Sparky's Life
Sparky's Life
EP 17 Biking Adventures & The Power of Small Encounters
On this episode I talk about getting my motorcycle learners permit and learning to ride.
Also I have some interesting facts on motorcycles.
Also I have the Fun Fact of the day.
So sit back and enjoy the show and remember to like and follow the show.
As always I finish my podcasts with some nice music.
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Hello everyone, welcome to Sparky's Life. I'm your host, grant Thilko. Today on the show we'll be talking about learning to ride a motorcycle, which I talked about back in episode 7. I have some fun facts about motorcycles, a thought for the day and some nice music to end off the show. So let's get the show started.
Speaker 1:For the last couple of years I have been thinking about getting a motorcycle and learning how to ride a road and adventure bike. When I was in high school my friends and I used to ride dirt bikes and motocross bikes, but I never pushed myself to get a motorcycle licence when I turned 16 and 9 months. The only issue was I never had the time. So I just recently took some time off work and went and enrolled in a motorcycle learner course. In episode 7 of Work Life Balance, I talked about getting my motorcycle license. This course is mandatory by Transport NSW before you take the computer knowledge test. The course was held over two half days over the weekend by a Transport NSW endorsed training organisation which is located at Taree. I chose the morning time slot. I was surprised that there wasn't a training organisation at Paul Macquarie Taree was closer, being an hour's drive away or Coffs Harbour, which was about two hours' drive away. The training organisation provided the motorcycles, gloves and helmets. The student was required to provide their own appropriate motorcycle riding clothes and shoes. Riding clothes and shoes. I thought, if I'm serious about this, I will go and buy my own helmet and gloves before the course, which I did. Also, I have an issue with wearing helmets and gloves that have been worn by countless other students.
Speaker 1:I went into Rock Motorcycles at Port Macquarie and purchased a pair of riding gloves and a black adventure style helmet. I am interested in mainly adventure riding, so that's why I chose an adventure style helmet. My interest is to go off road eventually and find interesting places to photograph and learn how to use my drone, but for now, I'll practice on the roads to get comfortable with riding. While I was at Rocks Motorcycles getting my gloves and helmet, I saw the bike I was interested in in, which was a BMW G310GS. The bike was a 2024 demo model with 50 kilometers on the clock. The G310GS is an adventure bike, meaning you can ride it on public roads as well as off-road, on dirt roads and through the bush. It is also a learner-approved motorcycle, known as a LAM L-A-M, which stands for learner-approved motorcycle. I told Tony, the salesman at Rock Motorcycles, that I taking the Learner Rider course in a few days over the weekend he said fantastic, when you complete the course, come back and see me and we'll get you on your way with a motorcycle. So that's what I did. I completed and passed the Learner Rider course and passed the learner rider course. I then went into Service NSW RMS office in Warhope the following week to do my computer knowledge test. I had been studying all week with the online knowledge road rules practice tests for motorcycles. Service NSW has an app which you can do practice tests to do with any vehicles, small and heavy, and motorcycles. I passed with flying colours and got my motorcycle learner's permit.
Speaker 1:I went back into Rock Motorcycles and organised the purchase of the BMW G310GS, which was still in the showroom. I was so happy that the demo bike was still available as I didn't have to order a new bike and wait for it to arrive. While I was at Rocks I got a pair of riding shoes, adventure jacket and pants. I am now practicing on the weekends on quiet roads around my home. I did ride the bike into Rock Motorcycles two weeks after I got it, as I pre-ordered a set of engine crash bars, engine metal skid plate, a radiator protector and a set of bark busters. The bark, the bark busters go around the brake and clutch levers on the handlebars. They also protect the levers and also your hands. This was my first big ride into Port Macquarie and, being around the traffic, I was very nervous and planned my route to minimise the amount of traffic I had to deal with. What I am planning on doing is going to a secluded road or empty car park to practice emergency braking, clutch control with stopping and starting, also practicing doing low speed manoeuvres with u-turns and tight turns. I would like to spend a fair bit of time on these in a controlled environment before I mix it up with the traffic again.
Speaker 1:Watching a lot of YouTube tutorials on motorcycle riding has also helped me with the whole learning to ride experience with a lot of tips and tricks. It's amazing the amount of motorcycle content there is on YouTube. It ranges from gear, clothing, accessories, riding, motovlogging and bike reviews. I just need to practice and work on the different skills. I am very happy with my achievements so far with my motorcycle journey. I will also give motov moto vlogging a go while I'm learning. I hope to post the videos on my social media pages, so I will keep you all posted on my progress and struggles along the way. I won't be setting any speed records, as I'll be a safe rider.
Speaker 1:I have decided that my motorcycle is a girl, so I've named my motorcycle Betty. Betty the Baby Beamer, betty the Baby BMW, or Triple B. Sounds like a radio station. Listen to me on Triple B. Oh yeah. And, by the way, they say when you have a mid-life crisis, you go to the nearest Ducati dealership, but in my case, the BMW dealership was closer. Hi there, I'm Grant Dorko. If this is your first time here at Sparky's Life, welcome. It's great to have you here. And if you're back here for more, welcome back and thank you for your loyalty and support. If you like what you hear on today's show, make sure you share this podcast with your mates who are electricians or who are involved in the tradie world. I want to reach out and help as many tradies as I can with this podcast. I want to help trades people break through to the next level in their career and in their lives.
Speaker 1:I have some interesting facts about motorcycles. Did you know that motorcycles have been around since the 1800s? Yes, motorcycles have been around for over 100 years. The first internal combustion petroleum-fuelled motorcycle was the Daimler Rittwagen, designed in 1885. It was built by two German inventors, gottlieb Daimler and Willem Maybach. The term motorcycle was first used in 1894. The term motorcycle was first used in 1894. The motorcycle was first referred to as a petrol bicycle. It was only in 1894 when a German company called Hildebrand and Wolfmuller became the first to commercially manufacture the two-wheeler. The company referred to the vehicle as a Motorrad, which is a German name which directly translates to motorcycle.
Speaker 1:Now this brings us to our thought of the day segment, or you could say laughing thought of the day. You can actually die laughing, and a number of people have, typically due to intense laughter, causing a heart attack or suffocation. Comedy shows should come with a warning yes, it is possible to die from laughing, but don't let this stop you enjoying your favourite sitcom. There are just a handful of reported cases, usually due to intense laughter, causing a heart attack or suffocation. People have also been known to faint from laughing, which can lead to injuries, or some narcolepsy sufferers report temporary losses of consciousness triggered by laughter or other strong emotions. There are some rare fatal brain conditions that can cause uncontrollable laughter. So that's all for now, folks, but before I go, if there is anything you'd like me to talk about on future episodes, maybe want to ask a question or be on the show, you can do this by contacting us on any of our media sites. I'll put the links to these in the show notes. And don't forget to follow the show and leave a review.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to Sparky's Life. I'm your host, grant Doolko. Keep safe and catch you on the next one. We are now at Upper Session Road. We're looking over the shoulder just at the right time. Those little moments, all that I need. You Only got me about All those little moments.
Speaker 1:Well, maybe it was fate or a part of his plan. Giving me you was like giving me nothing. Thank God that you said hi, cause I was way too shy. What would've happened if you'd just have passed me by the night? Keep on drinking, keep on wishing for someone out there to love. All those little moments. The best you did. Catch me. Looking over your shoulder just at the right time. Those little moments, all that made you only kind to me. All those little moments. We keep on drinking, we keep on wishing. We keep on drinking, we keep on wishing, we keep on drinking, we keep on wishing All those little moments the best you did. Catch me, looking over your shoulder Just at the right time, those little moments, all that I need. You Only got you All those little moments. All those little moments.
