Motorcycle News Events
“SHOULD I GO FOR MY MOTORCYCLE PERMIT?”
I would think that every rider who has a Learner Permit and/or Licence today, at some point in the past has asked themselves that question.
As a rider I would recommend it to everyone, as I firmly believe it is one of the most enjoyable pursuits that anybody can undertake, either as daily transportation and/or as weekend recreation, however, I feel that I need to qualify my recommendation for all of you who may be pondering whether to ride or not :
1/ If you decide to ride PLEASE do it because YOU WANT TO!!
Don’t do it to appease a partner because he or she has their licence and they think it would be a good idea for you to get yours.
Only start your riding career if it’s something which you really want to do.
2/ If you decide to ride, you also need to make a commitment to investing in your personal safety as a rider.
This investment can only be made if you’re prepared to take the time to learn to ride properly and sensibly from Day 1.
Learning to make sound decisions as a rider is a vital part of staying safe in the real world.
3/ Once you have gained your Learner Permit it is vital that you continue to develop your skill and safety as a rider. This can only be achieved if you purchase your first motorcycle as soon as possible after getting your Learner Permit.
It’s no good taking your Permit home and sticking it on the fridge and then thinking about riding again in six months time as you will be as rusty as an old nail and will be putting yourself at greatly increased risk on the road if you ride with poor and inconsistent skills.
4/ The way the new mandatory Graduated Licensing System works in Victoria is based on the need for novice riders to continually develop their skills from the time that they gain their Permit as they progress through the Check Ride and Licence Assessment stages of the system.
SUMMER RIDING TIPS
Summer is here and I’m sure we have all been looking forward to the peak riding season. It’s a great time to ride but there are a few things which you should consider to make the best of your summer riding time.
Firstly, even though it’s warm remember ATGATT – All The Gear All The Time! You need your protective gear even in the warmer weather.
Quite simply, if it’s too hot for the right gear it’s too hot for the bike, so leave it in the shed and take the car with the aircon!! PLEASE do not become a THONG-NONG, these are the people we see every summer riding around on crotch rockets in shorts and tee-shirts – OUCH!!
This motorcyclist probably thinks he is looking cool….
Many riders leave their bikes in the shed through most of Winter and as the weather warms up they think about throwing the leg over the seat again.
It’s a good idea to get your bike serviced at the start of the season to refresh the fluids and oil, bleed the brakes and generally give the whole bike a thorough check before you head out for that summer season.
Also brush up your skills with us if you’ve had a fair break from riding. Just a couple of hours with one of our instructors either on-road or on our training range can quickly refresh and revitalise your skills to keep you safe throughout the summer peak.
Finally, during the warmer weather, please remember that the warm days deplete your hydration and concentration very quickly, so when you’re riding please stop for regular breaks and keep yourselves hydrated (water preferably – NOT alcohol), and try to do any long rides with breaks every couple of hours as a maximum, as this will help to keep the concentration levels up.
Whatever you ride and wherever you ride it – ENJOY IT, RIDE RESPONSIBLY AND BE SAFE.