Congratulations to...

**MSTRS:Me** · 8th February 2006, 10:03

Originally Posted by hXc

The SPADA is bloody awesome. Comfortable riding position, pretty user-friendly, not too slow but not too fast etc etc. Quite happily did 120 indicated yesterday. Nah, it's a V-twin but still red lines at 13,500. Usually sits about 6000 in 5th at 100k's so not too bad.

I think I did pretty good yesterday, 33k's straight off

And I'll try not to crash.

Nup. 9500@100km/6th

**hXc** · 8th February 2006, 10:04

Originally Posted by Gixxer 4 ever

Well done hxc.

Now you are out and about you will need a well paying job.

I note your mate Speights_bud has done over 5000 k's in the last 4 months.

Go for it and we look forward to riding with you. Taupo for breakfast in the near future? What you recon MSTRS? Leave at 5 so we have a quiet road and back by 9.00?

Yeah I'll be out riding a lot hopefully. I'm loving it!!!! Taupo sounds good but not quite at this point. Think I need a few more longer rides to build up to that.

**hXc** · 8th February 2006, 10:05

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Nup. 9500@100km/6th

Oops my bad!

**MSTRS:Me** · 8th February 2006, 10:06

Originally Posted by hXc

Yeah I'll be out riding a lot hopefully. I'm loving it!!!! Taupo sounds good but not quite at this point. Think I need a few more longer rides to build up to that.

TheForce is strong in this one......
Sensible to never bite off more than you can chew

**hXc** · 8th February 2006, 10:08

Originally Posted by MSTRS

TheForce is strong in this one......
Sensible to never bite off more than you can chew

I usually bite less than I can chew, just so I can talk at the same time! See, I can multi-task!

**riffer** · 8th February 2006, 10:40

Congrats Zach.

You enjoy those first few kms.

And remember that when you start thinking you've got it sussed, that's the bit just before you fuck it up.

Stay alert, take nothing for granted, and always assume they don't see you, or if they do, that they won't give way. Remember if hitting it will hurt you, keep a fair way away from it.

And always look where you want to go, not at what you want to avoid.

All the best.

**Rosie** · 8th February 2006, 10:48

Good work mate!
You inspire me to get my lazy ass into gear and get my licence now.

**hXc** · 8th February 2006, 10:58

Originally Posted by Rosie

Good work mate!
You inspire me to get my lazy ass into gear and get my licence now.

**Chants** Get it! Get it! Get it!

Seriously, get it in your own time. If you're not ready to get it, then your go for it, you'll probably fail and then think that you're not capable of getting it. Basically, you'll kick yourself in the head for ages. Get it when you're good and ready. Then, when you are ready, then go for it and get out and ride!!!

**Storm** · 8th February 2006, 12:00

Well done mate. How long do you reckon it'll be before you are posting on here about how to make your bike go faster and handle better, or asking for wheelie advice ?

**Gixxer 4 ever** · 8th February 2006, 12:24

Originally Posted by hXc

Yeah I'll be out riding a lot hopefully. I'm loving it!!!! Taupo sounds good but not quite at this point. Think I need a few more longer rides to build up to that.

No............. I have found it is good for new riders to do a long ride. I took Speights_bud to Wairoa soon after he had his. I believe a long ride is good because it gets you in the groove. The problem with short rides are highlighted by nervous squeezing of the handle grips and square corners. After a few ks you start to relax and at that point you are home. From that time on you are going to learn a lot and as long as you have good riders with you and you follow their lines and keep the speed down you will learn more in one long ride than 10 short rides.
But that is only my opinion and based on my training days. Like shearing. If you have ever shorn sheep you know you spend the first 2 hours struggling with the sheep to control them. The next 2 hours are spent working with them to get the grove or style right. From then on you do more per hour and you develop a flowing style.
However when you start again the next day you are back to trying to control them and not working with them. So it is with bike riding. It is not about muscling bikes around the corner but working with the bike and gravity etc. As you are a male it is likely you are going to spend the first 30 km pulling and pushing it around. After you get a bit tired you will start to let the ride flow. Thus everything will come right and the learning can begin.
Anyway you have some race experience and you have a good trainer.
MSTRS will get you underway. He is a good rider.

See you on da road soon.

**Rosie** · 8th February 2006, 12:57

Originally Posted by hXc

**Chants** Get it! Get it! Get it!

Yeah, I should

I'm riding around the carparks at work like a pro, and it's my third run-in with the graduated licencing system, so I shouldn't be worried about the theory test. I'm just timid and good at putting things off. Mr R. is going away in a couple of weeks, and if I have my licence by then I can spend my evenings practising on the bike, rather than sitting at home and pining for him.

**Phurrball** · 8th February 2006, 13:08

Originally Posted by hXc

The SPADA is bloody awesome. Comfortable riding position, pretty user-friendly, not too slow but not too fast etc etc. Quite happily did 120 indicated yesterday. Nah, it's a V-twin but still red lines at 13,500. Usually sits about 9500 at 100km/6th so not too bad.

I think I did pretty good yesterday, 33k's straight off

And I'll try not to crash.

Congratulations hXc!!

The independence of having one's licence is a great thing...so didya crack 100% in Te Reo version of the test

That would've been more of a challenge to a clever fella such as yourself (pisstake)

'Tis handy being able to get the test papers in advance - since some of the language in the test is vague and ambiguous.

As for bragging about your speed young fella - this is a public forum, so naturally you do 70 on the open road just like the rest of us 'L' platers

'Tis wiser to speak of the change in one's pocket when in public - $1.20, or perhaps $0.20 change from an asking price of $1

As wiser people than I have already suggested in this thread - just relax and take it easy. 'Tis hard to relax when you start out - but ya ride so much better if you can. Ironically I find I still tense up right at the times that it is most critical to be relaxed - like when it rains...and that's after 6 months and 5000+ kms! Welcome to a lifetime of learning motorcycle roadcraft!

**Edbear** · 8th February 2006, 20:01

Quote from Riffer - "And always look where you want to go, not at what you want to avoid." Means you'll go where you look. Sounds strange but if you've not noticed it already, try it somewhere safe. Good advice from all here and thanks for refreshing my memory re: the number of cylinders on the Spada, it was a v-twin I rode and even now I can remember how good it felt, though I only had a brief ride at the time. If you learn to handle it well. it'll set you up for bigger and better things to come. Good on your attitude! You should be okay.