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First ride!

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Richtea
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 15 Nov 2011
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PostPosted: 18:40 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: First ride! Reply with quote
Well, finally done it!

After 8 years on a scooter (auto), went out on the Varadero today for the first time.

Must admit as I climbed on it this morning I had a few butterflies. Came off the drive and felt the joy of getting out of first gear for the first time!! Laughing

Firstly drove a little shortcut to an industrial area and practiced the basics for about 20 minutes or so. To be honest I thought I'd be there for a couple of hours but the bike felt really good and got the hang of the gear changes a lot quicker that I thought I would.

Then went round a few back roads and got up to about 40, but didnt want to go silly as there was a bit of water around. Stayed out for about 2 hours in total and really loved it!

So I've lost my riding cherry and just wanted to thank everyone here for the great info and support in getting me onto this bike and out on the road! So thanks! Very Happy
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2005 Honda Varadero 125xl > 2005 GS500F > 2007 DRZ400 SM > 600 Bandit & Yamaha YP250
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Muscle Bike Rider
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Jun 2009
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PostPosted: 19:06 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Glad your enjoying it, great first bike, suits bt45 tyres really well and sticks to the road like S*** to a blanket, its quite a stable 125 at speed due to its weight so you wont have a problem there.
Keep it rubber side up and have fun. Smile
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Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300
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Alex_B
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 15 Jul 2011
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PostPosted: 19:36 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yay, go Rich Wink Wink

Really great bike, glad to hear you had a lot of fun. Thumbs Up
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My Lane Position is always AWESOME!!
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whitedevil
World Chat Champion



Joined: 28 Nov 2010
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PostPosted: 19:44 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
A5tra_G wrote:
Glad your enjoying it, great first bike, suits bt45 tyres really well and sticks to the road like S*** to a blanket, its quite a stable 125 at speed due to its weight so you wont have a problem there.
Keep it rubber side up and have fun. Smile


Shiny side up, rubber side down altho every time i hear someone say that it makes me cringe a little. Sounds so gay imo.

I bet you're glad to finally have a proper bike Thumbs Up
____________________
GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R
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JoeDougieDoug...
World Chat Champion



Joined: 25 Oct 2011
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PostPosted: 20:23 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Congrats Bro! Thumbs UpSmile I had proper bad butterflies when I first started riding, but after your first ride you start to enjoy it a lot more and not think about changing gears or anything - it just happens!

Nice one! Mr. Green
____________________
CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.
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Richtea
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 15 Nov 2011
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PostPosted: 20:34 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
JoeDougieDouglas wrote:
Congrats Bro! Thumbs UpSmile I had proper bad butterflies when I first started riding, but after your first ride you start to enjoy it a lot more and not think about changing gears or anything - it just happens!

Nice one! Mr. Green


Thanks for the comments.

I think the thing I struggled with most was more when I was out on the road. Changing gear up and down I sometimes lost track of what gear I was in!! However the gearbox did seem quite forgiving of my feeble attempts.

The other thing I noticed (which was also sometime I learned from this site) is how you can slip the clutch a lot more than you can with a car, which again gave me a lot more confidence when pulling away etc, and avoided any sudden 'lurches'.

Just checking the weather forecast for the next few days and it looks like heavy rain every day Crying or Very sad so hope I can get a few more hours in during the dry spells.
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2005 Honda Varadero 125xl > 2005 GS500F > 2007 DRZ400 SM > 600 Bandit & Yamaha YP250
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Alex_B
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 15 Jul 2011
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PostPosted: 20:40 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yea, I ride at the weekends for fun Rich (I commute on the bike during the week) so I keep a weather Wink eye on the forecast as well.

I'm in London and...allegedly we might be OK for Saturday afternoon but it's debatable right now I guess.

No point riding for fun if it's pissing down.

I will say mate, I loved my baby vara, only had her a couple months, did the tests and then sold her on but she never missed a beat.

100% reliable, great, no...I mean fantastic!! mileage from the tank.

THE best 125 ever and that's a damn fact!! Laughing
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My Lane Position is always AWESOME!!
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Rogerborg
nimbA



Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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PostPosted: 20:43 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Today you are a man!

Great work, great choice. Rain just melts the ice, get out there and enjoy it.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike
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JoeDougieDoug...
World Chat Champion



Joined: 25 Oct 2011
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PostPosted: 22:06 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Richtea wrote:
JoeDougieDouglas wrote:
Congrats Bro! Thumbs UpSmile I had proper bad butterflies when I first started riding, but after your first ride you start to enjoy it a lot more and not think about changing gears or anything - it just happens!

Nice one! Mr. Green


Thanks for the comments.

I think the thing I struggled with most was more when I was out on the road. Changing gear up and down I sometimes lost track of what gear I was in!! However the gearbox did seem quite forgiving of my feeble attempts.

The other thing I noticed (which was also sometime I learned from this site) is how you can slip the clutch a lot more than you can with a car, which again gave me a lot more confidence when pulling away etc, and avoided any sudden 'lurches'.

Just checking the weather forecast for the next few days and it looks like heavy rain every day Crying or Very sad so hope I can get a few more hours in during the dry spells.


You shouldn't particulary worry about what gear you are in... as long as the engine is pulling you along at a decent rate and the revs aren't too high (or stupidly low) then it'll be fine. Smile when Changing down, just keep going down the gears until you hit first (where you can't change down again...) You'll soon be able to keep track of what gear you're in Thumbs Up

Good luck bro! Thumbs UpSmile
____________________
CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.
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janner_10
World Chat Champion



Joined: 26 Sep 2011
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PostPosted: 23:19 - 02 Dec 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
What the chap above me says! You will learn your bike and its sound quick enough, to not even worry about what gear your in, it will just come naturally.
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1
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