Best day ever!

[Jeff Sichoe]

just remember when you throw it down the road to pick it back up, straighten the mirrors, check all pegs and controls and get back on the horse!

[EJK]

just remember when you throw it down the road to pick it back up, straighten the mirrors, check all pegs and controls and get back on the horse!

Geez what a thing to say to a guy whose just got his first bike. You sound like a lawyer friend at a wedding making a toast "congratulations ya'll, just in case when you guys get a divorce here's my number... will do mates rate!"

[SVboy]

all of my grandparents are dead

Took their own lives when they first met you?

Well done to the OP. Take your time, build your confidence slowly. Do riders training.

[Ifsn8u]

If you eventually get your full and a big boy bike, you will have a new best day ever. lol

Started out 2 years ago, best day ever. Two weeks back got my full and a new bike (80% more power). New best day ever.

Enjoy your new found freedom.

[kiwithor]

If you eventually get your full and a big boy bike, you will have a new best day ever. lol

Started out 2 years ago, best day ever. Two weeks back got my full and a new bike (80% more power). New best day ever.

Enjoy your new found freedom.

Haha no the feeling already want more!

So over the weekend I ticked off a couple of firsts. Went on the motorway, the harbour bridge then kept riding north to warkworth. All up about 200Ks.

Took a while to get the confidence up to maintain the hundy especially in some of the windy spots. No trouble on the bridge except for the headwind and getting caught by a strong cross gust which made the pucker factor go over 9000.

There was a group of about 5 or 6 HD riders that passed me on the Silverdale straight, riding in tight formation and cutting through traffic with precision. Definetley know what my big boy bikes going to be now!

[sidecar bob]

There was a group of about 5 or 6 HD riders that passed me on the Silverdale straight, riding in tight formation and cutting through traffic with precision. Definetley know what my big boy bikes going to be now!

It sounds like they were a bunch of fuckwits that have no idea about correct riding practices or following distances that were riding like dickheads.
Please don't be impressed by such displays of uber coolness by people that only ride for two hours a month.

[george formby]

It sounds like they were a bunch of fuckwits that have no idea about correct riding practices or following distances that were riding like dickheads.
Please don't be impressed by such displays of uber coolness by people that only ride for two hours a month.

LOL. Yup.

Don't be taken in by the pack mentality. A myopic Honda Jazz driver could easily skittle the whole lot.

I dread riding through the big city, so much to think about, so I say well done to you OP. Go find a decent road with corners on it and have a leisurely "getting to know you" ride with your bike. Squirting around in traffic and cruising on SH1 is just a small part of the enjoyment.

[caseye]

LOL. Yup.

Don't be taken in by the pack mentality. A myopic Honda Jazz driver could easily skittle the whole lot.

I dread riding through the big city, so much to think about, so I say well done to you OP. Go find a decent road with corners on it and have a leisurely "getting to know you" ride with your bike. Squirting around in traffic and cruising on SH1 is just a small part of the enjoyment.

Too late.
To the OP, some few HD riders are exceptionally good riders, the rest are just like us, moderately capable on a good day.
Carving up traffic isn't that hard when you don't actually give a damn, either for the car drivers or the other bike riders who are going to cop flak from the car drivers who've just been carved by uncaring insensitive brutes on bikes ( how we are all perceived when it comes right down to it) up at speed while cruising at motorway speeds.
+ one to finding some good wide free flowing roads with lots of open corners that you can practice on and actually enjoy using your bike to get you through them wihtout effort.Theres the fun.It's free too.

[sidecar bob]

Took a while to get the confidence up to maintain the hundy especially in some of the windy spots.

You're taking the piss aren't you?

[Drew]

You're taking the piss aren't you?

Trust me. 100ks over the bridge and a strong cross wind isn't fun...course, I was using fewer than the recommended number of wheels at the time I got a bit scared.

[caseye]

Trust me. 100ks over the bridge and a strong cross wind isn't fun...course, I was using fewer than the recommended number of wheels at the time I got a bit scared.

Harrumph! must share more rep around B4 I can again. LOL, Drew, all bikes have 2 wheels using both is recommended, not mandatroy, BUtt, on da bridge in heavy wind, rode over that thing twice a day for quite some time, only place I still don't like when it's windy. Get the wind up I do, treat it with respect and keep that grip down to 10 x Death, loose is good.

[kiwithor]

It sounds like they were a bunch of fuckwits that have no idea about correct riding practices or following distances that were riding like dickheads.
Please don't be impressed by such displays of uber coolness by people that only ride for two hours a month.

I agree fully. If I had seen them while I was at work they would be getting pinged for unsafe lane changes, or passing on the left. Alas the rumble the hogs make as they fly pass are as you say, uber cool.

And definitely not taking the piss in regarding the wind. The first couple of gusts caught me off guard and almost pushed me over a lane but once I adjusted lane position they were manageable. Something Im going to need to get over as I have to travel the bridge to work.

[skinman]

size does matter in the wind. One on One training will give far greater benefits than the ride forever group rides (is cheap though & better than nothing). I didnt, so got a crash course in situational awareness while learning. Enjoy the ride but dont forget that a moments inattention can be very bad.