Sunday - Christmas Eve - Where did you ride and what did you practice?

[boomer]

no where unfortunately;

however last night at 10:30 i decided to strip the bike of all its fairings and other bits and bobs ( exhaust, foot rests front & back ). it now looks like a street fighter on speed.

why? no idea. seemed liek a good idea at the time. Now i didn't find teh car keys i thought teh young fella had thrown down the exhaust.. but i have cleaned the whole bike.. top to bottom, and waxed ( 3 stage ) every fairing and buffed all the chrome/metal, and armouraled all the black shit'

shes spottless, my hands aren't and she's still in a thousand pieces ready to be put back... nowi'm taking bets on the number of screws/bolts i'll have left over tomorrow

happy riding everyone, i won't be playing out for a while not till the bikes in 1 peice any hows

[Chisanga]

Yesterday (Xmas Day) I went on my longest ever ride as Rider In Charge. I was acompanied by a very patient SV100S ridden by Dave C. I believe he didn't get out of second gear for the entire ride.

I didn't tell Dave C where we were going, but I had the route meticulously planned. We rode from Mt Albert to Mission Bay via the fun twisties in the Domain. When we got to Mission Bay I unpacked the coffee and the cake for afternoon tea, then we took a different route home.

Just as well I took coffee and cake - this was an epic journey and we could easily have starved to death if we hadn't taken supplies.

I practised all kinds of stuff - hill starts, smooth gear changes, lines into corners, paying attention to the road surface without actually fixating on the pot holes and debris (!) and just relaxing as I rode along.

I would like to thank two other road users:
1) The person who honked at me when I stalled at the lights. Honking really helps my concentration and gets us all home faster.
2) The van that pulled into my lane without looking. It gave me an opportunity to practise my hippy-hippy-swerve avoidance technique.

My choice is Klingon's post. It shows how adventurous riding is to the new driver - I know how she feels.

I also have had similar experiences with the road users mentioned above - I guess the key is to stay focussed AND relaxed at the same time - sounds like a contradiction but that is what I am trying to do with my newbie riding thus far

[Lteejay]

My first ride on the road, so today I was practicing nearly every thing I was doing. Just a short ride around the block, nearly dropped the bike on one corner. But remember a post a while back that said it is best to stop at a corner with your front wheel facing forwards for better balance & to put both feet down and not just one. Went round block again,this time wheel straight ahead and both feet came down and no wobbles.
By the 4th block my hands my hands were working much more smoothly on the clutch, brake and accellerator and I was enjoying feeling slightly more in control. The one problem I found was that I kept reving the accelerator when I go to brake - no problem if I have the clutch in, but I imagine it could cause problems if I don't (probably get dumped off bike?) . Need to focus on that and get out and practice some more - lookin forward to it.

[klingon]

My first ride on the road, so today I was practicing nearly every thing I was doing. Just a short ride around the block, nearly dropped the bike on one corner. But remember a post a while back that said it is best to stop at a corner with your front wheel facing forwards for better balance & to put both feet down and not just one. Went round block again,this time wheel straight ahead and both feet came down and no wobbles.
By the 4th block my hands my hands were working much more smoothly on the clutch, brake and accellerator and I was enjoying feeling slightly more in control. The one problem I found was that I kept reving the accelerator when I go to brake - no problem if I have the clutch in, but I imagine it could cause problems if I don't (probably get dumped off bike?) . Need to focus on that and get out and practice some more - lookin forward to it.

Congrats LteeJay! My first road ride was only a few weeks ago, and I remember the excitement like it was yesterday! I feel like I have the whole KB crew on board every time I ride... these forums can be so valuable with all their advice. And it also explains why my bike lacks accelleration - get off there, you lot!

[vamr]

Practised articulating in a relatively coherent manner while annihilating all traces of sobriety.

[James Deuce]

You fellas from Mother Russia are born able to do that. Then you get a year of breast milk that is 30% alcohol.

Must try harder Vamr. Pick a challenge next time.

[Lteejay]

I feel like I have the whole KB crew on board every time I ride... these forums can be so valuable with all their advice. And it also explains why my bike lacks accelleration - get off there, you lot!

LOL - know what you mean. I have the next week off, so heaps of time to read and keep picking up the gems of advice

[Terminated]

My first ride on the road, so today I was practicing nearly every thing I was doing. Just a short ride around the block, nearly dropped the bike on one corner. But remember a post a while back that said it is best to stop at a corner with your front wheel facing forwards for better balance & to put both feet down and not just one. Went round block again,this time wheel straight ahead and both feet came down and no wobbles.
By the 4th block my hands my hands were working much more smoothly on the clutch, brake and accellerator and I was enjoying feeling slightly more in control. The one problem I found was that I kept reving the accelerator when I go to brake - no problem if I have the clutch in, but I imagine it could cause problems if I don't (probably get dumped off bike?) . Need to focus on that and get out and practice some more - lookin forward to it.

Congratulations for getting out there. Try and find a cul de sac or parking lot so you have no through traffic and practise your straight line slow speed, then move up a little in speed and practise coming to a stop and having geared down from 2nd to 1st, not engine braking, just smoothly coming to stop while tap tapping down, then both feet on the deck.

Take your time and avoid any streets/corners where you are required to do a right hand turn at this stage, at least minimize that for a while, and if you are confronted with right hand turns this early then choose your time of day to be out there, when the traffic is minimal.

Here is the my log
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=30010

and at page 3 of the log is the following link
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-SectionFive.htm

Though it from the USA the learning strategy is very good.

Seek out a Mentor to periodically look at your progress when you go together on a 'mentor review ride'.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Lteejay]

Congratulations for getting out there. Try and find a cul de sac or parking lot so you have no through traffic and practise your straight line slow speed, then move up a little in speed and practise coming to a stop and having geared down from 2nd to 1st, not engine braking, just smoothly coming to stop while tap tapping down, then both feet on the deck.

Take your time and avoid any streets/corners where you are required to do a right hand turn at this stage, at least minimize that for a while, and if you are confronted with right hand turns this early then choose your time of day to be out there, when the traffic is minimal.

Here is the my log
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=30010

and at page 3 of the log is the following link
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-SectionFive.htm

Though it from the USA the learning strategy is very good.

Seek out a Mentor to periodically look at your progress when you go together on a 'mentor review ride'.

Heads Up and Enjoy

Thanks for the advice - just taken it slow. Having difficulty finding anywhere to practise around my place that doesn't involve busy roads as I am right in the city. Might start a post to see if anyone knows of anywhere.

[Chisanga]

The one problem I found was that I kept reving the accelerator when I go to brake - no problem if I have the clutch in, but I imagine it could cause problems if I don't (probably get dumped off bike?) .

I have this exact problem, but generally only when i'm emergency or hard braking... slowly getting better but still occassionally happens. The secret...practise, practise, practise... practise braking every time you go out and soon you will sort it out.