Got my Rodent, pics to follow soon...

[Ghost Lemur]

Well I finally got two wheels today. Thanks go out to k14 for riding her back to my place for me.

Took her for a quick rock around the block tonight while the boys were in bed asleep. Now mind you it's been about a decade since I've been on a bike. All I can say is it scared the beejeebus out of me, and I wasn't even going the speed limit. Damn fun though.

Took me a while to get her started (mutters about incompatibility of geeky physique and kick starts), and then I was off. Due to not having been on one in TOO long, the heart was racing, and I made lots of fun noob errors like dropping too many gears and learching foward, frantically holding in the clutch like it's the front brake as I come to a corner.

Thankfully I've got a nice quiet block to practice on before I go for my handling cert.

Will post pics as soon as I can pinch my sisters digital camera.

Thankfully it came with the Haynes manual so I've got some good info about maintainence, which is good because I know nothing.

Just a side question, for those of you who haven't been riding since birth, how did you "learn"? Was it like me, and quietly on deserted roads etc? Or was it in a more formal enviroment? My understanding is the Handling course is a "how to ride" course my more a "lets see you stuff, and we'll give you some small pointers if you're doing anything wrong" type. Is this right?
Obviously I'm not the happiest about "breaking the law" even if I am being mature about it and staying away from traffic etc. But at the same time I can only afford to sit these exams once so have to know for certain that that's the way things will work.

Back on the maintainence front, if there's anyone here in ChCh who know about these mechanical thingies and would be willing to give up a Saturday afternoon or something, I'm sure I could provide a few bevies to quentch their thirst while they help me work out what needs doing now and what will need doing soon.

[Antallica]

Well I only started a year ago. When I got my Fixxer I took her out the day after I got her, just jumped onto the road and off I went. As for using the road etc I guess all those 10ish years or being passenger in cars must have rubbed off on me. It's all piss easy, I do get the odd heart wrencher corner every once in a while.

Also having ridden push bikes for many years give you the balance and steering control neccesary.

[Ghost Lemur]

Yeah, it was more nerves than anything.

btw any of you cb250rs owners past or present got any tips. I notice the fuel switch on the side and vaguely recollect something in a different thread a while back about whether or not to have it in the off position when the bike is parked. Should I?

[dangerous]

Yeah, it was more nerves than anything.

btw any of you cb250rs owners past or present got any tips. I notice the fuel switch on the side and vaguely recollect something in a different thread a while back about whether or not to have it in the off position when the bike is parked. Should I?

IMO I wouldent worry about it, unless you find a pool of fuel under it in the morning. By memory it should have a vacume diaprame (sp) which means that fuel cant get to the carbs with out the motor turning over.
Keep the questions comming, as thats why we are here

[Ghost Lemur]

IMO I wouldent worry about it, unless you find a pool of fuel under it in the morning. By memory it should have a vacume diaprame (sp) which means that fuel cant get to the carbs with out the motor turning over.
Keep the questions comming, as thats why we are here

Thanks dangerous,

And don't worry I will. Especially as I'll be looking at doing some painting as soon as I know all the mechanicals are in order. There are quite a few paint chips and I'd prefer if they didn't rust. So it's probably easier to just paint the whole lot rather that trying to touch up all the spots.

Need to either get a new seat (dependant on cost), or work out how difficult it is to recover. That alone will eliminate half the sexy ductape.

[rodgerd]

Just a side question, for those of you who haven't been riding since birth, how did you "learn"? Was it like me, and quietly on deserted roads etc? Or was it in a more formal enviroment?

My parents bought me a 100cc 2 stroke Yamaha trail bike when I was 11 or so, and I'd been riding push bikes since 6 or so, so they turned me loose (sans helmet, I might add, with retrospective dissaproval). I learned by falling off a couple of times and deciding to stop falling off.

I didn't ride between 19 and 29, and then decided to start road riding.

My understanding is the Handling course is a "how to ride" course my more a "lets see you stuff, and we'll give you some small pointers if you're doing anything wrong" type. Is this right?

Pretty much, although that can depend. Mine was, but one local riding school does slightly more intensive ones that cover a bit of basic theory and some practise; they also do half day introduction to riding courses. You should probably contact some local instructors/schools and see what they can do.

The LTSA have actually started to get off their arse about driver training - apparently they found one of the biggest correlations between injuries/deaths for bike riders is a lack of formal training.

Obviously I'm not the happiest about "breaking the law" even if I am being mature about it and staying away from traffic etc.

No need to put quotes around it.

[Deano]

Just a side question, for those of you who haven't been riding since birth, how did you "learn"? Was it like me, and quietly on deserted roads etc? Or was it in a more formal enviroment?

I learnt when I was 8 on a mates automatic 80cc hack, around a farm paddock - good way to learn the basics, albeit without the need to change gears. I don't recall falling off but grass and dirt is certainly softer than asphalt.

At age 10 my dad bought me an RM80, which scared the crap out of me - those power bands seemed vicious back then.

Just don't get overconfident once you feel you have mastered it - I did at age 19 and ended up writing off an RG250 into the side of a car - thankfully I only bruised/sprained my ankle quite badly.

Had a couple more 2 stroke 250's in addition to riding mates bigger bikes, then had a break for a while (poor student), then got a 900SS (I thought Ducati's were the be all and end all). When Cycosis upgraded to his CBR600 I couldn't keep up, so traded the Duke in for the SP-1. This was the biggest learning curve (75HP to 117HP) and I binned it within a month, but not badly. So even after a number of years of riding, you are never too old to learn.

Take care and have fun GL !!

[Jackrat]

About bloody time.
Good on ya'.
I learnt to ride by nickin' me old mans bike while he was at work an riding it round our back yard.The hedges and back fence took a bit of a pounding.
When I got my first road bike I dropped it on the first U turn and then again ten minites later turning into the drive way,just as well it was a dog cause it was fair rooted by the time I was finished with it.
Funny I used to heal a lot faster back then.

[Shawn]

hummm....congrats....but have u got some gears...after coming off twice i just had to ask that.... :confused2

[Ghost Lemur]

hummm....congrats....but have u got some gears...after coming off twice i just had to ask that.... :confused2

Good question. Simply no. Except for helmet and gloves with armour. I'm looking to invest in at least a cheap leather jacket.

But I have a self-imposed requirement of decent full leather by the time I get to the open road. I'll probably upgrade the helmet and gloves for that stage too. There's gear I'm happy to trust at 40kph and then there's gear I demand if I'm going to be going 100kph.

Looks like it's a nice day outside (here in ChCh), frosty but nice. So I might have a chance to wheel the bike out of the garage, on to the drive way and start to do the maintainence check. It did just get a wof in the last week or so, but seems to at least need an oil change (running a little rough). Plus k14 heard some unknown noises when he rode it back for me. Will be good if nothing else to start getting to know what everything looks like and where it's all located.

[6Chris6]

My parents bought me a 100cc 2 stroke Yamaha trail bike when I was 11 or so, and I'd been riding push bikes since 6 or so, so they turned me loose (sans helmet, I might add, with retrospective dissaproval). I learned by falling off a couple of times and deciding to stop falling off.

I didn't ride between 19 and 29, and then decided to start road riding.

Congratulations GL, can't wait to see the pics. And learning is half the fun (most of us are still learning)
Rogerd this is uncanny my experience almost exactly the same but i saved up my paper-round money (40 pound) for a 100cc Suzi.
And didn't ride from when i left England (19) and got my 2fiddy when 29

[k14]

Yeah, I was dreading the ride back to your place, but I would have to say that I was plesantly surprised. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Got it up to 90kph quite comfortably on that 80kph bit coming back to your house.

The first time I had ever rode a proper bike with gears etc (not a scooter) was when I went to look at the VT250 I bought last year. Took it for a quick spin around the block. Then picked it up the next morning. Didn't get any pointers from anyone, but managed to work it out for myself, even though I got lost for about 30 mins coming back to my house .

You will be sweet, it's just getting used to the clutch and changing gears.

[scumdog]

G.L., good on you, just keep practicing and ALWAYS keep you eyes on the road ahead, learn where all the switches are BEFORE you cut loose on the roads, a sure way to trouble is to look down at your bike looking for where the horn/light-switch/indicator etc are, that and overestimating my cornering abilities are what caused my biggest skid-marks (in my Y-fronts that is).

[Ms Piggy]

Just a side question, for those of you who haven't been riding since birth, how did you "learn"? Was it like me, and quietly on deserted roads etc? Or was it in a more formal enviroment? My understanding is the Handling course is a "how to ride" course my more a "lets see you stuff, and we'll give you some small pointers if you're doing anything wrong" type. Is this right?
Obviously I'm not the happiest about "breaking the law" even if I am being mature about it and staying away from traffic etc. But at the same time I can only afford to sit these exams once so have to know for certain that that's the way things will work.

Hey G/L,
I have a CB250RS. I did a few rides around in desserted places & car parks with my flatmate watching over me. Get you BHS cert & Learners License ASAP though b/c it will make you feel a lot less worried about riding on the road. I've been riding for around 5 months and have realised that the only way I will improve is by actually riding! I have stalled heaps (shame!), changed into wrong gears, revved the shit out of her riding past a car load of young guys (more shame!) and also already had 1 bin but it's only by getting out there that you will get more confident. Go for it!!

btw any of you cb250rs owners past or present got any tips. I notice the fuel switch on the side and vaguely recollect something in a different thread a while back about whether or not to have it in the off position when the bike is parked. Should I?

After having a discussion with some of the KBers I stopped turning the petrol off and I haven't had any problems, it's one less thing for me to worry about doing before I get on in the morning.

As far as the kick start goes there is definitely a technique to it - I ended up with massive bruises all over my right leg when I was 1st learning b/c the kickstart kept whacking me! OUCH! Every time I start her, I start by stepping through the pedal (kickstart thingee) without trying to start the bike as far as it will go...apparently this pushes petrol though the motor (correct me if I'm wrong here guys). Then I turn the throttle a little and stomp down on the pedal turning the throttle as I do this. It's a laugh when I go riding with the others b/c they all just press a button & away they go and here's me stomping away!

Have fun & enjoy it!

[Ghost Lemur]

Thanks for the encouragement and advice guys.

Thanks for the tip csl, I'll give it a go. just another n00b question. I know the same switch also turns on the reserve. But say you've used your reserve fuel. When it comes to full up do you have to switch that switch to reserve to full up that then switch it back to full up the main tank or does it do it automatically?