Can you recall how it was when you started riding?

**Bonez** · 8th September 2007, 20:30

Needed cheap transport so bought a CJ250T with the recent backpay. First decent ride was from Woodbourne, across the ferry to Wellington, Wairapa, Havelock North then up to Hobsonville. Had all my worldly goods in a loaned pack tied by rope to the pillion seat.

Learnt a lot of valuable lessons on that trip. Forgotten a few too.

**Lissa** · 8th September 2007, 21:45

Seeing as I started on KB before I had ever riden a bike in my life, its documented somewhere in a thread.

But I do remember my GN Arriving... and how shiney and new it was, and how big it looked. How I had never owned my OWN vehicle in my life by myself.. and it was all mine and no one elses! But I was friggin scared to even start her up. My first ride was around the back yard then I ventured the 5 minutes down the road to my parents house.. was really nervous has I had never had a bike out of second gear before...

That was about 10 months ago, and have since brought my second bike.

**T.W.R** · 8th September 2007, 22:23

Remember being plonked on a D1 bantam at the Vintage car club grounds at McLeans Island (ChCh) in the late 70s and spending hours ripping around the tracks there. Was a great exhilarating experience.
Then in 1980 the oldman brought me a YZ80 & arranged for me to be taught MX by the son of a family friend who raced under the banner of Norjo's Kawasaki, spent a couple of seasons racing until wrecking my knee during a meeting at Sefton.
Then in 85' got my licences and with money from selling one of my racing bikes (pushie) I brought a GT125 Suzuki, first ride was taking it home

them cars seemed so intimidating

but over the next few weeks it was out every chance possible beating up the roads out beyond Lincoln & Springston

All was going sweet until one day heading back through Prebbleton the GT died & I had to push it home

(bloody long way from there to Riccarton) took the GT into Doug Creswell's Suzuki where mates of the oldman's worked, they took the head off & I had holed a piston

so that was fixed up and whilst the job was being completed over the next few days a 6mth old CB250rs was traded in

I wanted it bad, swung a deal and happily rode away on a mint wee thumper. The world was my oyster and I went everywhere on it

**bull** · 8th September 2007, 23:34

My first ride on my own bike was a 35km/h up the road to my parents house - about 700m LOL.

But the first ride into actual traffic was with the late great UncleB, he followed me from my house to a huge carpark and then taught me emergency braking techniques. My last ride with UncleB was up over Blue mountains through the back roads up to Te Marua and then home. Pex Adams joined us on this ride and it was great talking with them both during the ride stops. Ill never forget these early rides as they meant so much to me to have the support of an experienced rider to guide me.

**Oldfulla** · 9th September 2007, 13:36

This 1989 RGV250 slingshot was my 1st road bike, got it in 1999 and it was my 1st ever time on a road bike. It was somewhat different to dirt bikes that I had ridden during my childhood. Remember taking it out on a test ride out past the Hamilton airport with the sales guy from Boyd Honda. Had an awful time on it in the corners, I was trying to steer it through the corners like a car which just wasn’t working. I was battling with the handle bars trying point them in opposite direction that they naturally wanted to go, the effect was it felt like the bike was trying to stand up and do little bunny hops through the corners. After a quick stop and chat with the sales guy I learnt about counter steering. (He must have had a wee chuckle at me). Anyway the bike was a lot nicer to ride from that point on. That’s just my 1st time on a road bike. Sadly that bike and I parted company 6 months later as I some punk liked it more then me and decided to nick it!!

**avgas** · 9th September 2007, 14:03

We had been working on the TS185 for about 2 years, and finally it was finished. First kick felt good, good pressure, dad kicked it over again and she fired. After a quick blat round the shed dad picked me up again. He told me what to do - and i was away.
However comming back to him he then gave me the instrucitons in reverse.
"Clutch Ease on the front brake ease on the back break take the bike out of gear, Slow down..." i went into information overload, the bike stalled to a stop and fell to the side and burnt my leg with the exhuast.
I had failed to put my legs down
i didnt take up riding again for a few years - then i sat myself in the shed a taught myself - it was easier.