your bike is cool to... Take BIG SMITTY's advice and be safe!!!!!

 

good posts, so much for this forum not being serious enough, I'm sure you guys have seen all that stuff coming across. Yes, there is this group of riders in the area and they practice controlled loosing control, hahahahaha. Yes, they go as fast as they can and lock up front and back brakes on a sheet of hardy plank, or run a cone course as fast as they can - eventually, with pipes sparking(it's at night) in a parking lot. They intend not to fall but it happens all the time and I just would rather pleasure ride and practice that way. It seems like an anti-safety course, wierd to me. I know the heart of the thing is well intended to teach reactions in dangersous situations but they actually create them. Here in Dallas(or anywhere), they're always there anyway.

 

conroskie, that avatar is kick ***

 

MSF teaches to put your left foot down, and leave your right foot on the rear brake. Take fingers off front brake, and put on throttle. Bike should be in first. With all that done, you now are in the best position possible to "get out of the way" should some yo-yo behind you decide not to stop.

The reality is, that's all easy to do on a 125 cc training bike. It's not so easy on an 850 lb behemoth with two people, in a 30 mph cross wind from the left. And you can ask me how I know....this ex-MSF instructor found myself and my lady laying on our side when the wind blew us over at a stop sign.

I had also read that Sturgis now has a city ordinance that requires both feet down at a stop, but I have not been able to verify that. It's interesting that MSF is headquartered in California, and teaches left foot down only.....[sm=nothatway.gif]

Gees, I started riding at 14, and am now 55....Guess that puts me in the old timers crowd too. Is there still a cycle club called the Re-Treads? There was when I was young.....

 

I agree with big smitty. I always leave my bike in gear at a stop. I also keep an eye on the vehicles behind me, just because you see them stop, doesn't mean they wont roll into you... and, one of my pet peeves.. when rolling up and stopping behind another vehicle, do not line up directly behind the vehicle in front of you (as in centered behind their bumper). Stop on one side of the lane, perferably with an escape route line of site. That way, if you pop the clutch to get out of the way, or do get rolled on by the vehicle behind you, you will not get sandwiched between the two...

 

You know... I hate guys like this. Unless you asked for some pointers, regardless if your a newbie or not, I'm not going to tell you how to ride. Sounds like preaching and I can't stand being preached to. I'd rather ask "how you like your bike" and let you show me your scoot. Ask me things about it and I'll tell you. Tell you how to ride...... Never.

If your riding with me, I might ask you to stay where you can see myface in my mirrors if your not doing it. If you're on your own, handle your bike which ever way you feel comfortable with.


As for his tips? I can tell you what I think, but your not me and I don't think you have to.

the only time I use 1 foot is when I'm on a slope and I want my foot on the rear brake to Light a smoke, move my arms or hands around.... you get the point. Some say put your left foot down first in-case your hand slips off the front brake or clutchand you need the back brake in a hurry. The one foot thing to me is BS.

Whatever is better for you and your comfortable. If your not falling over, your winning.

You've ridden a bicycle right?? I don't know where to go with this. Sure leathers, slide, don't stand up to soon...yada yada. If you find the performance limits of you bike, that means your sliding down the road without it. Your pegs or boards will let you know ahead of time usually.

Not always

Hacks right. Around my neck of the woods, they have wide crosswalk lines and stop lines at intersections. Even at stop signs where they paint the word on the road, a little rain makes them slick like ice. Not the best place to get on the gas or brakes.

One last thing of many.... and you asked. Rain and intersections. Cars stop at the same spot as you. Some leak oil or anti freeze. Rain brings this up and and it gets slick as well. At least with both feet going down you have a chance to shift your weight to the leg that has grip.

Just have fun with what your doing. Things come the more you ride and get comfortable. If you ask for advice, fine. If the guy starts telling you how you should be doing this or that.... That bad etiquette in my eyes.

Like I said above...... Your not me and the comments above are just mine. Use them if you want. Have fun, enjoy yourself, the rest will come to you the more you ride. There really isn't a big rule book other than common sense and experience.

 

take a motorcycle safe riders course. no matter how good you think you are, you can always learn something new. and if you have any bad habits then rember, bad practice make bad results. This advise works well for motorcycle riding and Golf

 

You are much better off taking the MSF course than getting a few minutes of
pointers from some guy at Blockbuster.

 

45+yrs and still learning,you will develope your own style,just don't ever fall into the trap thinking you know it all.It is all about respecting the sport.

 

Where did you get that picture? I wonderd why my wife has been gaining weight. She has been getting up in the middle of the night and snacking again. Did your spy cam get any other good pics? T.