Most Important Things to Know For a Motorcycling n00b.

[Anticyclone]

One of my best friends told me, years before I started riding, to keep as much space as possible between you and another vehicle. Sounds simple, but it's pretty hard for a car to hit you if it's 50 yards away

[rapidoxidationman]

It is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow

[Tucson Jim]

Ride like you are invisable and everyone is trying to kill you.

Everytime you stop use the same techniques you would use in an emergency. I start with light rear brake to scrub a little speed and then apply the front right afterwards, using BOTH brakes together. May not be the right way but it works for me.

Been on a motorcycle since '78 and haven't put it down (on asphalt) yet. Knock on wood!

Assume they are going to pull in front of you, they will change lanes without signaling, don't ride in their blind spot, flash your brakelight a few times when stopping, install an extra 'cyclops' brake light.

ATGATT. Helmet, boots, gloves, long sleeves/pants, padded jacket.

Learning in the dirt made me appreciate the subleties of turning and stopping.

[Mountain Cruiser]

My advice, slow down and enjoy the ride.

Riceman

[EDS_TLS]

dress warm

[jonoh71]

Best thread I've read to date. I think you guys have already saved me at least one crash.
Keep em comin'...
Jon

[Guano11]

Don't add alcohol.

Not saying "never, ever" -- but not just yet. Alcohol always increases risk, and a Noob has enough risk factors to mitigate already. No need to add one voluntarily.

Regardless of what your relationship with alcohol is, don't mix it with riding.

[MustTourEurope]

Practice VERY FAST head turns/shoulder checks(when changing lanes, turning at junctions)...you'll never know the one in front of you(car,bike,drunk guy running ) may have abruptly stopped to avoid Godzilla's poo. You don't want to be mixed up with the poo, do you?

[cold_fire]

When in doubt, gas it (especially in the dirt).
Ride on the wheel tracks, not between them.
Keep at least a 2 seconds distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
In an emergency brake situation, take a quick peek in your mirrors. There's a good probability that the guy behind you didn't see you brake.
Always scan the road and look for the odd vehicle.
Keep your head cool. There's just no contest between a 200kg bike and an 1.5 ton car.
Drivers aren't evil (or, at least, 99% of them), they just don't see you. Make yourself visible. Add lights, horns, wear hi-viz. If you suspect one is going to cut you off at an intersection, swerve in front of him or stand on the pegs.
Stay out of blind spots. If you don't see the driver's eyes in his mirror, he won't see you.
As someone noted before, ride dirt. It'll teach you a lot faster and a lot less painful the limits of traction.
Take a track day, even if you've only got a 125.
Never push through a blind corner.

[duck]

When you're using the gears and engine compression to slow the bike, be sure to tap the front or rear brake to light up your brake light to let the car behind you know that you're slowing.

[Uhuru]

Originally Posted by duck

When you're using the gears and engine compression to slow the bike, be sure to tap the front or rear brake to light up your brake light to let the car behind you know that you're slowing.

+1. And keep checking who's coming up in the lanes beside/behind you, even though you're sure no one is there.

[DAKEZ]

Take in what is going on well ahead of where you are. Project yourself out 12 seconds whenever possible.

Knowing what is coming far ahead enables you to warn those behind you (lane weave, flashing your brake lights…) as to what is going on.

It also allows you to change lanes and smoothly ride past what may have put you in harms way.


Smooth is where its at.

RIDE SMART. RIDE OFTEN.

[Z50R]

When you are riding behind another motorcycle, watch the road, not the other bike. You will make every mistake the other rider makes and more.

My only semi serious accident was because I was using their line instead of choosing my own and followed them through gravel.


Also, if you get any kind of chance, take your bike off road. I started on a 450 nighthawk. This is not a dirt bike but that didn't stop me from driving through road construction on the weekends/empty lots/dirty alleys. You learn a lot when you are forced to deal with low traction in an environment you have a bit of control over. Start slow and play around with intentionally losing traction under each of your wheels. It is easy for a motorcycle instructor to tell you what to do when your front wheel lets go but a lot more difficult to let go of the lever if you have never dealt with the issue.

[R-A-M-O-N]

When you actually take your bike for a ride please be honest to tell us how you completely forgot about this thread and pushed your bike to 150mph on a heavy traffic freeway So we can tell you how a bad noob you are



I always remember no matter how good the advice people gave me i just had to try things for myself first. I did many stupid things that way but learned the consecuences of that so now im less stupid i hope.

Anyway dont be afraid to learn from your own mistakes no one can teach you that better than you.

[brumbie13]

Don't try to be better than you are.

I've never tried to be better than I am, yet I have continually gotten better.

Remember how long it took you to get good at driving a car?
Not just comfortable, I mean REALLY good.
It wasn't a week, it wasn't a month, it was probably, at minimum, a year... in reality, probably longer.

More experience will increase your skill.
You've got nothing to gain by trying to be better than you really are.