I ride on the motorway everyday, it is just a case of taking it at you own pace. if you are uncomfoterble traveling a speed dont... just make sure you stay in the left lane. once you are comfy then travel at the pace all the traffic is moving at. once you get you head around that depending on the time of day you travel at you can start to play dodgems with the cars (Splitting). best advice would be practice heaps should only take a couple of weeks or so you start to feel alright about it.
Best advice get you self to westgate on a wednesday night and come along to the NASS
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...t=77111&page=8
it helps alot
steve
Another boring post - you can get more comfortable on the motorway, but if you are splitting best keep a little frightened and nervous and not too complacent.
Motorcycle songlist:
Best blast soundtrack:Born to be wild (Steppenwolf)
Best sunny ride: Runnin' down a dream (Tom Petty)
Don't want to hear ...: Slip, slidin' away, Caught by the Fuzz or Bam Thwok!(Paul Simon/Supergrass/The Pixies)
Listen to your spidey senses.
The cagers ARE out to kill you.
TOP QUOTE: “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”
Confidence is the ideal and you'll get there eventually.
Lack of confidence will make you think and worry before you do anything and probably keep you fairly safe even though you won't have much fun.
Over-confidence will kill you.
Do not knock a lack of confidence if living is high on your list of priorities.
Grow older but never grow up
I know just where you're coming from. I think that I was actually quite a nervous rider when I started. Not that I'm saying you are. It could just be that you're riding a wobbly little bike with a full fairing that catches lots of wind on a very windy motorway.
I can't tell you how long it will take for you to feel confident on the motorway, because different people are very different in this respect. I have known several people who got their first bike and seemed really comfortable in all conditions within a few weeks.
On the other hand, I didn't feel like a confident rider in adverse conditions (heavy traffic, bad weather, busy motorway etc) until I had been riding for knocking on two years. Some of the more cavalier gentlemen around here may scoff at that; but screw em. I'm as good as most riders now, and I didn't trash a dozen bikes getting here.
The biggest piece of advice from me is; don't get disillusioned or feel bad because you lack confidence. Even if you turn out to be slow to build confidence like me, it doesn't make you in any way a bad rider. Personally, I feel that my slow and measured approach to pinpointing the limits of myself and my motorcycle has helped make me a better rider in the long run. Keep with it, persevere, and enjoy the knowledge that every day you go out on the bike you're a little better than you were the day before.
My bike doesn't leak oil; it marks its territory.
At no time take your eyes off the car directly in front of you for that is the one you will hit if he makes a dumb move, watch closely those in the other lanes, changing lanes with no indication Is what they will do, most of all own your piece of road but yield if you really have to, watch your following distance and if an idjet jumps in front of you smile and drop back a mite...Ride to survive!!!
Move out west!!!!! I'd be nervous commuting over that bloody bridge every day. Everyone knows west is best, the sun always shines and the cage drivers are extra observant for bikers!!
Seriously.... expect the unexpected, ride covering your brakes and look well ahead.![]()
Mate, the bridge everyday is a small price to pay, rather than live out west Akl, can't think of nothing worse than Bro's in pimped out Subarus trying to race me or knock me off my bike (if it hasn't already been stolen)
On serious note appropriate to this thread, think ahead, keep your wits about you and assume you are invisible to anyone in a car, especially women doing their lippy, truckies having a smoko and coffee and Bro's in WRX's. You'll be sweet there is no substitute for sticking at it and getting the experience
Escape route. Always have one. Know where you're going to go if that guy in front of you gets cut off and slams the anchors on. It's almost always to late to decide when it happens.
Assume they don't know you're there - because 95% of the time they don't.
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
Just keep ya finger close to the horn button. If some fucker does something at a bad time it might just be the only and last line of defence you have. Saved me couple of times in my riding life. I also tend to ride with my lights on full and if it's safe occasionly drift across the rear of the car in front. I don't make a habit of this but it's a trick I employ when I think it's warrented. A full beam will alert the driver from his rear view mirrors taht there is a bike behind. The other thing is you should be reading the traffic that is up ahead of you. Look for any erratic driving. But that Auckland motor way is a scary place but at the same time it can be a ball to ride on. Just stay sharp and enjoy the breeze.
Skyryder
Free Scott Watson.
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