Hey guys - a new "old" rider

John H · Post by **John H** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 4:52 pm

Hi there,

I've been a lurker from way back on the old KSRC Yahoo group.

Even though I've been riding for 3 years, I'm still on a ZZR250. It's equal parts being poor and being a really dodgy rider. I'm from Melbourne, just in case you're wondering how likely I am to bump into you (literally!)

Here's a pic of my bike. Rather than show you yet another pic of a totally stock ZZR250 (which is about as interesting as a pic of somebody's mum's white automatic Toyota Corolla), I've attached a pic of my totally stock ZZR250 after it got rear-ended by some lady in a Holden Astra one fine morning. Just once, it wasn't me at fault!

Anyway, thanks for having me and I'll see you guys round. (Most likely when you're overtaking me. (In a white automatic Toyota Corolla you borrowed from your mum.))

John

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 5:02 pm

hello mate
and welcome here

nice to see an honest ZZR
me thinks..get it fixed and join us on a ride

cheers

Post by **MadKaw** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 5:08 pm

Welcome John

and please fill in the location area in your profile...

Glen · Post by **Glen** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 5:09 pm

G'day and welcome John.

Stick with it old son and go riding with the Melbourne mob. I'm sure they'll stop you from bumping into stuff.

Cheers

aardvark · Post by **aardvark** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 5:56 pm

Welcome

Plaz · Post by **Plaz** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:37 pm

greetings

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:53 pm

Hi John - welcome aboard mate.

cheers

Dave

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:37 pm

Welcome aboard John...

John H · Post by **John H** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:56 pm

Thanks guys :-)

The bike was all fixed up by the nice lady's insurance company, so it's good as new. I just need to get her to run into the front of the bike now so I get a new fairing on the front half to match the new fairing on the back ;-)

MadKaw wrote: and please fill in the location area in your profile...

Done!

balanse · Post by **balanse** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:05 pm

How ya going John old son, welcome aboard.

Good to see another Melbourne rider.

mrmina · Post by **mrmina** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:39 am

hello and welcome

Shifty · Post by **Shifty** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:54 pm

Welcome.

An extended apprenticeship on a 250cc bike will do wonders for your riding abilities. If you've been riding a few years but are still without confidence, I can only assume that you don't cover a large amount of kilometers or else don't ride regularly?

The best way is to practice! When I started riding I got on the thing at every opportunity, even after I'd spooked myself - in fact the day after I had my accident I forced myself to (painfully) ride a bike around a mate's yard just so that I could say it hadn't beaten me! Everyone falls off at some stage (I fall off more than some, and some fall off more than me), and everyone makes mistakes, but that's half the fun of learning and a sore/annoyed moment now will give you plenty of stories to laugh about in future.

Time-wise I haven't been riding long compared to a lot of people I know, but as an example I've covered 3200km in the last 3 weeks, and that's how you build up confidence. I spend more time riding than I do sleeping and my confidence is much higher as a result!

John H · Post by **John H** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:00 pm

Shifty wrote:Welcome.

An extended apprenticeship on a 250cc bike will do wonders for your riding abilities. If you've been riding a few years but are still without confidence, I can only assume that you don't cover a large amount of kilometers or else don't ride regularly?

Hey there and thanks for the note!

Actually I do ride at least once a week, sometimes five days a week. I prolly average 5000km a year? I've stacked once - it was going for my licence on HART's CB250 when I did the countersteer of all countersteers! ;-)

Emphasis more on counter than steer, and for a few moments I was flying! Pretty spectacular way to fail

I reckon I'd be fine on a bigger bike, but there's still a nice 1.5cm wide patch of untouched rubber on each side of my rear tyre, so it's not like I've yet fully exploited the capabilities of the bike (well, apart from wishing it had a bit more power for acceleration and highway riding anyway). I also had a panic brake application once when some bastard in a Holden Jackaroo tried to kill me - full on panic grab of the front brake but the little ZZR somehow just took it all in its stride and didn't throw me off or slide from under me. Would a ZX6R have been as forgiving? Dunno. I just have this instinct thing that tells me I'm not ready for a bigger bike just yet.

photomike666 · Post by **photomike666** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:46 pm

Welcome aboard. Come for a ride with us victorians, take it at your pace and have some fun. There are a couple of rides posted, you're more than welcome to tag along :lol:

SideShow · Post by **SideShow** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 10:27 am

John H wrote:
Shifty wrote:Welcome.

An extended apprenticeship on a 250cc bike will do wonders for your riding abilities. If you've been riding a few years but are still without confidence, I can only assume that you don't cover a large amount of kilometers or else don't ride regularly?

Hey there and thanks for the note!

Actually I do ride at least once a week, sometimes five days a week. I prolly average 5000km a year? I've stacked once - it was going for my licence on HART's CB250 when I did the countersteer of all countersteers! Emphasis more on counter than steer, and for a few moments I was flying! Pretty spectacular way to fail

I reckon I'd be fine on a bigger bike, but there's still a nice 1.5cm wide patch of untouched rubber on each side of my rear tyre, so it's not like I've yet fully exploited the capabilities of the bike (well, apart from wishing it had a bit more power for acceleration and highway riding anyway). I also had a panic brake application once when some bastard in a Holden Jackaroo tried to kill me - full on panic grab of the front brake but the little ZZR somehow just took it all in its stride and didn't throw me off or slide from under me. Would a ZX6R have been as forgiving? Dunno. I just have this instinct thing that tells me I'm not ready for a bigger bike just yet.

Hi John:

Your not as big as this dude are you, other wise 250 is fun enough.....