Gidday from a returning bikenut... (jaycee)

**jaycee** · 15th April 2007, 21:37

Hi all, registered a few days ago, been 'wandering' around the KB site 'gathering my thoughts' and now time to say gidday. I'm a returning biker - last bike I owned was in the early 80's (Kwaka Z550 - nothing outstanding but we had fun together), and never really lost that 'need' to get back in the saddle. I enjoyed the club-thing back in those days too; rides to the Castrol 6-hour at Manfield, and even managed to get to the Cold Kiwi! Since then busy with other things - you know, grown-up sh!te like marriage, mortgage and monkeys (kids). So, now time to get my knees back into the wind, and the best thing is that I have the support from the family to do so (way cool!). They have been pretty supportive actually, even tolerating me dragging everyone to Paeroa for the street races back in Feb.
I live on the North Shore (Auckland) and have been browsing a few bike shops, both here and in the city, as well as the net. I have some ideas on 'what bike', but more questions than answers at this point, which I will leave to another time. I was pointed to KB by a bloke at work, and he particularly spoke of the 'great people and bucket-loads of advice' that is KB, and this sounds just like my kind of place to be!.
Anyway, enough rambling from me. All the best and I look forward to chatting soon.
Regards,
John (AKA Jaycee)(yes, I know, not terribly original but a tag from the past...)

**Mom** · 15th April 2007, 21:49

Welcome to KB, your sources are correct, this is a great place to meet people and talk shit.........oh sorry, about all things bikes...........Manfield, now that brings back memories for me, where abouts were you based back in those days?

**Edbear** · 16th April 2007, 08:09

Welcome and join the ever growing club of returnee's!

You'll need to make your opinions on which bikes you are thinking about, known here so everyine can put in their 2c on why a particular choice is right/wrong/okay but, and "Have you considered this?"

Some here, even know what they are talking about at times...

Logic and reason aren't always the best method of choosing a bike, though, otherwise we'd all be riding DL650 V-strom's or Transalps!

(Fantastic bikes, by the way and ideal for touring NZ!)

Whichever you choose, I know you'll be thoroughly enjoying yourself!

I posted a thread on returning bikers, you may have read it?

**NZsarge** · 16th April 2007, 08:43

Hey Jaycee, from one "returnee" to another welcome. pssst...buy a Yamaha.....

**T.I.E** · 16th April 2007, 08:58

hope ya enjoy, and what ever ya do dont feed the animals, especially after midnight.

**Swoop** · 16th April 2007, 09:12

Welcome to KB John!!!

This is the fun part, choosing a new ride!

**tri boy** · 16th April 2007, 11:49

Hi jaycee,
From one L plater to another, welcome. This lot seem controlled enough, although I think medication plays a part in that. Enjoy your search for the new ride.

**jaycee** · 16th April 2007, 18:39

Hey all, and thanks for the positive messages back. I guess I could PM back individual responses to those above, but then that loses the effect of 'spreading the message' wider, and who knows who else may just be reading...you know, the old "six degrees of separation" thing...
Anyways, a bit of 'jaycee context'; I spent my teenage years in Taihape (Central North Island, gumboot capital - yeah, yeah, I know...) and worked in the local bike shop after school. I joined the local bike club (Ruapehu M/C Club, at 14, which scared the hell out of Mum), first bike was a 100cc road bike (which I paid for myself), and joking aside it still took my (cold) ass to the Cold Kiwi in 1980 (at the Army Camp on the Desert Road). A couple of trailie's followed, then the Kwaka Z550. Sold the bike when I went overseas, and never got back to it...until now!
Anyways, specific replies as follows:
"Mom (the stirrers wife)": Ta for the call back. I went to 2 Manfield's, I think they were '79 and '80. I did the 'cage' thing for 1, and rode my trailie to the second - both great days out though! I do recall the GSX1100 was 'the ducks nuts' then, and someone decided to ride one straight from the box for the event (successfully if I recall correctly). One rider had a big 'off' (the bike end-over-end'ed) and the announcer spoke of it being "worth about a grand a bounce". I guess today that would be cheap... And your memories of Manfield?? Are you from central NI region? I remember Palm Nth as being quite Honda-strong in those days, mainly trailies.
"Edbear"; thanks, I kinda got the impression 'some' are well fixed in their views of 'good bikes' and 'not-so-good bikes'... No biases here, and each to their own. As I said earlier, my first was a 100cc roadie and while some laughed, others (mates), well, they knew... I took care of that bike like it was one of my limbs... Re your thread on returning riders, umm, no, sorry I missed it. Could you point me in the right direction as always receptive to learn. As Churchill once said, "I'm always willing to learn, just that I may not always be willing to be taught".
"NZSarge"; Thanks mate. Interesting tag - are you a military man? Me, yes... Thanks also for the advice re the yamaha - my first 2 bikes were yammies. Kinda think the YZF thou may be a bit too sporty for me (well, my back more likely!). Happy to listen to advice though. I took an SV thou for a blast on Sat - loved it, but it too was a bit more sporty than I was expecting.
"T.I.E."; thanks for the message back. SV thou eh? Hmm, rode one on Sat - loved it but the back was complaining a bit afterwards. Kinda think $12.5 K for a new one isn't bad... You happy with your ride?
"Swoop"; thanks mate. Hmmm, VFR, yes, I have been pointed in that direction too. Kinda like my front wheel on the ground though (haha)... You happy with it?
"Tri-boy"; thanks for the L-plate 'gidday'. Medication eh? works for me! Gotta admit I have had a look at the 955i Daytona as an option too. D' you love it?

Thanks again all, and apologies for my rambling. A sod day at work so home for a breather, a 'cold-one', and a chat on KB - all now good! Trust all good with you all and look forward to more chatting...bikes, sh!te, anything I guess...
Regards,
John (jaycee)

**Scorpygirl** · 16th April 2007, 18:46

Welcome, welcome Jaycee. Enjoy the come-back to riding and all the best for finding the right beast.

**johnnyflash** · 16th April 2007, 18:46

Originally Posted by jaycee

Hi all, registered a few days ago, been 'wandering' around the KB site 'gathering my thoughts' and now time to say gidday. I'm a returning biker - CLIP>>>>Regards,
John (AKA Jaycee)(yes, I know, not terribly original but a tag from the past...)

Welcome jaycee, there are heaps of us about, even on the shore

hope u enjoy the site like we all do.. and hey, its always great fun sorting out the NEXT ride..

**Swoop** · 16th April 2007, 21:14

Originally Posted by jaycee

"Swoop"; thanks mate. Hmmm, VFR, yes, I have been pointed in that direction too. Kinda like my front wheel on the ground though (haha)... You happy with it?

No, it is a particularly naughty bike at the moment. 1988 manufactured and has been playing up for a month or so.
Up until that time she has been wonderful (proper '80's nostalgia!) and very nice to ride once I changed the old rubber that she was shod with.
The thing that gets the attention is the song of the V4...

Hope the search is going well! Poke your nose in all the bikeshops, you never know what you'll find.

**tri boy** · 16th April 2007, 22:54

Aahh... Manfield through the eighties. Six hours of battles inside battles, where you'd see BM's chug around while katanas carved up the pack. (to be honest, by the 5th hour the beer goggles struggled to tell the difference).
Know what you mean when you talk of sport bikes punishing the back. At least old age has treachery on it's side.

**kiwifruit** · 19th April 2007, 12:19

welcome to the site

**Blackbird** · 19th April 2007, 12:33

Hi Jaycee and welcome. It's a delicious feeling wondering what bike to buy is it not? Eminent KB member Jim2 once said "Choose with your heart, test with your bum and buy with your head" (or something close to that!) Wise words and emotion certainly should be a big part of decision-making as long as you don't forget the other two!