Learning to ride pre-101 - off-road but where?

[Komuter]

Hi Folks,

What constitutes a road, and what is not? Where can I ride my new bike legally without getting into trouble? I used to ride a honda CT90 farmbike (trashed several in ditches) and a 50cc Scooter, but new to a road type (Suzuki GN250, oh horror mirrors, tyres, more money to spend and fix I read...).

Carparks? River Stopbanks? (Lower Hutt Based) Where can I ride it without worrying about the thin blue line (we have a great AOS squad here with good practice lately) while I am preparing for my learners test?

Any advice and suggestions welcome. I have been actively reading these forums with great interest, might have to also peruse the library videos and books.

### Newsflash: Your private land, or other private land, or at a bike school and thats it! Hmm, lots of tiny little circles on our front lawn.

[Terminated]

Thanks for your PM, look forward to hearing from you when golf november two five zero has arrived.

Further details at PM.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[skelstar]

To be honest...I learnt to ride a bike (first time ever) during the Basic Skills Handling Test. Had an L licence the next day...and I ride ok

Welcome to the site btw

[pritch]

Out Hutt Valley way people used to use the firebreaks on the hills but some of those gradients are bloody steep. There is the added hazard these days that you can be shot by somebody wanting your machine.

Mind you that's not new. I used to do my dirt bike practice out Karori way, Wrights Hill? It's a long time ago now. There was also an unofficial rifle range people used for sighting in... One day while riding around the little practice track a series of high velocity rounds went over my head. (They were clearly audible above the engine noise.) Time to go!

[Wasp]

I learnt in a carpark up in the hills by melling

see you around

[pervert]

Technically no-where, sealed, grass, dirt, or sand.

Unless it's private property behind a locked gate, then it's considered a public road.

[klingon]

I don't think the locked gate is part of the requirement... I also learned to ride in the few hours before my basic handling test, having never ridden a bike before at all, so with your experience you should be fine.

My lessons and test were held in a car park. Surely the instructor wouldn't be able to do that if it was illegal to ride in a carpark while unlicensed?

I also decided I wasn't ready to go out in Auckland traffic yet, even when I had my learner's license. So I rode around the campus of my local tertiary institution.

Auckland newbies take note: Unitec is a brilliant place to learn - it has straight bits, curvy bits, flat bits, hilly bits, intersections, pedestrian crossings... All the things you need to practise before going out in the Big Wide World.

[pervert]

I don't think the locked gate is part of the requirement...

My lessons and test were held in a car park. Surely the instructor wouldn't be able to do that if it was illegal to ride in a carpark while unlicense.

1)Yes it is.

2) He's holding a licence test, of course there are exceptions...but a carpark (even owned by a shop) is considered a public road...and legally, you should be licenced to ride there.

[klingon]

I don't think the locked gate is part of the requirement... I also learned to ride in the few hours before my basic handling test, having never ridden a bike before at all, so with your experience you should be fine.

My lessons and test were held in a car park. Surely the instructor wouldn't be able to do that if it was illegal to ride in a carpark while unlicensed?

Wow pervert, sorry I offended you so much that you had to give me red bling for that!

Whatever the technicalities, I still stand by my opinion that a car park is a fine place to practise riding, whether it has locked gates or not.

[Kinje]

I had a lesson in a car park then did the test at the next lesson. Even tho I'd never ridden before, found it all pretty easy. With all the riding you've done, you should pick it up pretty quickly.

Good luck, enjoy the new ride