Need some tips on basic riding techniques
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Need some tips on basic riding techniques
First, I will be attending a MSF course soon, but I wan to get some knowledge and practice in before I go.
There are a couple of basic techniques that I am not comfortable with yet andone is how to properly hold the throttle and keep control of the front brake at the same time. My biggest problem is getting that quick stop and go abiltityor slow turns in tight places.
WhenI have a full grip on the throttle I am able to keep full control and keep my hand in a position so not to accidently open up the throttle.
When I keep even a couple of fingers on thefront brake handle, I lose the full ability to open the throttle at the speed I want. I almost feels when I have my fingers on the brake, I have to control the throttle with the heel of my hand.
When I keep my hand in a wrist down position I don't feel like I have quick reach and application of the front brake with my fingers and my hands and fingersaren't small or anything.
Another is controlling the speed of my turns. I know that you have to keep the bike ina fast enough forward momentum to keep the bike balanced in a turn.
I am having trouble with getting that speed and momentum when making a turn or when I would needto slow down right away in the middle ofa turn.
I don't know if I'm doing so properly, but right now I'm using alot of clutch or rear brakewhen making a turn to slow me down, because I can't get thatcorrect right hand throttle/brake hold, so my turns are wide and not at one smooth speed.
There are a couple of basic techniques that I am not comfortable with yet andone is how to properly hold the throttle and keep control of the front brake at the same time. My biggest problem is getting that quick stop and go abiltityor slow turns in tight places.
WhenI have a full grip on the throttle I am able to keep full control and keep my hand in a position so not to accidently open up the throttle.
When I keep even a couple of fingers on thefront brake handle, I lose the full ability to open the throttle at the speed I want. I almost feels when I have my fingers on the brake, I have to control the throttle with the heel of my hand.
When I keep my hand in a wrist down position I don't feel like I have quick reach and application of the front brake with my fingers and my hands and fingersaren't small or anything.
Another is controlling the speed of my turns. I know that you have to keep the bike ina fast enough forward momentum to keep the bike balanced in a turn.
I am having trouble with getting that speed and momentum when making a turn or when I would needto slow down right away in the middle ofa turn.
I don't know if I'm doing so properly, but right now I'm using alot of clutch or rear brakewhen making a turn to slow me down, because I can't get thatcorrect right hand throttle/brake hold, so my turns are wide and not at one smooth speed.
Banned Camp
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, VA
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
Go hear...awesome videos.
Explain all of the aspects of controlling the bike during slow speed operations (gas, brakes, clutch, friction zone, etc). A buddy let me borrow this and I have watched it a couple of times. I would watch a part ot if and go out on my road or to a large p/lot to practice. I did this repeatedly before ever taking the bike out on the road and taking my MSF course. Many of his techniques are what they teach in the MSF, you just have the advantage of seeing it and practicing at home.
http://www.ridelikeapro.com/RLAP4.asp
http://www.ridelikeapro.com/Beginner.asp
Explain all of the aspects of controlling the bike during slow speed operations (gas, brakes, clutch, friction zone, etc). A buddy let me borrow this and I have watched it a couple of times. I would watch a part ot if and go out on my road or to a large p/lot to practice. I did this repeatedly before ever taking the bike out on the road and taking my MSF course. Many of his techniques are what they teach in the MSF, you just have the advantage of seeing it and practicing at home.
http://www.ridelikeapro.com/RLAP4.asp
http://www.ridelikeapro.com/Beginner.asp
Banned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,481
Likes: 4
From: Triangle, VA
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
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.
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.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 2
From: South County, CA.
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
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.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
Likes: 4
From: Midland, TX
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
You gotta learn to use the friction zone in the clutch. Part clutch, part throttle, part rear brake. The only way to learn is practice. I suspect you are trying to steer around corners rather than steering and leaning the bike. You'll master cornering if you learn the friction zone and learn the right amount of lean. Finally, you are probably looking in the direction you are going rather than turning your head in the direction you want to go. Your bike goes where you look.
Find a nice gravel free parking lot and practice manuvering around light poles using the friction zone, proper head turning and proper leaning of the bike.
Good luck and be safe.
Find a nice gravel free parking lot and practice manuvering around light poles using the friction zone, proper head turning and proper leaning of the bike.
Good luck and be safe.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,420
Likes: 0
From: Palmer Alaska
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
From what I hear, the instructers would rather that you don't practice ahead of time, so-as they don't have to unteach any bad habits.
The class is designed to start from the very basics (zero knowledge), and turn you into a proficient rider.
Good Luck in your class, and enjoy the Ride!
LG
The class is designed to start from the very basics (zero knowledge), and turn you into a proficient rider.
Good Luck in your class, and enjoy the Ride!
LG
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
ORIGINAL: ladyglide
From what I hear, the instructers would rather that you don't practice ahead of time, so-as they don't have to unteach any bad habits.
The class is designed to start from the very basics (zero knowledge), and turn you into a proficient rider.
Good Luck in your class, and enjoy the Ride!
LG
From what I hear, the instructers would rather that you don't practice ahead of time, so-as they don't have to unteach any bad habits.
The class is designed to start from the very basics (zero knowledge), and turn you into a proficient rider.
Good Luck in your class, and enjoy the Ride!
LG
This may or may not help you, but I started by first using only the clutch to control my speed with the thottle mostly at idle. I would start the bike rolling using only the clutch then try to maintain speed as best as I could. Then I added more throttle to keep me moving and rear brake to slow me down. As I started to speed up ordrift off line because of the feeling of falling over, I added more rear brake and more throttle at the same time believe it or not. Once you start to get a feel for how the throttle, rear brake and clutch control the slow pace of the bike and keep it from falling over, your learning curve increases. This has taken me a several 20 minute sessions by the way because my RK gets hot in our Oklahoma summer. Surprisingly after a few sessions, you will find yourself maintianing control at a slower rate. Then you can do the turns, but I agree it is best to take the class first.
Good luck and have fun.
Beary
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
There is too much involved to try and describe it over the internet. If that could be done, you wouldn't need to take the MSF course. Speaking as a former MSF instructor alot ofwhat you get here will probably only contribute to you forming some bad habits. You're doing enough of that yourself by not taking the course before you started trying to ride a bike. The best thing you can do now is park your bike and wait till you've taken the course.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in, WA
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
ORIGINAL: whaap
There is too much involved to try and describe it over the internet. If that could be done, you wouldn't need to take the MSF course. Speaking as a former MSF instructor alot ofwhat you get here will probably only contribute to you forming some bad habits. You're doing enough of that yourself by not taking the course before you started trying to ride a bike. The best thing you can do now is park your bike and wait till you've taken the course.
There is too much involved to try and describe it over the internet. If that could be done, you wouldn't need to take the MSF course. Speaking as a former MSF instructor alot ofwhat you get here will probably only contribute to you forming some bad habits. You're doing enough of that yourself by not taking the course before you started trying to ride a bike. The best thing you can do now is park your bike and wait till you've taken the course.
Take the cousre first.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
RE: Need some tips on basic riding techniques
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.