Most Important Things to Know For a Motorcycling n00b.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by 60pan

Maybe, at least he was walking away. If mirrors were a wearable part, I would have to replace mine allthe time, I use them like my life depends on it.

When I bought my DR650 I didn't even ride it before adding the extenders. The mirrors the way they come from the factory are useless. Fortunately there is a guy in Boise that understands this and put a set of extenders in the mail to me and said "just send me a check when you can"

I check my six often as I like to know what is going on back there... And any time I even roll off the throttle I flash my brake lights and move laterally to help those behind to wake up.

[IheartmyNx]

Hind sight's always 50/50...


Well, to me anyways.



X2 on the dot-dot-dot... dash-dash-dash... wake the f$%k up brake light blinks.

I even use the racers hold your hand up means caution thing, but I'm prolly the only one in eye shot that knows WTF that means.

Even had to do it in the middle of shifts... Glad I know how to do that (clutchless shifting. up and down). It comes in handy.

[Swissican]

I do apologize if this advice has already been posted by I don't want to read through 52 pages of posts because I know that I'll get sidetracked and, once I reach the end of the replies, forget what I was going to write in the first place

I've only been riding a bit more than four years but I've put a couple of miles on my bike (over 34k) so here it goes...When you're on the road and there is more than one car a head of you, don't focus on the car your behind. Focus on about the third car in front of you! At first it might seem a bit weird but once you get used to it it'll be second nature. Here's the reasoning behind it...

When you're on the road and you're only focusing on the car in front of you, you are trusting that the driver will be able to stop in time or that he/she won't swerve. If, for some reason, something just happened a head of you and all the drivers are slamming on their brakes, it's possible that the car in front of you won't stand on his brakes soon enough and rear-end the car a head of him...meaning that you have even less distance to come to a complete stop before hitting the car.

Or

If the you're focusing on the car in front of you and that car swerves in order to avoid hitting an obstacle in the road this might not leave you with enough time to either stop or swerve.

Soooo...if you focus your main attention on the third car a head of you, you'll know what's going on farther down the road, allowing you to start slowing down as soon as you see that third car's brake lights flash (at which point the car in front of you still has no clue).

Hope you were able to follow my logic. I'm really good at explaining things to people but if I have to write it down...yea...about that

Anywho...Ride On...

[duck]

You should be looking at ALL of the cars in front of you. If somebody slams on their brakes 10 cars ahead of you on the freewaythen you've got a lot more time to be prepared for when the chain reaction gets to you.

This goes for driving a cage too and is hopefully still taught in driver's ed.

[IheartmyNx]

lets see.... My advise to a n00b...

Be paranoid.
Keep your eyes moving.
Practice panic stops. B/c you don't want to do like me trying to figure that out when a light changes fast.
If you're a city rider, I'd say forget the iPod and focus on riding. Spending about 50/50 front and rear sight-line and this means MIRRORS... And good ones... Bigger than a postage stamp too. Fawking ascetics are out the window as far as I'm concerned when it come to SURVIVAL! This just in, cagers love distractions.

Viability... IMO, get some as this, conrary to popular belief has TWO effects. One, you're new and need to give a driver all the decision time you can get when you pull out in front of them and shift into the wrong gear...

And two, IF you get involved in a collision, the officer will be asking the cager how did you hit a guy wearing a neon jacket or onezee?


Parking lots or school parking lots... Find one and spend all day practicing. You need to know and master your transitions BEFORE you're doing it competing with 4,000lbs of rolling steel and glass.

Riding a bike for the 1st time is a HARD task... You've got 5 limbs controlling 4 vital tasks to keeping the thing even upright.

Ride faster. IMO, get away from cars and trucks that can side swipe you as you're the last thing in their feeble little minds. Drivers here don't even use a signal so using a mirror isnt that hard to assume isnt the only thing they don't know how to work.

The less time you spend in the area or blindspot, the better off you'll be as an old saying is, Two solids can NOT occupy the same space.

The reason why I feel a motorcycle should LEGALLY be able to "speed".


DO NOT pass on the right. In Merica we drive on the left side leaving a large blindspot on the right hand side beside a B pillar... Just don't go there and by odds you won't be a small object in a small blindspot.

The reason I feel passing on the RIGHT should be ILLEGAL! And keep right or GTFOOTW should be a damn law!


ADD break

[shelion]

Originally Posted by IheartmyNx

lets see.... My advise to a n00b...

Be paranoid.
...

Viability... IMO, get some as this, conrary to popular belief has TWO effects. One, you're new and need to give a driver all the decision time you can get when you pull out in front of them and shift into the wrong gear...

If they're truly paranoid, they wouldn't be riding at all.

How about: Ride as if all cars don't see you. That's what I do and I'm rarely surprised. I always assume that people waiting to turn don't see me, people merging don't see me, etc.

I presume you meant visibility. I'm a big believer in that as well but I don't think a solid color neon works as well as something with contrasting stripes. Doesn't really matter what the colors are, as long as it's a stark contrast.

And you shouldn't be pulling out in front of anyone in a manner that causes them to immediately react. If the driver behind you has to adjust because you've pulled out in front of them, then you just pulled a jerk move and didn't leave yourself enough space.

[opaque_machete]

Originally Posted by IheartmyNx

lets see.... My advise to a n00b...

The reason I feel passing on the RIGHT should be ILLEGAL! And keep right or GTFOOTW should be a damn law!

Another reason to be respectful on the road. Your disrespectful attitude affects cagers' reactions to ALL motorcyclists. Get over yourself. The roads belong to all drivers, not just you.

[enigmatic_redhabu]

Practices, practices, practices...a lot of practices, braking, shifting, controlling the throttle, and leaning, etc, some places road less travel. Get comfortable with your bike. Get familiar with your bike much as you can.

[IheartmyNx]

Originally Posted by shelion

If they're truly paranoid, they wouldn't be riding at all.

How about: Ride as if all cars don't see you. That's what I do and I'm rarely surprised. I always assume that people waiting to turn don't see me, people merging don't see me, etc.

I presume you meant visibility. I'm a big believer in that as well but I don't think a solid color neon works as well as something with contrasting stripes. Doesn't really matter what the colors are, as long as it's a stark contrast.

And you shouldn't be pulling out in front of anyone in a manner that causes them to immediately react. If the driver behind you has to adjust because you've pulled out in front of them, then you just pulled a jerk move and didn't leave yourself enough space.

"Being paranoid" works for me. It keeps my head on a swivel, never becoming complacent b/c I tell myself every car I see can and will pull out in front of me, given the chance...

I just choose to use a different verbiage to keep me more at attention so I'll never become complacent.

Originally Posted by opaque_machete

Another reason to be respectful on the road. Your disrespectful attitude affects cagers' reactions to ALL motorcyclists. Get over yourself. The roads belong to all drivers, not just you.

Wow Dr. Phil... You read all that in my post? How bout you come to Nashville, then you'll see that 4wheelers do NOT know or even care what you're thinking under your helmet, and just how much time you spend in blind spots or B-pillars b/c of ppl running at or below the speed limit b/c the left lane is theirs, by god...


I've switched to all C-road, single lane roads taking the GF to work b/c ALL the dual lanes will be blocked by some self-imposed safety monitor asshat.


Saves more time, ZERO traffic, and shit-ton or right on reds too I don't see the point in more lanes just so ppl can do the same speeds in them.

[opaque_machete]

Originally Posted by IheartmyNx

Wow Dr. Phil... You read all that in my post? How bout you come to Nashville, then you'll see that 4wheelers do NOT know or even care what you're thinking under your helmet, and just how much time you spend in blind spots or B-pillars b/c of ppl running at or below the speed limit b/c the left lane is theirs, by god...

Feel better?

[DirtyOlLady]

The best thing I did as a nOOB was take a beginner riders course. My class is sponsored by SIU Carbondale. After passing the class I was able to get IL DL. There are adv. and exp. classes if you have a licence.

[IheartmyNx]

Originally Posted by DirtyOlLady

The best thing I did as a nOOB was take a beginner riders course. My class is sponsored by SIU Carbondale. After passing the class I was able to get IL DL. There are adv. and exp. classes if you have a licence.

Here they give you a better insurance quote after you complete a course...

But $200 for the course goes a long way with me and I didnt have the money so... I just learned old school. I found a parking lot and spent a few days getting used to it.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by IheartmyNx

Here they give you a better insurance quote after you complete a course...

But $200 for the course goes a long way with me and I didnt have the money so... I just learned old school. I found a parking lot and spent a few days getting used to it.

Can one successfully learn to safely ride without one? Of course you can.

But THIS thread is for the purpose of giving n00bs sage advice. The MSF, Team Oregon and the plethora of other classes scattered across the US (and the World) do a very good job of instructing new and returning riders good habits to help them start off with a good foundation in riding a motorcycle.

If you can't afford the class you likely can't afford to ride. "TAKE THE CLASS" is good advice.

[opaque_machete]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

If you can't afford the class you likely can't afford to ride. "TAKE THE CLASS" is good advice.

+100 The course is an excellent way to learn the basics and learn them the correct way. "Old School" may not always teach you what you need to know.

[advsheila]

I am a NooB with rather unique experience. Actually I am a born again.... I rode a sportster back in the late eighties in NH. Then became a passenger for over 20 years. Now I am back riding. Took the classes....have a ducati monster courtesy of my boyfriend. We unfortunately live in Fort Lauderdale. The classes were an invaluable asset. Also, I am learning to ride offroad at the same time on a yamaha 250. Florida sugar sand...........Aaaargh. Riding in the dirt makes me a better street rider. I also have a 650 GS... for long trips. My boyfriend is a KTM guy....experienced rider extrordinaire (dirtduc).
I took some off road classes by Rawhide adventures. My little yamaha and a convoy of big GS's onto the rocky trails in Arizona. I had a blast. and STANDING on the pegs while in dirt makes all the difference in the world. I learned to power thru the sloppy stuff - set my sights way out in front and I let the bike dance all around underneath me....starting on a small bike made the transition to the big bike easier. I have learned that certain bikes, fully loaded ride better seated.(KTM) while the big GS loves to be stood upon. Shayne says bike are like women....some of them just respond better when stood upon. Me? I prefer to on top!
You cant take too many professional classes or go on too many group rides when learning.
Never pass a gas station
and you cant wear too much protective gear.
I have dumped my bike on the road ( forgot how good the brakes were on the ducati after riding the BMW offroad)
and I have mis judged my speed on a few curves in the dirt. I have poor instincts when it comes to making quick corrections..... gotta learn from experience. Every chance I get I will continue to take lessons and to challenge myself.
I recommend rawhide adventures classes to everyone...experienced or NooB.
Next for us is Moab....I cant wait. then a long ride up the PCH and up to Washington to do the newly mapped offroad ride thru the state.
Dont be afraid to start out on a bike that is undersized for you....confidence builder and a ton of fun.
And hey...if your lady likes it standing up....more power to ya!