Kia ora everyone! (Yossarian)

**Yossarian** · 20th July 2007, 18:40

Hello!

I joined the forum yesterday after having read a lot of it for a good while. I'm Irish and 32 and I bought my first bike in June ( for my birthday... ) it is a VTR Honda 250 and its the best birthday present I've ever given myself!
I grew up in the Isle of Man and had cousins and mates that all had bikes and I have always wanted to get my licence but for some reason I had it in the back of my mind that you had to " grow up with bikes " as well as knowing people who have had some serious spills meant that I never did get around to owning a bike and gaining a full licence.
The ironic thing is now that I am riding is that I wish I had started a long time ago! Better late than never I suppose, anyway at the moment I am a self confessed fair weather rider. I can only ride at the weekends because of my job and I want to get as many " dry " miles under my belt before I start mixing it with the precipitation!
I live in Howick and I've got my L plate on and my hi-viz vest on, which I've drawn a big black "L" on the back of, so if you see a newbie stalling at any junctions it'll more than likely be me, so give us a nod!
Thanks for reading and all the best!

Yoss!

**Scorpygirl** · 20th July 2007, 18:46

Hi there and welcome to KB. I hope you enjoy it here. There are heaps of threads to help newbie riders - so enjoy the reading. Please don't feed the animals after dark.

**kiwifruit** · 20th July 2007, 18:47

welcome to the site

enjoy your new found hobby

**Drum** · 20th July 2007, 18:51

Good on ya mate. Starting late is definitely better than never. Welcome to the site.

**janno** · 20th July 2007, 18:58

Welcome to you!

Yay the mighty Nana vest! I wear mine too, but at night. Makes a big difference in the amount of space cars give you, so something you don't necessarily want to leave off even a few years down the track.

I believe there are frequent noob rides and general rides in your area - have you sussed those out yet? And there are great ride training days at Whenuapai too - run by BRONZE.

You'll be up and running in no time.

How long have you been in UnZud?

Jan.

**robertydog** · 20th July 2007, 19:17

Welcome. Its never to late to start riding.

**DUCATI*HARD** · 20th July 2007, 21:17

kia ora mate,dunno about the big "L" on the vest,but i do no ill be seeing you on one wheel.

**Sleepr** · 20th July 2007, 21:25

Welcome to the forums mate, I will be moving to Dannemora in about 2 monhts time, so I will more likely cross your path every now and then. I have my L plate on too

. See you around

**tri boy** · 20th July 2007, 21:32

Welcome Yoss.
Ya never too late to join the throng. Stay alert, and have fun.

**xwhatsit** · 20th July 2007, 22:30

Woohoo! Catch 22 references FTW!

Winnar.

**Yossarian** · 21st July 2007, 12:54

Hello everyone,

Thanks for all the welcomes to the site,

I've been in New Zealand since march and I've had family that have been here for about tens years. I am reading Catch 22 at the moment so I thought I'd use Yossarian as a user name!

Great book btw!
I went out this morning at about 8 and it was nice and dry, had a ride out to Onehunga for a coffee and it totally poured down on the way back home.... so I can now add some "wet" skills to my riding, I am in the internet cafe and I am wetter than an otters pocket.
I have noticed that there are various rides and meets organised by people and hope to join one soon, I think I'll get some more dry miles organised before I venture out on one of those, thanks for the heads up.
Heres a few things that I've expierenced since I've started riding:

1 Wearing a hi-viz vest with a big black "L" turns me into a target for fools, I may as well have drawn a bullseye on the back.

2 When turning left at junctions, old dears don't look right to see if there is any traffic (me) they force you to a dead stop, once you have beeped your horn and waved at them, they will turn to the source of the sound, smile and wave back at you.

3 Being a learner means fools on their 125's can undertake you and then weave in and out of traffic ahead of you.

4 Breaking in new motorcycle gear in public can be embarassing, particularly when wet, you don't look cool, you look like a duck thats had both legs broken and squeak a lot.

I will add more to my list as and when I come across more riding related hijinks.

Cheers!

**janno** · 21st July 2007, 13:13

Egads Man! Don't wait to get "good enough" before you join a ride! Get yourself out to meet people quick smart! There'll be someone able to mentor you and get you up and running quickly and safely, plus it's not a bloody coolness contest. And no doubt more than a few people are eagerly awaiting a chance to mock your funny accent.

Buy another nana vest and ditch the L. Hi vis vest good. L = target for hostility. A strangely antipodean trait, unfortunately.

Until you whip your taser out and zap the feckers . . .

**T-Thunder13** · 22nd July 2007, 09:16

i like irish people.

**Yossarian** · 23rd July 2007, 16:39

Hello everyone,

I have got rid of my vi-vest with the big black "L" on it and bought another one in response to Jannos advice. It makes sense I suppose, I was just trying to think laterally and assumed that if people saw you were a novice then they would give you ample space, and try not to intimidate you (without realising they do it or not). But thats not the case as I've found out.
I had a ride out to Whitford yesterday,it was nice and dry and I wanted to get some expierence on those slow long bends.
My main problem I am finding at the moment is when I turn right at a junction or roundabout. I keep going wide and don't turn in as quick as I should? I have the fear that if I lean over too much I'll have to put my footdown. I had the same problem when I went for a spin out in Whitford, even though I was going a lot faster I could'nt bring myself to lean over as much as I should have and started to drift out to the middle of the road.
I understand that this is a natural reaction and with practice and advice I'll sort it out.
Regarding joining up for meets, I've noticed there is a newbie night every wednesday. This is a great idea but I work all over Auckland due to my trade and I would'nt get home in time. I would like to ask if there is any certified bike instructors based in Howick/Pakuranga? as well as going out on my own I would like be properly instructed as I don't want to teach myself any bad habits that I might think are normal!

Thanks for reading!

Yoss!

P.S. is there a spell check thingy that you can access?!