Scooter boy
Zapf, my VTR had slightly higher ks, about 17,000 I think. I bought it for $4,200 (?) I think, in November last year from a dealer in Masterton. I figured since I'd have it for a year or two I wanted a good bike which I'd really enjoy riding, and I must admit I love the look of it too.I've been told that I should get my money back when I trade it in, which sounds perfect to me.
Der gummikuh man
I rode for 6-9 months before my first crash (in the wet, easily prevented if I knew what i knew now). My second was 1 year later or so, again easily prevented by experience, I thought I knew what I was doing and went for a run-off area after getting the wobbles mid corner, but missed the runoff area. Again, easily prevented with experience. I was confident in my ability, and in the case of the first, I didnt think I was pushing the bike hard, I just hit some paint.Originally Posted by Devil
No crashes in the past two years.
Lets face it though. If you are going out on a bike, which is basically unstable ie it wants to fall over, and you are out there to have some fun, you will eventually either crash or have a big moment when you overstep the limits. If you just want to commute, then it is less likely you will overstep the limits, but more likely that you will get hit by a cager who didnt see you (my tally of near misses (within ~1m despite all my best efforts) is at 3, along with countless other minor incidents, in three years of commuting)
Queiro voya todo Europa con mi moto.... pero no tengo suficiente tiempo o dinero.....
Pasta farts
^Key part, right there.
Riding sensibly (as hard as it may be sometimes heh) and you SHOULDNT have any problems (that are your fault) sure, shit happens sometimes. But I dont think its great telling the people that they will crash. Maybe just a reminder that *IF* you bin it, fairing isnt cheap to fix.
The psychological effect of telling people that they will crash sort of works against the confidence building that is required when learning to ride.
Der gummikuh man
Fair enough. I work on the assumption that everyone will get overconfident at some point, but you are probably right.
Riding sensibly, you should be almost as immune from crashes as you would be if driving a car. Although if you get hit, fairings will still cost lotsa money
Queiro voya todo Europa con mi moto.... pero no tengo suficiente tiempo o dinero.....
Pasta farts
Fo' Shizzle.
Administrator
A question that gets asked alot, so can someone list off all the 250cc bikes available new in NZ. I will put together a page of info on 1st bikes with maybe an officially Kiwi Biker recommended 1st bike.
Later I will do older model 250cc bikes available second hand.
parting of the sensory
Probability is working against you - very few people don't have any crashes (that includes silly things like not releasing the front brake at low speed and dropping it, or losing it on a slippery surface), and you can even break your bike not riding it (ask how many people have overbalanced moving their bike, or had the sidestand flick up...)
It also means that they recognise how inherently dangerous it can be, take more care, and wear appropriate clothing. When you're learning in a car, generally if you stuff up, you might scratch or dent the car at most. On a bike, if you stuff up, you could well be seriously injured or even killed.
Look, Zapf, it's REALLY fun way to get around, and it's very visceral. By that I mean it's much more a FEELING thing than a car, in that it's all about lots of very subtle inputs and movements, and it's all about the sensations you experience too. It's a lot more complex than driving a car, there's a lot more to learn and perfect, but it's also a lot more rewarding than driving a car can be.
... and that's what I think.
Or summat.
Or maybe not...
Dunno really....
Pasta farts
Yeah, shit can easily happen on a bike, your fault or someone elses. Im not disputing this.
I think it'd just be better for a learners confidence that people dont force them into thinking they're going to crash at some point.
I think we're all interested in getting people into biking, and enjoying the biking. Telling people they're going to crash I think defeats the purpose.
Forum whore
Thanks guys, I "think" I know what I am getting myself into. So I am planning on getting some good gear, in the event of an "off" hoping it'll save my bacon.
Hence a few questions, if you have comments abt any of them plz tell.
1.) Leather, is leather with body armor better than textile with armor? as in that if you have an off then the leather usually can be still used but the textile jackets just get ripped?
2.) Gear insurance, if I do have an off does insurance pays for damaged gear? if not, do they have options to insure the gear?
3.) Armor / Air bag jacket, does anyone have experience with aftermarket armor? like Dainese safety Jacket 21 / Bohn Body armor Link / or that Biko defender jacket that Motomail sells ?
And does anyone know who sells Dainese air bag jackets? or have experience with air big jackets?
4.) And tips on any good place / good people to buy gear from in Auckland?
Cheers and tkns in adv.
Zapf
Forum whore
have been reading the following...
Hurt report US
sort of gives me an idea :P
on the up
I will try and answer a few of your questions:
1.) Leather, is leather with body armor better than textile with armor? as in that if you have an off then the leather usually can be still used but the textile jackets just get ripped?
You mean better, in an accident? I reckon high quality leather with body armour is better in a high-speed accident, but chances are any accident you have will be at less than 80km/hr. In that case, due to convenience and better wet-weather handling characteristics, you are better off with cordura (textile) with armour.
2.) Gear insurance, if I do have an off does insurance pays for damaged gear? if not, do they have options to insure the gear?
In my off, all my gear was covered by my household contents policy, as "household goods in transit". They compensated me the price paid (or replacement value, whichever is the lesser), less depreciation.
3.) Armor / Air bag jacket, does anyone have experience with aftermarket armor? like Dainese safety Jacket 21 / Bohn Body armor Link / or that Biko defender jacket that Motomail sells ?
And does anyone know who sells Dainese air bag jackets? or have experience with air big jackets?
Sorry no experience. Lou Girardan, White Trash and Stew work in Motorcycle stores. PM them for more info.
4.) And tips on any good place / good people to buy gear from in Auckland?
See above question.
Last edited by riffer; 29th July 2004 at 14:44. Reason: cleaned up the quoting a bit
And I to my motorcycle parked like the soul of the junkyard. Restored, a bicycle fleshed with power, and tore off. Up Highway 106 continually drunk on the wind in my mouth. Wringing the handlebar for speed, wild to be wreckage forever.
- James Dickey, Cherrylog Road.
Administrator
If you got the dosh for custom leathers, then go see Kerrie at MSW (motorcycle safety wear) 31 St Kevins Arcade Auckland (0-9-309 9522). She made my two piece for $1800 and it fits and looks bloody good. In fact I was just down there today to get a dome added to the collar which she did FOC. I wear the jacket everyday and add the pants when I go on the track or out for just a ride.
Forum whore
ermm... have dosh. but not that much :P trying to get away spending around 2k on helmet and gear. think I'll get leather if price works out, as I have a bright red or reflective yellow jacket I can chuck on if it rains.... :P
I just don't want a completely black one thou
on the up
I was reading a study that said that motorcyclists dressed completely in black were seen more often by cage-drivers, as the black was somehow more "intimidating" and made the rider more scary.
You could easily get away with spending 2K for helmet and gear.
Armoured Textile Jacket - $300-600
Armoured Tectil Pants - $300-500
Helmet - $300-1200
Boots - $150-900
Gloves - $75-400
I wear an armoured textile jacket (back protector armour too!), dririder armoured pants, kevlar stitched leather gloves, sidi boots and a Nitro helmet, and my gear cost less than $1500 total.
And I to my motorcycle parked like the soul of the junkyard. Restored, a bicycle fleshed with power, and tore off. Up Highway 106 continually drunk on the wind in my mouth. Wringing the handlebar for speed, wild to be wreckage forever.
- James Dickey, Cherrylog Road.
Pasta farts
You really need to shop around for gear, ask about package discounts as well.
There are some huge variations in gear prices.
You can pick up a decent helmet (eg. HJC CL-14) for less than $400.
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