ready for the road?
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Joined: Apr 2011
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From: MS
ready for the road?
So, I've been hitting up the ol parking lot for a little while now and am getting pretty confident in my abilities. Today I went twice for about 45 min each, specifically working on starting and stopping and making a turn from a stop, and some slow speed figure 8's. I'm gonna stick to the parking lot a little longer, but how do you know when you think you're ready for the road (back roads)? I've been doing a tiny bit of driving on a low traffic road just getting to my practice spot. Would it be best to have an experienced rider with me for my madden voyage? Thanks folks!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 7
From: Texas
You need to judge when you're ready.
Me? I never rode anything. This includes a dirt bike, 4 wheeler, etc. I bought my bike one day and just played with it. I didn't even know how to start the freakin thing!
I didn't do a parking lot, I did suburban block long back streets... in Feb in Pennsylvania! No gloves, no helmet, no gear! Looking back I think I was an idiot for sure
I played around til 3rd gear. Got to about 40 mph. Got my permit (3rd try)
Signed up for the MSC. Got my license. Graduated best rider in my class out of 11 people. Some were even experienced lol
BOUGHT A D.O.T. HELMET!!!!!!!!!!
Painted true fire on it.
Rode to my buddies house 9 miles away on back roads. Layed my bike down in gravel only a mile into my venture. Skinned my legs and hands up. Picked up the 550 lb beast and just KEPT GOING! Best decision I ever made.
I still get scared once in a while. Never be too confident. That's when you get careless. It's good to be scared here and there. You never know when you just might not make it home after a ride.
You gotta bite the bullet and try the streets. One day, just up and ride to McDonald's for lunch or something. I strongly recommend the Motorcycle safety course!!!!!!!!!
enjoy riding, buddy.
Me? I never rode anything. This includes a dirt bike, 4 wheeler, etc. I bought my bike one day and just played with it. I didn't even know how to start the freakin thing!
I didn't do a parking lot, I did suburban block long back streets... in Feb in Pennsylvania! No gloves, no helmet, no gear! Looking back I think I was an idiot for sure
I played around til 3rd gear. Got to about 40 mph. Got my permit (3rd try)
Signed up for the MSC. Got my license. Graduated best rider in my class out of 11 people. Some were even experienced lol
BOUGHT A D.O.T. HELMET!!!!!!!!!!
Painted true fire on it.
Rode to my buddies house 9 miles away on back roads. Layed my bike down in gravel only a mile into my venture. Skinned my legs and hands up. Picked up the 550 lb beast and just KEPT GOING! Best decision I ever made.
I still get scared once in a while. Never be too confident. That's when you get careless. It's good to be scared here and there. You never know when you just might not make it home after a ride.
You gotta bite the bullet and try the streets. One day, just up and ride to McDonald's for lunch or something. I strongly recommend the Motorcycle safety course!!!!!!!!!
enjoy riding, buddy.
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From: MS
yeah I've had the MSF. Very helpful. Got all my gear and license too. I've been basically practicing some of those MSF drills. When I first get on the bike I walk it back in forth playing with the friction zone just to get familiar again. My thing has been just learning the bike I guess. I've never rode anything before either so I'm reluctant to rush into things. I'll probably give it another week where I might get in 2-3 more practice sessions then go from there. Each time I hit the parking lot I notice that I do get better.
The first time I rode the bike I was just gonna ride around the neighborhood and ended up on what I thought would be a low traffic road. It was a little busier than expected and had a close call. I noticed in that run my skills weren't up for it and parked the bike for the weekend till the parking lot was available.
The first time I rode the bike I was just gonna ride around the neighborhood and ended up on what I thought would be a low traffic road. It was a little busier than expected and had a close call. I noticed in that run my skills weren't up for it and parked the bike for the weekend till the parking lot was available.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,408
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From: Vallejo, California
Jimmy... do you have any friends who are experienced motorcycle riders?.. if so.. ask them to ride with you a couple times on back roads then on the highway.. it allows you to relax a bit more while learning so you can concentrate on what you are doing. They can also analyze your riding technique and give you tips / correct you if necessary..
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From: MS
Jimmy... do you have any friends who are experienced motorcycle riders?.. if so.. ask them to ride with you a couple times on back roads then on the highway.. it allows you to relax a bit more while learning so you can concentrate on what you are doing. They can also analyze your riding technique and give you tips / correct you if necessary..
I was thinking just that, Joe, thanks. Yeah I have a couple that are pretty experienced, and some friends of friends that I could probably tag along with one day.
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 247
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From: East Central Florida
I'm right there in this same boat, total newbie and MSF grad.. I have put 80 miles in 3 weeks of practice a few times a week for an hour or so at a time riding on very low traffic neighborhood streets with stops signs and a school parking lot on the weekends. My main primary goal was being comfortable with making a quick stop from at least 30mph before I got around too much traffic. That's what I've been practicing in the school parking lot, along with stopping at a stop sign from second gear with a downshift, and then taking off making tight left/right hand turns. For me, these are probably the most difficult of the basic skills you need to be confident with in urban riding.
It's a step by step gradual learning process and as long as we are taking steps forward we will get there eventually.. You do need to sometimes push yourself to take that next step once you are fairly confident in the prior step. My next step is to take a short trip out into traffic at higher speeds of 45-50 mph for 10-15 miles and I think I'm about ready. I still get a bit nervous right when I'm getting ready to ride, but as soon as I get the Sporty started and rolling, the basics come back quickly
It's a step by step gradual learning process and as long as we are taking steps forward we will get there eventually.. You do need to sometimes push yourself to take that next step once you are fairly confident in the prior step. My next step is to take a short trip out into traffic at higher speeds of 45-50 mph for 10-15 miles and I think I'm about ready. I still get a bit nervous right when I'm getting ready to ride, but as soon as I get the Sporty started and rolling, the basics come back quickly
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Central Florida
You Guys are smart,,
You know you can get killed out there..
Play the game,,,Ride like your Invisible at all times,,
Wear something bright,,anyways.
Become a master at Braking,,,I practice when I leave the house,,and down to the main road. I got about a mile and I do braking drills...
Yes I do this every ride, for over a year now.
As your confidence goes up so will your speed,,,thats fine and all BUT,,
always a But,,,
Have you modified your braking drills for the new speeds ?
IF you ride at 75 MPH you damn well better practice stopping at 75 MPH !!!!!!
Even tho most of the time you will only bleed off some speed and manuver
out of trouble you still need to Master those brakes...
Remember the MSF,,,,you squeeze and keep squeezing,,Did they tell you why ?
If you grab you fall,,yeah yeah we all know that,,,
wanna know the real reason??
You squeeze and keep squeezing to give the bike time to rotate the weight forward.
Forward weight transfer loads the front tire smoothly so you can stop.
Yeah I agree with a riding buddy BUT,,,here we go again with the BUT,,
He better be mature about it and not lead you into a corner or a hard stop
and forget your new at this.
You know you can get killed out there..
Play the game,,,Ride like your Invisible at all times,,
Wear something bright,,anyways.
Become a master at Braking,,,I practice when I leave the house,,and down to the main road. I got about a mile and I do braking drills...
Yes I do this every ride, for over a year now.
As your confidence goes up so will your speed,,,thats fine and all BUT,,
always a But,,,
Have you modified your braking drills for the new speeds ?
IF you ride at 75 MPH you damn well better practice stopping at 75 MPH !!!!!!
Even tho most of the time you will only bleed off some speed and manuver
out of trouble you still need to Master those brakes...
Remember the MSF,,,,you squeeze and keep squeezing,,Did they tell you why ?
If you grab you fall,,yeah yeah we all know that,,,
wanna know the real reason??
You squeeze and keep squeezing to give the bike time to rotate the weight forward.
Forward weight transfer loads the front tire smoothly so you can stop.
Yeah I agree with a riding buddy BUT,,,here we go again with the BUT,,
He better be mature about it and not lead you into a corner or a hard stop
and forget your new at this.