Highway Biker
I went through this 2 weekends ago.
Had never ridden a bike before.
Contacted http://www.streetwisenz.co.nz/
Booked in for a Saturday morning.
The instructor supplied everything, taught me how to ride for the first 2 hours then put me through the BHS. I passed that no worries, then went straight to VTNZ and passed the learners scratchy.
Now I am the proud owner of my first bike and loving it.
Double shot!!
You really need half an hour riding around some grassy park until you have your low-speed balance sorted, and then an hour or two in some large empty carpark getting used to the controls - stops and starts, gear changes, indictors, brakes. Then do the BHS.
Steve
"I am a licenced motorcycle instructor, I agree with dangerousbastard, no point in repeating what he said."
"read what Steve says. He's right."
"What Steve said pretty much summed it up."
"I did axactly as you said and it worked...!!"
"Wow, Great advise there DB."
WTB: Hyosung bikes or going or not.
Idiot Mechanic
Well, I've had a quick look at the bank balance today and realised that I'm not going to be hiring a bike and getting any training this month (ironically due to needing a new set of tyres for the WOF on the car, doh!) So I've been reading up on the theory side of things (really good links on this site, thanks guys).
Next month I intend to get some training in and I've negotiated use of the garden to do up a bike with the live-in-landlord so I can buy a cheap doer-upper and get my hands greasy. I'm reasonably decent with cars so I figure bikes can't be that much of a stretch and it'll be good to get to know the thing mechanically before riding it, I'll feel more comfortable anyway even if it never breaks down...
Workin' Socially!
He's right EXCEPT for he part about buying a GN250 - you'll always be lookin' back on a GN cos of all the traffic that will be backing up behind ya cos they're gutless. DON'T!Originally Posted by crazyhorse
Stop procrastinating and just do it!
Sit the exam, do the riding test and go buy a GN250. You will never look back
My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am.
Missing my buddy Morepower
As a learner, its not about speed. A GN250 would set you back a couple of grand only, and are a great learners bike. Once you get your full, you can get whatever you want. If you like in the big smoke, its probably fine. In the country, yeah, you'd want something quicker, but I personally know heaps who've had one, and are more than happy with them. I never had a learners, but my kids did.
Idiot Mechanic
I've got bit of a lead foot problem in the car which will probably head over onto bikes as well so I think that 'gutless' might not be such a bad place to start, it's keep me out of trouble a lot more than something with more kick!
Having said that I may well find myself changing my mind down the road!
Double shot!!
Yeah they are pretty straight forward. The first mistake you make is overtightening everything, hehe. Bikes are much littler! That torque wrench is much more important here.
Yeah you are right there. Theres mucho fun to be had on a bike without speeding anyway.
Steve
"I am a licenced motorcycle instructor, I agree with dangerousbastard, no point in repeating what he said."
"read what Steve says. He's right."
"What Steve said pretty much summed it up."
"I did axactly as you said and it worked...!!"
"Wow, Great advise there DB."
WTB: Hyosung bikes or going or not.
Hardcore Biker
Hey there,
Welcome to KB!!! Just do it. That's what I did, a friend gave me some lessons in quiet empty carparks of an evening. If you have a good teacher - it really only takes a few pointers and away you go.
Then you just need to do your BHS (basic handling skills) test which involves you riding around a carpark while an instructor watches you for maybe half hour to show you are competant to handle a motorbike. Once you pass that you can go and get your learners licence. Which a year on is what I should do lol
Good luck
"The good ole days weren't always good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems. " Billy Joel
Hardcore Biker
i went... basic handling test, learners, booked restricted, hired bike and passed test. thats the 1st time i rode on the road.
Thats whats up.
A flash of lightning
Part of the BHS is:
"Riding a curve - ride up to a curve from a distance of 25m at a speed of 20 km/h. You must then give a turn signal, adjust your speed and ride around the curve (which is 1.2m wide), keeping within the lines all the way."
I misunderstood it and though you were meant to go through the curve AT 20km/h without slowing down first. It was fun with some big lean angles until the instructor told me to slow down
To get into biking you need to do three things.
1. Save more money. A bike is NOT cheaper than a car.
2. Find out what a gixxer is.
3. Buy one.
Ride fast or be last.
Idiot Mechanic
Yeah, I've been looking at them, nice looking bike, especially for the price. And let's be honest, I know nothing about bikes! At the moment it's all looks as I have nothing else to weight my decisions against
Fair weather rider
in main centres they do BHS and training on a bike aswell so it teachs you how to ride before you do the test
ABS Breaks wreaking the fun since the 1950's
Bite my shiney metal ass
Welcome to the mad house. Go on do it! Get a bike and join the fun. GN's are a hoot to rip round on but theres heaps of choice out there.
Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire. -Samuel Johnson
BMW Motorrad
Basically... It's quite like riding a push bike with two 25kg rice bags on each side with enough power to take all the weight upto 100kph aswell.
It's heavy. It's powerful (for a first timer).
If you can make it on Kiwibiker you can make it anywhere.
BogOff-Cant you see I'm busy?
Which is odd as I like driving and I'm nearly 30
Anyways, I'm looking to learn and I was wondering if you guys had any pointers on how a complete novice should start out?
I figure that getting my learners license is a good first step but that's a couple of hours on a rented bike and a sit down exam, hardly my idea of getting out on the open road!
After that I figure I'll need a bike (well duh) but that's about where my ideas stop, I haven't a clue about the things!
When you drive your car, it is all second nature and you don't need to give any thought to the processes such as using the clutch, brake, or changing gear. You know the correct line to take around a corner and it all just happens doing what we call driving.
When you start out of a motorcycle, you will be thinking about every part of the process and there are also a few more things to think about.
Basically, you need to be able to get your self to the same level of competence with a motorcycle as you presently have with your car.
It's heaps more fun.
Enjoy!
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