Most Important Things to Know For a Motorcycling n00b.

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Try parking directly above the line (in the circle, square or diamond) where the line intersects with the cut leaving said geometrical cut.

It's an inverse square relationship- if you cut the distance in half, the signal is four times stronger. Putting your sidestand down directly over the embedded wire can make a difference.

Magnets attached to your frame, do not. It's inductive, not magnetic.

[Shiveley]

1. Ride everyday! Practice makes perfect.

2. Get really good on a bicycle. Same physics with far less weight.

3. Start on a small, light, cheap, old bike. You won't cry when you drop it like you will on your new 1200 gs. I remember watching guys on new GSXRs trying to take the license test and plowing down the cones. Then a lady does it on an old 125 cc without any trouble. Pretty funny.

4. As you get more comfortable on the bike test the limits (albeit in a safe and controlled manner). You don't want the first time you find the traction limits to be in the thunderstorm that catches you out of nowhere. Find out how much brake you can give it before it slides. I have found this is easier to do safely on dirt, since you don't have to be going dangerously fast.

[Blue&Yellow]

Originally Posted by Shiveley

Get really good on a bicycle. Same physics with far less weight.

I second that, when I was a puny teenager i lived and breathed MTBs. Built my own from the ground up exactly the way I wanted it and were out all afternoon after school finding old back roads and forest trails. At the very core of my motorcycle knowledge I still fall back on what I learned in those old days.

The lighter the bike the stronger it will "speak to you" and the quicker you will figure things out.

I can not stress enough that if you're serious about riding there's nothing better you can do that to take it in incremental steps. First MTB, then moped, then 125, then 250, then 400-600 thumper.... then something with no more than double the horsepower of your last bike. Ride each bike for no less than one year and you will be able to progress in a faster and safer manner than if you had picked a too big motorbike to begin with. You'll become a much more skilled motorcyclist and you'll run much less risk of having an accident.

Sure if you're 30 and only now took you license I can sympathize with you if you don't want to go back to riding a MTB or moped or 125. But if you're still young and only dreaming about one day riding around on a motorbike you shouldn't feel any hurry to get a big bike. Small bikes are just as fun as big bikes, it just means you'll have to stick to smaller roads. But if you live in an area with a lot of small roads having a small bike is better than having a big one!

[SkinnyTiger]

This is an excellent thread - Lots of great advice from the field

One is never too experienced - keep learning
Motorcycle safety courses, basic and advanced
Look where you want to go (has saved me more than once)
Track days are great

For what it' worth I started on a CBR600 F2 (not a moped) 15 years ago - Just know your limits and know your bike

Have fun - if it's not fun - you're not doing it right

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by Blue&Yellow

I can not stress enough that if you're serious about riding there's nothing better you can do that to take it in incremental steps. First MTB, then moped, then 125, then 250, then 400-600 thumper.... then something with no more than double the horsepower of your last bike. Ride each bike for no less than one year and you will be able to progress in a faster and safer manner than if you had picked a too big motorbike to begin with. You'll become a much more skilled motorcyclist and you'll run much less risk of having an accident.

Yikes. A little color edit to reflect life in the USA. I say no to the moped. IMO the smallest road bike to start on here is a 250. It is capable.

Other than that I agree with much of what you say about Progressing faster and becoming safer more skilled rider...

[Blue&Yellow]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Yikes. A little color edit to reflect life in the USA. I say no to the moped. IMO the smallest road bike to start on here is a 250. It is capable.

Other than that I agree with much of what you say about Progressing faster and becoming safer more skilled rider...

Yeah I guess a moped isn't much fun in the states with your big roads, a European moped will do 30 mph (often 40 mph with minor mods) and if you choose an offroad version there's lots of fun to be had for a teenager on small back roads and forest trails. I don't really expect people to go back to riding MTBs or mopeds or 125s either if you just got your license.... all I'm saying is that if you're about to choose between a 250 off-road bike that your instructor thinks you should have or that 600 sports bike that you think look so damn sexy.... go with the smaller bike.... if in any doubt at all go with the smaller bike.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by Blue&Yellow

I'm saying is that if you're about to choose between a 250 off-road bike that your instructor thinks you should have or that 600 sports bike that you think look so damn sexy.... go with the smaller bike.... if in any doubt at all go with the smaller bike.

100% agreed.

A 600cc Sport Bike is not a good learning tool for a novice rider.

A 600cc Sport Bike is not a good learning tool for a novice rider.

A 600cc Sport Bike is not a good learning tool for a novice rider.

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

100% agreed.

A 600cc Sport Bike is not a good learning tool for a novice rider.
A 600cc Sport Bike is not a good learning tool for a novice rider.
A 600cc Sport Bike is not a good learning tool for a novice rider.

Yeah, I've heard students tell me that's why they bought a literbike- more torque, so they don't have to whack the throttle as hard.

Or a Road King, same reasoning.

[ExDucDog]

Originally Posted by dwoodward

It's an inverse square relationship- if you cut the distance in half, the signal is four times stronger. Putting your sidestand down directly over the embedded wire can make a difference.

Magnets attached to your frame, do not. It's inductive, not magnetic.

Yep. Putting the sidestand down works.

[airheadpenguin]

Originally Posted by Respen

2. I still haven't learned to trust my tires while leaning, so I stay around the posted speed limit.

As a fellow n00b I'm in the same boat. I'm glad I've got brothers out there with the same issue. Every time I'm out I keep learning I can go faster and faster through the twisties but its hard not to back off going into those corners hot

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by airheadpenguin

As a fellow n00b I'm in the same boat. I'm glad I've got brothers out there with the same issue. Every time I'm out I keep learning I can go faster and faster through the twisties but its hard not to back off going into those corners hot

Don't bite off too big of a chunk. Take your time... It will come.

As counter intuitive as it may be... Rolling on the throttle is the way to go. It helps to stabilize the bike.

When you roll on the throttle you are in control of the bike instead of having the inertia controlling you.

Just be sure to always wear all the gear!!! That way if things go South you have a much better chance of getting up, dusting off and doing it again.

[daq7]

And bear in mind your tires CAN let you down so be careful. Especially when it is cold outside you can get rear tire slip. It happened to me about a month ago. Fortunately I looked through the corner rolled on the throttle and the tire regained traction. I suspect I was somewhat lucky to avoid a low side and possibly even a high side crash.

[beachmike1]

"A Fool and his ride are soon parted"

"One hour on a racetrack will keep you from racing on the streets for life"

"Most track motorcycle records are held by small displacement motorcycles"

"Do not spend time or money impressing people you do not know who do not care one whit about you"

"If you look like a clown, you probably are a clown"

"The wild bunch sterotype was a fiction created by Herb Caen, on attending a Gypsy tour in Hollister. The story was false. The town invited the AMA back for nearly 25 years".

"Leather is for cows".

"99 % of those trying to make a living racing fund the 1% who do"

And after spending WAYYYYYY to much money losing in motocross, "You know son, if you can only see out of one eye, you ain't never goona make a living at this"........I was 18 it takes a while to learn the simple things.

"Work is for those who cant ride"

on a serious note.



NAW".

WW

"Riding across the USA on I 80 during winter break on a 1959 ROyal ENfield Chopper may seem very stupid to some. But to do it to spend New Years with your grandmother in Dearborn makes you a hero in her eyes"

You cannot smoke a cigarette and ride at the same time. However you can smoke a pipe and ride!

[decemberlight2]

There will come a time when you are no longer capable of safe riding.
Don't leave a mess. You're not that important.

[Wildman]

Top thread.

"Ride with your head, not with your wrist" (Klaus at ZSF in Frankfurt)

"If you can't ride feet up and have to paddle around the filling station forecourt, you don't have enough control to ride a bike" (paraphrased by Emmet at BMW Rider Skills in Ystradgynlais)

"Have sex the night before a ride. I don't care if you pay for it, just stay away from my sheep" (Tilley at BMW Rider Skills in Ystradgynlais)