Learning To Ride

[Brent]

This sounds silly to ask, but I am any way. I am 62 years old. Just learning to ride. Took and passed the MSF class, but I still have trouble starting and stopping, especially the later. I have a maze of parking lots in my subdivision and I have been going there every day earl when no one is there to practice, but is it just that. Practice, Practice. etc, etc etc. I have no trouble turning etc, except for a right tight turn...Any wisdom from the

[asiantay]

For starting, just take things slow and always EASE out the clutch. If you need, SLIGHTLY roll on the throttle just to up the speed a few hundred rpms.

As for stopping, just apply gradual pressure to both brakes (clutch in) and as you slow, add a lil more pressure to the rear brake. For me, once you are ready to "stop," you actually do the stopping with the rear brake. So you'll actually put your left foot down first with your right foot still on the brake.

Hope that helps.

[t_bonee]

Keep practicing the clutch exercises they gave you in the MSF class. Where you release the clutch to the friction zone, then walk the bike for a bit. Then move up to adding throttle and releasing the clutch, slowly, all the way and riding for a bit.

As for stopping, just ease on the brakes to get used to the feel of them. Do that for awhile. Then use more pressure once you got the feel to reduce your stopping distance. Then move up to the quick and emergency stops and get the feel for that. It will all come to you before you know it.

As for tight turns, lean the bike, move rump off the seat some in the opposite direction of the lean, and turn you head way around. Just like they taught you. It takes a bit of practice but you'll get it. Go easy on the throttle and use the clutch to keep the engine going enough to move ya.

If it is tight right turns from a stop sign or light or something. They will get easier as you get better at getting your bike rolling. Just remember to look to where you want to go and go slow and easy on the clutch and throttle.

[Brent]

Thanks fellas. I think I am trying to stop too quickly. I forgot about moving rump to opposite side of lean. I shall try that in the AM. We did do the walk thing. It haps a lot to get used to the friction zone. Of course if I accidently stop smooth, I forget to put it in 1st.. Oh Well I shall keep going..

[MotoF150]

Thats good you took a MSF class, they teach many basics, but there are some things they teach you I strongly dissagree with like the front brake on a motorcycle, its true the front brake gives most of the stopping power but some people that have taken the MSF course are kinda brainwashed by NOT using the rear brake and ONLY using the front brake to stop, the simple way is use the rear brake to slow down then use the front brake after you have slowed down and use to come to a complete stop, another thing I believe in dumping the bike when you know ur going to crash, the MSF course teaches riders if they know they are going to crash to stay on the bike, I believe in either jumping off, or dumping the bike on its side to advoid injury. You said you have trouble with turns, to help you, go to a big parking lot and practice riding ur bike in a circle, start with a big circle then work by riding the bike in a smaller and smaller circle then after you have that mastered that try a figure 8. Sometimes when making a tight turn ur going to have to slip the clutch a little and at the same time goosing the throttle. Be safe out there.

[sharpmagna]

I think there are some situations where it is just more prudent to use only the front brake. On my commute to work and in stop and go traffic, I find that it is a waste of time to use the rear brake at crawling speed. I accelerate to like 5MPH for like 5 feet and have to slow down. It is a waste of time to put both feet up on the foot pegs and apply both the rear and front brakes. I just hover my feet over the ground and apply the front brake. In my MSF course they said to always use the both brakes to slow down except when you are doing slow tight turns. When doing slow turns use your rear brake. If you use your front brakes in slow tight turns you're asking to dump your bike.

When doing quick stops, I put everything in. What I mean with that is, I pull the clutch in and tap on the gear selector to get to first. I also pull in the front brake lever and I push the rear break in. When you are almost stopped and since you should be in first, you put your left foot down since your right foot should be pressing in the rear brake.

Now of course when I'm traveling faster and need to slow down, both brakes are used.

[dieziege]

The problem with not using both brakes most of the time is that balancing the brake forces is a skill that needs to be practiced.

I try to do one or two "hard" stops every day, just for the practice... and even after a lot of those hard stops I find myself putting in too much rear brake and not enough front. The thing is, I can practice brake balance without doing panic stops... it is just a physical skill, a feel skill, one you can practice every time you apply the brakes...if you apply both brakes. That's why MSF wants both brakes... in a reflex situation people use the skills they've practiced. If all your practice is using the front brake while skimming the road with your feet you'll use the front brake. If your practice is intentionally lowsiding you'll lowside. If your "standard response" is both brakes you'll hit both brakes.

I use both brakes whenever I'm slowing or stopping on pavement. I use the front brake when I want to light the brake light but don't really want to slow (or when I'm slowing via engine braking). I use the rear brake (or mostly rear brake) when riding on dirt.

[Kim]

Brent, congrats on learning to ride! I'm a late bloomer myself

I'm currently reading Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough. In addition to practice, I highly recommend this and his follow on book. They are full of good tips.

[The Grinch]

another thing I believe in dumping the bike when you know ur going to crash, the MSF course teaches riders if they know they are going to crash to stay on the bike, I believe in either jumping off, or dumping the bike on its side to advoid injury.

This is just stupid for more reasons than I can count. The MSF teaches staying with the bike and keeping it upright for a very good reason, which I'm sure you know. I'd only suggest this to people who don't know how to panic brake or swerve, and even then, I'd encourage them to learn these techniques before intentionally lowsiding their bike or jumping off it in a panic situation.

[zarakand]

the simple way is use the rear brake to slow down then use the front brake after you have slowed down and use to come to a complete stop

Yeah...to the OP, I would not reccomend doing this. The front brake provides rougly 70% of your stopping power, and if you start using the rear brake as your main slowing force it would take you much longer to stop. Plus you'll have to deal with possibily locking up the rear tire, as you learn to use the rear brake. Not to mention that if you just slam on the rear brake in an emergency, things are going to go south for you in a hurry.

The best way to slow down is to use both brakes while engine braking. It takes a lot of practice, and it sounds as though you are on the right track. Good luck to you.