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Make sure you don't have a death grip on the bars while you're stopping. If you're leaning on your hands/wrists and then braking - every bump/change in the way the bike handles is going to be exacerbated by your own body weight being behind the the change.

Try to keep yourself upright with your legs and you should only lightly be holding the handlebars/grips. This means you grab them enough to keep hold, but your arms should be loose so that when the front end dives - that doesn't mean your body also shifts. Sure, it will move some, but it won't be as tightly connected as it would if you're holding on for dear life with stiff arms.

This is also key later as you take longer trips and encounter things like the wind. The wind will push your body and the bike. Because of physics for the most part your bike is gonna keep upright and go straight (until you get into some pretty strong winds, anyway). Even hitting bumps and stuff..the bike is going to want to stay upright and go in a straight line. But if you're holding the bars tightly, every push the wind makes on you, makes you push the bike.

The best way to do this is try to keep yourself as upright as possible independant of where your arms are. Grip as tight as you want with your legs, don't forget to put pressure against your pegs (almost like standing up) if you're coming up on bounces, etc. This lets the bike bounce all over while you 'stand' calmly over it.

Very similar ideas to horseback riding if you've ever done that.

Whats a rear brake...?

IcyHound wrote:Whats a rear brake...?

It's that very helpful little pedal on the right side of your bike in front of the right peg.

IcyHound wrote:Whats a rear brake...?

Can't stand that response (I see it so often in sportbike forums). I use mine often, both front AND rear. And I seem to have no problem using the front brake just because I acknowledge my rear brake.

Shorts wrote:

IcyHound wrote:Whats a rear brake...?

Can't stand that response (I see it so often in sportbike forums). I use mine often, both front AND rear. And I seem to have no problem using the front brake just because I acknowledge my rear brake.

well, I understand the sentiment - my rear brake slides out way easy, so sometimes I don't use it much, usually just hills and light dragging for stability.

Nalian wrote:

Shorts wrote:

IcyHound wrote:Whats a rear brake...?

Can't stand that response (I see it so often in sportbike forums). I use mine often, both front AND rear. And I seem to have no problem using the front brake just because I acknowledge my rear brake.

well, I understand the sentiment - my rear brake slides out way easy, so sometimes I don't use it much, usually just hills and light dragging for stability.

If you rear brake is sliding out, it means you are applying too much. Try not to be as aggressive on the rear brake.

blues2cruise wrote:

Nalian wrote:

Shorts wrote:

IcyHound wrote:Whats a rear brake...?

Can't stand that response (I see it so often in sportbike forums). I use mine often, both front AND rear. And I seem to have no problem using the front brake just because I acknowledge my rear brake.

well, I understand the sentiment - my rear brake slides out way easy, so sometimes I don't use it much, usually just hills and light dragging for stability.

If you rear brake is sliding out, it means you are applying too much. Try not to be as aggressive on the rear brake.

No kidding! I slid it out the first few weeks I had it adjusting from riding the HD to it. It's fine now..and really doesn't used much.

yellowrookie wrote:wow, thanks for all the great advice!!

Don't get me wrong about 250's, I WISH I HAD ONE but knew it wouldn't last me long, see I live miles out in the middle of nowhere, on a state highway, everything I 'read' about 250's said that speeds of 55-60 on a highway are not really what they are meant for.

The thing with 250s is that they are in HIGH demand as beginner bikes. Buying a used one (letting someone else take the off the showroom floor finacial bath), means that you can well count on selling it for what you paid - unless you wreck it.

It really would have been better to get the bike AFTER taking the MSF course. Then you wouldn't be having so much trouble staying off that bike. Please consider just parking that 650 until you've taken the class. How will you and your husband feel if somehow you are seriously injured? Is it really worth it? Not to scare you, but I really hate to see this scenario. It can go so badly so quickly.

By practicing without any training - or just what your husband can teach you - you are potentially learning incorrect (possibly dangerous) techniques that will have to be UN-Learned in September. A lot harder than you may think.

The Basic Rider's Course is set up to teach you through a progression of skills. From the VERY basics of clutch control and building on that to "Quick Stopping" and how to stop in a curve.

For now, see if you can pick up a copy of "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough. Read that (it is written so you can skim through chapters to what you NEED to read), and then try riding that 650 again, if you "must"

P

It really would have been better to get the bike AFTER taking the MSF course. Then you wouldn't be having so much trouble staying off that bike. Please consider just parking that 650 until you've taken the class.

yes, temptation, dirty little word... But, used bikes are apparently in high demand around here or just don't get sold because if you find one in good shape and reasonable you better get it. that is why the bike before the class, plus, I met a lady at a harley shop a year ago who randomly told us that she had her license (took the class) but has never ridden since - over a year, I didn't want to go through the trouble of the class - VERY inconvenient for me to take - hours/work/location, and not have a bike to "practice" my newly learned skills on.

Anyways, update on my 'learning'. We went to a parking lot - with somewhat of an obstacle - bad choice of lots. Anyways I dropped in on a curb pretty much right away and haven't been back on since. I am content to wait for the class and do it all right the first time.

One thing I have noticed and wonder if any other ladies have had this same thing, now that I have extremely MINIMAL experience driving a bike and realize that it ISN'T just like riding a bicycle (riders make it LOOK sooo easy) I have discovered a small, tiny FEAR riding now that I didn't have before. So Now, I am kind of fearful that the safety class will ruin my riding experience for me. I love to ride (yes, that is possible being just a "pillion" rider) The way I see it, my butt rides just the same and my head takes much more wind so I never understood why the pillion rider gets NO CREDIT for "riding" But I hope I don't fear riding after all this learning.

Wait for MSF. Your fear will turn into stress


Really though. MSF class will progressively take you through exercises that will allow you the opportunity to learn how to be in control of the bike. One of the biggest mantras when learning to ride is YOU GO WHERE YOU LOOK. Meaning, you go where you look If you're looking at the curb during the turn, you'll hit the curb. If you're looking down, that's where you'll go. You need to get your head all the way around and find a spot that you want you and the bike to end up. Looking where you want to go is absolutely vital. Its one of the things a new rider has to keep telling him/herself to do. Do it enough and it becomes habit.

I'm willing to bet, if I asked you how you hit the curb, you'll tell me because you were looking at it and hoping you wouldn't hit it. Where you should have been looking is through the driveway/road that you wanted to enter. So, how'd you hit the curb???