Going on the road for the first time

[Maha]

get out of auckland. best advice i could give you...

i have a spare berth in my caravan

Give it away knob cheese, didn't work with Juniper, what makes you think this one will be any different?

[gjm]

Take it easy. Don't be fussed by rain or wet. Pick a time when the traffic is as light as possible - first time you come across another moving vehicle can be worrying, but if you've done the carparks bit and know how to ride, you'll almost immediately be fine with it.

Do treat everyone else as blind, stupid, and hasn't seen you.

For your first long ride, go with one other experienced rider who you now, or at least feel comfortable riding with. You can follow them, which will make it easier first time out.

Don't get over confident.

Enjoy it.

[sidecar bob]

dont try to get your knee down for the first few months.

[MisterD]

Pick a time when the traffic is as light as possible

This. Early doors on a weekend and you can spend your time worrying about hitting cyclists rather than being hit by a car.

Alternatively, go get some 1-to-1 coaching with someone like Rider Training. $100 for an hour's worth of expert rider talking you through it is seriously good value for a newbie.

[Akzle]

Give it away knob cheese, didn't work with Juniper, what makes you think this one will be any different?

you are a sad, liitle, man.

[Reckless]

you are a sad, liitle, man.

He's right tho

[Maha]

He's right tho

He is 1/3 right in that, I am a man.

[Akzle]

He's right tho

when ?

[PrincessBandit]

I started off (on a GN250) going around the block on quiet Sunday mornings when there was no traffic around. I was lucky that I had a large quiet carpark just down from my house and that was my favourite place to practice until building enough confidence to try on the road.

While most of us have probably had opportunities to ride with a trusted "other" as well, the main thing is to have your phone in your pocket (not a top box) and someone who knows the location and time of your solo outings in case you need rescuing. (Unlikely, but it's a nice back up).

PM me if you want someone to go for short rides with - I'm in South Auckland - and happy to travel to meet up. Alternatively, check out the members here with ME next to their name (mentor) and see who is in your area.

[Reckless]

Even if you go with a trusted other, keep within your skill set ie around the quiet streets of your home.
Make sure he or she knows it and only ups the anti from there once your controlling the clutch etc without having to think about it first ie your confidence is ready for it.

Case in Point.
I was coming along the motorway last year and there was a lady parked up against the curb ( no lane there) between the Ellerslie onramp and market road off ramp.
I thought she'd broken down so I stopped in my ute. She was a learner and following her boyfriend. She took a wrong turn onto the motorway and had to pull over because she was out of her depth (scared stiff).
Luckily I had another driver in the car, so I had to jamb her helmet on my head, chuck her in the passenger seat and we took her in the car and I rode her bike to her home.

Baby steps you'll be fine

[nodrog:Me]

Thanks for all the advice peeps, I will Take my time and not rush into things.

lolz I didnt mean to start a internet fighting match.

[Banditbandit]

most on here are so old that all they had to contend with was the occasional horse
jus take it quietly and remember ya road rules and treat all other road users are idiots and you will be fine,when i was slightly younger than what i am now i was told by so many people that i was a temporary citizen because i rode a motor cycle that i had to prove em wrong, working for me still after more than 30yrs riding

Yeah, wot 'e said.

It's a joy once you gain some confidence, as long as your skill matches your ego.

Yeah, wot 'e said - except the old bit .. and in fact there are still horses ridden around our area, both urban and rural. So after 40+ years of riding I'm still dodging horses..

[russd7]

Yeah, wot 'e said - except the old bit .. and in fact there are still horses ridden around our area, both urban and rural. So after 40+ years of riding I'm still dodging horses..

funnily enough i learnt to ride in BOP, spent a fair amount of time riding to and then through the forestry between Te Puke and rotorua, also used to go through to kawerau and surrounding areas, with quite a few trips down to the nake once i got rid of the xr250 and on to the xl500, ahhhh them were the days

[koi]

Ahh wonderful thankyou so much everyone!!

I'm hopefully going to NASS today if my dad's convinced it's not an underground dogfighting ring or anything so that should be good :~)

[Gadget1]

Ahh wonderful thankyou so much everyone!!

I'm hopefully going to NASS today if my dad's convinced it's not an underground dogfighting ring or anything so that should be good :~)

Doesn't TheDemonLord go there though? It might not pay to mention that...