First ride- FINALLY!

[Deviant]

90', I appreciate the advice. Constructive criticism is always valuable- if you can't listen to your critics, you can't improve, and you're far more experienced in this field than me so thanks for pointing out where I could have done things more productively.

As for the hooning, it was my first time on the bike in traffic, so for me, hooning was getting up to 40kmph on a straight! (just an estimate, I could have gotten faster).
It's a bit different to what the other guys was doing. The other guy was seriously racing like it was RallyNZ or something.

Yeah, I shouldn't have shouted, but I was shitting myself- after all it's my first time on the bike and some clown breaks several road rules and nearly kills me in the process. I guess it was the stress that made me shout. He was in the car and I had the helmet on, so he may have been able to lipread but I don't think he heard me, or anyone else for that matter.

I definitely wouldn't chase anyone out of anger, it would be suicide on a bike. Will look up Skid's thread to see what happened.

Also, with the slowing down, I think I could have worded that better. I wasn't braking hard and being dangerous, I was just slowing my speed down as it says in the road-code and on these forums. I knew that the faster I go, the faster he will go too- meaning that if I slow down too fast or make a mistake, he'll run me over. By slowing down, he had time to brake when he tried to overtake me at the intersection and nearly mowed me down. If I hadn't done the slow-downs, he would have been going twice as fast, and I'd probably have been hit there, so I think it was the right move this time.


I have taken the bike out on local streets a few times now, and practiced the following succesfully:

Roundabouts, speedbumps, heavy traffic intersections, hill-starts, fast stops, cornering, hills, gear changing and others.

Still loving it, can't wait to get better!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice!

[90s]

erm 40k, OK. I think that's the domain's speed limit ...

Thanks for the response. I can I summerise Skids latest thread for you below - save you hours of reading:

- loses rag with car overtaking him (sound familiar?) - does what we would all like to do and chases car, some form of collision. Cops come, Marks loses licence, dangerous driving charge, bike impounded 28 days, arrested. Could have been worse.

Again, you seem to be on to it. But don't slow down/speed up to 'learn' cars expecting not to be hit or to cause an incident where the car then recklessly overtakes you. Only you are at risk there. Let them overtake you. Its the best way.

Welcome again; and look out for twats. Roads full of 'em.

[Rosie]

I have taken the bike out on local streets a few times now, and practiced the following succesfully:

Roundabouts, speedbumps, heavy traffic intersections, hill-starts, fast stops, cornering, hills, gear changing and others.

Taking the time to learn slow speed handling, emergency braking, hill starts etc will really help your riding. Getting that stuff nailed will make it heaps easier once you start to venture further afield.

[Deviant]

Cheers Rosie! I hope your new bike is going well!

I took the Suzy around some nearby streets for an hour or so, then ventured through Broadway and up Khyber Pass to visit my sister. I did well again, but made one mistake. Coming back through Khyber Pass on the way home, I didn't realise the inside lanes lead to the motorway, and ended up sitting in the outside of these two lanes with the straight through lane to my left. There was a big gap in traffic, so I took it and just joined the flow again. I was lucky, I could have been forced into the motorway if there were cars behind me, a green light for motorway turns and no large gap to move into.

It was a good learning experience through, I loved it!!!

[Billie]

I must agree with 90s. Taking on larger vehicles on the road is dicing with misfortune - possibly fatally.
When I was in the early stages of learning I would indicate and pull over to let cars pass me so that I was not under any pressure. The goal is to stay upright and enjoy riding for as many years as you want. don't stack the odds against yourself.

I love the GN. I remember when it looked like a monster also. They are reliability plus. I also know riders who take 200-300 km rides on one of these won group rides and have a ball.

Enjoy your GN and stay safe.

[EJK]

I have taken the bike out on local streets a few times now, and practiced the following succesfully:

Roundabouts, speedbumps, heavy traffic intersections, hill-starts, fast stops, cornering, hills, gear changing and others.

Still loving it, can't wait to get better!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice!

Ok, now you MUST join AWNMR now! lol
I will be waiting for you lol

[Tank]

Ok, now you MUST join AWNMR now! lol
I will be waiting for you lol

So will I - Im there on a GN250 also and can really recommend the AWNMR as a fantastic tool to learn. Nice people - great training - really social lot.

C

[Deviant]

Yeah, wanted to join last Wed but had a hangover so didn't touch the bike all day.

I'm commuting to work now, over the bridge, so count me in for Wednesday!

See you all there! And I agree, I should have acted differently, I just thought that it was safer keeping him behind me than letting him overtake me on a blind corner at an intersection I planned to turn into- will think more carefully next time!

[EJK]

Good to hear! lol
If you need escort or anything, just ask!