30 May - 5 June: Where did you ride and what did you practise?

**Terminated** · 1st June 2007, 21:49

Please spend a few minutes and let us all know, 'Where Did You Ride and What Did You Practise?' during the week. Humour and photographs are welcomed, however please keep in mind the general spirit is to enlighten us all about your riding practice and technique.

By all means if you have any concerns about your riding, ask questions and I am sure a mentor or senior experienced rider will be only too happy to touch base with you in the forum or by PM personal message.

Next Tuesday evening Cynos and Carbacca will each chose an entry from this thread. The selections will then be copied across to the Newbie Update Blog..

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/bl...hp?userid=1728

Heads Up and Enjoy

**Terminated** · 4th June 2007, 17:57

I really enjoyed my last two days getting out:

Sunday - Wainuiomata Coast
Nasty, Stevedee, Ducatijim, and I, had a hmmmm ticklelish ride out to the Wainuiomata Coast.

Hello to Ducatijim from Reporoa who fronted up at the Rimutex and asked 'Is this where the Kiwibikers meet?'

We gave the Rimutaka Hill a miss as things were a little doubtful with road conditions up there. Nasty suggested the Wainui Coast run. I had to reflect on the road out to Wainui Coast, I recall it would have been 12-14months when the new seal was put down, and now however the green lichen is quite rampant and things are a wee bit slippery out there. We had a good wobble here and there and enjoyed a coffee and a light meal back at the Buzz Cafe in Lower Hutt.
Photos here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost...ry.php?cat=534

Monday - Martinborough
I got away around 9.15 for a quiet solo ride out to Martinborough, and though Wellington side of the Rimutaka Hill was quite overcast, the Wairarapa was blue dome day. I stayed on SH2 until I arrived at Greytown and took the immediate right after the 50kph sign off SH2 and enjoyed the ride out to Martinborough. Recall the tee-intersection you arrive at if you came from Featherston for the turn right to Martinborough, well the left side of the tee is the road from Greytown. I think that makes a good loop run when riding over the hill out to Martinborough to go Rimutaka Hill - Greytown-Martinborough-Featherston-Rimutaka Hill.

Enjoyed a quite coffee inside Toppys [Flying Fish] and bumped into to Mr and Mrs Hitcher enjoying their breakfast.

Also met Mike the proprietor and he took me inside and showed me the new renovations in progress - having knocked out a wall in near the front counter and a bar will extend out and around into the extra room space. He reckons about 3-4weeks and the job will be done. This could be a good venue as always, for an early morning breakfast ride when daylight saving kicks in.

What Did I Practise
Well having come off a week in bed with the dreaded bug I was just taking things easy Sunday and Monday. Sunday out to the coast was a case of riding to the conditions and heightened hazard detection, speed control and setting up the corners with extreme care. [I think the Wainui Coast rode will only be done through winter on a sunny day and then with care.]

Monday: Coming back over the Rimutaka Hill the breeze/wind started to build and I deliberately brought the VStrom down to 2nd gear when approaching those left bends when the wind came then hit you strongly. With no traffic behind I just took my time and built up the anticipation at every corner and worked the throttle comfortably when the gust hit.
Photos here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost...ry.php?cat=533

Experiencing The Off
I was pleased to see Nasty come out on her ride on Sunday after Grub's off last week. She said it was something she had to do for herself, and I am sure we can all relate to that. I popped around and saw Grub in the afternoon after the Wainui ride it was good to have a chat.
Photos here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...p?t=51150Heads Up Brett.

Heads Up and Enjoy

**Lissa** · 4th June 2007, 22:32

Oh must have just kinda miss you BB1.

Went riding today (Monday).

Was going to ride early morning to Martinborough for a coffee for breakfast, but decided that the road might be a little frosty, so I waited until just after 10am. Stopped at Wild Oats for a coffee by myself.... as I couldnt get anyone to ride with me

. Waited for Elle... but decided to go on to Featherston by myself and wait for her there. Saw alot of bikes... large groups of people making there way to Martinborough. Finally elle showed up, and the Fast Crew as well. Me and elle head off first, but of course we are caught up.

After Martinborough for lunch we headed to Lake Ferry for more drinks and then back to Featherston.

I practiced just getting comfortable on my bike. I also have a bit of a cold, and wasnt feeling too flash, so took it easy. I KNOW I can do corners alot quicker than I am currently doing, and I think (and have been told) I am cornering slower on the bandit than I ever did on the GN. But I just dont feel 100% comfortable on the bandit yet, and still get sore wrists. The only way to get better is to do MORE riding.

One plus though I never stalled today.. so Yay. Oh and I never fell off in the gutter . And the bike runs fine with the knob on the end of the clutch lever.

so all and all a good days ride!!! Oh and one day I want to ride like Flame, Skelly, Mark and Si... its no fun being over taken by the fast crew

**yungatart** · 5th June 2007, 08:34

I took the Ninja out Saturday, Sunday and Monday (yes, I know I'm naughty and I said I wouldn't but...)
On Saturday we went down HW50 to Tikokino.
The bike is very different to the EL, so I took it easy on the way down.
I focused on good lines and looking ahead through the corners. Thinking about my riding after the RRRS course, I decided that I was not looking far enough ahead, so I made a concerted effort to do so. And, guess what, it works. I needed to put far less effort in to cornering and got far smoother results.
Less said about Sunday, the better. I just felt awkward and uncomfortable.
On Monday we went to Wairoa. Plenty of oppourtunities on that road for hazard identification practice, with all the livestovck and cops about.
I focused again, on my cornering skills. They are getting smoother and smoother, even the real tight ones, and there are a few of them on that road.I gave poor old Mstrs a fright as I entered one of the 55 k corners...he thought it was way too fast for me, and with his heart in his mouth, watched me effortlessly ride around it! !!
I noticed that my corner speed has lifted without me even thinking about it, a real bonus!
At the last two roundabouts as we headed home, I had the chance to practice my emergency braking as cages pulled out in front of me at both of them. I am beginning to think that the Ninja rides in invisible mode, as both cars had let the other bikes through, before pulling out in front of me! teach me to be the slow on e at the back eh?

**Hitcher** · 5th June 2007, 08:50

Saturday: After collecting the FJR from TSS who had just completed its 30,000km service (that's 26,000km since 1 July 2006), we rescued Jim2 and descended on Eastbourne for caffienated beverages, etc. Dropping Jim2 back at TSS, we then transcended the Rimutakas and set about exploring the East-West Road, Watertower loop and back home.

Sunday: It was long overdue time to wash the FJR. Frequent and enduring roadworks on our Tauranga tour the previous weekend had contributed much that was not to like to this outstanding Yamaha's physique.

Monday: Back over the Takas to the Wairarapa. Upper Hutt in winter is a truly special place. As one approaches from Lower Hutt, one observes the marauding smog trapped at the Silverstream end of the valley and notes that this is probably lying atop a body of extremely frigid air. As one roars past Manor Park, one's testicles are immediately enveloped by the welcoming icy tentacles of the upperest of the Hutts. One knows that one's manhood has to endure this fate at least until the summit of the Rimutakas prior to a hopefully warming descent into the Wairarapa. Lovely.

After some brunch at the Fush, we took off through Gladstone and the Lee-Pakaraka Road, out to Alfredton and Eketahuna (where it was bloody bleak and freezing) before returning to the warmth of the Wairarapa and home.

Only about a 700km weekend this week. We're really starting to enjoy the options that greater fuel range affords.

**MSTRS:Me** · 5th June 2007, 09:38

Originally Posted by yungatart

I took the Ninja out Saturday, Sunday and Monday (yes, I know I'm naughty and I said I wouldn't but...)
On Saturday we went down HW50 to Tikokino.
The bike is very different to the EL, so I took it easy on the way down.
I focused on good lines and looking ahead through the corners. Thinking about my riding after the RRRS course, I decided that I was not looking far enough ahead, so I made a concerted effort to do so. And, guess what, it works. I needed to put far less effort in to cornering and got far smoother results.
Less said about Sunday, the better. I just felt awkward and uncomfortable.
On Monday we went to Wairoa. Plenty of oppourtunities on that road for hazard identification practice, with all the livestovck and cops about.
I focused again, on my cornering skills. They are getting smoother and smoother, even the real tight ones, and there are a few of them on that road.I gave poor old Mstrs a fright as I entered one of the 55 k corners...he thought it was way too fast for me, and with his heart in his mouth, watched me effortlessly ride around it! !!
I noticed that my corner speed has lifted without me even thinking about it, a real bonus!
At the last two roundabouts as we headed home, I had the chance to practice my emergency braking as cages pulled out in front of me at both of them. I am beginning to think that the Ninja rides in invisible mode, as both cars had let the other bikes through, before pulling out in front of me! teach me to be the slow on e at the back eh?

HW50 is a road that we are fairly familiar with, so I'm sure that makes a difference when learning/practising new skills and/or a new machine.
The awkwardness of the Sunday ride tends to confirm this. We chose to go up the Puketitiri road as far as Patoka...this is a narrow, twisty road that we seldom ride. Perhaps 40% of the corners are tight, blind, or hairpin type, to say nothing of the locals treating the road like they own it, so getting an easy rhythm going is difficult.
Monday to Wairoa - one of our favourites. Many of you will not have ridden this road, but have heard how 'awful' it is...not so when compared to Puketitiri Rd and again due to more familiarity, explains why YT had a blinder. I truly was clenching on some corners, watching her go round 55ers at 85!!
Armed with a basic skillset, go ride the most difficult roads you can 'cope' with....you will not believe how easy everything else is after that!!!

**chanceyy** · 5th June 2007, 10:20

Outstanding weekend

Well I can honestly say that after attending the ride right ride safe course, my cornering has also improved, also being able to figure out why I was not handling the right hand corners as well as the left helped too.

After finishing work on sat late afternoon (& being a hectic week glad we trailered the bikes to Turangi – thanks to 86 for driving my tired ass up there) after an equally late nite chatting to everyone it was time to hit the hay for some much needed rest before the Sunday ride.

Sunday & the weather came out a pearler crisp clear morning, 10 am meet for a riders brief (can tell the quicks have done this a time or 50) Thinking I was going to be the slowest rider there, & also the most inexperienced I did not want to become TEC, thanks to 86 GSXR & Koroj for assuming that role.

Well destination set … off we went towards Taumaranui headed off & of course the speedy riders shot off into the distance, kinda figured that everyone would pass me .. which is totally ok

but I was surprised as I passed my first bike on a nice wide sweeper corner (having no speedo certainly helps) & had a couple of other riders join me for a few ks before they took off into the distance, by this time we had ridden into some major fog & being on a road that I did not know I took it relatively easy. I starting thinking about each corner where I needed to be to navigate it, could I see through the corner or was it blind (could I see through my visor .. so rode with it open) .. was there any road markings telling me of a speed I should be doing (not that I would know how fast that was)
I must say knowing that there were still a bunch of riders behind me totally gave me the confidence to relax & work on what I needed to concentrate on which was corners.

Once we reached our first petrol stop a decision was made to stop for coffee & give the fog time to clear, this was a great idea, cause it certainly was not warm. Approx a hour later we left & headed towards Ongarue this sweepy road was a ton of fun & I had Betsy cruising through at approx 8.5 thou revs .. what ever speed that is

, but once we turned off .. thought crap the road was very wet covered in leaves & could see nice green moss .. hmmmmm I vaguely remembering in another thread the danger of these three hazards so decided to take it quiet

Since the two riders in front were caught behind a car I quietly caught up to qk chk & was able to follow her through corners & got some great lines to follow .. this was a more tighter road & with the hazards care was still needed. As qk kid had been the one to turn us in the right direction once the TEC came through he caught us up & spent a few mins behind me & watched as I was cornering .. at the next stop point he said I was not downshifting enough for the corners & explained why I needed to do this, so absorbing this wee insight & knowing how the corners felt stuck that bit of info to my brain as the next bit of road was fast wide sweepers & sure put a smile on ones face.

After lunch at Whakamaru 6 of us decided after the late nite that we would head back down the western access & this bit of road was fun, got a chance to practice qk kids advice on the corners & what a difference it surely made .. had more power coming out of the corners & since I ride with 86 GSXR a lot he can see the improvements, I am faster but more importantly more smoother, have way more lean on the bike & totally get into the zen feeling (still riding to my capabilities .. no one elses)

On the Monday 86 & I took a quick flick up national park road to Whakapapa ski field again took the opportunity to place myself on each corner & as this road was shiny & wet in places again backed off the speed & concentrated on how I was tackling each corner. Awesome stuff, the total weekend was a great learning experience being on strange roads with a number of conditions to deal with, & getting those wonderful zen moments that really just make you smile & leave you feeling very satisfied.

**James Deuce** · 5th June 2007, 14:58

As part of my personal improvement programme I started the Katana 400 Intervention on Saturday morning, replacing the squared off, made from concrete rear IRC with my favourite small bike tyre, a Pirelli Sport Demon.

I dropped the bike off to get the tyre fitted and the darling Mrs Hitcher suggested we head off for brunch or coffee or something and offered me her brand new Bandit 650 to ride. The Bandit 600 was the very definition of meek, budget, and well, faintly crap.

The Bandit 650 is none of those things. Nicely suspended, a superbly flexible engine, comfy seat (even if the modifications to the seat made it feel like a chopper), and a quality feel missing from previous Bandits. Panel fit was exceptional in the cockpit region.

Talk about light steering, but still stable.

Returned to pick up the Kat after a lovely 2nd breakfast (with nice Supreme coffee!) got home and took it to bits in preparation for the front end removal on Monday. Learned how to use an impact driver and filled up labeled Ice Cream containers with bits, mostly corroded fasteners of one type or another.

Stripping the Kat has revealed a functional motorcycle though less loved than I like to see. Never mind, that's what projects are about.

I've boxed up all my bits and I'm off to Scroederco and the post office on Wednesday to buy new bearings and bolts and send some fork legs away respectively.

Most of all I had an excellent time stripping the bike with Nudemetalz (now THAT sounds faintly kinky), a more patient teacher would be difficult to find. He didn;t even hit me once for getting something wrong!

**Zukin** · 5th June 2007, 15:42

Well I had a great weekend riding

On the new bike I decided that I needed to ride in the wet, something one must do to be mentally prepared for it, otherwise you will not be ready when the weather turns to custard.

So on Saturday afternoon I took off from Sunny Napier, I took the 650 along SH50, the road was dry but there was cow shit up the hill

, so it always pay to watch the road.

Just before I turned right onto SH2, it rained and rained.
Heavy rain too, but I wanted this to A test out my new boots and B to test me on the new bike

I travelled with some caution until I really felt comfortable on the new bike; it behaves quite differently to the DRZ

I felt the front slip on the white paint (I rode over it on purpose) and felt it slip on the railway crossing just South of Dannevirke.
I have never felt the DRZ slip on these before, maybe it was because of the weight.

As I got through to Pahiatua the rain had stopped and I was able to push a little more

Lots of bikes on the road too.

On Sunday it was overcast and cold from a still southerly breeze, so again I wanted to try the bike on a slippery twisty road.
So at 6.00am in the dark I headed to Wellington.
The Rimutakas were wet and slippery in places, and whilst I didn't notice any large oil/diesel spills there was the obvious oil spots all over the road.
I could feel the bike slip on some of these, and the concentration level was incredible.
When I reached Upper Hutt the roads were dry and the sun was peeking through.
I rode over the Haywards and along the coast at Whitby before heading back to Upper Hutt.
I caught up with a few of the locals (thanks for the intro Nasty) it was good to put some names to the faces

Monday
Rode back to Napier, I left Masterton at about 7.30am, it was a wicked frost and cold.
But I made sure I was warm before I left, as I knew it would be cold on the road, better to be prepared and warm rather than face hypothermia along the way and not realise until it is too late

I hit fog at Mount Bruce and it was thick too, I decided that I was pretty vulnerable out there, so I put my headlight on full just to be a little more visible.
It was nice to finally get some sunshine for the last part of my journey to Napier from about Dannevirke on

What did I learn?
That sometimes you have to get out and ride your bike in conditions that one day you will have to ride through, although I have ridden in most weather conditions, it is always good to hone your skills and be a little more prepared for what Mother Nature can throw at you

Especially on a new bike, or one that you are not familiar with.

Cheers Scott

**lemure** · 5th June 2007, 15:53

I decided to go for a short ride to Warkworth on Friday afternoon - big mistake. Getting there wasn't a problem, but there was traffic banked up from the lights at that stupid northern intersection to the 100kph sign at the southern end of the town. Since I haven't done much clutch-feathering, the bike kept wobbling all over the place. The traffic was either crawling or stopped. In the end I drawled down the left side of the traffic until the first set of lights, then headed into Warkworth, turned around and went home again. I'll get it right one day. My boots still have shiny leather soles, so they are slippery over the road seal. Must get them coated with rubber grips. My cornering is getting better, but the 35kph downhill corner heading south from Windy Ridge is still a tad difficult - as are ALL slow speed corners. However it was a nice ride. Just as well I went Friday, the weather was rubbish for the rest of the weekend.

**avgas** · 5th June 2007, 16:15

Did a few night rides round mt albert/new lynn.
No traffic and very few cops. fantastic.

**carbacca** · 6th June 2007, 09:41

my pick for the blog, a nice read (while i am slacking off at work too i might add). at least you had better weather than me in auckland grrrrr.

Originally Posted by chanceyy

Outstanding weekend

Well I can honestly say that after attending the ride right ride safe course, my cornering has also improved, also being able to figure out why I was not handling the right hand corners as well as the left helped too.

After finishing work on sat late afternoon (& being a hectic week glad we trailered the bikes to Turangi – thanks to 86 for driving my tired ass up there) after an equally late nite chatting to everyone it was time to hit the hay for some much needed rest before the Sunday ride.

Sunday & the weather came out a pearler crisp clear morning, 10 am meet for a riders brief (can tell the quicks have done this a time or 50) Thinking I was going to be the slowest rider there, & also the most inexperienced I did not want to become TEC, thanks to 86 GSXR & Koroj for assuming that role.

Well destination set … off we went towards Taumaranui headed off & of course the speedy riders shot off into the distance, kinda figured that everyone would pass me .. which is totally ok

but I was surprised as I passed my first bike on a nice wide sweeper corner (having no speedo certainly helps) & had a couple of other riders join me for a few ks before they took off into the distance, by this time we had ridden into some major fog & being on a road that I did not know I took it relatively easy. I starting thinking about each corner where I needed to be to navigate it, could I see through the corner or was it blind (could I see through my visor .. so rode with it open) .. was there any road markings telling me of a speed I should be doing (not that I would know how fast that was)
I must say knowing that there were still a bunch of riders behind me totally gave me the confidence to relax & work on what I needed to concentrate on which was corners.

Once we reached our first petrol stop a decision was made to stop for coffee & give the fog time to clear, this was a great idea, cause it certainly was not warm. Approx a hour later we left & headed towards Ongarue this sweepy road was a ton of fun & I had Betsy cruising through at approx 8.5 thou revs .. what ever speed that is

, but once we turned off .. thought crap the road was very wet covered in leaves & could see nice green moss .. hmmmmm I vaguely remembering in another thread the danger of these three hazards so decided to take it quiet

Since the two riders in front were caught behind a car I quietly caught up to qk chk & was able to follow her through corners & got some great lines to follow .. this was a more tighter road & with the hazards care was still needed. As qk kid had been the one to turn us in the right direction once the TEC came through he caught us up & spent a few mins behind me & watched as I was cornering .. at the next stop point he said I was not downshifting enough for the corners & explained why I needed to do this, so absorbing this wee insight & knowing how the corners felt stuck that bit of info to my brain as the next bit of road was fast wide sweepers & sure put a smile on ones face.

After lunch at Whakamaru 6 of us decided after the late nite that we would head back down the western access & this bit of road was fun, got a chance to practice qk kids advice on the corners & what a difference it surely made .. had more power coming out of the corners & since I ride with 86 GSXR a lot he can see the improvements, I am faster but more importantly more smoother, have way more lean on the bike & totally get into the zen feeling (still riding to my capabilities .. no one elses)

On the Monday 86 & I took a quick flick up national park road to Whakapapa ski field again took the opportunity to place myself on each corner & as this road was shiny & wet in places again backed off the speed & concentrated on how I was tackling each corner. Awesome stuff, the total weekend was a great learning experience being on strange roads with a number of conditions to deal with, & getting those wonderful zen moments that really just make you smile & leave you feeling very satisfied.

**Cynos** · 6th June 2007, 10:45

I'll choose this one, especially as winter's coming up.

Originally Posted by Zukin