So I went out for a ride tonight...

[arcane12]

I hate to pip up with conflicting advice as I essentially agree with Maha, but I found using the rear brake too much can be a bit of a problem until you are good at using that front brake.

If you have driven a car a lot you can end up over-braking on the rear locking it up. It is a bad reflex that I have started to train myself out of after I overshot the line at the lights deciding to stop little too late.

On my rider training course we practiced emergency braking which helped me find the limits of my brakes and also understand back

Anyway, it's about time I got out on my bike - been cage bound for a week! I hope I still remember which way to point it!

[Katman]

A good thing to do is to lie in bed with your eyes closed, totally relax, and visualize yourself riding. Imagine bringing the revs up while easing out the clutch. Hear the engine revving. Change gear.... Imagine turning your head to look through the curves. Imagine braking and downshifting. Move your hands while you're doing it if it will help. By imagining yourself doing all these things between rides, it will all become second nature much faster than if you only think about it while riding. The visualization really helps.

This here ^ is great advice.

Another suggestion is, when you find yourself a mentor (not just some dickhead who sees motorcycling as an ego stroking exercise) get them to pillion you on your bike.

You have no doubt ridden pillion in the past but this time actually concentrate on listening to what the engine is doing while the other person is riding it.

[bosslady]

Personally, I am a huge exponent of using the rear brake, especially down hill. I always have it covered.
Also, it's good to get used to using it (the rear brake) for when you may need it most....in combination with the front in an emergency situation.

Yup I have no problem using the rear break at all, was just wondering if there was one over the other (front or rear) that were best to use downhill, sounds like rear?

Cool, now your starting to make progress. Just keep riding.

Next week when Im free we can hit a higher speed area if you feel up to it. Maybe ride to a café somewhere.

Sounds good! I'll see how brave I am for higher speeds haha

I hate to pip up with conflicting advice as I essentially agree with Maha, but I found using the rear brake too much can be a bit of a problem until you are good at using that front brake.

I dunno, at the moment I am using both if/when needed and don't have a problem with it (using the rear brake) thus far. We practiced using both when I had my lessons with an instructor and he really pushed getting into the habit of using my rear brake.

Another suggestion is, when you find yourself a mentor (not just some dickhead who sees motorcycling as an ego stroking exercise) get them to pillion you on your bike.

You have no doubt ridden pillion in the past but this time actually concentrate on listening to what the engine is doing while the other person is riding it.

Good idea!

[Ocean1]

Yup I have no problem using the rear break at all, was just wondering if there was one over the other (front or rear) that were best to use downhill, sounds like rear?

The only time I use the rear by itself is to change the bike's attitude/stance in a corner. When the second-by-second things start to become more automatic for you try it, just squeeze the rear brake lightly and feel what the bike does.

I dunno, at the moment I am using both if/when needed and don't have a problem with it (using the rear brake) thus far. We practiced using both when I had my lessons with an instructor and he really pushed getting into the habit of using my rear brake.

I agree, while you're at the stage of forming habits that will eventually make up a suite of automatic default riding behaviour I'd use both. Worth noting that braking strategies depend a lot on both the class of bike and the model itself, but for now on that bike use both.

[nerrrd]

If you have driven a car a lot you can end up over-braking on the rear locking it up. It is a bad reflex that I have started to train myself out of after I overshot the line at the lights deciding to stop little too late.

I can remember doing this myself on my GN250 back in the eighties. Fortunately I was heading in a straight line at the time - I remember wondering what the tyre-squealing noise was and then my brain yelling at my foot to get off the back brake...until it finally did.

I was using both brakes at the time so no drama, which is what I still try to do. Not an expert (still learning all these years later) but I believe what happened there was that most of the weight when braking ends up on the front wheel, which means the lack of weight on the back makes it easier to lock up the back wheel if you apply the foot brake too aggressively. So start out gently on both. I seem to recall they even had ads on TV in those days encouraging riders to use both. I'm still covering the back brake a lot when I ride, but that's more due to lack of flexibility in my ankle meaning I don't want to shift my foot too much than a preference - also I'm told it's a good idea to get a bike shop to check that the foot pedal is adjusted to suit your...foot, I guess.

I can also remember my first efforts at driving a car...so many things to do all at once! For a while there I thought I'd never get the hang of it, until one day, it all came together and away I went.

Can't remember how long it took me to teach myself to ride, but you're doing it a much better way than I did, asking for help/guidance/etc.

[bosslady]

Worth noting that braking strategies depend a lot on both the class of bike and the model itself, but for now on that bike use both.

Interesting, didn't know that but I guess it would make sense.

I can remember doing this myself on my GN250 back in the eighties. Fortunately I was heading in a straight line at the time - I remember wondering what the tyre-squealing noise was and then my brain yelling at my foot to get off the back brake...until it finally did.

I was using both brakes at the time so no drama, which is what I still try to do. Not an expert (still learning all these years later) but I believe what happened there was that most of the weight when braking ends up on the front wheel, which means the lack of weight on the back makes it easier to lock up the back wheel if you apply the foot brake too aggressively. So start out gently on both. I seem to recall they even had ads on TV in those days encouraging riders to use both. I'm still covering the back brake a lot when I ride, but that's more due to lack of flexibility in my ankle meaning I don't want to shift my foot too much than a preference - also I'm told it's a good idea to get a bike shop to check that the foot pedal is adjusted to suit your...foot, I guess.

I can also remember my first efforts at driving a car...so many things to do all at once! For a while there I thought I'd never get the hang of it, until one day, it all came together and away I went.

Can't remember how long it took me to teach myself to ride, but you're doing it a much better way than I did, asking for help/guidance/etc.

Cheers and thanks for sharing Yea I really need to get it to a bike shop for them to give it a once over. It's had its oil and brake fluid changed but needs everything else looked at really.

[FJRider]

Yea I really need to get it to a bike shop for them to give it a once over. It's had its oil and brake fluid changed but needs everything else looked at really.

Your mentor or nzspokes could give it a fairly good look over. And give suggestions for setup of the basic controls to suit your personal needs ... small alterations of brake/clutch levers and pedal positions can help your riding ability considerably. (and rider comfort too)

[bosslady]

Your mentor or nzspokes could give it a fairly good look over. And give suggestions for setup of the basic controls to suit your personal needs ... small alterations of brake/clutch levers and pedal positions can help your riding ability considerably. (and rider comfort too)

sweet I'll remember that!

[bosslady]

33.4km today had a funny ride. Left home early, hooned up my road, turned right at the top, cruised along for 50m, then bike started sounding shit and getting really jerky, losing power. Keep riding another 150m or so, still the same thing, pull over wondering wtf is wrong? everything looks ok? hmmm gas station down the road another 100m, maybe it's gas? $10 later she's off and away, happy as Larry! lol!! dumb ass...
Anyway upside is today was very good and I feel my confidence creeping up slowly, makes me so happy! didn't have the fear in the pit of my stomach about going on the main roads like I did maybe a week ago. Yay me! Hope no one minds all my posts... I'm no attention whore (quite the opposite) but I'm sure there'd be a newbie or newbies reading esp some girlies that are in the same shoes as me and probably feeling as stupid as I do at times! it helps me to read the stupid things some ppl have done

[FJRider]

33.4km today

Well done ... now you know where the reserve position is ..

I'm looking forward to hearing of your very first full tank ride.

[bosslady]

Well done ... now you know where the reserve position is ..

I'm looking forward to hearing of your very first full tank ride.

I am aiming to cross the mway off my list within the next couple weeks... probably after or when I see spokes or graham. Wonder how far a full tank of gas would get me...

[FJRider]

I am aiming to cross the mway off my list within the next couple weeks... probably after or when I see spokes or graham. Wonder how far a full tank of gas would get me...

Do the maths ... how many litres in the tank (full) How far does a litre take you.

On a GN ... some distance. 250 - 300 kms I believe. (in ideal conditions)

[nzspokes]

sweet I'll remember that!

I can bring some tools to set it up. Not hard at all. A mentor would be better in the long run as they have much more knowledge than I do but im happy to help when time allows. I help out leading some learners rides in the Sass group. Going back to see Phillip at riderskills would be a great idea once you have done some more riding.

[bosslady]

I can bring some tools to set it up. Not hard at all. A mentor would be better in the long run as they have much more knowledge than I do but im happy to help when time allows. I help out leading some learners rides in the Sass group. Going back to see Phillip at riderskills would be a great idea once you have done some more riding.

Sounds great! It was Steve at ridertraining I saw and I'll go back and see them at the very least before I sit my restricted..

[bosslady]

Getting excited now (not ahead of myself and/or cocky though!) just did another 40.8kms. Went from Birkenhead up to Albany and practiced a little in the industrial area. I think I did pretty well considering I would not have dared dream of doing that a week ago! no way Jose. I got extra excited when another biker nodded at me! Small things entertain me I guess, must mean I'm getting to be a proper biker chick soon haha.