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You will soon realize that there are more distracted drivers than ever. I have noticed a big increase in drivers staring at their phone for long periods of time without looking up this year. Ride like your invisible.
Ron makes a good point; if you havent been on a bike since the 80s its a different experience.
When cell phones first became ubiquitous, people talking on their phone slowed to a crawl, no lane discipline or turn signal indication it was a minor annoyance. Smart phones are a whole different thing because their eyes are on the screen and not the road.
I do think its improved a bit, people seem to have become better at their distracted driving!
Ron makes a good point; if you havent been on a bike since the 80s its a different experience.
When cell phones first became ubiquitous, people talking on their phone slowed to a crawl, no lane discipline or turn signal indication it was a minor annoyance. Smart phones are a whole different thing because their eyes are on the screen and not the road.
I do think its improved a bit, people seem to have become better at their distracted driving!
Theyre better until theyre not. My friends sister in law got killed in a head on collision in Florida last December. The 20 something girl was reading her phone on a two lane and only looking up when she knew she was coming to a light. Someone stopped to make a left turn into their driveway and she didnt realize the cars had stopped, until the last minute, and when she looked up, she just swerved into the oncoming lane and had a head on collision.
It is funny (odd, not haha) that phone addicts improve with practice, but I still think theyre more dangerous than drunk drivers. This young woman got three years in jail for killing a woman and crippling her husband because she was playing a gaming app for eight minutes, before she hit their Can-Am, never hit her brakes at 80 in a 65. https://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.c...n/70108369007/
I did take the class but it has been a while already, half the class failed. Riding in the neighborhood for now, plenty of left and right hand turns along with stop signs. There is even a circle and the end of a cul-de-sac for practicing U turns. Once I am able to do all these things naturally I will venture out further. I am about 10 miles from tail of the dragon but I won't be going there, too many crazy's. The biggest problem I am having right now is finding neutral while it is running. I did not have any issues doing it on the 500cc Harley's that I rode in the class. I like to kick it in neutral at a light so I can take my hand off from the clutch. I have never been afraid to work and still do everything myself so I am still pretty strong, coming up on 69 years though.
[QUOTE=Ken45;21306686]I did take the class but it has been a while already, half the class failed. Riding in the neighborhood for now, plenty of left and right hand turns along with stop signs. There is even a circle and the end of a cul-de-sac for practicing U turns. Once I am able to do all these things naturally I will venture out further. I am about 10 miles from tail of the dragon but I won't be going there, too many crazy's. The biggest problem I am having right now is finding neutral while it is running. I did not have any issues doing it on the 500cc Harley's that I rode in the class. I like to kick it in neutral at a light so I can take my hand off from the clutch. I have never been afraid to work and still do everything myself so I am still pretty strong, coming up on 69 years though.
I dont recommend putting it in neutral at a light. You need to watch your six and be ready to takeoff if someones not stopping. You should always be in a gear where you can take off, so you should be shifting down as you slow down.
On the big twins, you need to hold the clutch in, and rock the bike forward a little, while applying upward pressure on the shifter, to get into neutral. At first its a pain in the ***, but after a while, its an endearing quality that bonds you to your motorcycle.
I did take the class but it has been a while already, half the class failed. Riding in the neighborhood for now, plenty of left and right hand turns along with stop signs. There is even a circle and the end of a cul-de-sac for practicing U turns. Once I am able to do all these things naturally I will venture out further. I am about 10 miles from tail of the dragon but I won't be going there, too many crazy's. The biggest problem I am having right now is finding neutral while it is running. I did not have any issues doing it on the 500cc Harley's that I rode in the class. I like to kick it in neutral at a light so I can take my hand off from the clutch. I have never been afraid to work and still do everything myself so I am still pretty strong, coming up on 69 years though.
Slight inward pressure on the gear lever as you pull up with foot, usually does the trick for neutral.
And the light thing, once I get a car behind me I do the same.
More importantly, IMO, I see it a lot, keep your hand on the brake lever to keep brake light on, I see folks all the time with the hand on clutch but not on brake.
Thanks for the pointers and I will practice all of these because I agree. Where I am practicing now I am not under the pressure of traffic and I will be putting in a lot of time to get good at this. I learned to drive standard when I was 16 years old and drove that way until 10 years ago so that part is built into me. Not having any problems keeping the bike up or riding it. I do not remember the friction zone from the early 80's but learned that in the class and have had pick up on that with no issues. I am an old motorhead so all this stuff makes sense to me. As far as good riding habits go, I am all ears and thanks.
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