Noob mistakes and lessons learnt...Anyone wanna share?

[Mr_Salad]

Like Verm said, be very careful on anything gravel. I dropped my bike the first day I got it in a gravel parking lot. I was going a little up hill, turned the bars too quickly and it went right down. Second time was last weekend when I came into a turn a little too hot, didn't see the gravel in the road, and the bike slid right out from under me.

All the other advice so far is great.

Oh yea, wave to everyone. They will wave back.

[noodlenoggin]

• Raindrops hurt.
• The shiny layer on new tires is a grease coating.
• The first time you ride your bike to your friend's house, don't turn the handlebars and take off from a stop when you're aimed at your friend's dad's prized pickup truck.
• Honda paint will come off of Ford paint, with enough buffing.

[TorontoBoy]

• The internet is your best source of MC info. The world biking community is really helpful.
• Locktite all bolts to your bike or eventually you'll be leaving parts on the road behind you
• When changing oil after draining old oil install and tighten your oil pan bolt before you add new oil
• No gas means no go. Calculate approx how much more mileage you have to go or you might be pushing your bike a long way.
• Do not turn on gravel or sand. They will hurt you.
• Learn to wrench your own bike. It's cheaper and can be more reliable than a Stealership
• eBay is the best place to find bike parts
• If you're not having fun on your bike, Get off!
• Wave to other bikers at all times unless a cage is trying to kill you

[bok]

didn't see it mentioned here but don't target fixate.

as a newbie there are three things to do when you are going to run over something... braking, swerving, or running it over (depending on the size of the object)...choose ONE.

when taking my motorcycle course i was goofing around thinking i was all sorts of good.
riding along i notice i am going to hit a cone

Do I:
1) swerve around it
2) brake to avoid it
3) run it over (it's only a cone after all)
4) do all three

well, i took option 4. i totally target fixated on the cone at the last minute i tried to swerve, and brake which was a bad call since i grabbed front brake and subsequently ran the cone over as i got thrown to the ground.

dislocated my shoulder, tore my jeans which gave me a nice silver dollar sized scar on my knee, got some road rash on my arm (do up the straps on your jacket).

[GrandGT]

remember to turn off the choke all the way before you start riding, or youll be riding a bull

=EDIT= i meant to say off

[DivideOverflow]

remember to turn on the choke all the way before you start riding, or youll be riding a bull

?? I usually dont have to choke my bike at all unless it is a colder day, and even then, I choke it for 10 seconds or so then it idles on its own.

Are you saying you ride with your choke on? If so, there is something wrong with your bike.

[SuperRookie]

Are you saying you ride with your choke on? If so, there is something wrong with your bike.

+1

[Nibblet99]

The closest calls I've had, where what I was doing had a major impact on how the situation deteriorated, was:

When you get an asshat driving erratically behind you... DO NOT stare in your mirrors for 3+ seconds, trying to work out wtf they're doing. A lot changes in 3 seconds, more than you realise.

I've done it twice, once having to take evasive action, the other I was lucky when I realised what I'd just done, and rebuked myself

Apart from that,
Don't ride away with the disc lock on, you won't get very far

[noodlenoggin]

Oh yeah -- chrome blinkers can double as "bubble" mirrors.

If you wear glasses, don't open your faceshield in a fog -- your glasses will fog over and you'll be totally blind at speed.

Make sure you take in all the smells you ride through -- it's the best part of not being in a car. Mostly. (pig farms notwithstanding.)

Never assume anyone sees you -- If you must assume, assume that everyone else on the road is out to kill you. Assume they will do the stupidest, most-deadly-to-you thing possible, and be ready.

Remember, YOU ARE the "crumple zone."

[Flting Duck]

Don't assume that it's only cars that don't see you or do stupid things. There are idiots riding motorcycles too. I almost had a guy on a Duc take me out last week because he changed lanes without doing a head check.

Never trust your mirrors - ALWAYS turn your head and do a visual check before changing lanes.