Hopefully all bikers will be like this

[Tsopo]

It happened as I was riding my first bike home from the garage (03 Varadero...probably paid too much for it). My girlfriend was in her car with the directions home and I was following her. Anyway, a biker started following me for a bit, then he overtook but stayed fairly close. At a set of lights he motioned for me to pull up alongside him. He told me I had a nice bike (what a nice chap). I quickly mentioned having recently completed the CBT and how I'd just bought the bike.

Then the lights went green and I drove off. Well, he kept following me out of the town and onto the national speed limit roads until I had to pull over cos we had gotten a bit lost. He waved and disappeared round a bend. Not 30 seconds later he reappeared, pulled in, then asked if I needed directions! And after that, he started giving me tips on what gear to buy (I only have a helmet, was crapping it a bit to be honest. Going to buy all the rest tomorrow though).

I really thought that I looked (and drove) like a moron, so I was quite chuffed that he not only didn't think this, but took the time to help me out. I had read on here of bikers helping each other out, but I never expected that it'd happen so quickly.

So thanks again 'Bloke with the yellow bike'

[Dazbo666]

Very often you'll find that bikers are much more sociable and helpful than most other motorists are.

I can't remember the number of times that I've either stopped to offer help, or at the very least gone back to ask a roadside biker if they're OK

Good to hear that you've had a positive introduction to biking


[EDIT] One of the first incidents I remember was riding a CG125 during my pre-DAS days... I was cautiosly riding up the A470 towards Brecon area with a BMW 4x4 tailgating me. A sportsbike pulls up alongside me then dropped back, forcing the BMW to fall back and allow some space. The BMW soon turned off and the sportsbike accelerates away from me with a wave.
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[pinkyfloyd]

you'll find as your biking life progresses that there are 2 types of biker. the fair weather biker and the real biker. saddly the fair weather bikers, or weekend warriors, tend to make the majority and as its been said on various other posts. 90% of them are wankers.

the other 10% and the real bikers will stop and help a fellow biker to the point that it changes their days plans. i myself have had experience of this before.

i was on a 125 and my clutch cable had snapped so i wheeled the sick bike into a petrol station and arranged transport back to belfast to the shop to pick a new cable up. 10 minutes later a bike pulled in, saw me stripping the clutch from my bike and offered to help. he then went on to offer to give up his biking day out, which happened to be his only day off that week, and give me a lift to the shop and back and then help me refit my clutch cable. i thanked him and declined as my transport was already enroute.

next time your out and about on the bike and another biker passes, give them a nod. you'll find that most nod back. if you see a biker in trouble, take 10 mins and pull up and see if you can help.

as dazbo said, im glad you've had such a positive introduction to biking. welcome to the family
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[N cee thirty]

bikers are always nice,when i pushing the cg home last night a guy on his bandit pipped his horn and gave me the thumbs ups/down but i didn't react quick enough

gave me something to smile about
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Paxovasa]

I always check that if a biker is at the side of the road if it is a breakdown with the thumb up, thumb down sign.

Even just pulling over and offering them the use of your phone may help them.

I have also pulled over for a smoke break and had bikers give the thumb up or thumb down sign. It makes me smile that total strangers will stop and help.

I do the same for car drivers that have a breakdown, especially on the little back roads.
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Bendy]

[Tsopo]

Thinking back on it, he probably did think I looked like a muppet. Hell, that's likely why he helped me, cos he felt pity, heh.

I also got a couple of nods from bikers, but I didn't nod first as I thought you weren't allowed to as a paltry learner

[pinkyfloyd]

you ride a bike, that gives u nodding rights.

just dont nod at scooters
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[connornrg]

[Inkognito]

It was me mate.
I'm glad you made it home ok. It started raining here about 10 minutes after i left you so i went back home lol hate rain.

I saw you pull over and start walking back down the road. Thought you dropped something or perhaps something fell off the bike so turned around

I was only out to check out a cbt place for my wife anyway but didn't fancy going straight home just to be bored.

And no i didn't think you was a muppet at all. I'm not the best rider myself lol
I only hope that if i break down someday karma will shine my way and someone with tools will pull over and fix my bike for me

Hope you enjoy that bike mate. They're really comfy and shouldn't give you any aches or pains like mine does after an hour.

[Tsopo]

Haha, small world

Yeah my girlfriend wasn't sure if that road end we passed was our turn off, so I was just jogging down to check. Didn't realise you could still see me from there. I thought you were a damn psychic or something!

Overall the journey home was great, although I did have one wobbly moment when I changed down into the wrong gear coming up to a junction. It was downhill and the road was bending to the right and the backend seemed to shift to the left slightly. That's what it felt like anyway...first scary moment.

I also seem to be turning corners too slowly, but I guess it'll all come together ok if I keep going out.

Thanks again for stopping, I really appreciated it

[Inkognito]

Yeah you'll get the hang of the clutch fast. Practise not dumping the clutch when you change down. Should give you a smoother gear change and engine braking without rear wheel locking up on you

Just take your time with the cornering and turning.
Go at your own pace and you will be ok. Keep going out on the bike even if only for short rides. You will have it all down in no time.

I didn't expect you to be lost at all. It was only when your girlfriend came out the car with papers in her hand looking confused it clicked.
I guess i thought nearly everyone had sat navs nowadays.
I'm always getting lost myself if i'm out on my own. One day my wife will be getting a phonecall coming to get me "yeah babe i can see trees and a white fence. There's a sign saying "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch" can you come and get me?"

I was out with 2 friends last sunday. Went to southport and stopped by a bike shop on the way back. I thought we was miles from home. Turned out we was 30 seconds from the east lancs and 5 miles from home lol. I have no sense of direction at all.

Let me know if you wanna go for a ride out sometime. I'll get us good and proper lost in no time.

Have you found some gear yet?

[Mr_Cynical]

You'll have a few scary moments your first few times out, I know I did! Once you get more comfortable with riding, you'll be reet.

Glad you're enjoying the bike though!
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Bikes: '05 Better BT125-20 => '79 Honda CB750KZ (Now a project bike) => '99 Suzuki Bandit 600 => '01 Triumph Tiger 955i
"What's my motto? I like ham."
"It's a good motto, sir."

[Tsopo]

[Scythe]

[N cee thirty]

yerr think it was green,didn't catch the reg though

was between middlewich and sandbach
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[ollieholt]

like everyone else glad to see you're feeling the warmth of the biking community. always nod at a fellow biker and always pull up if you see someone who could use a hand. its juts nice, not a rule lol could make someones day just like it did yours.

have fun on the bike those varaderos are a belting bike especially for a learner.

p.s. we all probably spend too much on our first bikes lol i know i did.
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< This? Well this is just a day brightner.

[Inkognito]

Countersteering. I think it's best not to think too hard about doing it. It's something you do automatic. Most people don't understand it but they still do it if they move faster than running speed

When you go to get gear remember to try it on and get something you're comfortable in.
I went to find some nice gloves the other day and must have tried nearly every pair on in the shop and found nothing i would be comfortable in for more than 10 minutes

While you're out riding around try practising your slow riding whenever you come to a set of lights on red. Just slow right down in good time before the lights and roll slowly up until you have to stop. As slow as you can. You will see yourself getting better control when going slow fairly quick and it will help your balance for turning and u-turns aswell.

[EUMP]

Yeah, when I broke down had about 3 bikes pull up to me, including some nice guy on a bandit 1200 that wanted to ride me to the garage (but was closed so didnt want to waste his petrol)
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C.B.T - Expired
MOD1 04/08/10
MOD2 10/08/10

[Kwaks]

[ollieholt]

[Inkognito]

Hehe

[The Original Muzza]

Had a Harley rider stop for me, ask if I was ok and give directions to the nearest phone box when I hit a wall and cracked clutch casing.

Also had some fatty on a big tourer give the thumbs up/down when I was waiting for oncoming traffic to pass on a country lane before doing a U-Turn. Then once I'd turned round, after a few miles I caught up with him on the same road and looked like I was stalking him for about 15 miles
Even took my secondary route home after the first 15 just so it wouldn't have to be a 30 mile faux pas (wasn't a confident enough rider to overtake on country lanes back then).
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Current Bikes: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (2020)
Former Bikes: Honda MSX125 (2014), BMW Funduro (1996), Honda VT500 (1983), Yamaha FZR250 (1989), Suzuki GZ125 Marauder(2005),:Triumph TT600 (2002) (stolen)
From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.

[Tsopo]

I'm definitely going to stop if I ever see someone struggling at the side of the road. It's a pity I'll have no useful information though, ha.

[pinkyfloyd]