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thats what i like to here

still practice with the clutch on your bike anyway, all bikes have slightly different friction zones, get to know yours. when you're a beginner in traffic waiting at a stop light on a hill and there are cars behind you, using the clutch suddenly gets a little harder. when you first get on the road, you're gonna feel out of a place and probably nervous. even the smallest cars are going to look like TANKS zooming by.

well what would you like to know about traffic? i'd say one of the most important things is to be seen. try to position yourself in the lane so cars can see you. my biggest concern is usually not the cars in my lane but the cars in other lanes. when trying to change lanes in a car, your mind often tricks you into looking right through the small outline of a motorcyclist because you're LOOKING for cars.

what else jamie?

I'd personally add a step to mizo's advice: spend some time getting to know your throttle before you put the bike in gear. I remember when I was learning to ride (on a CBR 600), my boyfriend had me play with the throttle while the bike was in neutral so I could get a sense of just how sensitive it was.

Bein' all cocky and ignorant at the time, I cranked wide open; if I'd've been in gear...

its mostly the traffic im worried about..

Get comfortable with the bike before even thinking about heading out in traffic. Ride around in empty parking lots and on quiet subdivision roads until you can stop, take off, shift and turn effortlessly. Then add the hazard of traffic; you don't want to have to be thinking about shifting or braking when Mrs. Soccermom and her Fordasaurus is bearing down on you.

Most of all, though: leave the ego and testosterone in the garage. Granted, the internet is an imperfect medium, but I get the impression that you'll take it easy on the bike when you're on your own, but as soon as you get around people or friends, you're going to show off. That's one of the many many many things that'll get you killed.

im not to worried about the clutch beacuse i drive truck, you just feather the brake until the clutch grabs then let go,, mainly what do i have 2 watch for like rocks or anything that can save your life or make it easyer, you know from experiance, even the most experianced riders learn something new every day..

thank you ms

Please, please, please. TAKE THE Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Riders Course. www.msf-usa.org

You will learn the skills to keep from getting yourself killed, AND the basics of how to turn plus much more.

P

Be aware that the person most championing your bike is the guy who just posted a thread two weeks ago asking for newbie advice.

jonnythan wrote:Be aware that the person most championing your bike is the guy who just posted a thread two weeks ago asking for newbie advice.

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mizoufiziks wrote:(march 06, 2007) ok guys, i have some questions.

1. i'm having a real hard time making tight turns at slow speeds. as an example, if you asked me to make a u-turn in a parking lot, i would most likely have to take my feet of the pegs and push off the ground to keep my balance. any tips?

another time this effects me is when i'm trying to turn right out of a parking lot, and i basically can't even stay in my lane, and drift into the oncoming traffic lane.

2. i know this is one of those "keep practicing" things, but i'm having a hard time QUICKLY getting out of first. you all remember how you had to slowly release the clutch and slowly roll the throttle when you first started riding. That's what i'm going through right now. I'd like to be able to just snap out of first, because i usually feel like a douche at the stoplight with a line of cars behind me because the car in front of me takes off and i take 8 seconds to go because i'm trying to slowly get into first without stalling the bike.

i'm sure you all know what i mean, these must be common problems.

thanks

As you can see, he's still learning, too.

P

Whatever you do, keep your right wrist low before twisting the throttle.

For a powerful bike, that is the way to start. If your wrist is high and the bike jerks forward, the pull will straighten your arms, and you will end up adding more gas. You won't be able to help it and the bike will drag you at high speed. If your wrist is low, and the bike jerks forward, the pull will straighten your arms and you will roll off the gas.

Don't sell the bike, but I wouldn't ride it before taking the MSF class. They really help with learning the friction zone, cornering, swerving, counter-steering, etc. Save yourself some pain, and the bike some damage.

Also, remember there are other people out there. If you lose control, you might hurt yourself, and you might hurt someone else.

gee thanks moderator. i guess i didn't learn anything riding all day everyday for several weeks. i'll just shut the *** up. forget i said anything.