Most Important Things to Know For a Motorcycling n00b.

[LittleRedToyota]

Originally Posted by woolsocks

Let's say I attempt to pass the cars in the right lane, so I move over to the left lane and start passing. Generally, what part of the lane should I be in? Should I be on the right side of the left lane near the cars that I'm passing in the right lane so they can see me in their mirrors (if they use them) or should I go towards the left side of the left lane and be near the center line of the road and hence be near oncoming traffic that could possibly cross the center line and hit me?

you'll get different opinions. mine is:

i assume i have absolutely no influence on what any cars will do and that they will not see me no matter what i do.

so, i position myself in such a ways as to make avoiding them if they do something stupid easiest.

so, if there are no oncoming cars, i would be in the left of the left lane near the center line in the situation you describe. that gives the most cushion for them to wander into my lane and not hit me and, more importanly, gives me the most time to see that they are doing that and react.

if there are cars in the oncoming lane, i will be in the middle of the lane so i have as much time and space as possible to react if the oncoming car crosses the center line while still having some time and space to react to the car i am passing.

[slide]

Originally Posted by woolsocks

Is this correct?

I'm on a two lane road (two lanes one way, two lanes the other way). I'm in the right lane behind some cars, I will generally be in the left side of that lane so that the cars in front of me can see me in their mirrors (if they use them) and I can be seen by oncoming traffic attempting to turn left in front of me. Let's say I attempt to pass the cars in the right lane, so I move over to the left lane and start passing. Generally, what part of the lane should I be in? Should I be on the right side of the left lane near the cars that I'm passing in the right lane so they can see me in their mirrors (if they use them) or should I go towards the left side of the left lane and be near the center line of the road and hence be near oncoming traffic that could possibly cross the center line and hit me? I always apply lots of throttle when passing and get the hell out of there. I'm always about 5 to 10 miles an hour faster than traffic and throttle it if I need to get out of a blind spot or pass quickly. So, any advice?

Thanks!

IMO, it's a situational thing and not amenable to a 'rule' of some sort. The only rule I have is pass as quickly as you can to return to a space where negligent behavior on the part of the cages can't affect you.

[mfgc2310]

Originally Posted by daq7

Yeah if you build the integration to determine the center of mass of the system, I am sure you can demonstrate mathematically beyond doubt that the center of gravity goes up. What is important is that your body does not have to lean with the bike in order to turn. Not having to rotate the mass of your upper body makes the rotational inertia of the bike somewhat lower.

Your cog gets farther from the ground or from where the tires make contact with the ground. However your weight can now press down on either the left or right side creating a moment that can be used to keep the bike vertical while going around a corner.

If you stand on both pegs equally at all times may as well just stay on the seat.

The best way to do it is to stay just on the seat holding the bike with your legs and knees while all the weight is on the pegs using the balls of your feet.

The main reason to stand is to move your weight far forward or backward and to accomodate extreme movement of the bike.

It is incorrect to say standing lowers your cog.

[slide]

Ah, not really. When you stand on the pegs, the COG raises but the mass of the rider is bearing lower on the bike. This means the bike is significantly more 'tossable'. The difference in a light bike, is enormous.

Try it on a lighter bike - say one weighing 350 lbs or less. Try quickly changing the bike along the longitudinal axis. Now stand with your ass slightly above the seat and do it again. You will see a difference for sure.

The difference on a battleship bike will be less because the rider's weight is less a percentage than on a lighter bike. You will find that trials bikes have no real saddle because in that sort of event, you need a good deal of bike English (tossing).

[thistle66]

Originally Posted by slide

Ah, not really. When you stand on the pegs, the COG raises but the mass of the rider is bearing lower on the bike.

...Aaaaaand, we're off!.....

[RevBill]

Originally Posted by thistle66

...Aaaaaand, we're off!.....

.. lol .. yeah .. oil .. tires .. and physics ..

.. all good for a rollicking good conversation ..

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by RevBill

.. lol .. yeah .. oil .. tires .. and physics ..

.. all good for a rollicking good conversation ..IN OTHER THREADS!

[RevBill]

ROFL .. good point ..

[swann]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

All right, I keep seeing advice to ride in the dirt first. I have no clue what to do on a dirt bike. I've seen a few of them on the atv trails but I wouldn't know how to go through those big puddles that block the trail or the really bumpy stuff. I'm 5'3" and not much of a wild rider :) so just looking at how high the dirt bike seats are is kind of intimidating.

I just checked on craigslist and it looks like I could get a kids dirt bike 50-80cc for about $500. Would that be worth it, giving me the experience on dirt that would help me as a n00b, or would it only be worth the belly laughing to anyone who would see me? I'm assuming I shouldn't use my street bike gear because it would get very dirty.

[duck]

Originally Posted by thistle66

...Aaaaaand, we're off!.....

Maybe we could slip an oil thread in too while we're at it.....

[atomicalex]

Originally Posted by swann

So, advice on a dirt bike for my situation?

Something you're comfortable with. A kids' bike will be closer to your size, and if that's what it takes to get you confidently out and learning more technique, that's the way to go. You'll know later on if you are ready to go up to something bigger. Plus, the price sounds great.

One of the strangest secrets of anything with motors is that a lot of times, the smallest ones are the most fun.

BTW - good on you for gearing up and taking it all seriously. You'll have fun and being a chicken isn't the end of the world. Taking your personal risk threshhold seriously is a good way to have fun and still live as much as you can. It sounds like your hubby might have had a good scare once and never got over it. Keep safe and learn as much as you can and maybe he'll come around for you one of these days.

[slide]

Originally Posted by swann

All right, I keep seeing advice to ride in the dirt first. I have no clue what to do on a dirt bike. I've seen a few of them on the atv trails but I wouldn't know how to go through those big puddles that block the trail or the really bumpy stuff. I'm 5'3" and not much of a wild rider :) so just looking at how high the dirt bike seats are is kind of intimidating.

I just checked on craigslist and it looks like I could get a kids dirt bike 50-80cc for about $500. Would that be worth it, giving me the experience on dirt that would help me as a n00b, or would it only be worth the belly laughing to anyone who would see me? I'm assuming I shouldn't use my street bike gear because it would get very dirty.

Dirt riding if you are starting out as an adult is dangerous beyond belief. The guys who advise this all started out as kids or teens & have this odd belief they are better street riders due to that. Even if true, the many falls they took as flex boned children (needed to learn dirt) will leave an adult crippled and crippled quickly.

It's not the size of the bike. It's when you bounce your body off a bunch of rocks at 30 mph is where the damage occurs.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by slide

It's not the size of the bike. It's when you bounce your body off a bunch of rocks at 30 mph is where the damage occurs.

You did not learn off road or your name would be bounce.

[LittleRedToyota]

Originally Posted by slide

Dirt riding if you are starting out as an adult is dangerous beyond belief.

not true.

i know a number of people who started dirt riding as adults and have suffered no injuries more serious than minor buises.

just don't ride over your head.

The guys who advise this all started out as kids or teens & have this odd belief they are better street riders due to that. Even if true, the many falls they took as flex boned children (needed to learn dirt) will leave an adult crippled and crippled quickly.

only if you insist on riding over your head.

and, btw, there is absolutely no question that dirt riding makes one a better all around rider...including on the street.

It's when you bounce your body off a bunch of rocks at 30 mph is where the damage occurs.

so don't do that. you shouldn't be riding 30mph over rocks until you are ready to ride 30mph over rocks.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by LittleRedToyota

so don't do that. you shouldn't be riding 30mph over rocks until you are ready to ride 30mph over rocks.

It really is that simple.