Learning All The Time - The Prologue

[Viking01]

Well Mr Viking, it's thoroughly satisfying to see you're another proponent of not leaving one's health on two wheels merely to the angel of luck...

The headmaster we call Blackbird is a fine example of taking luck out of the equation, which suggests there is some merit to adopting a systematic approach to riding my Daytona Yellow Skoolbus. You see the yellow is there to remind me that everyday is a school day, so I accept that we never stop learning, thus we must endeavor to keep an open mind to allow new information to flow in. As opposed to merely spouting excrement from the incorrect orifice on ones body, no further explanation necessary one would think...

It no longer causes me distress to read some of the inexplicably silly thoughts proffered by a certain KB member, for I've accepted that most of the new members will have sufficient capacity on their inbuilt bullshit detectors to remain safe. It is however immensely amusing to see many of my fellow KB members persist with their attempts to put a certain wayward member of the flock back on the straight and narrow.

I do find your summarized version of the ongoing debate mighty amusing, so top marks for adopting such an approach

CasperNZ,
Greetings. Good to hear from you, and that you have realised our mutual connection.

I have to say that I admire what Mr BlackBird has contributed re IAM (and continues
to contribute), as well as other Observers such as yourself. Well done and please
keep up the good work.


I have to admit that I was initially annoyed by you-know-who, simply because of:

-That person's injection of misleading or plain incorrect content into certain threads
on riding (regardless of their reason for doing so);
-Their ignorance and blatant criticism of NZ motorcycle riding schools.

For new riders, it is sometimes hard to get their hands on good reliable material re
certain aspects of riding (e.g. riding lines; corner entry speed; braking technique).

At least riding schools are now more available and better resourced and organised
than when I started riding.

New riders aren't helped by people (such as you-know-who) behaving in the way that
they do. Whether you-know-who does it for fun or from ignorance, it still makes no
difference.

I'm sure that you-know-who would disavow any personal responsibility if a new rider
followed their advice (?) and suffered injury. In fact, you-know-who seems to have
a distinct lack of willingness to accept any personal responsibility (even for their
own up-skilling).

After reading the reply to my initial postings on OAB's thread, I simply concluded
that you-know-who was trolling. It makes no matter whether I am right or wrong.

I probably should not have "fed the troll". While there was certainly a degree of
fun in writing up the "Learning All The Time" threads (and I did receive some good
feedback), I recognise trying to use humour to modify you-know-who's behaviour
ultimately has not been very effective.

So I'm going to take the same course of action as Mr BlackBird and put you-know-who
on Ignore (as well as cease feeding them).

Please realise that irrespective of the outcome, I won't stop smiling nor laughing
at people like you-know-who.

All for now.

Viking01.


PS. Best wishes, and as always, Safe Riding (and watch out for those damn dogs).

PPS. A small degree of literary licence was applied in the writing of the "Learning
All The Time" threads. The occasional 'fact' might have been manipulated slightly in
the pursuit of a good story.

[caspernz]

Thank you for your contribution Mr Viking. Yes I was informed of our mutual connection quite early, it was almost obvious in a way.

The outcome you've arrived at, putting you know who on ignore, is likely a widely practiced approach. It's almost certainly the best way to avoid listening to the same guff over and over, bit like a Back Street Boys LP being played ad infinitum. Or to quote another song bird, you can't solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.

It's all nice to allow ourselves the liberty of poking fun at you know who, but as it doesn't change the tune, why even bother with that? Yes I must admit, there are times when I can't help but have a giggle by indirectly feeding the troll.

One must thus rest assured that new riders will seek guidance, and ignore the waffle coming from you know who, so as to further their own skillset via a proven method and not relying purely on lady luck.

So now that the collective feeding session of the troll is over, let's resume our professional decorum once more.

Would be fun to meet at the AGM in due course.

Safe travelling Mr Viking

[madbikeboy]

Nice choice. What can will you put on it though?
The factory exhaust looks like a 20l plastic drum someone bodged on as an afterthought.

Yeah, na. In Aus, cops pic on anything that isn't legal, and they sure as hell pick on loud bikes. So, it's going to stay stock. First time in 20 odd years. The last bike I owned with a stock pipe was an RG500.

And yes, it's the fucking ugliest can in the universe.

If I could choose any, pretty simple. Yoshimura.

[madbikeboy]

Nah, not seen Chips redo.

The Gen 3 Busa is just a recurring rumour. Must say the new Gixxer thou is a sweet update, but I'm past that stage. Yeah the Busa is a hefty bus, yet it suits what I use it for.

Front tyre life is about the norm for this type of bike, I'm not worried about it myself.

Enjoy the pirate gixxer!

Suzuki seem to take a decade between the important updates. That said, even the S1000RR is getting old now. RSV4 is 96 in dog years.

I was going to ship my Hayabusa to Aus, and then I realised that I could only take one vehicle, so the bike is getting sold. I will use the thou for a lot of track days, that was the deciding factor. I'm a thou guy, but honestly, the Hayabusa is a better built and engineered bike. I'm surprised at how attached I am to it; once you adjust to the mass and factor that in when you're riding enthusiastically, it is surprisingly quick. In eats miles like nothing else. The fuel economy is phenomenal, my last thou was 120k's to a tank, this is significantly more.

It carries its weight quite low, a 200 section tyre has helped increase the steering head angle which masks the high CoG a little; but the result is that the front has a hard life.

If I can't sell it for good money, I'll just throw it into the warehouse and use it when I'm back here.

[caspernz]

Suzuki seem to take a decade between the important updates. That said, even the S1000RR is getting old now. RSV4 is 96 in dog years.

I was going to ship my Hayabusa to Aus, and then I realised that I could only take one vehicle, so the bike is getting sold. I will use the thou for a lot of track days, that was the deciding factor. I'm a thou guy, but honestly, the Hayabusa is a better built and engineered bike. I'm surprised at how attached I am to it; once you adjust to the mass and factor that in when you're riding enthusiastically, it is surprisingly quick. In eats miles like nothing else. The fuel economy is phenomenal, my last thou was 120k's to a tank, this is significantly more.

It carries its weight quite low, a 200 section tyre has helped increase the steering head angle which masks the high CoG a little; but the result is that the front has a hard life.

If I can't sell it for good money, I'll just throw it into the warehouse and use it when I'm back here.

To me it's the GFC that has put a lot of stuff onto a slower path, but then Suzuki have never been quick to update/upgrade the Busa anyway. 2008 to 2012 consisted of nothing but BNG. In practical terms my 2013 is a dinosaur, even with Brembo and ABS. But yeah I agree with you on how you get attached to it, it'll never beat a thou around a track, but it wasn't meant for that. Covering big distances is what it does well.

Have fun with the new gixxer thou, it certainly has all the right credentials to do well on track.

[Viking01]

To me it's the GFC that has put a lot of stuff onto a slower path, but then Suzuki have never been quick to update/upgrade the Busa anyway. 2008 to 2012 consisted of nothing but BNG. In practical terms my 2013 is a dinosaur, even with Brembo and ABS. But yeah I agree with you on how you get attached to it, it'll never beat a thou around a track, but it wasn't meant for that. Covering big distances is what it does well.

Have fun with the new gixxer thou, it certainly has all the right credentials to do well on track.

Morning All,
Just a little request to you Suzuki chaps. Would you mind awfully just getting a room and discussing your
Gixxer and Hayabusa porn and doing your dirty talking somewhere else ? It's just that this is a serious thread on
rider safety, and I'd like to try and keep the discussion focused. 8-)

Another fine day in the Capital (that's four in a row, but who's counting). Hope you have a good day, and
manage to get a ride in today.

Cheers

[madbikeboy]

To me it's the GFC that has put a lot of stuff onto a slower path, but then Suzuki have never been quick to update/upgrade the Busa anyway. 2008 to 2012 consisted of nothing but BNG. In practical terms my 2013 is a dinosaur, even with Brembo and ABS. But yeah I agree with you on how you get attached to it, it'll never beat a thou around a track, but it wasn't meant for that. Covering big distances is what it does well.

Have fun with the new gixxer thou, it certainly has all the right credentials to do well on track.

Yes, completely agree. The Brembos however, are a marked improvement over my 2010.

Pity the old fool riding the thou isn't as well equiped for the track anymore...

[madbikeboy]

Morning All,
Just a little request to you Suzuki chaps. Would you mind awfully just getting a room and discussing your
Gixxer and Hayabusa porn and your dirty talking somewhere else ? It's just that this is a serious thread on
rider safety, and I'd like to try and keep the discussion focused. 8-)

Another fine day in the Capital (that's four in a row, but who's counting). Hope you have a good day, and
manage to get a ride in today.

Cheers

I apologise. I'm surprised you wrote the word safety on a Kiddiebiker thread. Seems oxymoronic somehow. While you're at it, can you explain the etiquette of waving at other motorcyclists?

[Viking01]

I apologise. I'm surprised you wrote the word safety on a Kiddiebiker thread. Seems oxymoronic somehow. While you're at it, can you explain the etiquette of waving at other motorcyclists?

MBB,
Greetings. Well, since you ask, safety covers a very wide area, and there are many different
pieces to the motorcycle safety jigsaw.

It's not restricted just to safety while you're out riding; it could equally include protecting
yourself against some of the stories that other riders might tell you when you meet online.

I mean, you can trust me. I would never lead you down the garden path with fanciful stories
about riding lines or ABS. Anyway, there are other people on this forum far better qualified
than me to do that.


The Etiquette of Waving at Other Motorcyclists?

Sorry, but I'm not going to fall from that one. I see what you're trying to do.

After a week of trying to help deal with our recent troll infestation, my "situation awareness"
radar has been cranked up to full sensitivity, so I know when I'm being baited.

Besides, there is already a Waving thread somewhere here on KB somewhere that you can
browse, if you really must waste an hour or more on a fine sunny day.

All I will say on the subject of waving is that I have always found it safer (did you see how
I brought that back into the conversation) to use a full complement of fingers, and not just
the customary two.

Hope that has helped.

If you really do need some more mis-information on this subject (indeed any subject), please
feel free to PM you-know-who, and I'm sure they'll soon be in contact and that you'll receive
plenty of free helpful advice.

Anyway, if you don't mind, I really do have to go. Things are still a little busy at the moment.

The queue of patients still needing counselling after this last week just doesn't seem to be
getting any shorter ..... 8-)

Anyway, nice talking with you again. As always, safe riding and .....

Cheers.

[caspernz]

Morning All,
Just a little request to you Suzuki chaps. Would you mind awfully just getting a room and discussing your
Gixxer and Hayabusa porn and doing your dirty talking somewhere else ? It's just that this is a serious thread on
rider safety, and I'd like to try and keep the discussion focused. 8-)

Another fine day in the Capital (that's four in a row, but who's counting). Hope you have a good day, and
manage to get a ride in today.

Cheers

My sincerest apologies oh wise one. We will cease and desist in our attempt to hi-jack your safety biased thread away onto filthy topics such as the offerings of Mr Suzuki. You have to admit it was an appropriate segway though?

Now I must use the search function for the correct waving etiquette. This morning I waved at what looked like a Goldwing from a distance, yet by the time I raised my hand it materialized into a maxi scooter
You can see how this has me questioning my forward observation. How long is the waiting list for trauma counselling at your establishment?

Anyway, back to safety related issues Mr Viking

[madbikeboy]

MBB,

I mean, you can trust me.

Cheers.

Yes, I can see that now. These are not the droids we're looking for. You can go now.

One other request. Since the waving thing is a no go. Can you explain the inner workings of a woman's mind. I think this has a bearing on my personal safety.

[Viking01]

Yes, I can see that now. These are not the droids we're looking for. You can go now.

One other request. Since the waving thing is a no go. Can you explain the inner workings of a woman's mind. I think this has a bearing on my personal safety.

MBB,
This is definitely not your lucky day. With regard to your second question:

Even if I could, I fear that it would take too long to explain, and the logic could get
far too complicated. And like you, I too might start fearing for my personal safety.

My wife also advises that women do reserve the right to change the rules without
prior consultation, so even if I was right, I'd be wrong.

Let's just say there will be some things in life that Man will never fully comprehend,
and stick to riding motorcycles. It's probably simpler and safer.

Cheers

[madbikeboy]

MBB,
This is definitely not your lucky day. With regard to your second question:

Even if I could, I fear that it would take too long to explain, and the logic could get
far too complicated. And like you, I too might start fearing for my personal safety.

My wife also advises that women do reserve the right to change the rules without
prior consultation, so even if I was right, I'd be wrong.

Let's just say there will be some things in life that Man will never fully comprehend,
and stick to riding motorcycles. It's probably simpler and safer.

Cheers

Your wife has sworn to uphold the secret. Omertà.

The sisterhood is scary.