Going for my motorcycle license

[tom slick]

just remember look where you are going, not where you are at. when riding around the circles crank your head around (not just your eyes)and look at the other side of the circle 180* from where you are at. it feels really odd but you can ride those tight corners all day long looking at the other side, as soon as you look down you'll instantly ride onto the line and fail the test.

the great thing about the MSF course is you get to practice all of this stuff with a pro watching and correcting you. you also practice panic stops correctly which is difficult to do unless you have someone show you.

 

[wantin150]

I got my permit and bought my bike the next day. Was riding it that afternoon. Anyone can "ride" at speed. It's the starting and turning you need to work on. I picked a parking lot and rode around it for about an hour. I just did figure 8's, starts, rolling "stops" without putting feet down, turns, etc. I am one of those "older" folks who bought one at 35 after riding pedal bikes for 10-15 years. It will be hard to push pedals again. I've had mine for about 2 weeks now and have almost 500 miles on it. The more you ride, the more comfortable you get. You just have to never forget to respect the power and be very defensive.

Our local tech college holds classes just about every weekend. The MSF course is on my list. Helps with ins too. Our beginner class won't let you exempt the state road test but their intermediate class will. Here in SC, we have to hold a permit for 6 mths before taking the road test. No guardian/experienced rider necessary to ride during daylight hours during the summer (6a to 8p). From 8p to 6a, you have to have someone with you (riding next to you) with experience. Doesn't make much sense.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Woo-hoo! Passed my riding skills test. I had to do 3 figure 8s in a rectangle of about 20x30 with only being allowed to put my foot down once. I did put it down the 1st time around, it was tough! Normally I can do well. Part 2 was just to ride around the perimeter of the lot and building, but I was cautioned to "watch out" for traffic coming in and out of the facility as I crossed their path at the entrance. I remembered from the manual it said to turn your whole head and shoulders to check for traffic and I thought that's what he was testing for. After that, I had to stop on a mark, but the examiner did not specify a speed. Nailed it! It was not what I'd call an easy test, compared to a reg driver's test of a 16 y/o.

 

[dwendt44]

practice, practice, practice.
Start with a wide right turn. Make to circle/arc smaller a little at a time until you find your limit.
Back off a bit and come at it again.
Slow speed tight turns are hard for most folks; especially if you have a big bike like I do.
I practice tight turns every summer in a school parking lot.

 

[Mr Nice]

eljefino,

I would love to have your drive to work on a two lane contry road.

 

[Drew2000]

Learn to use the front brake hard. The front supplies 85% of of your braking power. Very light touch on the rear brake (you DO NOT want to lock up the rear) Majority of force on the front. Learn to recognize the signs of pending front lock-up so you can practice modulating the brake lever. Practice braking in the rain.

One of the most important skills to develop next to braking is counter-steering.

Even if they are not aware, all riders counter-steer to turn at speeds above 15mph or so. One does not actually "steer" a bike at speed, rather the weight and center of gravity shift cause the bike to turn.

Counter-steering is easy to practice. While riding at 35mph or so, push the left handle bar forward (effectivly moving the bars to the right). The bike will turn left. Push the right bar forward with your right hand (bars moving to left) and the bike will steer right.

Once you get the hang of it, it's like "power-steering" for the bike, and the only way to change direction. Novice riders crash because they don't understand/are aware of counter-steering.

A car pulls out of a driveway in front of them and they try and "steer" left away from the car, but instead plant the bike into the car.

Two highly reccomended books by David L. Hough ..

Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well
and
More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride

http://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1889540536

Good luck and have a blast!

Drew

 

[Drew2000]

Originally Posted By: meep
....

Now my friend was a statistic. rode fast, rode hard, didn't take the course. Just went nuts out there on way too much bike. He was scared of the front brake and tended to ignore it. Training might have helped, but some "riders sense" would have saved his life.

Take the course, work on the skills and practice better judgment than ever before and the odds are more towards your favor.

M


Ya think? Sounds like his own gross incompetance contributed greatly to this "statistic".

Drew

 

[ARB1977]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Pictures of my commute

All 2 lane country roads. Speed limits 35-50.

When it snows, it's old. But when it's nice, it's nice.

Lucky dog.

 

[eljefino]

Well I passed it and got my license.

Did the figure 8 "box" on wet pavement, slipping the clutch the whole way in 2nd gear. My mechancial empathy was fighting me the whole time but the instructors kept saying "you can't hurt a wet clutch".

During practice the queue to enter the box was about 15 feet "below" the box and the lady ahead of me kept steering so wide she was aiming right for me! Additionally the instructors kept yelling at her to turn her head (away from me) in the direction she wanted to travel! Real pucker moments.

Classroom was an old school bus with the seats out. Was hard to study at about noon when a dozen motorcycles on choke were warming up in the lot.

 

[Junior]

I leaned on dirt. Makes riding on pavement seem easy. I think everyone should learn on dirt. It makes one realize just how quickly that bike can go down. Only thing is when on dirt, the trees don't try to run you over, cars do!

I also took the class when I got my license. Very good experience and I recommend it to everyone. It helps get the mindset needed to stay alive. The minute you are no longer afraid of cars, it is time to stop riding the bike.

 

[kelpie]

^^^I sold my street bike and got a dirt bike because it was "safer". I ended up trashing my knee on the dirt bike. I agree the class is a good idea.