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New Rider Basics 101

Agreed, this is GREAT information! I am actually at a point where I want to ride more on my own (instead of always with my guy, who is a very experienced and safe rider). It's a huge difference to go for a ride by myself, and the level of anticipatory nervousness is slowing me down quite a bit. I loved reading this post, because it reminded me that feeling might just be....normal! As the weather gets nicer and nicer, the urge to ride is overtaking that feeling.

I'm looking forward to checking out the books mentioned. I'm also reading The Soft Science of Motorcycle Racing by Keith Code, even though I have no intention of racing. It's all about how you think while you ride, and how to "spend your thinking" properly so that you are less likely to find yourself in a panic situation.

Thanks!
 
I really appreciate all the positive feedback. I consider myself a safety advocate and wanted to share a situation that happened to me just today.

I was on Hwy 17 heading to San Jose from Santa Cruz. I was on the outside of a left hand sweeping turn. Right as I'm passing a newish Audi (it was to my right) he starts to move into me pushing me towards the center wall. I initially wanted to honk my horn, but since all my senses were needed I focused on the turn, throttled up and just barely made it pass the front bumper before the driver realized I was there. In hind sight, if I had honked, I may of scared the driver into loosing control, or worse.

The driver never bothered to look over his shoulder or check his mirror, at least not carefully. I almost became a statistic today, my bike was inches from the wall and I was kicking up dirt and rocks. One thing I had going for me is I never stay or sit next to a car on the freeway, so the fact that I had momentum and was already passing the car, I merely added gas and slid past the Audi.

I normally don't get mad when it comes to close calls, but this one really got to me, I knew if I made it out it would be by the skin of my teeth. I saw my life flash before my eyes. All the driver had to do is look over his shoulder, which shouldn't of been too hard? If I had gotten hit, I'm sure I would've died, that wall, the on coming traffic on the other side, not to mention all the cars behind me I can't imagined I could of or would've lived.

Tip of the day: Never stay next to cars while driving, either pass or stay to the rear so if they do come over they won't hit you. Also, never get between a car and a freeway exit or offramp. We've all seen car's that are going to miss an exit and make a sudden dive for the exit. If you get caught in that "fatal funnel" you could have a very bad day.

Triple
 
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Once again thanks for sharing your always to the point and so valuable first hand experience with all of us on BARF, not just to newbies to riding, Mike.

Thanks for reminding us NEVER to ride next to cage(s) that could come into your lane and transform us into another statistics. I always get nervous when a car stay "parallel" to me too long and either speed up to pass it or slow down to let it pass me.

I'm so glad you are OK and made out of this hairy close call SAFELY thanks to your quick reaction and experience in handling tough situation like today's.

Ride SAFE and be vigilant everyone !

CG / Gerard
 
Triple Threat said:
I really appreciate all the positive feedback. I consider myself a safety advocate and wanted to share a situation that happened to me just today.

I was on Hwy 17 heading to San Jose from Santa Cruz. I was on the outside of a left hand sweeping turn. Right as I'm passing a newish Audi (it was to my right) he starts to move into me pushing me towards the center wall. I initially wanted to honk my horn, but since all my senses were needed I focused on the turn, throttled up and just barely made it pass the front bumper before the driver realized I was there. In hind sight, if I had honked, I may of scared that person in to loosing control or worse.

What seemed to happen is the driver never bothered to look over his shoulder or check his mirror carefully. I almost became a statistics today, my bike was inches from the wall and I was kicking up dirt and rocks. One thing I had going for me is I never stay or sit next to a car on the freeway, so the fact that I had momentum and was already passing the car, I merely added gas and slid past the Audi.

I normally don't get mad when I come close to getting hit, but this one really got to me, I knew if I made it out it would be by the skin of my teeth. I saw my life flash before my eyes. All the driver had to do is look over his shoulder, not to hard. If I had gotten hit, I'm sure I would've died, that wall, the on coming traffic on the other side, not to mention all the cars behind me I can't imagined I could of or would've lived.

Tip of the day: Never stay next to cars while driving, either pass or stay to the rear so if they do come over they won't hit you. Also, never get between a car and a freeway exit or offramp. We've all seen car's that are going to miss an exit and make a sudden dive for the exit. If you get caught in that "fatal funnel" you're likely to have a very bad day.

Triple
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Wow Michael! Glad it was only a close call! :thumbup
 
Good to have you safe and sound TT. :cool

Time to come out to another rally!! :teeth
 
Thank you

New to BARF not to riding but I wish I would have read this PRIOR to riding. I learned things the hard way. :wave

Not sure if this will post properly but here goes. Bare with me as I try to figure out how to use it.
 
Great post

Even some of the responses on here have good info. My 3rd time ever riding on a bike was from Sacramento to SF.....the other 2 times were at a msf safety class, what a way to begin :rolleyes . I would say potholes, deep cracks and grooves are my worst enemy, and San Francisco is full of them. I've had my share of drivers in cars who are looking right at me and still insist on moving into my lane forcing me off. :wtf
 
Good Post, Thanks!
 
The other 2 lay downs were newbie mistakes, riding a 2003 Yamaha R6 with street tires. Your bike will !!!NOT!!! stop on dirt, I panicked in a turn and figured I'd straighten up the bike and come to a bit of an emergency stop. Sure... emergency stops utilizing both breaks sometimes works, by that I mean NOT in a turn and NOT on loose dirt, or earth of any kind on street tires.
 
jessicadiaz001 said:
The other 2 lay downs were newbie mistakes, riding a 2003 Yamaha R6 with street tires. Your bike will !!!NOT!!! stop on dirt, I panicked in a turn and figured I'd straighten up the bike and come to a bit of an emergency stop. Sure... emergency stops utilizing both breaks sometimes works, by that I mean NOT in a turn and NOT on loose dirt, or earth of any kind on street tires.
Click to expand...

get a dirt bike you'll learn to stop, street tires and all :thumbup
 
Haha I probably should have read this when I stated riding. I started on a CBR600F4i. I got to 115mph a week after getting it cuz I was riding with friends to a bike night and thats how fast they were going. I crashed at 80mph in the twisties a month into my riding, which then took me 3 months to rebuild. I then took it easy for about a month, and then got confident, rode in the front of the pack, and crashed again a month later. Needless to say, it took a bit for me to learn my lesson. Both of those crashes were from panic braking and going to wide. Since then I've crashes twice at the track, but that was do to street tires not keeping up with my angle. I still ride like somewhat of an idiot, but that's just my personality, and I can handleit a little better now, and I NEVER ride out of my comfort level. As soon as I start to feel nervous, I pull way back and just cruise.
 
Thank you for this crucial thread. I'll definitely keep referring back to this as I learn.
 
Kevineastman said:
Haha I probably should have read this when I stated riding. I started on a CBR600F4i. I got to 115mph a week after getting it cuz I was riding with friends to a bike night and thats how fast they were going. I crashed at 80mph in the twisties a month into my riding, which then took me 3 months to rebuild. I then took it easy for about a month, and then got confident, rode in the front of the pack, and crashed again a month later. Needless to say, it took a bit for me to learn my lesson. Both of those crashes were from panic braking and going to wide. Since then I've crashes twice at the track, but that was do to street tires not keeping up with my angle. I still ride like somewhat of an idiot, but that's just my personality, and I can handleit a little better now, and I NEVER ride out of my comfort level. As soon as I start to feel nervous, I pull way back and just cruise.
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Looks like you've got some more learning to do.
 
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