First Ride on the Road

**korowetere** · 24th December 2005, 11:04

This morning, having got a jacket, gloves and helmet from AMPS (thanks Lou), I ventured out on the road for the first time!

This is just awesome.

I had an absolute blast out round Runciman Rd and Burtt Rd in Drury - both nice wide roads I know really well, with good seal and today at least very little traffic which was nice.

There is a lot to remember, I found, and the brain is buzzing from concentrating

- smooth throttling
- smooth gear changing
- LOOK where you want the bike to go (I got this after about 10 minutes and instantly felt much more comfortable
- countersteer into bends
- turn off the indicators after your turn
- grip the tank with your legs
- relax the grip on the bars
....

Phew!

**froggyfrenchman** · 24th December 2005, 11:08

[QUOTE=korowetere]- turn off the indicators after your turn[QUOTE]

Aaaaaah yes. a common trick to forget amongst bikers. Well done with the ride and wishing you many more happy and safe rides

**zadok** · 24th December 2005, 11:34

Onya mate. Keep the black bits at the bottom.

**Indiana_Jones** · 24th December 2005, 11:50

shot mate

It's scary going out there on the road for the 1st time........in fact it's still scary with the cage drivers around here lol

-Indy

**Firefight** · 24th December 2005, 11:56

Originally Posted by korowetere

This is just awesome.

I had an absolute blast out round Runciman Rd and Burtt Rd in Drury - both nice wide roads I know really well, with good seal and today at least very little traffic which was nice

good on you man, thats the first one out of the way, all the best for the next rides, just watch out round that way atm, due to onion harvest there are a lot of townies in cages pottering around those roads in smoky old Homy vans

this happens every harvest time, and has caused some problems for our riders, these people are worse than your normal m/way cage drivers, you may have seen them camped out in the onion paddocks as you rode around.

F/F

**Mad Cow** · 24th December 2005, 12:15

I am a newbie learning on the same roads, agree there is a whole shit load of stuff to think about when you are new! Might see you out there sometime!

**korowetere** · 24th December 2005, 12:27

Originally Posted by Firefight

due to onion harvest there are a lot of townies in cages pottering around those roads in smoky old Homy vans

F/F

I wondered what all those vans were with kids piled in the back! Ah yes, the Nissan Homy, and my personal favourite, the Mazda Bongo.

Magnificent pieces of engineering....

Originally Posted by Mad Cow

I am a newbie learning on the same roads, agree there is a whole shit load of stuff to think about when you are new!

Speaking of sh*t, there was a whole lot of it on Burtt Rd this morning, some inconsiderate farmer had dropped it all over the road just where I wanted to try a "high speed run".

(At the top of the hill heading towards Pukekohe, about 1km from the Runciman tennis courts)

Originally Posted by Mad Cow

Might see you out there sometime!

Yep, maybe we can go for a ride sometime once I've mastered basic handling

**Zed** · 24th December 2005, 12:32

Originally Posted by korowetere

This is just awesome.

I had an absolute blast out round Runciman Rd and Burtt Rd in Drury - both nice wide roads I know really well, with good seal and today at least very little traffic which was nice.

Those are some great roads to choose for your first ride koro, but one day you will have to venture onto the dredded motorway/state highway system and experience a different side of motorcycling, a rather depressing side at times...

Originally Posted by korowetere

There is a lot to remember, I found, and the brain is buzzing from concentrating

- smooth throttling
- smooth gear changing
- LOOK where you want the bike to go (I got this after about 10 minutes and instantly felt much more comfortable
- countersteer into bends
- turn off the indicators after your turn
- grip the tank with your legs
- relax the grip on the bars
....

Phew!

Sounds like your brain was well exercised, did you remember to enjoy yourself by any chance?

jk

**Mad Cow** · 24th December 2005, 12:36

Yep, maybe we can go for a ride sometime once I've mastered basic handling

[/QUOTE]

I will be in for that! Safety in numbers right?

**oldrider** · 24th December 2005, 15:22

The really dangerous time is when you learn to relax and you feel the confidence seeping in, then WAMMY it all goes to custard :spudwhat:
No one can teach you that it just happens.

Good luck. John

**Goblin** · 24th December 2005, 16:36

Originally Posted by Mad Cow

I am a newbie learning on the same roads, agree there is a whole shit load of stuff to think about when you are new! Might see you out there sometime!

Not just when you're new either!

*The really dangerous time is when you learn to relax and you feel the confidence seeping in, then WAMMY it all goes to custard
No one can teach you that it just happens. Good luck. John*

Wise words John! Every time I start to feel confident I tend to remind myself of how it can turn to custard.

Good for you Koro and good luck!!

**Leong** · 24th December 2005, 17:47

Congrats guys. Yes cancelling those indicators takes some getting used to. I still forget occassionally - almost always after I'm distracted by something else. Went out to Kaiaua and then thru to Bombay today, almost came down your way but decided to turn around and go home thru the Hunuas instead. Gusty winds today!!

Have fun!!

**korowetere** · 24th December 2005, 18:02

Originally Posted by Leong

Gusty winds today!!

It sure was. After a nice couple of rides this morning a hua of a wind blew up early afternoon here.

So rather than braving that I pulled the fairings off and went to work with a fibreglass repair kit (courtesy Mitre10 Mega), to fix the cracks and missing bits of plastic in the old ZZR (legacy of John, the guy who owned it before Gremlin).

Good progress today, and with the drinking binges of the next couple of days I won't miss not being on the bike for a few days while I finish up the repairs.

There's a lot of bogging, sanding and painting to be done