accredited riding instructors, and even some of
them have been known to offer dumb advice.
Self-styled ‘mentors’ you find on social
media riding groups are an abomination and
really only good to hit with massive law suits
from your hospital bed. They mean well. Their
intentions are good, but you know the road
to Hell is paved with just those intentions.
Please understand you are riding alone all of
the time. No-one can ride your bike for you,
an d no-one can see what you’re doing or not
doing if they’re in front of you or behind you.
You are on your own. Even when you’re in a
group of other riders, you are riding alone.
And for your first formative year, you would be
better served riding alone for the most part.By
all means go on group rides, if only to appreciate
the full horror of what some can be like, but
always ride within your comfort zone. Yes, it’s
a cliché, but it’s a cliché because it’s true.
You’re not going to learn much of anything
trying to follow experienced riders even when
they tell you to follow them and they’re gonna
take it easy. Their idea of “taking it easy” may
62 KIWI RIDER
well not be your idea of taking it easy. And the
next thing you know you’re in a corner way over
your head... and we’re back in hospital again.
You are your own best friend on a motorcycle.
And the only place you’ll get to know your best
friend is on the road. So do the long rides.
Make the time. Spend three consecutive days
on your bike and you’ll be three times a better
rider than when you set off on your journey.
Short hops around the city are all well and
good, and you should be riding in traffic as
often as possible, but it’s too easy for that
to become all the riding you do. The routes
are the same, and soon complacency will
set in. You’ve ridden this road a hundred
times, after all. There are no surprises,
surely? Until there are. And then you’re back
visiting with surgeons. See how this works?
So ride new roads, take the paths less
travelled. Every kilometre you do is a kilometre
of experience you can notch onto your belt.
Your first year on a motorcycle will be the
most thrilling, fulfilling and enthralling year
of your life. Until the the second year. And
the third, and so on. It’s entirely up to you
to see you make it through. Good luck.