Learning to Ride - AZ

[JCSM]

I practiced for a while yesterday at the school across the street. They have a huge parking lot and then a road that goes all the way around the back of the school - with stop signs - and comes out to a circular driveway. I was making that loop practicing the same things as you were - stopping, starting, trying to get my right and left turns sharp enough, etc. The only problem with this area is that I can barely get into 2nd gear before I have to downshift again but I guess that is just more practice I am getting with shifting! LOL. I think my biggest problem is being nervous and psyching myself out. I learned on a very small, light bike and this one is about double the weight so right away I was telling myself I would have problems with it.

This is my problem too. I guess it's good though, it's where I need the most practice. Going straight and faster is the easy part.
I took my test on a pretty small bike too and I also think I psych myself out!

Once I get going and start practicing what I learned in my MSF Course, I feel pretty good. Each time I get more comfortable so I am just taking it slow. I am sure other riders move at a faster pace but I have to do it my way - being nervous when I finally get out on the street would be bad.

I agree. After I posted earlier I decided to go for a quick spin. Did pretty good. Two other cars had the nerve to be on the road. I waited for one to pass me. Well actually had to wait for the other one to pass so I could turn too, but I didn't actually fully stop! Although I made such a sharp left I hit a bit on the lean. I have to really watch that now that I have the slammer kit on, doesn't take much to drag on the lean. But it didn't bother me any. So I gave myself brownie points for that!

I think a new thread is a great idea - it is very encouraging to me to read what other "new" riders are doing and how new situations are handled. Big help!

I am sorry you aren't feeling well - take care and feel better soon!

Well, here's the new thread. I am feeling a bit better. I think most of it was a bug thing....the bronchitis (which I get all the time due to my asthma) will take a few days but over all much better. Thanks. I pushed my bike out to the street myself today and rode it, so that was an improvement. Did discover that I still need a little more leg for 'walking' it....I wouldn't be able to get enough traction to push it up the driveway.... Course once I gain more control I can drive it up the drive way!

Have a great night and happy riding!

[AZBrat]

Glad you are feeling better. I don't have much hope for any practice today.......rain, rain and more rain! I am really sick of this weather - we have had thunderstorms at some point almost every day for the past few weeks!

I hear you on pushing the bike.......it is heavy and takes some getting used to. Up until now, I have had my husband take it across the street to the school for me but I think I can handle that on my own now. Plus, he is over 6 feet tall so it is very hard for him to ride my lowered bike!

[JCSM]

Originally Posted by AZBrat

Glad you are feeling better. I don't have much hope for any practice today.......rain, rain and more rain! I am really sick of this weather - we have had thunderstorms at some point almost every day for the past few weeks!

I hear you on pushing the bike.......it is heavy and takes some getting used to. Up until now, I have had my husband take it across the street to the school for me but I think I can handle that on my own now. Plus, he is over 6 feet tall so it is very hard for him to ride my lowered bike!

No practice for me today either.

I don't know if you mentioned it before, but how tall are you? I'm 5 foot. Now that my bike is so low everyone else looks pretty funny riding it.

My husband, Dad and friend have ridden it for me and they are all about 6' give or take. I don't have forward controls either so they all have a really hard time with the straight down....they work for me. I think it's because I sit forward, so when I put my legs down they are in front of the pegs. Everyone else is bow legged trying to avoid them.

I'm thinking I might get forward controls though, haven't quite decided, but I'm going to have to do something with the brake I think....along with my short legs I have short feet. The distance between the peg and brake seems to be larger span than the bike I tested on.

TTYL

[AZBrat]

Good news - I might get some practice in today after work......we have sunshine!

I was thinking about the forward controls, too. I am 5' 4" - I don't have too much trouble with the controls where they are but I am wondering if it is more comfortable with forward controls. I will give it a while until I am riding longer distances and then decide, I think.

I wish I was more comfortable on the road - we have some great charity rides coming up in our area.....

[JCSM]

Did you get to ride? I haven't riden since Sunday night, too busy and too tired! I'm hoping to get a couple of rides in before we leave on Sunday for vacation. Probably will ride on Friday for sure.

The bike I tested on had forward controls...they were pretty comfortable. So we'll see.

[Chuck1]

If you guys are just getting your feet wet, I wouldn't recommend forward controls right away. Your feet are in a more "ready position" in the stock position. Personaly, I never liked forward controls anyway. Stock pegs plus higway pegs give you more positons to move your legs around, of course that's personal preference.
As far as walking a bike, have you learned or tried power walking it?
Good luck.

[AZBrat]

Chuck1,

I think the controls are fine where they are for me so unless I come across a problem, I think I can leave them......but I do understand it might be a problem for someone who is only 5 feet tall.

As for power walking, we learned that in our MSF course and I have definitely put it to good use. On my first hour or so with this new bike I practiced power walking and using the "friction zone" with the clutch until I got comfortable with it.

Thanks for the info - keep the suggestions coming - I can use all the help I can get but I don't think I am ready to be on the "big boys" forum yet!

JCSM - I felt pretty awful yesterday so I left work early and went to bed - no riding for me. I hear you on the too busy and too tired thing - lucky YOU going on vacation! Hopefully someplace relaxing where you can get little foo-foo umbrella drinks!

[JCSM]

If you guys are just getting your feet wet, I wouldn't recommend forward controls right away. Your feet are in a more "ready position" in the stock position. Personaly, I never liked forward controls anyway. Stock pegs plus higway pegs give you more positons to move your legs around, of course that's personal preference.
As far as walking a bike, have you learned or tried power walking it?
Good luck.

Hi Chuck, I think I agree with the forward controls. The more I ride, I'm pretty comfortable with where they are. Don't really know where I'd put highway pegs on my bike...I've had several people mention putting them on the engine bars, but that wouldn't do my a bit of good since I wouldn't be able to reach them!

We did learn about power walking....although the reminder is good because I forget to do it. Did it tonight and actually park my own bike in the garage tonight.

Thanks for the tips, I can use all I can get!

JCSM - I felt pretty awful yesterday so I left work early and went to bed - no riding for me. I hear you on the too busy and too tired thing - lucky YOU going on vacation! Hopefully someplace relaxing where you can get little foo-foo umbrella drinks!

Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well. I hope you are doing better now. We are going camping for a week at the lake...no foo-foo drinks there! Probably not all that relaxing for me either, lots of work for Mom with two little ones AND two teenagers....at least grandma and grandpa will be there too and they have a boat!

We are going on the relaxing vacation in October!

I rode today for awhile, longest ride yet. It's amazing how much easier it seems with each ride. Although I'm getting a little bored with riding around the same couple blocks different directions. I might branch out the a larger section of the neighborhood next time depending on the time of day (want minimal traffic!).

Hope your getting some riding time in.

[trishsharley]

I am with you on "new to riding" I bought my bike aug1st and take my riders edge class oct 2nd. So my bike is sitting in my garage. I did however take it out Sunday and only went from my house to the end of the block. But I stayed in 1st and learned the whole clutch thing. It sure is alot easier in a car. But I sat on my bike and walked it backwards to get back to my starting point and did that over and over. I kinda used my feet like training wheels. My legs are feeling it now~lol!
Good luck riding. I can't wait to get back out there this weekend providing the hurricane is gone.

[marcogumbo]

Y'all....to the forward controls and highway pegs thing. My advice would be to keep your mid-mount stock controls for as long as you can resist the temptation to change them. You DO NOT have maximum manueverability potential with forward controls. You remember putting your feet up on the handlebars of your bike? You can coast okay, but try and corner......! Also notice that NO racing bikes have forward controls, for excellent reason. Also you can stand on the pegs...stretch a little bit. Mid controls may not be the most comfortable position, but you are not in your recliner....you're riiiiiiidiiiiing. Have fun and be safe.

[AZBrat]

Hi Trish!

Thanks for joining us........glad to have another new rider! I know what you mean about walking the bike around - it helps to start off slow and you will have other beginner skills to practice once you do your course. I find that each ride I get more comfortable but I always know to go back to the basics if I get nervous. Good luck with your course - let us know how you are doing! The best advice they gave me is the same as my husband's advice "Don't let anyone push you into doing anything you are not comfortable with".

marcogumbo - I agree with the mid controls - I am very comfortable where I am. I have decided that I need a LOT more riding under my belt before I make any big changes with this bike! Thanks for the input - I am always interested in info and advice from experienced riders!

[Road King Diva]

Renee, good luck with the learning curve. Some of us just take longer than others to get it. After two and a half years of riding I still have my challenges (slow speed maneuvers, backing up, and turns after a stop or on a hill, especially into traffic!). One thing that's helping me a lot is the Rider's Edge course taught on a video called "Ride Like a Pro" (ridelikeapro.com). It's great for getting the little (but important) things together. I watch it, then I go out and practice in the school parking lot. I'm doing pretty good, but still have fear issues that slow me down on those twisty mountain roads. For some reason, going downhill is always scarier than up for me. I came from TX and we didn't have so many twisty roads there. As a beginner, it'll just take awhile, so be patient with yourself and try not to get frustrated.

As to the forward controls, I hated them. My very first bike was a 1200 Custom with forward controls. I was terrified of that dang thing and dropped it all over my neighborhood. I got an 883 after that and it had the mid controls, less thrust and was just easier to ride.

I wish you and AZ both lots of happy rides.

[AZBrat]

Thanks, Lyndy! I am totally with you on the fear thing - it is definitely what is holding me back. My style is to ease into things but my other challenge is time. Between work and house stuff, I just seem to run out of time. Hopefully this weekend will bring sunny weather and lots of time to practice! I will check into that video - thanks for the tip!

[AZBrat]

Renee - are you back yet? How was your vacay??

So here is an update, girls!

Just got back from a practice ride. This time instead of my husband riding my bike to the school for me, I rode over there myself. Our driveway is uphill so I sort of power walked up the driveway, took a few spins around the neighborhood and then we headed out to the school. It is only down the road about 1 block but it was my first venture out on my own! I practiced for about 45 minutes and then rode back and rode down the driveway and put the bike in the garage. No assistance at all today. I am sure any experienced rider reading this will laugh but considering this is only my 2nd day of practice (between work and the weather it has been impossible) so in total I have only had about 3 hours of practice and I am feeling much more comfortable.

I still have work to do on those starting from a hill situations - they are giving me a problem but I will keep practicing!

How is everyone else doing?

[Paniolo]

Originally Posted by AZBrat

Chuck1,

I think the controls are fine where they are for me so unless I come across a problem, I think I can leave them......but I do understand it might be a problem for someone who is only 5 feet tall.

As for power walking, we learned that in our MSF course and I have definitely put it to good use. On my first hour or so with this new bike I practiced power walking and using the "friction zone" with the clutch until I got comfortable with it.

Thanks for the info - keep the suggestions coming - I can use all the help I can get but I don't think I am ready to be on the "big boys" forum yet!

JCSM - I felt pretty awful yesterday so I left work early and went to bed - no riding for me. I hear you on the too busy and too tired thing - lucky YOU going on vacation! Hopefully someplace relaxing where you can get little foo-foo umbrella drinks!

I hope my suggestion is well recieved. I am an MSF Rider Coach, and I also instruct a course out here on the West Coast that teaches folks to Ride Like A Pro, so I have several teaching perspectives and curriculums to work with.

Power Walking is a good beginners tool, but I think it is something riders need to transition out of as soon as they can. In fact, getting your feet up as soon as the bike starts moving is ideal. In police motor school they taught us that too many feet, ankles, and legs get caught under mufflers, pegs, saddlebags and boards while power walking. Moreover it leads to other bad habits.

One of the first things I teach is keeping the right foot up on the rear brake when starting and stopping. As a rider moves to a larger and heavier bike, this becomes more important because rear brake is needed for slow speed control. Too many riders want to drop both feet down when stopping and that means giving up the rear brake. Sometimes what happens is that without the rear brake the rider feels the bike continue to roll and grabs or stabs the front brake. This reaction I call "Grabbing" often shifts the weight of the heavy bike forward too fast, and if the bars are slightly turned, or if the ground is sloped, or if the rider is looking down, the bike goes right down. However if the rear brake is used to stop and keep the bike from moving, and the left foot is used to hold the bike up, the whole motion becomes smoother. In fact you can stop the bike with the bars turned as long as you use ONLY the rear brake.

So to your routine, add a simple starting and stopping drill. Take off as you normally would and then stop and keep