better.
I only know this after doing some retraining over the years.
It's all very well knowing how to steer a bike, but it helps a lot knowing the concepts and technical reasoning behind why a bike reacts the way it does when we do it.
I used to ride reasonably well i thought for many years until i did some coarse's.
My riding was smooth and straight, but any time something adverse made my back end hop out somewhat i was slightly at a loss as to how to react. Since doing a bunch of coarse's, my bike skips about all over the place and it doesn't bother me at all. I have it under control at all times. I have hit large mounds of gravel mid corner and riden through them at speed with confidence. There mere fact that i know how to react and deal with such issues has made me a better rider by far. Riding is much different now.

[avgas]

I am 21, have been riding for 3 years and am still on my 250. Why? Because i will move up to

Thats what your saying.......but being 21 and riding for 3 years does not tell me you believe this.

You don't have your full yet do you?
How can you be critical of the licensing system if you don't complete it?

I am betting still learners.
I was just like you. Then I grew up. Actually thats not true. I even said that 250's were too fast so I rode a 150 instead. But then I realized I was being a hypocrite.

[Pseudonym]

On another forum where I hangout, you can join in on a group buy for whatever has been set up.
I have a little time to make the call, would anyone be keen in doing a group deal with the superbike school at Hampton Downs if they can offer a discount for a full class of riders?

From the site:
"A day at the Superbike School is a full one. It starts at 7am with registration and ends at 5.30pm with a debrief and a final chance to chat with your Coach again before you ride home. There are 72 students on a day split into 3 groups of 24 riders. You will be assigned a Riding Coach for the whole day and he works with you one to one during a session although he has two other students to service too. There are five classroom sessions for you to complete as well as five track sessions and an off track drill to perform. After each of the track sessions your Instructor will give you a personal debrief of your progress in that session."

So can we get 72 of us to commit to doing this?
Most likely have to pre-pay and until I make the call I have no idea if they’ll go for it or if they do what the price will be.
It’s normally $429 for a weekday and $459 for a weekend.
I would imagine a weekday would be better for them (so cheaper for us) as weekends are often booked long in advance.

Not road training but a fun day where you learn loads.
Hmmm, the Kiwi Super Biker training day?