Need advice on learning to ride a bike

[Mustang]

Everything that you've done so far sounds good and obviously much better than getting out there with no practice at all. You're actually doing what they tell you to do at the completion of your course, which is going into a parking lot and practicing the skills you've just learned

An exercise that'll make a huge difference when riding is the s-turn in a confined area. Enter a rectangle at the opposite end to where you start, u-turn to your left and then yo your right and head the direction you originally started in without crossing the line of the box. If your friend has the training you mentioned he'll know the dimensions of the box.

This teaches three things: Clutch control as you ride at slow speeds, manuevering at slow speeds and learning to keep your head at a 90 degree angle while you look where you're going instead of at the road (which leads to much wider curves).

What you'll gain from the course that you can't get now is another set of instructors eyes. Often I saw my guys consult with each other and both gave the same advice but in different ways. Also I found the Q& A sessions in the classroom section when we discussed different learning points invaluable with my classmates adding perspectives I wouldn't have thought about.

Nice to see the effort though....you'll love the course!

[cb360]

That could be. I know most of the active members have taken it, but there are a lot of folks who post infrequently or simply lurk. A poll would be interesting.

I'm sure it would be geographically influenced. Some folks have to pay like $400 while others can get it almost free - and that's just within the US.

[ronboskz650sr]

Wheelies aren't very important in the big scheme of things...internet sarcasm can backfire..anyway, the bike you've listed will require considerable skill to wheelie safely (it will , I'm sure)...when you're ready, You'll figure it out. New sportbikes are the ones you've heard about that just require a throttle twist...don't worry about it for a while.

[Jamers!]

"Out of every ten people, there are those who understand binary and those who get laid."

hahahahaha, thanks for letting everyone know im a virgin buddy thanks


01001010 01010111 01000110 00110101 00110000 00110101

or


JWF

[Dirtytoes]

Make sure to you're on a good road and have life insurance.

lol, i'll keep that in mind

[sapaul]

If you get the chance, go on a track day, most are not what you think, with lot of squids racing around. The good ones will teach you more about body positioning, braking techniques, corner entry and lean angles plus a host of other stuff depending on their protocol. Well worth doing, even in the early stages. In fact I would recomend it for new riders. They usually split you up into relevant groups and instruct at that level. Safest way to learn to ride quickly. The streets are not race tracks.

[jayhawk]

With the exception of the few people here that took the MSF course, most of us just hopped on and went riding. Sounds like you're already doing what is necessary for you.

I thought most of the folks here had taken an msf at sime time or another? I could be wrong about that - I thought there was a poll but I can't remember.

I had ridden a motobike quite a bit as a kid (40 years ago) and thought it would be "like riding a bicycle" and I'd just hop on and go! Boy, that was wrong. I took the written and the actual test with only a couple weeks of occasional riding in a parking lot nearby. I was very lucky that I didn't do anything dumb(er) and barely passed. The officer, I thought, was quite generous-- maybe gave me a break 'cause I knew "about" motocycles and he watched me ride it to the test site without much problem.
You and those who take the course are far smarter for practicing so much with an advisor/instructor. After the test I worked much harder in the parking lots and back streets even though I was already fully licensed.