I found one!

[Jantar]

One of the reasons I believe the Basic Handling skills test should be to stop with your foot in a square rather than stop with your front wheel in a square.

[Maha]

Definitely closest foot to the ground...

The two times I dropped the bike on a slope was because I put my foot down the lower side [being momentarily brainless ] and when the foot didn't encounter the ground that it normally would have and [being caught off-guard] continued downwards, the rest of my body started to follow and then the bike.

It was too late to stop the bike tipping over as momentum, my weight plus the bike's weight combined to pull me over and down. Little damage the first time as it was the tiny Scorpio but the 2nd time really messed up the 400...

speaking of feet & hills. My G/F taught me a doozy. She rolled backwards down a slightly sloping drive, perfectly, until the bike stopped. Against the camber of the road she had to turn into. Course, the bike was level but the gap below her boots was a at least a foot more than normal, the lowest point between the two slopes. Physics can be really hard on bikers..... Keerrrrunch.

I am gun shy of a particluar 'compulsary stop/uphill/right turn/off camber intersection' here.
Was on the CB 1300 to far to the left with Anne on the back and had to stop...would normally do a ''rolling stop'' at said intersection but not on this occassion.
The bike started list to port side immediately and was going down...Anne jumped off but it was a bloody heavy bike to stop falling...I managed to hold it, but felt the strain (of that fall attempt) for a few days after in my left leg and shoulder.

[_Shrek_]

One of the reasons I believe the Basic Handling skills test should be to stop with your foot in a square rather than stop with your front wheel in a square.

aye

[tbs]

Good purchase.

Now, I highly recommend you do the Safe Rider course with Pro-rider at the Taupo track on November 25.

I did one at Pukekohe about 1000km after buying my 1st bike and it totally changed the way I was riding. By the end of the day my confidence had gone up by a factor of 20. Oh, and it's crazy fun!

b.


Edit: Link...... http://www.prorider.co.nz/motorcycle...ng.php?page=97

[Tigadee]

...but it was a bloody heavy bike to stop falling...I managed to hold it, but felt the strain (of that fall attempt) for a few days after in my left leg and shoulder.

That bike's no flyweight!

[MystikEagle]

So, dad has convinced me that with my farm bike riding experience I shoulde be fine to ride my new bike home.

"You have a flat, even surface, wider tyres and a much more stable bike. You know how the road and road rules work from your hours and hours of driving and you know how to handle a bike on the farm. Now you just need to combine the two."

So, I am going down on Sunday (my day off work) and riding back home. Will be taking my time and only going as fast as I feel comfortable going. Any cars that come up behind me I will be letting past at the next safe place to pull over so that I don't feel pressured to go faster. I am well practiced with the whole "look where you want to go" from my years on a horse.

All in all I am feeling confident. A little nervous, but mostly confident. I just wish that the weather was going to be a bit nicer!

Any one out there who wants a slow trip from Hastings to Cambridge on Sunday arvo is welcome to join me...

[ducatilover]

Good stuff, enjoy the ride

[Tigadee]

So, I am going down on Sunday (my day off work) and riding back home. Will be taking my time and only going as fast as I feel comfortable going. Any cars that come up behind me I will be letting past at the next safe place to pull over so that I don't feel pressured to go faster. I am well practiced with the whole "look where you want to go" from my years on a horse.

All in all I am feeling confident. A little nervous, but mostly confident. I just wish that the weather was going to be a bit nicer!

I think you'll be alright...

[FJRider]

So, dad has convinced me that with my farm bike riding experience I shoulde be fine to ride my new bike home.

Listen to your dad. He knows ...


I'm betting ... by the time you get past Taupo you will be passing cars like the experienced biker chick you will be ... by then.

Go Girl ..

[MystikEagle]

Thanks guys!

One thing is for sure, I will know how the bike handles by the time I get it home!!! (I just hope I don't make any drastic mistakes in the learning process )

[FJRider]

Thanks guys!

One thing is for sure, I will know how the bike handles by the time I get it home!!!

Go the long way home ... just to be sure ...

[MystikEagle]

Yesterday afternoon was one of plenty of learning.

Left Hastings on my new bike at about 4.30 (Kevin, the previous owner came with me for a bit to make sure I was ok), fuelled up at Bay Veiw and then hit the road. I was cruising along, loving the bike and then I had my first (and only so far (touch wood)) major fuck up. Coming up to a left hand bend on the top of a hill, got hit by a wind gust and almost blown right off the other side of the road. I know, rookie mistake . So I took a deep breath, looked where I needed to be and got back in my own lane. Thankfully there was no-one coming the other way or I wouldn't be typing this right now... After that, I just took it a little slower going around corners and really concentrated on where I was supposed to be.

Had quite a few stops to stretch my legs, put more layers on etc. Stopped in Taupo for dinner about 7, refuelled and hit the road again.

Once it started to get dark, I slowed down even more, let cars past when it was safe to do so and just took my time. The only scary time I had after Taupo was when I had a huge truck sitting up my ass about 10 minutes before Putaruru. I was not going to pull over to the side of the road to let him pass and risk getting blown off or ending up under his wheels. So I just rode the best I could and once I had him slowed down in town, I pulled over in a parking spot to let him go. Truth be told, I was shitting myself!

Put on my final layer as I was and it was back on the road again. Got home just before 10 so was a rather long ride for a first time! My ass was aching and I was seriously so parked the bike in the shed, stripped off my gear and fell into bed. It wasn't very long at all until I was

So, today's job is to clean all the bugs off my helmet and wash and polish my bike.

All in all, other than my one massive f#@k up, it was a good ride and I am already considering where to go next (maybe only once my muscles have recovered, and definately not so long!)

[oneofsix]

Nice one. Good write up.

Wind can be like that, tempted to say you are being a bit hard on yourself but when you consider how hard an oncoming car would have been ... I was also going to say like you get to know the wind etc truth is I'm not sure how it works but you do learn to tighten the butt as you go into a corner on a windy day and be ready in case, also learning that generally the bike will lean further than you will allow it gives you more option for staying on your side of the road, but I aint no saint nor expert, just a 20 odd year learner

Pulling over to let the truck pass was probably a good choice rather than trying to stay up right and on track at a lower speed in windy conditions.

[Maha]

Well done to you, a couple of uh oh moments seemed to not put you off all together, and were handled rather well, all things considered.
That truck thing? you did the right thing there, knowing you could let him passed at Putaruru.
Stopping and adding extra layers shows forethought...nothing will take your mind off the job at hand quicker than being cold...(that and wanting a piss )

[ducatilover]

Good stuff lots of pics are needed and ride lots!!!!
Good to hear you didn't throw it all over the road, then blame a passing albatross