GingerMidget's new bike!

[ducatilover]

Wheres my beer dammit?!

[GingerMidget]

Its a beautiful day to go down to the waterfront pub and have a couple

[joeyy]

Hi GM, I'm new to riding too and it's great to see somebody else excited about their new bike and getting out there and putting the miles in. Inspired me a little bit.

Stay safe out there.

[BMWST?]

Not at all Beemer, remember she was a scooterist before now. I think the practise in a slow group could do the world of good.

disagree...by GM own admission she is still coming to grips with the very basics of motorcycling...I would think a weekend of mastering the basics would be the first step,I think track days have their place but down the road a wee bit.

[BMWST?]

The fact that after decades of practice you're still not very good at controlling motorcycles doesn't imply that everyone else has to suck quite so hard for quite so long.

I dont see what my riding ability has to do with the argument that a rider with less than a few days experience on this bike and by her own admission lack confidence in the basic control of her new bike.
I dont deny that Track days are a good way of learning ones and the bikes limits, but a bit of slow speed /balance/braking starts and hill starts are prolly more valuable in the first couple of months.

[FJRider]

I dont see what my riding ability has to do with the argument that a rider with less than a few days experience on this bike and by her own admission lack confidence in the basic control of her new bike.
I dont deny that Track days are a good way of learning ones and the bikes limits, but a bit of slow speed /balance/braking starts and hill starts are prolly more valuable in the first couple of months.

I would agree ... learning to walk before you learn to run ... type thinking ...

She would probably learn more on a run over to Featherston and back.

[BMWST?]

So what is a good idea then ? Encouraging relatively inexperienced riders on to the streets, in brutal city traffic ?

On the track there is strict safety rules in place, which can actually be enforced. There is room to maneuver is you make a mistake and even more room if you do go off the track. It is the perfect place to learn to control a bike properly. Given that there is different groups for different speeds, not many people are going to be there to actually "race" around the track.

Arguing against track time is like arguing that helmets are bad because they weigh your head down.

i am NOT saying a track day has no value your points are a perfect illustration of that.But this is virtually a brand new rider.She admits to stalling on some occasions.Some basic handling type skills need to be practised first along with some braking ...Track day in about a few months i think

[GingerMidget]

Thanks for the advice guys. I', not doing this track day, because I know I'm not ready, but come summer I'll definitly be doing one if I can. Untill then, its ride every chance I get. Which won't be today, cos I'm epicly hungover and thats just a dumb idea.

[ducatilover]

We could get naked and look at my bikes? It'll help you a lot.

[george formby]

Thanks for the advice guys. I', not doing this track day, because I know I'm not ready, but come summer I'll definitly be doing one if I can. Untill then, its ride every chance I get. Which won't be today, cos I'm epicly hungover and thats just a dumb idea.

Don't stop practicing GM, every ride my n00b girlfriend does ends with 10 or 20 minutes of basic handling exercises, braking, counter steering, swerving, tight turns etc. She can measure her improvement now, compared to her pre-road ability & it increases her confidence every trip knowing that she is developing the right skills. Increasing her fun factor too.

[gatch]

i am NOT saying a track day has no value your points are a perfect illustration of that.But this is virtually a brand new rider.She admits to stalling on some occasions.Some basic handling type skills need to be practised first along with some braking ...Track day in about a few months i think

Fair enough and right on. I may have had my wires crossed when I replied, all bluns gazing.

[GingerMidget]

First real group ride today! Slight detour on to some gravel too which had me a little nervous. Last time I rode on gravel I screwed up. The front went out, and I ended up with large purple bruises for a few weeks. This time, I stayed constant with the throttle, gave myself a good amount of space and thankfully the guy behind me knew I was noob at gravel and gave me some space. Sucess, no bin!

New roads for today, Haywards hill, The gravel road beside river road, the motorway from Whitby to Ngauranga and the Pautahanui Inlet. Which I loved. Had another play around the bays. Shelley bay is quickly becoming a favourite but the wind makes me nervous.

So all up, about 200kms today, a few hill starts, an impressive moment where I couldn't hook third down the road from my house and met some awesome new people!

Now its bedtime. Cos falling asleep at my desk is just stupid.

[caseye]

Well done GM, nice to see you out and about and mixing it up a bit. Do remember all you can about riding on metal and then try not to do it too often, makes the bike bloody messy.
While not all delivered in the same ways most here in this thread have offered good advice, sift out what you need and go with it.
Main thing, ride your own ride and keep her shiny side up. K.

[GingerMidget]

Shiny side is definitly staying up if I can help it!

Going out tomorrow afternoon if its not too feral weatherwise. If its too windy, I won't go out though.

[davebullet]

best advice I can give for any conditions is 'loose on the bars' that means shoulders relaxed arms bent and loose and light grip or just rest your palms on the grips. This is esp. Important on gravel and in windy conditions. If you are rigid, then when a wind gust occurs your body acts as a sail and with tight arms you twist at the bars without intending. Loose will let the bike track more predictably.