I'm totally new to road bikes & need help!

[Midget200]

Hi there! Just bought a Yamaha Virago, been a dirt biker for 5 years, don't know what to do to learn more about road biking. Is it better to go out with a group of other people, go out on my own and learn, get a lesson! Where do I go? I live on the North Shore! Is it best to join a club and if so is there one on the Shore? Thanks in advance! All very exciting, but scary. Rode to Kaukapapa for my first ride, didn't go on the motorway, it was good, but would prefer to ride with others.

[FJRider]

Hi there! Just bought a Yamaha Virago, been a dirt biker for 5 years, don't know what to do to learn more about road biking. Is it better to go out with a group of other people, go out on my own and learn, get a lesson! Where do I go? I live on the North Shore! Is it best to join a club and if so is there one on the Shore? Thanks in advance! All very exciting, but scary. Rode to Kaukapapa for my first ride, didn't go on the motorway, it was good, but would prefer to ride with others.

Contact Bosslady ... she lives on the shore and may be able to offer advice.

[leathel]

Skills coarse for sure, I went from dirt bikes (XR600 on the road) to a heavyish cruiser and the counter steer is the thing that made the most difference... push on the inside of the corner (It will lean the bike over) Try it on a strait piece of the road

[Tigadee]

Hi there! Just bought a Yamaha Virago, been a dirt biker for 5 years, don't know what to do to learn more about road biking. Is it better to go out with a group of other people, go out on my own and learn, get a lesson! Where do I go? I live on the North Shore! Is it best to join a club and if so is there one on the Shore? Thanks in advance! All very exciting, but scary. Rode to Kaukapapa for my first ride, didn't go on the motorway, it was good, but would prefer to ride with others.

I found this channel very helpful for roadcraft tips:
http://www.youtube.com/user/RoadcraftNottingham

You can try NASS:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/77111-North-Auckland-Street-Skills-NASS

[bosslady]

I live on the shore, like FJRider says. I would totally get a lesson from an instructor mate. Car park shit is beyond you now, you already know the basics so get an instructor led lesson out on the road, that would be your best bet, they do all the headphone shit and that, I got my first lessons with www.ridertraining.co.nz but I have heard on here, that www.riderskills.co.nz is good also, never had any personal experiences with them but. It's nice to go out with other people and it's nice to go out in groups but I tend to think doing this can lead to you learning other peoples bad habits/practices. Be picky who you ride with too, I reckon. Contact someone like Pro Rider http://www.prorider.co.nz/motorcycle....php?course=31 they have courses, some of them are still subsidised at the moment too, think there's one coming up in a couple of weeks as well. I don't know how I'd rate my own ability/skill level but if you like I can come out for a pootle around with ya.

[FJRider]

And contact a KB mentor in the Auckland area ....

[Midget200]

Thanks for the advice, have been onto the site and e-mailed them. Bosslady how long have you been riding? Is there a good ride during the day that I could practice, I thought of going to Warkworth?

[bosslady]

Thanks for the advice, have been onto the site and e-mailed them. Bosslady how long have you been riding? Is there a good ride during the day that I could practice, I thought of going to Warkworth?

I have been riding about 4.5 months, did a couple lessons at the start because I didn't even know the basics i.e. how to ride a bike! I've done a pro-rider course, been to about a half a dozen track days and clocked up more than 9000k's in that time (got a 1500km or so trip planned in a couple days!). I found the pro rider course invaluable, was great learning stuff like road positioning and honestly things you wouldn't have even realised you weren't doing.. hard to explain... A good ride during the day to practice hmmm.. I may not be the best person to ask on that one, my rides tend to be a min. of 250 km+ one way. When I first started though I did do a trip to Warkworth so yes, that might be a good plan, go there, have some lunch and come back. I'll send you a PM shortly with my dets. p.s. I'm super jealous, I'd love to get to ride a dirt bike!

[Maha]

Hi there! Just bought a Yamaha Virago, been a dirt biker for 5 years, don't know what to do to learn more about road biking. Is it better to go out with a group of other people, go out on my own and learn, get a lesson! Where do I go? I live on the North Shore! Is it best to join a club and if so is there one on the Shore? Thanks in advance! All very exciting, but scary. Rode to Kaukapapa for my first ride, didn't go on the motorway, it was good, but would prefer to ride with others.

Ride with one other or yourself until you get a bit of confidence within, riding with a group first up is never a good idea. If you have already been to Kaukop, next time, keep on going through to Wellsford. From there you can turn around and retrace or go down SH1 back to the shore. Shelly beach is a good ride, the Cafe' there serves hot food/coffee if you so desire?
Mangawhai/Waipu...some great roads north of the shore.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=...ra=ls&t=m&z=11

[iYRe]

you could check out MCROD on facebook.. we have a ride on a friday evening in may. Although, it might not be for the fainthearted..

[Crasherfromwayback]

You've got a KDX200 I see, and can obviously ride in the dirt. THat'll make you a better rider than half the road bunnies here already. But do as you are...just ease yourself into it bit by bit. Fuck group rides for now. EVery single person will tell you something different anyway...and group rides are often dangerous. Do as Bosslady said...get some one on one tuition from a pro.

Pete

[bosslady]

THat'll make you a better rider than half the road bunnies here already.

Yes and no. She'll undoubtedly have all the shitty basics and nitty gritty bits of how to ride a bike down pat but dirt bikes hardly compare to the dangers of the road I should think... JM2CW

[Crasherfromwayback]

Yes and no. She'll undoubtedly have all the shitty basics and nitty gritty bits of how to ride a bike down pat but dirt bikes hardly compare to the dangers of the road I should think... JM2CW

Yeah well obviously I mean skills wise. But I'm also sure she's driven a car and maybe has a bit of a clue as to road manners and things to look out for. And you'd be surprised...plenty of things you need to be keeping an eye out for off road too. It's not that different.

[cheshirecat]

You've got a KDX200 I see, and can obviously ride in the dirt. THat'll make you a better rider than half the road bunnies here already. But do as you are...just ease yourself into it bit by bit. Fuck group rides for now. EVery single person will tell you something different anyway...and group rides are often dangerous. Do as Bosslady said...get some one on one tuition from a pro.

Pete

As the man says and ASSUME NOTHING even if you think they've seen you or the road is uber familiar

Speaking as an ex DR rider where you don't get paid if you have an accident and you are in traffic 12 hours a day winter and summer

[bosslady]

Yeah well obviously I mean skills wise. But I'm also sure she's driven a car and maybe has a bit of a clue as to road manners and things to look out for. And you'd be surprised...plenty of things you need to be keeping an eye out for off road too. It's not that different.

I drove a car first and found it helpful of course but still very different in terms of road manners, road rules etc. I am way more careful now, for obvious reasons (the lack of metal cage protecting me!). And I'm certain there are things you need to keep an eye out for off road too, but coming from Auckland I doubt those things are hundreds or thousands of cars, trucks and other motorised (or otherwise!) "things" coming out of a multitude of side streets. Similar, but different, just saying.