Need some tips on basic riding techniques
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 828
Likes: 8
From: western Mass
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
I agree with Waap and our Marine Sgt! (Thanks for your service and welcome home brother!).........don't practice til you take the course, then practice your butt off! You should get your motorcycle endorsement at the end of the course (assuming you pass it ok) but before you hit the street please practice in a somewhat controlled area (Like an empty parking lot.) GET the Ride Like A Pro IV dvd immediately if not sooner. I've been riding 42 years and this thing is indespensible! I learned a lot from it last year when I got it! My wife has been riding only 2 years now, and can keep up with the best of em! She even does a lot better than people riding a lot longer when we get into tight slow situations! It will give you a lot more confidence once you practice the maneuvers. It will teach you how to pick up your bike by yourself when you drop it ( and yes, you WILL drop it!) Best of luck. Take a deep breath, relax, don't try to cram too much in. Just go take it and pay attention!
Troll
Troll
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,420
Likes: 0
From: Palmer Alaska
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
ORIGINAL: Urban Coyote
How do those sport bike stunt riders lay backwards on their bike and stand up on their bikeand still be able to control their bike and make it look so damn easy like there bike weighs only 20 lbs....I was trying it before and......JUST KIDDING.
I think I should just wait til I go through a basic MSF course and have someone physically there to see if what I'm doing is right or wrong.
ORIGINAL: Finn111
The only time I hold the throttle open and use the front brake is to do burnouts. And as you have stated that you are a novice I would refrain from that activity.
The only time I hold the throttle open and use the front brake is to do burnouts. And as you have stated that you are a novice I would refrain from that activity.
I think I should just wait til I go through a basic MSF course and have someone physically there to see if what I'm doing is right or wrong.
PS, it took my making a really stupid begginer mistake, to get my A$$ in the class. Fortunatly I learned without serious injury, and have been incident free ever since
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
I agree you should avoid riding until proper training has been obtained!!! Don't teach yourself bad habits...habits are hard to break....always have self confidience and have the will to want to learn!!
ride on, ride a lot.................after training..
[IMG]local://upfiles/38813/D1A52646FDA44C33B692392DEEE06C02.jpg[/IMG]
ride on, ride a lot.................after training..
[IMG]local://upfiles/38813/D1A52646FDA44C33B692392DEEE06C02.jpg[/IMG]
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
I have taken BRC from MSF twice (in two different states - passed both) and I can tell you that you want to roll off throttle brake gently on both brakes prior to the turn and then RELEASE BOTH BRAKES before you gently Roll on the throttle and start your turn.NEVER BRAKE IN A TURN, unless you wanna lay your bike down.. ;-(
No need to practice too much before course, because you take course on crappy 250 cc kawasaki or suzuki or if lucky Buell,but not on a big Harley, so what you are used to doesn't apply. They can teach you technique in theory, and then you have to apply it to the bike you get on course. Each clutch and brake is different, but on any bike, you roll off throttle (slide hand forward) and then gently brake before a turn; I can't stress that enough.....if you brake in a turn (while front and rear wheels are out of alignment) you are gonne eat pavement.
Good luck.....
No need to practice too much before course, because you take course on crappy 250 cc kawasaki or suzuki or if lucky Buell,but not on a big Harley, so what you are used to doesn't apply. They can teach you technique in theory, and then you have to apply it to the bike you get on course. Each clutch and brake is different, but on any bike, you roll off throttle (slide hand forward) and then gently brake before a turn; I can't stress that enough.....if you brake in a turn (while front and rear wheels are out of alignment) you are gonne eat pavement.
Good luck.....
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
If you have to slow down in a turn, because of an obstacle in your path ahead, you must bring the bike out of it's lean (some call this 'righting the bike - or standing the bike up right) and THEN BRAKE. They will show you a video of this before they make you do it, and yes, this means that you have to come out of your turn, and begin heading straight BEFORE you brake. In a tight turn or high speed turn with on coming traffic, this means a quick stop only after you get your self and the bike up right and moving in a straight line. Again, if you brake while you are leaning and turning, it will not go well.
Choose wisely young jedi, use the "course", drop THEIR bikes if you must, and keep your bike (and body) looking good.......I would tell you to Ride it like you stole it, but that would be another bad habbit you'd have to break during the course. :-)
Choose wisely young jedi, use the "course", drop THEIR bikes if you must, and keep your bike (and body) looking good.......I would tell you to Ride it like you stole it, but that would be another bad habbit you'd have to break during the course. :-)
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 543
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
Buy a small honda and learn on it. If you're a big guy, buy a bigger honda, and learn on it.
Joking aside, buy you a used250, 400, or whatever, and learn how to ride.
Oh yeah, and if somebody disses hondas, be sure not to email the moderators about it!
That's about the best advice I can give you.
Joking aside, buy you a used250, 400, or whatever, and learn how to ride.
Oh yeah, and if somebody disses hondas, be sure not to email the moderators about it!
That's about the best advice I can give you.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
Cal - The MSF began in 1973 so it wasn't around when you started in '66. I also started back in '68 with Yucks method in a field. Took a long time to become proficient. I 've been teaching MSF classes since 1999 and after two days on the range my studentsare alot better rider than I was after several years of being self taught. They are still beginners though and need alot of time on the street to gain experience.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,138
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From:
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
ORIGINAL: zombie
Not sure where to begin and not overly sure what you’re asking, I don’t reckon there’s a time that I’m holding open the throttle and squeezing the front brake. If you’re describing your slow speed maneuvering, get off the front brake…quickest way to lay down a scoot is to be cornering at low speeds and grab a handful of front brake. At slow speeds, forget you have a front brake.
Controlling the speed of your turns can be accomplished by using your friction zone along with the throttle…not good at using the friction zone? Toss in some rear brake usage with that and slow speed maneuvering shouldn’t be a problem. Feel the bike starting to go over, give it a little (little) gas, it will begin to bring the bike upright and then you can continue using the friction zone and accelerator to keep you moving where you want to be. Always keep looking where you want to be, the bike will end up there.
Practice a lot.
Not sure where to begin and not overly sure what you’re asking, I don’t reckon there’s a time that I’m holding open the throttle and squeezing the front brake. If you’re describing your slow speed maneuvering, get off the front brake…quickest way to lay down a scoot is to be cornering at low speeds and grab a handful of front brake. At slow speeds, forget you have a front brake.
Controlling the speed of your turns can be accomplished by using your friction zone along with the throttle…not good at using the friction zone? Toss in some rear brake usage with that and slow speed maneuvering shouldn’t be a problem. Feel the bike starting to go over, give it a little (little) gas, it will begin to bring the bike upright and then you can continue using the friction zone and accelerator to keep you moving where you want to be. Always keep looking where you want to be, the bike will end up there.
Practice a lot.