I know the statistics for new riders--within the first 2 weeks, crash. Even though I'm aware of this, I believe at this stage I have to slow down and take it easy. Saturday I was rounding an unfamiliar corner, crossed over into the other lane, applied my brakes while still leaning, a car comes around the corner, my bike is wobbling all over, going about 25mph, the car slams on brakes, I finally stopped, my throttle is wide open, and shut the bike down 5 feet from the car. @##(*& hell.... What's funny is I just completed the safety motorcycle class 2 hours earlier. Needless to say, I was very careful for the rest of the day. I need to regain my confidence, but not over confident... Just wanted to share this with everyone...

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Glad you're ok. This is a good lesson, you have to remember, the bike will always go where your eyes are looking. If you look at the other lane or the oncoming car, that's where you are going to wind up. Always look through the turn at a point ahead, in your lane, where you want the bike to go. Never anywhere else.

Keep practicing and good luck.

 

Iwas going through a 3 way stop sign a few weeks ago, my turn to go but a truck decided it ws his turn and went. I was on his drivers side in the middle of the intersection slamming on my breaks and cvussing him out. Had him afraid to even look over. Never guess what he was holding to his ear while he ran the stop sign. [:@]

 

+1

I found that my low speed handeling improved 10 fold just by turning my head. Everyone always says to "look where you want to go". I always amend that and say keep your eyes straight (ish) and turn your head where you want to go. If you want to do a low speed u-turn, put your chin on your shoulder. It helps if you have an owl neck too...

Also, you didn't mention which brake (or both) that you applied. You very rarely (if ever) want to use front brake in a slow speed turn. Dragging the rear brake is okay and helps sharpen the turn a little. It's called trail braking. The biggest thing to remember is that when turn at slow speed you feel like the bike is about to fall, but in reality, all you need to do is just give it a slight twist of the throttle and it will stand right back up straight.

Keep practicing, just ride safe. You'll get it.

 

That's my second favorite close call. My most favorite was the soccer mom in the mini-van that was so busy singing that she never saw me. I stood there in the middle of the intersection thinking "Is American Idol in town this week?"

 

PS - Looking where you're going is also how to snowboard. So go hit the SLOPES!!!!

 

If you look real close you can still see the pucker mark in the seat. [sm=lol.gif]

 

You gotta watch out for freaking idiots. I was a red light waiting to make a left tun, there was a cage accross from me doing the same thing had his left blinker on and everything. what do thing he did when we got the green arrow, yep he went straight through the intesection. I didnt start my left turn yet cuz I figured he would do something stupid.His O.L. was yelling at him the whole time the light was red, when it turned green he just floored it. cell phones or bitchy "old lady's" take your pick.

 

Hmmm, I guess I would pick the cell phone.

 

Same here........ you can turn off the phone....