New Rider Tips

[bikernoj]

Do this as a newb and anytime you get a new bike: tottle down a side street or non-busy road (not the school zone, dummy!) and practice swerving around manhole covers, potholes, whatever. This gets you used to moving the bike quickly in any direction and gives you more confidence in the "feel" of how your bike handles.

Why is this useful?

Because in a panic situation, your body and brain will not be thinking about effective braking, checking your mirrors, weight transfer and downshifting. Doing so will overload your brain and you will simply freeze up and hit something, or lock up the brakes and go down.

No, young newbie, you need your FIRST response to be an automatic, quick, safe swerve out of the way. I know this will elicit some WTFO responses, but that's the fun in having opinions, right?

[Safejohn]

This is my first post on this forum. I have attended three of the four classes for the Motorcycle Safety Program (MSP). I have passed the written test and have to take a driving test next week. If I pass the driving test I will have my permit stamped and will eventually receive my "M" endorsement on my drivers license.

I highly recommend that anyone going to drive a motorcycle take thiis course. Remember, the life you save may be your own.

I would like to bring to the attention of every motorcycle driver that their is a big new danger to the motorcycle driver. That danger is teenagers doing text messages as they drive. Last week there two fatel accidents because teenagers were driving and text messaging at the same time.

And you thought cell phones were a problem. Just think about text messaging.while your head is down and driving the car at the same time you have to look at your key board to type the message.

This is a very serious situation to motorcycle drivers. If one of these people plow into us at 60 MPH while text messaging, well, they will probably never find your remains.

I myself am very concerned about this problem. It will certainly get much worse before it even begins to get better.

I guess we have to be even more alert than in the past. A $500 fine would be nice for anyone text messaging while driving, but they won't do that. They will wait until hundreds if not thousands die before they take the necessary steps to stop texting while driving.

Sorry if I seem long winded, but I though this was worth mentioning.

[DaveMc]

12. If you're not comfortable with first gear going through a turn after a stop light, shift into second. The throttle response is more forgiving and it's easier to complete the turn. If you don't want to shift, pull in the clutch and drift through the turn.

I disagree. It is hardly ever a good idea to go through a turn without power going to the wheel, especially for a new rider. It increases the chance of something going wrong in the turn and decreases your chances of getting out of it smoothly if a problem occurs. It is OK to shift in a turn IF you can do it smoothly and you can keep speed and control; newbies ought to be in the right gear before starting the turn.

[gschwamborn]

Originally Posted by DaveMc

12. If you're not comfortable with first gear going through a turn after a stop light, shift into second. The throttle response is more forgiving and it's easier to complete the turn. If you don't want to shift, pull in the clutch and drift through the turn.

I disagree. It is hardly ever a good idea to go through a turn without power going to the wheel, especially for a new rider. It increases the chance of something going wrong in the turn and decreases your chances of getting out of it smoothly if a problem occurs. It is OK to shift in a turn IF you can do it smoothly and you can keep speed and control; newbies ought to be in the right gear before starting the turn.

I agree with DaveMc, it can be more dangerous for us newbies to drift thru a turn with the cluth in. I have found myself now practicing to change gears before a turn (into 2nd) or if i can't and have to do it in 1st and i need to bring my revs up then i'll do it. I'm still a little scared of changing gears in the middle of a turn!

Gina

[wookie]

Try changing gears hanging off knees on the tarmac.

I am still struggling with it....

[inspiron]

Wookie ... what kind of technique is that?

Brake, downshift, then lean ... in that order. Once you're in the turn, you shouldn't be shifting while hanging off (unless you are on the track, in which case you would reverse the gearbox to 1-up 5-down).

[wookie]

yep. on track, sometimes I redline in the middle of a corner and find myself needing to get on a higher gear to go faster.

[deathbybowtie]

Along the lines of the #3 point about city driving on that first list, a tip my parents gave me when I first started thinking about getting a bike was: "Always ride like you're invisible." It's very easy for a lot of people to not see motorcycles, so pretending that absolutely no one can see you is a good way to prevent a lot of incidents.

[Zurich]

Know what gear your are in, your speed, and revs, at all times - without looking at your instuments.

Practice driving the speed limit in city traffic, use your blinkers. Practice on round abouts (in little traffic), be extra careful when "cutting in line", some motorist hate that, and try to run you down when the light turns green.

[jfisher]

I'm 38 and looking for my first true street bike. I have riden ATV's and dirtbikes for most of my life. I have been riding a Burgman 650 for the last two years and am looking to move up. Any of you guys have suggestions. I am drawn to the liter bikes, but am wondering if a 600 would be enough. I've taken the MSF course and am comfortable on a bike and scooter. I'm considering an FZ1and FZ6 as well as a BMW 800ST. Can you throw some suggestions my way. jef

[Davecm203]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Wookie ... what kind of technique is that?

Brake, downshift, then lean ... in that order. Once you're in the turn, you shouldn't be shifting while hanging off (unless you are on the track, in which case you would reverse the gearbox to 1-up 5-down).

Yes, you would need to reverse the shifter. There usually is not room to up shift if you don't. I have gotten my foot caught between the shifter and the road a couple of times. I don't track day enough to change it and have to get used to it, so I just either go in a gear higher or just hold the gear until I start to straighten up.