First post, first off (gnjackal)

[superjackal]

Hi

I got my licence about 3 years ago in Christchurch to make the daily commute to Auckland easier. A change in circumstances and a company car in Wellington meant the idea of a motorcycle was shelved for a few years. Lost already? Doesn't get much better!

I changed jobs a few months back and bought a motorcycle to make the Wellington commute a little easier on the wallet and hopefully save some time skipping through traffic. I commute daily from Lyall Bay to Petone.

Back 3 years ago I liked the look and reviews of the GN250 and tracked one down through Trademe a couple of months back. (Paid $1800 for a 2006 with 15K if anyone's keeping track of these things). I bought all my riding gear through Motomart in Lower Hutt for $800. So, I thought, for $2600 I was doing pretty well. I'm at the age when that's not that much money, when I was 18 that would have been about a years wages. Motomart seemed much cheaper than other local stores for gear. I could have bought a new bike but after today (more later....) I'm glad I went with a 2nd hand bike.

The bike seems very good for the commute, it struggles a bit in a head wind and won't do more than 120kph. I'm heavy (100kg) and am guessing this doesn't work in my favour with just 22hp on offer from the GN. Around town it doesn't seem that quick off the mark but I'm still driving gingerly as I learn. Forget weaving through traffic - I'm not there yet.

Anyway, I work up early this morning to go to work early/finish early for my daughters 5th birthday. The brakes had been a bit, uh, "iffy" the day before and I made a mental note to get it checked out. I probably wouldn't have ridden today in hindsight but, hey, my daughters only 5 once. I'd been reading posts about trying emergency braking out, so after I came off the motorway at Petone I thought I see what was going on. This was about 6.45am this morning and I double-checked to make sure no one was anywhere near me. So, I gave it a go and tried to stop as quickly as I could. Not exactly sure what happened even now, the front brake locked up and before I knew it I was on the ground having fallen off at about 50kph. My gear served me very well. The bike's damage limited to a crooked handlebar, rashed foot pedal, scraped exhaust and a little rash on the brake pedal/starter. What was surprising and the reason for my post is, even if no-one's behind you, testing your brakes should not be done on a public road if possible! Find somewhere quiet. By the time I stood up and got the bike up and out of the way I had 5 cars backed up. And no, no one stopped to check I was ok.

My sincere thanks to TSS Red Baron Alicetown for getting my bike back up and running today with no notice. I thank you and recommend them to all for their exemplary service. (BTW, apparently I had no brake fluid!)

I'm a little less confident and mostly relieved to get home in one piece. I'll probably be back on the bike tomorrow. My little fingy was a little sore and my hip flexor seems to have taken some kind of minor trauma. I'm in one piece and enjoying my daughters birthday.

I've had my "warning", best of luck to you all.

Happy, safe riding.

M

[slofox]

Nice that you survived.

"I had 5 cars backed up. And no, no one stopped to check I was ok. "

You'll get used to this. You are a bad-arse biker now and nobody will come near you in case you bite...

Falling off a few times seems to be fairly normal - was for me anyway. But you have been shown the advantages of wearing the gear.

Happy riding.

[GingerMidget]

Good on you for the gear!

Gentle stretches, heat and cold will help with the hip, its likely soft tissue so you should see some pretty colours over the next few days!

Re: the people behind not stopping, people suck sometimes.

[sil3nt]

Emergency braking doesn't mean pull the lever as hard as humanly possible!

[superjackal]

Emergency braking doesn't mean pull the lever as hard as humanly possible!

Heh heh, I chaulk it up to too much Lou Ferrigno as a kid.

[haydes55]

Emergency braking doesn't mean pull the lever as hard as humanly possible!

Yea start off slow! When I brake I pull the lever to take up the suspension travel before I pull it harder to brake (So sort of two motions in one). Just something I figured out myself that seems to give me good braking and the confidence.

It's hard to explain. But definitely agree on finding a empty car park or dead end street to practise. While there, you can practice U-turns and figure 8's to get used to slow speed handling.

ATGATT

[nosebleed]

Hi

I got my licence about 3 years ago in Christchurch to make the daily commute to Auckland easier.

This had the makings of a much better story.

Takes some nards to obtain a motorcycle licence in anticipation of a daily commute to Akl from ChCh on GN250

[ducatilover]

I'm horrible, I found that story absolutely hilarious
Keep at it and I think you deserve a high five for locking up and binning a bike with the worst brakes in modern motorcycling

​I also have a GN

[Gremlin]

Ummm, yes, a few points you have overlooked.

First up, find somewhere quiet to practise, a motorway off ramp isn't one. Carparks are usually a good place. Second, emergency braking isn't just about pulling the brake lever back to the bar and waiting to stop. It's about knowing how to brake as hard as possible, while still keeping control of the bike and coming to a stop.

It is likely you have simply locked the front, lost traction, and then it's pretty much all over. That's pretty standard fare for losing the front on bikes. Getting the front back after you've lost it is rare.

Another note specific to the GN, is that if you haven't changed it from the stock tyres, I think most who've owned one say to swap the tyres, as the stock ones are shite.

So... more (safe) practise for you then

[caspernz]

You've learned a few things the hard way...but good on ya for having the nerve to post your misadventure on here. The mighty GN250 was my L-plate bike about 28 years ago. You may find that since you've not had a lot of riding, a bit of proper rider training will save you money and sore body parts in future.

Time for a drink I suppose...

[Laava]

Hi I got my licence about 3 years ago in Christchurch to make the daily commute to Auckland easier. M

Far out!
Good on you tho for not blaming anyone! {It was the greenies fault!}




Oh yeah, go the mighty GN!

[willytheekid]

I'm horrible, I found that story absolutely hilarious

​I also have a GN

LOL...yes.....yes you are! (But that means I am too!...cos I giggled a little as well )

Good to hear the OP is ok and his gear did its job well.
Rider training!...best way to learn how to survive on these dangerous bloody two wheeled things

slofox is dead right, get used to no one stopping to help....don't ya know Bikes give you rabies!

Thanks to the OP for sharing & welcome to KB

[p.dath]

Nothing like gaining experience the hard way.

I'd try practive emergency braking from a low speed, like 30km/h, first. First work on reducing your breaking distance, then work on increasing the speed.

Some golden rules:
* Look up at a target in the distance - don't look down at the wheel. Looking down almost always makes riders come of.
* There is a couple of ways, but start by using increasing brake pressue when using your front brake.

And highly recommended - find a mentor in your area. You'll learn more in 60 minutes than a month on your own.


Check out my BLOG on the subject for a more comprehensive description:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/en...rgency-Braking

[Madness]

To add to previous suggestions, maybe save your next practice session for a dry day that's a bit warmer than Welly must have been at 6:45am today. You can always slowly progress to cold, wet, miserable weather with an idea of where the limits are later on.

[superjackal]

To add to previous suggestions, maybe save your next practice session for a dry day that's a bit warmer than Welly must have been at 6:45am today. You can always slowly progress to cold, wet, miserable weather with an idea of where the limits are later on.

Agree with the above, not really thinking straight at 6.45am! Really appreciate the goodwill, thank you guys. I just want to stay safe on the road. One thing I've really noticed is how slow I take intersections now - in a car or bike. "Has he seen me, hasn't he....". I can actually see some drivers thinking - "why is this guys going so slow!?". Slow riding, sharp slow corners are certainly what I'm finding challenging.

The story was written with a sense of irony, really glad some find it funny. I don't feel like a bad-arse biker but appreciate that there is a caring community out there. I hope I can contribute something useful to other learners. Hopefully all positive!

M