The more I learn ....

**PeterNZ** · 24th September 2017, 11:20

.... the more scared I get.

Hi folks, a bit about me. I am German, was driving bikes back home but when we moved to NZ in 2000 I didn't bring my bike and was "caged" for the last 17 years. After feeling the urge for that long I recently got an 2005 R1200GS.

Back in my younger days our safety gear was adidas sneakers, Levis jeans, a fake plastic leather jacket, a helmet and gloves. We crashed and all of us survived without any permanent damage. We messed around with our bikes mechanically, made them faster and stuff. All was very "instinctive" we didn't know about torque settings on a spanner or measuring the electrodes on a spark plug. But we had heaps of fun.

Fast forward to 2017...

Buying the beemer was more an emotional decision than a rational one. The discussion whether it is the right bike for someone like me is for another time. What I want to talk about here today is my "mental state" in those days. I am much older now and approach things differently. When I was younger I never read a manual. Now I read books. I watch youtube, I follow forums (we didn't even know the internet back then). I read a book on my kindle (!!!) about riding techniques, I have the workshop manual (in German) for my bike and I follow Adventure Rider and kiwibiker forums etc.

It started when I was reading the book on riding techniques. "Always follow the vanishing point". They were talking about center of gravity and body position and stuff. Honestly? It stuffed up my riding skills completely. When out riding the monkey in my brain goes like "Watch the vanishing point! Did you put more weight on the inner peg just now? Don't use the front brake too much! Put your weight further back! Is this a wet patch ahead?" and I go "SHUT UP!!!!!!! All I want is to enjoy this ride. So SHUT THE F**** UP!"

I am also a bit "technically challenged" but I decided I will do smaller jobs on the bike to get back into it. I already feel like an idiot when I read on another forum that "if you can't change a tyre in the wild you shouldn't ride a bike" Oh shit, do I have to sell the beemer again? I love this bike! Better read about fixing a flat tyre in the wild. So more reading. Oh my god, I need to upgrade my tool box. All the things they say I need to be safe out there are missing.

My intention is to do an oil change soon. Should be easy, eh? Make sure the engine is at operating temperatures, put a container under the bike, open a screw, let oil drain out, remove oil filter, put new one in and fill her up again. Ha! Think again. Because I read "Another sad tale because people don't understand oil filters" on the ADVRider forum. Shit, you have to "understand" these things? That's 8 pages (and counting) of discussions about what can go wrong (and will go wrong) when changing an oil filter. Like you have to "understand women"? Or something? So now I need to study oil filters and the pitfalls when changing them. Does that O-ring look ok? Or is it too compressed? Or not enough? I think I better bring her to a dealer for the oil change. But is this really why I wanted a bike?

Why can't it be like back then when we were just riding the bikes, messed around and - had fun? is the internet to blame? Do we get too much information?

Ok I finish now. I want to go to the garage and sit there looking at my bike. It gives me great pleasure. And it is really not dangerous just looking at her. I meanwhile have a comfy chair down there. Every now and then I start her up without moving her. Just to hear the sound a bit. Riding her is too dangerous. What if I get a flat tyre down the road? It also rained yesterday and there might still be some wet patches under trees on the road. I honestly forgot what they said in the book about this situation. Better read up on it again. Oh I can do this in the garage in my chair with the company of my beautiful beemer. I better take a beer, too. Since I don't drive at least I can drink. Much better than riding the bike, isn't it? And it stays so clean and shiny.

Cheers

Peter

**Akzle** · 24th September 2017, 12:17

tl :dr

**Dogboy900** · 24th September 2017, 13:48

Dude you are over thinking it!
If you are riding mostly on the road you don't need to be able to repair a flat tyre on the roadside (But helpful if you can).
Good to improve your riding skills, but take a little on board at a time and work on that skill until it feels comfortable, then work on other skills.
Oil changes are pretty easy but with any maintenance on the bike somebody always has a horror story about how they got it horribly wrong. Do it yourself if you want to, but if it stresses you out, pay someone to do it and use the bike for reducing stress not increasing it.

Read and watch whatever you like to improve your skills on and off the bike, but at the end of the day, go out, be safe, and have fun on your bike.

Welcome back to riding

**jellywrestler** · 24th September 2017, 14:47

Originally Posted by PeterNZ

.

My intention is to do an oil change soon. Should be easy, eh? Make sure the engine is at operating temperatures, put a container under the bike, open a screw, let oil drain out, remove oil filter, put new one in and fill her up again.

then clean up all the mess when the oil has poured straight back out , refit the Drain plug (screw in your story) and then fill up with some more oil...

**PeterNZ** · 24th September 2017, 14:57

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

then clean up all the mess when the oil has poured straight back out , refit the Drain plug (screw in your story) and then fill up with some more oil...

Cheers

Peter

**eldog** · 24th September 2017, 15:02

Check out where the level of the oil should be (in the sight gauge) and what position the bike should be in. Side stand vs Center Stand

Take your time.

Everything should be in the manual.
The first time is the worst time.

Enjoy your ride.

**Swoop** · 24th September 2017, 15:28

Don't forget to open the oil filler cap before letting the oil drain out. Air is sucked in as the oil flows out. Easy.

As for punctures, get yourself an Innovations puncture repair kit.
Dog turds and air cylinders for quick roadside repairs, to get you home.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/si...?itok=1A_8LVUl

**sidecar bob** · 24th September 2017, 15:31

Don't drink beer & work on mechanical contrivances ever. That from someone that worked on mechanical contrivances for a job for many years.

**OddDuck** · 24th September 2017, 16:07

Mate, it's a 21st century plague.

Consult the "Silly Things I Have Done This Week" thread and you'll feel much better. Promise.

In the meantime, summer's coming, get out and ride!!

**GazzaH** · 24th September 2017, 18:16

Yup, that's modern life for you.

Way back when I started bikin', "speed cameras" involved quickly changing the glass plates.

ABS didn't exist and we were lucky to have tyres with air inside the rubber.

It was a stretch to keep up with the nice gentleman in front with the red flag.

There were hardly any other drivers of motor vehicles, but clouds of steam and horse poo were hazards on the track (no tarmac either).

Today, everyone owns several vehicles, and most of them are deaf and blind at best, if not psychotic. Cagers would rather watch YooToob on their pocket abacus than look out of the optically perfect windows. They don't even need goggles!

100 kph is achievable in the second of a dozen gears, and not only are vehicles made by robots but they are driving them too. We humans are redundant.

I'd just stay at home mate. Pull up a nice sofa and watch your bike gleam.

**Navy Boy** · 25th September 2017, 15:13

I can symapthise with you when it comes to biking wisdom and overkill. It's one of many areas where if you ask 6 different people a question you'll get at least 7 different answers... Especially when you throw the internet into the mix!

As for Vanishing point and so on - I used the rule of 3s. Don't try to concentrate/change more than 3 things at a time. In fact just picking one thing each ride (And concerntating on improving this one aspect for the whole of the ride) often works best for me. Vanishing point is a classic and you never totally nail it on every corner on every ride. At least that's what I've found.

If you're not enjoying it then change the way you're approaching it. One thing at a time.

Th 1200GS is a cracking machine and good fun to ride with plenty of performance and cornering ability so you're sorted on that front.

Practice makes perfect.

**caspernz** · 26th September 2017, 00:58

Oh Peter, you need to get out more! The Navy Boy has the right advice, so I won't repeat what Lee said.

Oil changes are dead easy, just have the new filter and right oil on hand before you dump the old stuff. And like one of the other lads mentioned, remove (or at least loosen) the oil filler plug before you take the sump plug out. Engine doesn't need to be at operating temp really, it does help when the oil is at least warm, as in a bit more than ambient.

All the fancy tech about vanishing points and stuff, yeah it all helps but like Navy Boy said, try not to get too hung up on too many things at a time. Get along to a Rideforever course, silver or gold, and you'll be breezing along with new found confidence.

**PeterNZ** · 26th September 2017, 12:48

Hi all,

Thanks for the nice words. My initial post was more tongue in cheek than dead serious. But some good advice in this discussion.

I would love to do a rideforever course but sadly the next one is 2 1/2 hours from where I live. They start at 8 in the morning. Not that I have a problem getting up early. I am a baker so no problem here. But having already a 2 1/2 hour ride behind me, then doing a course which runs until about 5 in the evening and then driving home.... not very appealing. I might have to take time off which is always a difficult decision if you run a business.

I agree I need to get out more.

Cheers

Peter

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**PeterNZ** · 26th September 2017, 12:57

Originally Posted by Navy Boy

As for Vanishing point and so on - I used the rule of 3s. Don't try to concentrate/change more than 3 things at a time. In fact just picking one thing each ride (And concerntating on improving this one aspect for the whole of the ride) often works best for me. Vanishing point is a classic and you never totally nail it on every corner on every ride. At least that's what I've found.

That's some great idea. I will do that. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Navy Boy

If you're not enjoying it then change the way you're approaching it. One thing at a time.

Th 1200GS is a cracking machine and good fun to ride with plenty of performance and cornering ability so you're sorted on that front.

Practice makes perfect.

Yes I love that bike. Always wanted to have one since I rode my cousin's R80GS back in the 90ies.

Cheers

Peter

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