My first ever bike!!!!

**elle-f** · 12th April 2007, 07:14

Welcome. Today is the day!! have fun...dont worry about the weather - when i first got my bike it was persisting down and wouldnt stop for a week and i was totally frustrated because all i wanted to do was to get out on it.....mind you - just seeing the bike there was cool enough!

make good choices about the weather when you go out. its pretty freaky initially riding in traffic if you havent done it for ages.

**dnos** · 12th April 2007, 09:17

Haha, its Thursday, and i bet your walking around the house in your gear again.
Good stuff on the new toy mate, enjoy it. But take it slow to begin with.
And welcome to KB

**Scooby Mike** · 12th April 2007, 09:33

Well folks I couldn't wait so I called up Wellington Motorcycles yesterday and they were good enough to deliver the bike to me last night, woo hoo. The chap arrived at 16:30 on the dot with the bike strapped carefully in the back of the ute. Now that's what I call service.

He then hung around for a while and showed me round the bike and pointed out everything that I needed to know which for a beginner like me was ideal. A couple of interesting discoveries though....no reserve fuel tank (need to keep an eye on the not very reliable fuel guage and the kms) and the need to cancel the indicators!!!! It's something that I hadn't given much thought to but I just know I'm going to end up riding around indicating all the time for no reason after forgetting to cancel them!

Once he had gone I did the decent thing and took it for a little ride up the road to get a feel for it. WOW, I didn't do more than 30km/h and already I love it. My plan is to take it very easy indeed and to take things very slowly. Yesterday I spent maybe an hour or so just sitting on the bike and learning where things were without having to look down and then going up and down our street which is very quiet and has very little traffic. I want to be confident in low speed riding and handling before venturing out into the traffic so yesterday was just clutch control, using both brakes and trying to co-ordinate everything. I then did the decent thing and took some pictures of the Hornet!!!!

The scariest thing about the whole evening was my wife sitting on the bike and saying..."mmmmm, this feels nice, can I ride it as well?"...oh dear, this could be the end of a wonderful marriage! Mind you, if she can wait 9 months and I can get my full licence I can see an upgrade plan forming.....

Hopefully the weather will clear up a little bit tonight and I can go out and do more of the same and maybe head out for a little ride on some of the quieter roads around the house. I'd love to ride to work tomorrow as I have a half day but I'm not brave enough yet!

So, now that the bike has arrived am I still as excited? Oh yes.....I think I'm going to like being a Kiwi Biker.

**vifferman** · 12th April 2007, 09:37

Good stuff, Mike! Welcome to Kiwi Biker!

**Scooby Mike** · 12th April 2007, 09:37

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A couple of pictures folks

**Coyote** · 12th April 2007, 09:58

Originally Posted by mcarle

...and the need to cancel the indicators!!!! It's something that I hadn't given much thought to but I just know I'm going to end up riding around indicating all the time for no reason after forgetting to cancel them!

Haha, most bikes have that (I only know of BMW's having self cancelling ones, I'm sure the Goldwing would). And you probably will make that mistake being a newbie. I still make that mistake once or twice and I'm on my full now

Awesome looking bike. And the motors in them are excellent. Also what's great about the little Hornets is that some big Hornet goodies can fit on them

**Scooby Mike** · 12th April 2007, 10:03

Originally Posted by Coyote

Also what's great about the little Hornets is that some big Hornet goodies can fit on them

Oh dear, this could get costly! I've already seen a rear hugger which I really fancy. Mind you, it's been an expensive week with the bike, the scooter and 2 full sets of gear so I reckon I'll need to hold off doing anything to the bike for a while. Being a Scotsman means I can't spend money without some serious thought!!!

**Coyote** · 12th April 2007, 10:18

Originally Posted by mcarle

Being a Scotsman means I can't spend money without some serious thought!!!

Ugh, I hate that side of me. Commonsense is holding me back. I would have a ZX10R in black without rego, wof, number plate and insurance now if I wasn't so blimmin cautious.

And unfortunatly the times I've felt like 'screw it, got to get me one' my parents are there to say no

**Trudes** · 12th April 2007, 10:32

Originally Posted by mcarle

Oh dear, this could get costly!

Believe me, it does! Have a looky at this thread if you haven't already seen it:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=32223
Not sure if he's updated it lately for the bars, bar ends and grips, and he's subsequently sold the grey/red hornet and gone to the dark side, but I still have mine.

**peasea** · 12th April 2007, 13:24

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Or better still. Tell her to get rid of that scooter thingy and get a real machine

Nice bike there mate. Maybe see you out on the newbie rides sometime

And a word of warning. Don't feed the animals in here. They can bite

Good advice, especially after dark. Welcome to the world of motorcycles; there is no equal.

**Pommie Boy** · 17th April 2007, 18:21

Nice work Mike, good to see you're on here already posting like crazy. Watch out for that Hawkeye guy - mind you he's from just south of your border so you might have something in common - a common hatred of us Southerners probably! You might have seen it already but there's a newbie ride this weekend if you can fit it around the game - http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/ca...day=2007-4-22&

Coll pictures of the bike tho mate - you'pre going to love it even more than you do already after a few weeks!

**Hawkeye** · 17th April 2007, 18:33

Originally Posted by Mrs Kendog

Believe me, it does! Have a looky at this thread if you haven't already seen it:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=32223
Not sure if he's updated it lately for the bars, bar ends and grips, and he's subsequently sold the grey/red hornet and gone to the dark side, but I still have mine.

But looking at your profile Mrs KD, the dark side is already tempting you

**Hawkeye** · 17th April 2007, 18:35

Nice bike there mcarle. What part of Wellingtoon are you from?

**johnnyflash** · 17th April 2007, 19:23

Originally Posted by mcarle

Well folks I couldn't wait so I called up Wellington Motorcycles yesterday and they were good enough to deliver the bike to me last night, woo hoo. CLIP..
and the need to cancel the indicators!!!! It's something that I hadn't given much thought to but I just know I'm going to end up riding around indicating all the time for no reason after forgetting to cancel them!
CLIP...
.

Hehehe, you have found one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment on modern bikes.. the non-cancelling indicators. man what a nightmare, you best learn real quick to get the habit of cancelling em as soon as the corner has been navigated or EVERY cage owner will take great pleasure in aiming for you... .. had a close call when I first came across em, and I learned "real fast"

**Kendog** · 18th April 2007, 06:30

Originally Posted by mcarle

The scariest thing about the whole evening was my wife sitting on the bike and saying..."mmmmm, this feels nice, can I ride it as well?"...oh dear, this could be the end of a wonderful marriage! Mind you, if she can wait 9 months and I can get my full licence I can see an upgrade plan forming.....

A two bike family is the only way to go

Was good to meet you last night. Flick us a PM if you ever want to catch up to talk hornet stuff.