Dear Tom
KiwiBikers is a disparate group of people, all many of us have in common is an interest in motorcycles and motorcycling. We all owe a vote of thanks to SpankMe, and latterly the moderators, who work without pay to the level of their various abilities to provide this facility.
There is sometimes a woeful amount of nonsense written here, but there are also pearls of wisdom. And then there was WINJA whose specialty was including both in the same post.
Some of us have been doing this biking thing for quite a long time now. There are quite possibly people here who were riding motor bikes before your grandparents were born, if these people are still riding they must have learned a thing or two along the way. On a personal note, perhaps I was getting a bit smug, I hadn't put a bike down since about 1973, but had only owned five bikes since. Earlier this year I put my new two week old bike into a ditch. Nobody's fault, but if blame must be apportioned it can only be mine.
I do about twenty thousand kilometers a year but there are others who do considerably more than that. There are Rusty Nuts and Southern Cross riders. There are many here who do not just ride on sunny Sundays.
There are people here who have read an enormous amount about motorcycling and know the history of the sport. Some own small libraries. There are those who understand subtleties such as the physics involved in cornering. There are people here who write about motorcycling, at least one does so professionally.
There are people here who have spent a lifetime in the mechanical and engineering trades and understand things that baffle us ordinary mortals.
There are people here who actually do know about the law. There are at least two members of the Police who are regulars here, although given the level of discourse I sometimes wonder why they bother. I have met both and they are reasonable people. Also while I don't know, I believe both hold the rank of sergeant. Both of these guys would dignify an intelligent question with an intelligent answer, preferably before any laws had been broken...
Some KB members have attended a number of track days, other KB members organise and run track days. There are people here who are embarking on racing careers. There is one who has a successful international career and has many trophies including at least two Isle of Man victories and I think at least one lap record. All of these people have helped newcomers and would no doubt do so again if approached in the right way.
As I write this it is night time in the UK just two days before the start of practice week of the 100th Anniversary meeting, and I have visions of Shaun sneaking around the course with his spray can painting his markers under cover of darkness. I'm sure we all wish him success in the coming two weeks.
In summary there is an immense amount of knowledge and expertise available here, and it's all available to you. So do you decide to ask a question? No, you decide to make a bold but highly questionable assertion. You should note though that initially the majority of the replies were motivated by concern for your welfare. At the age of fifteen (or thereabout) your experience can only be minimal at best, and as unlikely as it may seem to you, you likely have knowledge and ability to match. If I'm not mistaken your current licence status does not even permit you to legally ride your bike on the road.
Perhaps you might consider asking a question next time?
Best wishes
Pritch
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Originally Posted by Donor
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