Most Important Things to Know For a Motorcycling n00b.

[Ahboon]

Use your mirrors. Glance in them every few minutes - more frequently in traffic. What is behind you can be more dangerous than what is up front.
Before overtaking or changing lane, always double-check (as suggesed above) by actually taking a quick look back to cover the blind spot that the mirror does not.
Maintain a minimum of 2 seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you - more when the road surface or visibility is less than ideal.
Enjoy the ride.

[braindigitalis]

"only a fool breaks the two-second rule". Leave a two second gap in good conditions, 4 seconds in rain and anything up to 10 seconds in snow or ice...

[catweasel67]

Originally Posted by braindigitalis

"only a fool breaks the two-second rule". Leave a two second gap in good conditions, 4 seconds in rain and anything up to 10 seconds in snow or ice...

In snow and ice I prefer to leave a day or two :)

[LuciferMutt]

Originally Posted by catweasel67

In snow and ice I prefer to leave a day or two :)

Ditto. Hell I won't even drive a cage, even a 4WD one, in snow/ice if I can avoid it.

[braindigitalis]

Originally Posted by LuciferMutt

Ditto. Hell I won't even drive a cage, even a 4WD one, in snow/ice if I can avoid it.

Its amazing how many people here just seem to be able to decide not to go to work just because its snowing... I'm expected in even if it were ten feet deep in water snow and ice! Slave drivers...

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by braindigitalis

Its amazing how many people here just seem to be able to decide not to go to work just because its snowing... I'm expected in even if it were ten feet deep in water snow and ice! Slave drivers...

When I worked in NYC I had a Land Rover discovery as a company vehicle. It was my job to go fetch the accounting department if their normal cars were snowed in.

They loved seeing me show up when they thought they were going to have a snow day...not!

[ianmp]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

If you are not competing then riding is not a sport.

I disagree. The most dangerous way to ride is casually. The most important thing for beginners to learn and veterans to remember is that you have to be fully engaged, enjoying the sport every time you swing a leg over the thing.

If it's on a bike, it's not a commute... it's a ride, even if it leads to work or school and back. As soon as you get on the bike in a flustered mood, or in a hurry, or with a bunch of pressing concerns, you are fucking up.

source: >100,000 miles, >$10,000 in tickets >$260,000 in medical bills

-Ian

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by ianmp

The most dangerous way to ride is casually. The most important thing for beginners to learn and veterans to remember is that you have to be fully engaged,
-Ian

I agree.

Originally Posted by ianmp

enjoying the sport every time you swing a leg over the thing.

-Ian

If you are racing then it is a sport. I commute every day.

Originally Posted by ianmp

source: >100,000 miles, >$10,000 in tickets >$260,000 in medical bills

-Ian

You don't sound like someone that should be giving advice to n00bs.

[Jetstreamer]

Buy gear before the bike. Otherwise you will be tempted to ride while not adequately protected.

[planemanx15]

Originally Posted by Jetstreamer

Buy gear before the bike. Otherwise you will be tempted to ride while not adequately protected.

+1...

Wear your gear around the house for a while to get used to it. Your helmet might be tight brand new, and you don't want to be riding while trying to fiddle with it.

[planemanx15]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Thank you, fixed..

[braindigitalis]

Originally Posted by planemanx15

+1...

Wear your gear around the house for a while to get used to it. Your helmet might be tight brand new, and you don't want to be riding while trying to fiddle with it.

Be prepared to spend half the value of your first bike on good protective gear and waterproofs :-) ...that is unless you're buying a ten grand bike on finance ;-)

[BCKRider]

Originally Posted by catweasel67

In snow and ice I prefer to leave a day or two :)

My thoughts exactly. Yesterday I caught a ride to a band rehearsal from a fellow band member in his two-wheel drive van. About 4 km from my place we see a scooter riding along in the opposing lane. Can't tell you the sex of of the rider or whether the scooter was gas or electric powered, but I can tell you I was absolutely astonished that anyone would be out on two wheels after a 3" dump of new snow, not totally plowed off, with patches of ice under the snow.

Can't imagine the rationale for this ride, but hope he/she made it home safely.Definitely not my cup of tea.

[Jon_PDX]

Since the title of this thread is "Most Important Things to Know For a Motorcycling n00b."

Do Not Try Riding in the Snow/Ice
(Until you have a lot of miles under you.)

Yeah, yeah, I know......But I had to say it just because it sure looks like fun.

Jon...

[randyo]

Originally Posted by braindigitalis

"only a fool breaks the two-second rule". Leave a two second gap in good conditions, 4 seconds in rain and anything up to 10 seconds in snow or ice...

I've gone to the darkside, winter car tire in back, studded bike tire in front, you can cut that gap back down to the normal 3 seconds ±