Most Important Things to Know For a Motorcycling n00b.

MotoMusicMark · 03-26-2010, 01:06 PM

I'm doing some research on what would be more helpful to know at a person’s start in motorcycling versus learning it over years in the "school of hard knocks".

Things like..."Don't transport a bike on the centerstand. It might break the frame". or "Standing up on the pegs or at least putting more pressure on them makes the bike less top heavy and better to control at low speed".

Could you help my research by answering the following question...”What did you wish someone told you about motorcycling when you first started out?”

Thanks. Mark Tillack
Brinkhaven, OH(USA)

Wuwei · 03-26-2010, 01:27 PM

Be very careful about overtorquing bolts threaded into aluminum castings on motorcycles. Best to back off a bit from recommended torques a bit. Motorcycle bolts and castings tend to need much lower torques than automotive stuff.

bomber60015 · 03-26-2010, 01:36 PM

Things like..."Standing up on the pegs or at least putting more pressure on them makes the bike less top heavy and better to control at low speed".

this is simply untrue -- raising up on the pegs will elevated the center of mass of the bike/rider combination.

To add to this thread, "Just because you know HOW to do something, you shouldn't necessarily do it."

This will help you avoid rebuilding carbs at night in the rain in a vain attempt to cure the out of fuel condition in which you find yourself.

DAKEZ · 03-26-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoMusicMark

Could you help my research by answering the following question...”What did you wish someone told you about motorcycling when you first started out?”

Thanks. Mark Tillack
Brinkhaven, OH(USA)

I have no answer for you as I do not remember starting. It is like asking me the same about walking.

Who remembers such things?

I know others started later in life so I look forward to see how this thread develops.

Welcome to the asylum n00b.

klaviator · 03-26-2010, 01:59 PM

"It's not the bike, it's the rider"

and "Bigger is not always better"

Too many people think they need a bigger, better faster, etc bike. I started on a small, old bike because I couldn't afford anything more. Eventually, when I could afford it, I got one of the fastest bikes available at the time, a Yamaha FJ1100. It only took a few rides with a bunch of old geezers on their old BMWs to show me that It's not the bike, it's the rider that counts (Yeah, they left me in the dust). When I moved "down" to an EX500, I got a lot faster and had more fun.

YetiGS · 03-26-2010, 02:08 PM

I wish someone had told me how addicitive it was.

Wouldn't have changed anything for me, I just could have better prepared others in my life for it.

Uncle Ernie · 03-26-2010, 02:13 PM

I'll drink to those 2 up there ^

Plus; Ride your own ride. Never try to keep up with anyone.

Especially relevant to the ATGATT folks; No matter what you wear- you are invisible. Most drivers don't see you and they're happy that way until you scratch their paint. Never expect a car to do the rational or predictable thing. Never never never.

YetiGS · 03-26-2010, 02:19 PM

I did hear this one the very first day I rode from my dad who was once a CHP motor officer:

There are old riders and bold riders. There are no old bold riders.

A lot of kids around here need to know that.

duck · 03-26-2010, 03:45 PM

The bike is better than you are. When you think you've come into a turn too hot, do not chop the throttle, keep it constant and look through the turn.

You're most dangerous to yourself when you think you've mastered motorcycling. This can lead to complacency and bite you. This is an issue for noobs in the 6-12 monnth experience range. There is always room to improve your riding.

johnnyadventurepants · 03-26-2010, 03:52 PM

Look through the corners, not right in front of you.

tigerboy · 03-26-2010, 04:14 PM

This thread is still young, so this hasn't been said before. If I could do it all over again, I wish someone would say to me:

Learn how to ride in the dirt, not on the street

Uncle Ernie · 03-26-2010, 04:45 PM

That one always bothred me. As a person growing up in big cities, I never saw a dirt bike and certainly never heard of anywhere to ride one. Maybe things are different now, but if you live in a city- not everyone can afford a dirt bike AND a pick-up.

bush pilot · 03-26-2010, 05:05 PM

Keep clear of the hot exhaust pipes!

I still have vestiges of a scar 42 years later, where my Honda minitrail fell on me.
And of course watch out for sudden stops with stationary objects (big logs, tree stumps).

R-A-M-O-N · 03-26-2010, 05:46 PM

DONT crash your bike.

It seems stupid but some people specially in cars seems to not care if they risk a turn and crash their vehicle. In a bike it is very important to be extra carefull because any crash could mean a serious injury wether you are wearing gear or not.

If you can do that then everything is fun and games

DAKEZ · 03-26-2010, 05:55 PM

Stupid Hurts.

The throttle is your friend.

03-26-2010, 01:06 PM	#1
MotoMusicMark ^OP n00b Joined: Mar 2010 Location: NE central Ohioland(USA) Oddometer: 4	Most Important Things to Know For a Motorcycling n00b. I'm doing some research on what would be more helpful to know at a person’s start in motorcycling versus learning it over years in the "school of hard knocks". Things like..."Don't transport a bike on the centerstand. It might break the frame". or "Standing up on the pegs or at least putting more pressure on them makes the bike less top heavy and better to control at low speed". Could you help my research by answering the following question...”What did you wish someone told you about motorcycling when you first started out?” Thanks. Mark Tillack Brinkhaven, OH(USA)

03-26-2010, 01:27 PM	#2
Wuwei Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: New York Oddometer: 1,108	Be very careful about overtorquing bolts threaded into aluminum castings on motorcycles. Best to back off a bit from recommended torques a bit. Motorcycle bolts and castings tend to need much lower torques than automotive stuff. __________________ For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. Robert Louis Stevenson

03-26-2010, 01:36 PM	#3
bomber60015 Anatomically Correct Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago-ish Oddometer: 2,493	Things like..."Standing up on the pegs or at least putting more pressure on them makes the bike less top heavy and better to control at low speed". this is simply untrue -- raising up on the pegs will elevated the center of mass of the bike/rider combination. To add to this thread, "Just because you know HOW to do something, you shouldn't necessarily do it." This will help you avoid rebuilding carbs at night in the rain in a vain attempt to cure the out of fuel condition in which you find yourself. __________________ Searching for the immaculate contraption

03-26-2010, 01:59 PM	#5
klaviator Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Oddometer: 4,097	"It's not the bike, it's the rider" and "Bigger is not always better" Too many people think they need a bigger, better faster, etc bike. I started on a small, old bike because I couldn't afford anything more. Eventually, when I could afford it, I got one of the fastest bikes available at the time, a Yamaha FJ1100. It only took a few rides with a bunch of old geezers on their old BMWs to show me that It's not the bike, it's the rider that counts (Yeah, they left me in the dust). When I moved "down" to an EX500, I got a lot faster and had more fun. __________________ Still trying to figure out what I wanna be when I grow up! If I ever grow up!

03-26-2010, 02:08 PM	#6
YetiGS Random Hooligan Joined: Apr 2007 Location: San Diego Oddometer: 6,182	I wish someone had told me how addicitive it was. Wouldn't have changed anything for me, I just could have better prepared others in my life for it. __________________ -Scott- Semper Fi '04 BMW R1150GSA, '08 KTM 450EXC-R, '04 KTM 625 SXC "A pessimist thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are." Chauncey Depew

03-26-2010, 02:13 PM	#7
Uncle Ernie Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Asheville NC Oddometer: 3,978	I'll drink to those 2 up there ^ Plus; Ride your own ride. Never try to keep up with anyone. Especially relevant to the ATGATT folks; No matter what you wear- you are invisible. Most drivers don't see you and they're happy that way until you scratch their paint. Never expect a car to do the rational or predictable thing. Never never never. __________________ LOOK OUT IT'S COMING THIS WAY!

03-26-2010, 02:19 PM	#8
YetiGS Random Hooligan Joined: Apr 2007 Location: San Diego Oddometer: 6,182	I did hear this one the very first day I rode from my dad who was once a CHP motor officer: There are old riders and bold riders. There are no old bold riders. A lot of kids around here need to know that. __________________ -Scott- Semper Fi '04 BMW R1150GSA, '08 KTM 450EXC-R, '04 KTM 625 SXC "A pessimist thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are." Chauncey Depew

03-26-2010, 03:45 PM	#9
duck PsyKotic Waterfowl Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Seattle (Berkeley with rain) Oddometer: 9,968	The bike is better than you are. When you think you've come into a turn too hot, do not chop the throttle, keep it constant and look through the turn. You're most dangerous to yourself when you think you've mastered motorcycling. This can lead to complacency and bite you. This is an issue for noobs in the 6-12 monnth experience range. There is always room to improve your riding. __________________ 93 K1100LT, 94 K1100RS, 86-97 K75F (K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick), 91 K1, 05 KTM 450 SMR IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC) http://home.comcast.net/~smithduck/BMW_Tours.htm

03-26-2010, 03:52 PM	#10
johnnyadventurepants Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Lynden, WA Oddometer: 490	Look through the corners, not right in front of you. __________________ 2008 WR250X/R

03-26-2010, 04:14 PM	#11
tigerboy Tight as a Tiger Joined: Aug 2002 Location: West Virginia Oddometer: 100	This thread is still young, so this hasn't been said before. If I could do it all over again, I wish someone would say to me: Learn how to ride in the dirt, not on the street __________________ '01 MZ Baghira Motard Tigerboy.com

03-26-2010, 04:45 PM	#12
Uncle Ernie Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Asheville NC Oddometer: 3,978	That one always bothred me. As a person growing up in big cities, I never saw a dirt bike and certainly never heard of anywhere to ride one. Maybe things are different now, but if you live in a city- not everyone can afford a dirt bike AND a pick-up. __________________ LOOK OUT IT'S COMING THIS WAY!

03-26-2010, 05:05 PM	#13
bush pilot Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Bangkok, everywhere else Oddometer: 2,149	Keep clear of the hot exhaust pipes! I still have vestiges of a scar 42 years later, where my Honda minitrail fell on me. And of course watch out for sudden stops with stationary objects (big logs, tree stumps). __________________ USA travels 09' Anchorage to Ushuaia Iron Butt #35784

03-26-2010, 05:46 PM	#14
R-A-M-O-N Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Buenos aires, Argentina Oddometer: 297	DONT crash your bike. It seems stupid but some people specially in cars seems to not care if they risk a turn and crash their vehicle. In a bike it is very important to be extra carefull because any crash could mean a serious injury wether you are wearing gear or not. If you can do that then everything is fun and games

03-26-2010, 05:55 PM	#15
DAKEZ Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: U-gene, OR. Oddometer: 17,983	Stupid Hurts. The throttle is your friend. __________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." — Dr. Seuss “Watch out for everything bigger than you, they have the "right of weight" Bib

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