Returning riders

**jrandom** · 1st February 2009, 07:00

Originally Posted by James Deuce

... get some training. You couldn't ride properly the last time around either.

What he said.

And, of course, we all know that when James Deuce says 'training', he means 'trackdays'.

Which is pretty hard to argue with.

**jrandom** · 1st February 2009, 07:01

Originally Posted by PirateJafa

Do a skid bro.

Do a flip!

**James Deuce** · 1st February 2009, 07:43

Dan, I'm thoroughly sick of the personal attacks.

**Owl** · 1st February 2009, 08:04

Originally Posted by Tank

As is so often the case - they think they can just jump back on a bike

They can!

Originally Posted by Tank

and it will be the same as it was x years ago.

It won't!

Originally Posted by Tank

Obv. they learn pretty quick that they are really rusty.

They will!

Originally Posted by Tank

If you could give one tip / hint / reminder to a returning rider - what would it be?

Pull the clutch in when starting the bike!

**gunnyrob** · 1st February 2009, 08:08

As a rider who successfully returned after a 15 year break, I'd like to suggest doing the refresher training thing.

BMW Auckland organised a "return to riding" course which was bloody exellent. They supplied bikes & gear & pointed out what had changed technology wise, from goretex to ABS. We then spent half a day on a go-kart track, doing all the basics.

I got the bug again.

I also had access to a 250, and borrowed it from Krayy evry other weekend or so just to get my basis experience levels up. By then I decided to take the plunge & get back in, so I bought all my gear when Colemans Suzuki had a 25% off sale.

Next, was deciding what sort of riding to do. I was inspired by Ewan & Charlie, and so Krayy & I rented a F650PD and did an east cape tour. It's on the site somewhere.

I liked the idea of adventure touring so the bikes were shortlisted to: Tiger (competent), BMW R1200GS (brutally efficient but expensive) and the Buell Ulysses (cool but more road biased) As it happened, the R1200 came along on tardme, and I bit, hook line & sinker, sight unseen, and having never even taken one for a test ride!

A bit over the top for a first returning bike? The top speed is not too insane (205 km/h) the torque is amazing and the ABS and anti-dive is a life saver.

I attended the Wednesday night mentoring sessions with Big Boss Man in henderson, hung around with the 250cc learners rides and did the ATNR on a regular basis. I'm now club Captain of the RNZAF Auckland Road riding division and have just done an excellent tour of the South Island with no dramas. Over 20 months I've racked up 25,000 km and have a clean licence, (I don't use a radar detector) haven't dropped the bike at speed (just on a hairpin during a gravel ride, but that happens) and love being on the bike.

In summary, get a sane bike, get all the gear, get training, get a good attitude, get riding.

Good luck to your mate, see you at a ride.

**AD345** · 1st February 2009, 08:08

Advice to a returning rider?

You have already fulfilled, or moved beyond the point of being ABLE to fulfill, your evolutionary purpose.

Nature doesn't need you any more.

**sondela** · 1st February 2009, 12:12

Originally Posted by Owl

They can!

It won't!

They will!

Pull the clutch in when starting the bike!

Don't forget to turn the kill switch back on after you used it to stop.. it looks rather amateurish when you can't get the bike to start an you have to ask someone..
The training days are excellent and a must do..

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 1st February 2009, 12:18

go and unlearn what they thought they knew... and relearn what they should know

**slofox** · 1st February 2009, 12:44

Originally Posted by The Baron

Ride with others.

Not sure I agree with this - I am better on my own - no trying to "keep up" that way. I spent over six months pootling round on my own before I went near a group ride. I am much more circumspect if I think nobody is watching....but than, maybe that's just me.
Now that I am approaching the year back on bike mark, I am doing an advanced ride course on Tuesday - just to take stock and get some pointers as to what I could do better.

**RC1** · 1st February 2009, 13:04

dont listen to advice from KB

**KiwiKat** · 1st February 2009, 13:38

Originally Posted by RC1

dont listen to advice from KB

Disregard the above disregard KB advice post. 90% of the advice is valid. Ride at your own pace and if your head is telling you to go faster and your chest is saying slow down FFS slow down. Group rides are good but don't die to be a hero.

**Mikkel** · 1st February 2009, 15:42

Advice - only the usual: Leave your ego at home and enjoy your ride.

**sunhuntin** · 1st February 2009, 20:01

Originally Posted by slofox

Not sure I agree with this - I am better on my own - no trying to "keep up" that way. I spent over six months pootling round on my own before I went near a group ride. I am much more circumspect if I think nobody is watching....but than, maybe that's just me.
Now that I am approaching the year back on bike mark, I am doing an advanced ride course on Tuesday - just to take stock and get some pointers as to what I could do better.

id agree with that. i went on a dummy ride once with the ulysses, cos i hadnt ridden the road and wanted to know it before the actual ride. we happened to have a returning rider who gone and bought the biggest, fastest bike his pension could buy. we had to go over a gentle hill, me at the back like always. i get to the top, and theres mr returning rider, sitting in a ditch with his bike, both facing the way he had just come. im glad he binned it on a test ride, with less that 20 riders and all strung out, than just showing up on the day with a few hundred riders and potentially taking out a few others at the time.

so, in short... relearn your limits either alone or with one or two friends, on friendly roads before going on the big group ride. and even then, stay to the back where if you do stuff up, theres less people to run over you.