brand new learner, had bike ten minutes, already dropped it...

Update...took the day off today so I could get some practice in. Clutch lever fixed, ready to roll. Cruised around for about an hour, up hill, down hill, loads of turns and around a couple of roundabouts. Several hill starts, twice on very steep hill couldn't get the bike to move from first, not giving it enough power, then third time around up it went. This was at the bottom of a very steep decline with a circular end of street bend, the third time I went round this I stayed in second or third, can't remember.., and didn't stall the bike coming out of the tight turn and off it went straight back up the hill no problems. So after this I was feeling a bit more confident so time to take it into traffic. Through one major roundabout, no stalling yay!!! cop car right behind me.... I made sure I didn't go over 60, wouldn't want to get pulled over on my first ride.... then down Yass Rd, turn onto Sutton Rd and off I go for a good while... Feeling better after this. After a bit hands are getting stiff, turn into a country road to turn around. Got stuck on a gravel drive, couldn't push the bike out, too tired, so had a break. Then of all the country driveways down Sutton Rd the one I was blocking decided to have someone drive into it...he was ok though, wished me luck. Break over back home I go....feeling good. Then my nemesis my steep angled driveway..... going slow, smooth looking good aaaaahhhhhaaaa bugger over rode the turn and headed straight for the curb. Fell off bike ON GRASS AGAIN hee heee, laughing my ass off. Bike ok, phew but bugger if I simply CANNOT lift the damn thing off the grass. Bike on down slope, impossible...jump up and down stamping my feet dammit!!!! run across road, I can hear people mowing the lawn... excuse me, but can you help me lift my bike please????? very friendly people help me lift the bike off the lawn. Slight crack in the fairing :sad: bit of araldite will fix that.... At least I got out and about and in traffic.... Just had to tell you guys as soon as I got back in the house...Cheers

 

Ok. Once I get a free weekend, I'm coming over to your house and we are going to nail that driveway!

 

I snapped my clutch first time I dropped my bike too.

Good to hear you had nice ride out and about without incident, apart from the driveway of death.

Dunno how yours flows but, I think steep driveways are best tackled straight on, ie completely perpendicular from the street. When I ride to Repco in Mitchell the little driveway there to the parking is really steep and I feel like I'm gonna drop it there, but as long as you only break easy and with the handlebars straight you should be OK.

Welcome BTW.

 

That's the best idea when you are feeling a bit tired because you can make mistakes when you are tired. The more you ride, the longer it will take you to get tired. Keep up the good work.

 

Thanks guys... thanks Heidi, that's very generous of you it would be appreciated Thanks Wal, the drive is kind of steep. Any car that is low to the ground always bottoms out on it. thanks CT90, I listened in my learner training and took the good advice to heart

cheers

 

Which part of QBN are you in? I know some of the driveways near me can be pretty crazy.
Have you tried just walking the bike? If you are going up hill, ride the friction point and walk the bike up the hill. If it is downhill, then hold the front brake and walk it down gently releasing the brake.
Of course, each of these tactics rely on you being able comfortably put your feet down.
It might give you something to try and give you a bit more confidence before Heidi gets there to save you.
Good to hear you have gotten out on the roads once again, and if you ever want to go for a ride out Sutton Rd again at lunchtime, let me know. I work at Brindabella Bus. Park, well for the next 4 weeks anyway, and usually try to go for a run out Sutton Rd to Wamboin at least once a week.

 

10/10 for consitency I say.

I reckon you're approaching it all wrong. You stay riding how you are and we'll bring a Bobcat around and get revenge on the driveway

 

hey Gibbery, that is what I was going to show her, it is just a bit difficult to explain unless you show them (although you just did a brilliant job of it). is there any chance the two of you could catch up for 1/2hr seeing as you seem to live nearby?

 

+1 for gibbery's advice.

Also I'm happy to help out if you want, I'm on 'holiday' atm so I'm not really doing much, PM any of us if you want help I guess.

 

Thanks guys... well, I took it out again, just for another quick run. Getting out of the driveway was good, phew, I went slow, but not too slow. Sooooooo, when I came back I was coming in from a different direction. Thought of what Wal suggested and took the turn WIDE and came in perpendicular.... woohoo I did it!!!!! So happy and relieved. Gibbery.... (btw, I think it was you that helped me with the dryrider rain pants at CMC the other day, hello ) I think what you suggest is somewhat a good idea, however it might be hard for me to get my feet on the ground and do the walk in/walk out at friction point. I would definitely need advice and help on that one. So i'll keep practicing and if it doesn't work then maybe I will take up Riicho's suggestion and bobcat the rotten thing..... thanks again, and thanks for all the offers to help, much appreciated, cheers....

 

Nice work! It'll all come together before too long

 

:welcome!: All the best with your practice. Great to hear you keep getting back on and havn another go!!!

 

Woohoo!! Someone took my advice and it didn't end in tears. Awesome stuff!

 

lol, thanks Wal, actually now I've gone up and down the drive a few more times it doesn't seem as bad, or even as steep as it did on the first day..guess that comes with getting used to the bike and riding.

 

That's how I tackled the worst "driveway" in the world, ~250m of mud and rocks on a steep hill. In the rain.
Made me glad I bought a low bike that I could comfortably put both feet flat down on.

 

welcome aboard - nice fun place.

 

Hahahahaha... Woohoo :yahoo: Today marks the day where I have been riding a bike for exactly one year. This day 12 months ago (was a Friday) I took the day off work so I could get the feel for my brand new second hand ZZR250 champion little red bike aka Tintin.... for the following day I would head off to Junee with a couple of friends...

How much has happened in just 12 months??????

• ride to Junee on second day ever riding and ride home following day
• Ride to Batemans Bay, three weeks later, get blown around like a ship on the ocean between Braidwood and Bungendore
• do Inaugural Police Memorial wall to wall ride from Goulburn to Canberra...get blown across entire lane on the Federal Hwy.
• Start commuting daily.
• have accident at major Qbn intersection cause some old biddy decided not to give way... write off Tintin, break shoulder, cry.

• start a thread to figure out what my next bike should be...get cranky cause I'm sore and sad and can't work, drive or ride and claim 'dammit I want a bike with fairings!"
• end up getting new NAKED bike CB400 champion blue bike aka Bam Bam.
• start commuting again.
• get P's (after 2nd attempt) thanks Heidi
• ride MOAR....MOAR.....MOAR.....
• discover that 120ks doesn't feel fast to me anymore.
• become hypocrite as I occ go over limit and had previously chastised others for doing same...soz... (But I don't do it in suburbia)
• start reasearching for my BIG bike for when I can upgrade early next year...

Wow, what a rush 12 months has been...

 

Congratualtions on your 1st year bike anniversary. Time does tend to move faster when life is on two wheels!

 

Awesome

 

12 months aye well done