New boy on the block

**breakaway** · 15th April 2007, 21:00

Originally Posted by MidnightMike

Hey there steve, welcome to the site, not too many Gn's round but a good bike to start on.

Are you kidding? I thought there were heaps of GNs around here

Originally Posted by Steve 555

Hey guys brakeing on a bike. best to use both brakes at a time is this right. Also is changing down to slow down a good idea. I know these questions may seem silly sorry.

1. Use rear brake carefully, because when braking, most of your weight is on the front of the bike, therefore making the rear "lighter". If you're not careful, might lock it up. Remember most of your braking power comes from the front brake.

2. Changing down? Be careful, since 4 strokes bikes have more engine braking, and if you change down while going too fast, could cause a lock up or spinning.

And check this site out, has all (most, with the exception of "Does the blue car have to give way" questions) the questions you will get in the theory test - http://www.drivinginstructor.co.nz/i.../test_menu.php

**MidnightMike** · 15th April 2007, 21:07

Originally Posted by breakaway

Are you kidding? I thought there were heaps of GNs around here

In Tauranga i wouldnt say their everwhere. (thats what i was wanting to type)

Steve, did you buy your gn off a guy called robert?

**Rotor** · 15th April 2007, 21:45

Originally Posted by Steve 555

Hey guys brakeing on a bike. best to use both brakes at a time is this right. Also is changing down to slow down a good idea. I know these questions may seem silly sorry.

If your just learning then the front brake is the go for emergency.
If you use the rear break to much the back wheel will lock up and that will make the bike start sliding.
As for changing down gears with your GN you will probably have to "blip" the throttle as you go down gears and remember that you are using your front brake as well, might be to much for a learner to do all at once, so the front brake is the go. One more thing for emergency stopping is no matter how good your brakes and tires are if there isn't enough room to stop then you have 2 choices CRASH or let go of the brakes and change direction and dodge.
Go find a deserted piece of road and do some emergency braking and see for your self.
Normal stopping-it is cheaper to replace break shoes than a gear box

**Matt_TG** · 15th April 2007, 21:49

Welcome to KB Steve.

My first steed was a GN, I look on them with a kind of fondness

. I'm currently in Te Puna with the inlaws while our house in Papamoa is being built, and could be keen for a leisurely ride without trying to lay it down on the corners.

Matt

**Northpoint** · 16th April 2007, 00:42

Welcome to KB Steve. Good luck, have fun & stay rubber side up.

**twinkle** · 16th April 2007, 06:07

Originally Posted by breakaway

1. Use rear brake carefully, because when braking, most of your weight is on the front of the bike, therefore making the rear "lighter". If you're not careful, might lock it up. Remember most of your braking power comes from the front brake.

2. Changing down? Be careful, since 4 strokes bikes have more engine braking, and if you change down while going too fast, could cause a lock up or spinning.

Thats not quite so true on a gn as it is on a sports bike. A bit more of the braking comes from the rear brake, and the compression is quite low on a gn so there isn't so much engine braking.

**MidnightMike** · 16th April 2007, 10:24

Originally Posted by twinkle

Thats not quite so true on a gn as it is a sports bike.

Bwhahaha

Man, I almost peed a bit.

**breakaway** · 16th April 2007, 14:46

Originally Posted by twinkle

Thats not quite so true on a gn as it is a sports bike.

Does that make my RG150 a superbike?

(Sig'd

)

**twinkle** · 16th April 2007, 18:06

pffft I knew what I meant

better edit that

**Rotor** · 16th April 2007, 20:11

GN's don't have the greatest brakes on the best of days

**cowpoos** · 16th April 2007, 20:56

Originally Posted by Rotor

GN's don't have the greatest brakes on the best of days

amoung there issuses......

**Stella** · 16th April 2007, 22:19

"2. Changing down? Be careful, since 4 strokes bikes have more engine braking, and if you change down while going too fast, could cause a lock up or spinning."

What should the revs be around when changing down?

I find I change up smoothly (bearing in mind I have only got to second, tootling around a carpark) but down is a bit jerky.

Not sure what it means to lock up a wheel (or spinning, not heard of that before). And I heard someone say something about 'blipping' the throttle when changing down, but does that mean more or less throttle?

Thanks.

**breakaway** · 17th April 2007, 03:11

Originally Posted by Stella

What should the revs be around when changing down?

This will come to you naturally, you will be able to tell by the sound of the engine if it's time to switch down or not.

Originally Posted by Stella

Not sure what it means to lock up a wheel (or spinning, not heard of that before).

If you're going 100 in 6th gear, and you pull the clutch, and change down to say 3rd, Your revs will go high, and your wheel might lock up. So make sure your not going TOO fast before you select a lower gear. Inversely, if you rev too much, and then change up, your wheel might start spinning too fast resulting in loss of traction. Unlikely, but just something to watch out for.

Originally Posted by Stella

And I heard someone say something about 'blipping' the throttle when changing down, but does that mean more or less throttle?

Blipping means giving it a real quick twist.

**johnnyflash** · 17th April 2007, 19:30

Originally Posted by twinkle

Thats not quite so true on a gn as it is on a sports bike. A bit more of the braking comes from the rear brake, and the compression is quite low on a gn so there isn't so much engine braking.

Yep, think I gree with that, my memory of the GH250 was that is was a bit too light in the front for my liking, due to the seating being fairly well back and if pillion they sat darn near on the number plate.. great little commuter tho, and I always used both brakes, just ddepends on road surface and urgency as to how much I balanced em out...