Most Important Things to Know For a Motorcycling n00b.

[tommyvdv]

don't use your mirrors
and if you feel the need to use them, know damn well what's going on in front of you
i'm not saying don't look in them; Do… but no longer than a split second.
If you're having trouble processing what you say in that second, repeat; but never stare

i missed a left hand turn once while checking if the guys in my group were keeping up;
this turned out to be a game of chicken between me in the wrong lane and an RV

[aeneas]

Slow down when the car in front of you slows down.
Do not assume a car starts to drive slower to allow you to pass it very fast.

There's a reason he slows down - either there's an obstacle you haven't seen yet, he's looking for a parking space and will stop, or make a sudden u-turn. Make sure you know what it is before you try to overtake him.

Too many drivers crash or even kill themselves because they are in a hurry and immediately pass a car that slows down.

[Ahboon]

Originally Posted by Aj Mick

Going by what I see on forums, with a lot of people coming to motorcycling later in life, I reckon the thing they need to realise is that a motorcycle is not a car on two wheels. The dynamics of riding, and negotiating traffic are totally different.

Very true. Indeed, motorcycling is NOT (primarily) a mode of transport! It is a"sport" and to be good at any sport you have to know the rules and practice, practice, practice.......

Cheers and enjoy the ride.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by Ahboon

Very true. Indeed, motorcycling is (primarily) a mode of transport and to be good at it you have to know the rules and practice, practice, practice.......

Edited



If you are not competing then riding is not a sport.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by tommyvdv

don't use your mirrors

Bad advice.

USE THEM MIRRORS and know what is going on back there!

(Just don't be stupid about it)

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Edited



If you are not competing then riding is not a sport.

I always wondered about this comment. If golf is a sport, what is it if you're playing alone? (apart from a good walk spoiled?) :)

[shu]

Originally Posted by tommyvdv

don't use your mirrors
and if you feel the need to use them, know damn well what's going on in front of you

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Bad advice.

USE THEM MIRRORS and know what is going on back there!

(Just don't be stupid about it)

I agree, that's really bad advice.

Use your mirrors often,but quickly, as tommy goes on to say. You should always know who's behind you- left, right, and center- and whether they're gaining on you.

The problem of nearly clipping someone in front of you when you glance in your mirror comes from following too closely.

..........shu

[DavidBanner]

goin fast is easy. stopping is the hardest thing to do on a motorcycle...think about that EVERY time you wind on the throttle.

[DavidBanner]

mirrors only say "NO"...they can never say "YES"

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by DavidBanner

mirrors only say "NO"...they can never say "YES"

Care to elaborate?

"I'm not picking up what your laying down man"

[Mambo Dave]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Care to elaborate?

"I'm not picking up what your laying down man"

It makes sense. A check of a mirror can confirm there is something in a lane that you may want to change to, so that you can rely on (to decide to NOT change lanes), but checking your mirrors and seeing nothing there is by no means a good enough check to change lanes in and of itself.

Twisting one's neck, head and even upper torso (if need be) to put eyes on each lane change is very nearly a motorcycle requirement. So much so that you will see guys who were raised with motorcycles doing it while driving cages for that extra safety factor. It drives non-motorcyclists nuts that the driver is looking around behind them while driving at speed, but it's a good enough habit that it's not worth getting rid of it even if a driver is talented with his mirrors.

This is also why a neutral-riding motorcycle is probably the best type for street use and commuting. Some cruisers and even more sport bikes put the head and neck in positions that, while totally do-able, make it a pain and/or takes more time (like, milliseconds, sure, but more time) to do the swing-around look. I've owned all three - the cruiser that had my upper-torso leaned back (the worst for a mobile head for lane checks), a ZX-7R that had my upper-torso leaned forward (doing head-checks required semi-contortionism, or looking up under my arm, or letting go of a clip-on to spin the torso and that arm around - I loved the bike and had no trouble doing any of them, but I'm admitting that it wasn't as easy or quick as a J.U.M.), and an old Japanese Universal Motorcycle (and now this DR650) that make head-spinning the easiest.

[tommyvdv]

Originally Posted by shu

I agree, that's really bad advice.

Use your mirrors often,but quickly, as tommy goes on to say. You should always know who's behind you- left, right, and center- and whether they're gaining on you.

The problem of nearly clipping someone in front of you when you glance in your mirror comes from following too closely.

..........shu

I agree, not checking your mirrors is awful advice. (i was trying to make a point, but i may have messed up the way i went about it)
I've learned a bit about myself since i started riding/driving.

I'm absolutely obsessed with what's behind me. And every time i get myself into a pickle it's due to knowing all too well what's behind me, at the cost of not knowing what's in front of me. And following too close is something i avoid at all costs. One second of staring in the mirrors means you've ignored the road in front for about 30 meters (depending on your speed at the time). Sometimes you should've used that distance to stop, instead of stare at what's behind you.

In road in front is more important than the road you've covered.
That doesn't mean you don't need to check your back.

Check your back if you can afford to take your eyes off the road.
And if you do take your eyes off the road; keep it brief.

Hope that'll clear it up :)

[catweasel67]

I'm with the no mirrors boys on this one. To me they're a supplement. If you can't turn your head and take a look then you need more practice. They're like indicators/blinkers - you should know how to indicate a manoeuvre without them, same as you should have a level of awareness of what's around you without mirrors. Once you can do that, then I'd suggest you're good to go with mirrors.

If you can't do a decent lifesaver (the look over the shoulder before switching lanes or overtaking) then you need more off road (parking lot etc) practice.

Same rule applies to driving a car btw.

Worth remembering that mirrors are pretty easy to break - if you can't ride safely without them.....

Originally Posted by tommyvdv

I agree, not checking your mirrors is awful advice. (i was trying to make a point, but i may have messed up the way i went about it)
I've learned a bit about myself since i started riding/driving.

I'm absolutely obsessed with what's behind me. And every time i get myself into a pickle it's due to knowing all too well what's behind me, at the cost of not knowing what's in front of me. And following too close is something i avoid at all costs. One second of staring in the mirrors means you've ignored the road in front for about 30 meters (depending on your speed at the time). Sometimes you should've used that distance to stop, instead of stare at what's behind you.

In road in front is more important than the road you've covered.
That doesn't mean you don't need to check your back.

Check your back if you can afford to take your eyes off the road.
And if you do take your eyes off the road; keep it brief.

Hope that'll clear it up :)

[potski]

You WILL come off a bike if you ride enough.. For you, wear the right kit and for the bike fit crash bars. BE PREPARED !

Even if you are not generally mechanical, try and get into the habit of working on the bike yourself rather than relying on others; it's cheaper, you are self reliant, and it will give you pride.

Cheers
Potski

[Ahboon]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Edited



If you are not competing then riding is not a sport.

This thread is for "noobs" so I realy don't want to get into a semantic discussion however: -
1) Depending upon one's interpretation, "sport" does not have to be a competition (Scuba diving? Mountaineering?).
2) I compete with the traffic most days.
3) I don't measure my manhood by the size of the bike that throbs between my legs.
4) I have been around long enough not to feel the need to prove myself over and over again - my ego just isn't that dominant.
5) Enjoy your "sport" - whatever it may be, but get a life.
Have a nice day..
Cheers...