What to learn first Newbie advice wanted

[Beno]

One thing thats helped my learning is to ride every day for a while then take a couple of days off, when you get back on your bike,... you have consolidated your skills and things feel more fluid on the bike and you can try a few more things...just think about one skill at a time....

[Wasp]

yeah been doing that too or rather will be when the wind dies down a bit here in welly when i was on it this afternoon got a little worryed with wind whats the best way to deal with it, about the only thing i tried was to just relax a little and not stress

hehe the wind today was better than expected, I was hoping to be able to hoon over Melling bridge so I could get off it quicker but alas traffic. It was less windier than it looked i guess (theres a flag opposite work).

I got my bike mid october last year and a week later I was riding it every day to work. Ive had two minor crashes (gravel in petone and rear ended a car on the esplanade) but I was still back on the bike straight away (just a little more cautious for awhile thats all).

There are rides every Thursday nights (trtnr) meeting at the bottom of Maungaraki (spelling?) Hill (in the small carpark) and there is also the newbie ride on the 29th, I suggest attending both!

Oh yea and if you need any help just ask, some one will come!

cheers, Doug

[loosebruce]

Hey just started riding and I am not wanting to drop it again or crash at all. So I was wondering what skills would you guys recommend on concentrate on first

Wheelies!!!!

[Roki_nz]

Wheelies!!!!

if only....

[Roki_nz]

If youre talking about the CBTA course, I think you have missed out. Last I heard, they had ended the trial.

yeah i have heard that too road safe is still has it on there site but may have not taken it off yet so i guess i will find out when i call them, took the bike out this after noon only problem i had was getting used to breaking and keeping throttel off and 1st gear the lovly gsx loves the lurch in it not so fun when you are turning droped the bike again but was not as bad as the first time manged to make it go down softly so no scratchs hey any recommendations on which insurance company to go for and you guys know if state does motor cycle insurance for learners ?

[merv]

Moving the bike around on the drive that you asked about at the beginning, everyone has said lean the bike towards you and that is right, but I'd add that when I move a bike forward I usually find that's when you can just hang on to both handlebars and push it and you can use the front brake as necessary. Moving it backwards though (and looking where you are going) its easier I reckon with left hand on the left handlebar and right hand hanging on to a grab bar or similar at the back of the bike. With the VFR it has the pillion handgrab to hang on to, with the dirt bikes that don't have handgrips I grab the pack rack frame and use that. Does that help you at all?

If you are having trouble lurching in 1st gear you need to practice pulling the clutch in a bit more often and slipping the clutch just to give you enough movement e.g. if you are trying to turn tight in a carpark or something sometimes it is smoother just to pull the clutch in and let the bike drift around on its own momentum and if it almost stops just let the clutch out a little bit using the throttle as necessary. It all takes practice but you'll get there and overcome the dropping of the bike you are doing.

As for State Insurance if you haven't had a bad record I'm sure they'll insure a nOOby but the price might be high with a high excess and I reckon you'll find most companies are the same.

[Roki_nz]

yeah a little have not tryed back wards that much yet although i have found if i just want to strigten it up a bit that grabing the pillion hand grip and puting it up right and lifting works

[yungatart]

yeah i have heard that too road safe is still has it on there site but may have not taken it off yet so i guess i will find out when i call them, took the bike out this after noon only problem i had was getting used to breaking and keeping throttel off and 1st gear the lovly gsx loves the lurch in it not so fun when you are turning droped the bike again but was not as bad as the first time manged to make it go down softly so no scratchs hey any recommendations on which insurance company to go for and you guys know if state does motor cycle insurance for learners ?

We tried to get insurance thru State ( they have all our other insurance) for hXc and his "new" Spada on the weekend. There is no way that they would cover him at all. He is not yet 15, so doesn't even have his Learners, but they wouldn't cover him even after his birthday.My bike is covered by them, tho- but then I am "somewhat" older...( still on Learners tho and he is a better AND more experienced rider. Just don't tell him I said so...

[merv]

OK so I'm an old dude and obviously out of touch with State. In the past for bikes they just used to screw you on the premium.

I don't use them for bikes any more as I can use John Baker Insurance on the Ulysses deal. I changed when I bought the WR 2 years ago because State's quote was just stupid, especially for a me when we spend $1,000's with them and have never had a bike claim in 36 years.

[raster]

Relax and get used to it at your own pace.
Do not try and keep up with anyone, people tend to take off at 140Kph, let them go and watch out for them waiting for you on the side of the road if not in a ditch somewhere.

Counter steering, weaving, figure 8 at walking speed, starting stopping, changing gear. I found a massive carpark and rode round and round in circles. I passed my Full next day with about 200ks experience.
Use both front and rear brakes together at all times and gradually apply(practice this in different degrees of rapidity), don't jab them.

Keep the shiny side up. Everyone else is trying to knock you off.
My ZZR is 195Kg Dry weight, that takes a bit of pushing round, never ride into a downhill carpark, back in. Took me 5 minutes to get out one day.

[Roki_nz]

Hey finally got insurance 535 from national auto club for full so not to bad, update on my progress lets just sat still find it a bitch to wheel the thing but getting better or just stronger. Getting far more comfortable riding the bike mainly its starting and turning at the same time say for example at an intersection and turn left or right from a standing stop but getting there (getting lots of practice as I do it on a hill) didn’t drop it today so that’s good, getting better at not opening the throttle when breaking more comfortable with speed and cornering, although did flinch when I saw a car which wasn’t even a problem all in all though making progress after tomorrow should be ready to take it out on the road for a bit.

[Hawkeye]

Yeah will be going with them mainly due to the fact for the course where you don’t have to sit the practical test but also I want to learn how to ride so I keep on living. But before that I am just getting confident on my bike its easier to learn if you are relaxed

I did the Introductory and Basic Handling course with Roadsafe on Wellington Anniversary. Got my cert, and then did the scratchy the next day.
I can fully recommend going to them. They take you through everything at your own pace and in an empty carpark using cones to set up the conditions.
The course covers all the basics of Throttle/clutch control, normal braking conditions, braking at speed for emergencies etc.
Had been out on the bike before doing the course but I am much more confident now since doing it.