First off i just want to think Mike for all the write ups he did. I thought the begginers guide was an excellent read.
So i guess now for my story. Ive always been big into cars, working on them, modding etc. I have a lil schooling in mechanics as well. Well recently id say about a year ago my friend bought a 01 cbr600f41. And honestly ive always been pretty scared of bikes just because i know there dangerous and you have to have alot of self control.
So basically he wouldnt ever shut the hell up about it (he is a car guy as well) so im like alright i have to give it a go. Plus with the recent spike in gas prices and i drive 40 min to work i thought this could be a good investment as well.
My friend took the safety course and speaks very highly of it, as most beginners do. So i asked him to basically take me to a parking lot and let me ride etc. I have a lil knowledge as i use to ride dirt bikes when i was younger (21 now). And i have always driven stick cars, so stalling and friction points were not a problem at all.
so after a few trips to this parking lot, i decide im ready, so we go to a residential street with not many cars few turns and i start to build some confidence up after doing this a few times. Then he actually lets me borrow it for a weekend and i just have to say its amazing. Its like no other natural high ive ever gotton. plus being able to drive all around town and fill up for 8-9 bux is great
. all good things must come to an end though and it did, after borrowing his bike frequently one day im going to a friends house and as im pulling in the driveway i hit a patch of gravel mid turn and laid it down. i was only going couple mph and the bike is fine a couple scratches, i was not hurt. my friend had taken off the fearings cuz he thought somthing might happen. so it the frame slider and thats it.
I will be taking the course november 17th and 18th. there was a 3 month wait, so needless to say ive been waiting and trying to learn on my own.
Alright on to the good stuff. basically i have some questions in no particular order:
first i guess im just feeling that my confidence in the bike is not where it needs to be at all. First off since i laid it down like that i am petrified when i see any sand or gravel in the road (whether im going 2 mph or 70). How do i build my confidence up? how much sand/gravel does it really take before you would lay it over? when i did it wasnt that much maybe a 1ft by 3 ft patch about an inch thick of gravel.
second what about rain/water? i have never driven in, because im scared too. i read the begginners guide and it just said basically to take things slower and to not use your front brake as much
which brings me to question 3. i dont use my back brake really at all, how crucial is this?
question 4 my friend says its basically impossible for the bike to slide away from you or what not, but i just cant help thinking when im going through a kinda sharp turn at around 40ish that the bike will just keep going straight or i dont know slide out from under me.... please call me crazy and reasure me
question 5. i know you should be shifting your weight when you are going through slow turns.... how much is to much shifting of your weight i guess im trying to say can i go to far or to the point where i look goofy?
last question and i apologize this is so long but i am trying to educate myself as much as i can. my friend says that front tires treadwear wise dont matter as much, when your moving.... is this tru? cuz his front tire has maybe 30 percent treadlife left and it just kinda makes me wierded out but he says its fine.... please elaborate
so in the end, i plan on buying his bike somtime next year, as he wants to get an r1... me personally this 600 is plenty fast, and i barely ever use its potential so im very happy with it.
ok so again im sorry for such the long post, but think these forums are great and there are very knowledgable people here. So thanks in advance
Basically with sand and gravel or metal or any potentially slick surfaces you want to be really careful until you know what you're doing. And after you know what you're doing you'll still be careful. You don't want to brake or lean on gravel - even a little can get under your tire in the right ci5rcumstances and cause a slide. It's no problem at all if you approach it straight on - it's braking and turning that cause the problems. Same with wet grates and metal bridges and railroad tracks. Just slow a bit as you approach and try to cross perpendicular to the slick surface and avoid braking.
