New rider in Auckland (kiwi-on-wheels)

[kiwi-on-wheels]

Hey everyone, newbie rider, just got my learners and a bike. always wanted one, finally had a good excuse to get one

picked up a modified MC17 cbr250r, its a right little screamer, has aftermarket bars and cluster. it's been dropped several times, but i'd expect that from a 1988 learners bike. it gives me a massive grin, and that's what counts right?

petrol head for quite a few years, my current cage being a 2008 WRX STI and have owned a few subies and skylines, but the bike bug has just bitten me HARD

anyways, keen to learn, looking for weekend rides etc, hope to meet some new faces

[haydes55]

Hi, welcome.

Rule number 1 - Pictures!
Rule number 2 - take eeeevvvveeerything with a grain of salt on this forum
Rule number 3 - you have to go to SASS or NASS (search it)
Rule number 4 - you must keep the shiny side of your bike on top and the rubber side down.
Rule number 5 - gizza hoon in your WRX

[FJRider]

1: Pictures can be used as evidence. No pictures ... it didn't happen.

2: It is up to you to decide which is fact or fiction. The latter appears in these Forums on a regular basis.

3: Go riding on the open road. Plenty of bikers out there you can learn from. The further you travel from town ... the more likelihood of real bikers being found.

4: Even when you fall off ... you learn things. The more pain ... the better you will remember.

5: Aucklander's .... eh .. !!!

[Maha]

As a new biker rider, you will soon realise that the wankers you share the road with, usually drive Subaru's and BMW's.

On a more serious note...
Free Newbie Advice: (FNA)
1: Do not join in with any group ride larger than 2-3 for the first while.
2: Be comfortable with the 2-3 you ride with, for the first while.
3: If you must join in a group ride lager than 2-3, DO NOT try and keep up with anyone faster than yourself.
4: Refer to points 1 & 2.

[Pound]

it gives me a massive erection

Edited that for you

[FJRider]

Edited that for you

Best not show too much interest/comment in HIS erections ...

[Pound]

Best not show too much interest/comment in HIS erections ...

If I'm brutally honest with myself though, it's simply a case of severe Aucklander penis envy

[oneblackflag]

If I'm brutally honest with myself though, it's simply a case of severe Aucklander penis envy

Is but a short ride to Auckland, you'll gobble your fill quickly and be able to enjoy your own massive erection

[kiwi-on-wheels]

ahahahaha awesome, been on a few local forums, sames to be the same all over, there are always the members who's advice needs to be taken with a half kilo of salt, but that's what makes things fun.

saw the sass thread, jumped onto the forum just after the last one, hopefully theres one tomorrow.

did a run out around maraetai whitford clevedon loop, including twilight road on saturday avo. bit of sun strike on my way home but it wasnt too bad, have a drop down sun visor in my helmet, its awesome.

i'm not originally from auckland, grew up around manawatu region, but had to move up here for a job. oh well, the costal roads up here are amazing, looking forward to doing the kaiawa hunua loop, done it a few times in the car, so much fun.

PICS!!!!

my current car, pics taken at gymkhana event at hampton downs skidpad




and the bike, looking for some fairings for it, i see theres a set on trademe in wanganui...

[eldog]

As a new biker rider, you will soon realise that the wankers you share the road with, usually drive Subaru's and BMW's.

On a more serious note...
Free Newbie Advice: (FNA)
1: Do not join in with any group ride larger than 2-3 for the first while.
2: Be comfortable with the 2-3 you ride with, for the first while.
3: If you must join in a group ride lager than 2-3, DO NOT try and keep up with anyone faster than yourself.
4: Refer to points 1 & 2.

Hello kiwi-on-wheels, I totally agree with Maha's suggestions regarding the group size and what you can do.
I myself THOUGHT I WAS OK for my first group ride, I was mistaken, I was way over my head and tried very hard to do #3 above. I thought I could do it. I was wrong, but I eventually coped.

I should have either ridden with some other people (I didnt know anyone) or just went the speed that I felt comfortable with, OK it may slow the group, but thats not important. What is important is that you are comfortable at what you are doing, at least till you get used to riding with others. Not everyone thinks like you.

Real bikers can handle that you are a learner and slow to match you. You have to set the pace if you are the slowest, its hard to not try and keep up with others, been there done that.

Even if you are confident, group riding is a whole lot more different than burning around by yourself.

I have been to SASS, its a good group to learn with. Just turn up and introduce yourself and SAY WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE IS, if none say it, everyone starts somewhere.
See the SASS Site

Excellent advice MAHA

[caseye]

Wot he ( eldog) and that udda bloke? Maha said.
SASS is brilliant, good bunch always willing to help and tight as when it comes to looking after their own, go see them.

[Maha]

To many new riders (and returning riders) have come to grief (and worse) because of letting their balls rule their brain on group rides.
I remember one young chap, first KB group ride (where there were two bins) prior to the lunch stop, he had one himself soon after. Never to been seen on here again, I guess he bought a car in the weeks that followed.

Getting some SASS or NASS time can only be beneficial.

[kiwi-on-wheels]

i'd like to think i'm overly cautious... if i'm going to thrash something, it's normally the car because i know it well. the bike, not so much. yet. LOL

the confidence will come no doubt, till then i'll just trundle along learning as much as i can asap, this bike riding thing is fun but jeepers it scares the s**t out of me, no cage!!! lol

[Maha]

i'd like to think i'm overly cautious... if i'm going to thrash something, it's normally the car because i know it well. the bike, not so much. yet. LOL

the confidence will come no doubt, till then i'll just trundle along learning as much as i can asap, this bike riding thing is fun but jeepers it scares the s**t out of me, no cage!!! lol

Mature words indeed.

[eldog]

i'd like to think i'm overly cautious... if i'm going to thrash something, it's normally the car because i know it well. the bike, not so much. yet. LOL

the confidence will come no doubt, till then i'll just trundle along learning as much as i can asap, this bike riding thing is fun but jeepers it scares the s**t out of me, no cage!!! lol

take your time, get some training eg Riderskills, is where I trained, there are a number of good trainers out there.
Have a look at Roadcraft Nottingham https://www.youtube.com/user/RoadcraftNottingham is a good place to start and get some ideas.

But get some training, practise the slow speed stuff will give you more confidence on lean angles etc.
Check tyre pressures regularily, find out what they should be from a motorcycle tyre shop. Check the oil etc.
Ask questions at SASS when it restarts, they are full of information.

Yes it takes time, most people will say do more K's and you will be right.
I say do some training, do practise, get some gravel time (take it easy).
Read, ASK QUESTIONS, look around on KB, read the road conditions (need to much more watchful of road conditons esp in wet, - look for bright shiny tar bleed - http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...icky-tar/page5 there is a web page here)

you will always be learning, Its taken ME a long time to figure out what I need to do. Each and everyone has their own pace of learning etc.

On Group rides make yourself known as to your experience, good groups like SASS (if you are near) will place you near to the front of the ride. YOU control the speed. Travel as you feel comfortable. They are a good group.

take it easy and remember Auckland drivers are quite different from the rural ones.