First bike and ride :D

[bikertomm]

Today was probably one of the top 10 days in my life.

Got up nice and early, got bike gear on and went to mount the steed for my first ride.

I had a circuit made up in my head, so to get used to things I basically went round some nice country lanes about 5 mile laps.

Very pleased with how it all went, though I have a LOT to learn! Cant wait

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/014.jpg
https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/013.jpg
https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/015.jpg

Should have got more pictures really, I was a bit exited.

In the end I did 95 miles, all within 10 miles of my house
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[MotorbikerTom]

Looks great mate, looks to be a great first bike!
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CBT: 19/02/11 - Mod 1: 27/03/11 - Mod 2: 01/04/11
'97 GS500E > '03 Hornet 600 > '16 Street Triple 675 > '99 VFR800Fi

[Frost]

Just remember to check the oil regularly. Lately a few young lads I've known have neglected this and ruined their pride and joy.
Car drivers are blind. Get used to this now, not when you're in the hospital
A bike like that is better suited to exploring the country side than the traffic light GP so maybe hunt about a bit on google maps for some interesting places to go see?

[The Tot]

Those things stoppie and wheelie nicely if I remember correctly. And for the love of god, detach the parcel rack! I miss mine.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[bikertomm]

[bikertomm]

[pepperami]

The sun was shining, you had a good ride-out, and you came back in one piece, all is good .
nice bike
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[GREENI3]

If I had that bike, I'd feel inclined to take it green laning on the local byways.

[bikertomm]

Cheers everyone Yeah I'm well up for finding some byways / greenlaning locally, my mate has a supermoto style bike so we can go exploring.



I think the one tip that has saved me the most / helped is 'Look where you want to go!'

And not braking when cornering. I'm suprised how much the bike leans when cornering!

Weekend.
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Frost]

Countersteering. You can make the bike lean right by gently turning the handle bars left. This only works at high-ish speed say 20mph+
Don't brake when cornering ever. Even if you're going too fast, just lean further and 9 times out of 10 you'll get round. Braking just makes you hit whatever it is on the outside of the corner that you didn't want to hit

[bikertomm]

Cheers, sometimes when coming up to corners I'm like.. I'll start braking there.. no there... fuck it BRAKE! And sometimes as I go to change down a gear I find myself holding the clutch in as I've already started to go round the corner! So I think my forward planning needs working on Brake nice and early, get in the right gear and then accelerate through / out of it
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[_Iain_]

Most helpful things i've been told with regards to cornering

1: Countersteering - you want to go left push the left bar & lean.

2: Look where you want to go - Look towards the mirror and the bike will turn that way. Look through the corners!

3:Dont tense up - You will go stiff, which stops you from countersteering/steering in general and makes you go straight at whatever you were trying to not hit! Belive me the amount of times i've done this is unreal...

4: Tyres - Cold ones are bad. Cold square ones are worse. Cold square ones with not enough pressure in them are lethal...And make sure you set em to where the manufacturers reccomend!!

5: Braking & Gears - Braking and gearchanges to be done before corners, bikes arent good at doing more than one thing at a time. Accelerate smoothly through the corner...i always found the bike felt a lot more stable when it was on the power.

Oh, and parcel racks are genuius. Leave it there and get yourself some bungee cords. It's impossible to do the weekly shopping with just a backpack, and theres always something that just WONT fit. Think football, smelly trainers, huge box, pack of beers, laptop bag, whatever floats your boat - it'll prove itself very very useful at some stage!!

Best of luck with it mate
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[bikertomm]

Quick update, the parcel rack is off! For now, or until I need to carry something

I reckon I could get this quite tidy looking with new tyres, a 'pro-tork' exhaust, bar end mirrors and a tail tidy, but there is really no point as I got it just to learn on!

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/005.jpg

Learned how to countersteer the other day.

Just simply going round a right turn I gently press the right side forward. Feels brilliant getting corners right, feel much more balanced on the bike now!

Getting more confident been round local roads, roundabouts towns ect, must have done about 300 miles already


And whilst I still have a lot of learning to do, and my bike has some grunt, I've found myself looking at bigger bikes already!


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[craigs23]

Cool, loved my XR125, taught me to enjoy a different aspect to riding again.