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Made a right turn into a huge lot (where I was getting lessons), however theres no paved entrace, just gravel and rock. Came at it too fast, so I broke, AND turned. . .you know the rest. A passerby hoped out of his car, and helped me lift the bike up and said "Lemme guess, hit the brake in a turn . . ." I sheepishly said yup, and he said "Never do that on slick surfaces". Which is obvious when you remove yourself from the situation, but in the moment - D'oh. Better to have that lesson re-enforced on a practice course, than on the open road. Bent gear shift, luckily had tools to fix it (and by tools and mean a wrench and a heavy duty glove. . .o_0) -

Lesson damn sure learned.

I live out in the country and have to deal with a lot of unpaved or poorly paved roads. I guess it's a good thing because it has given me a lot of practice dealing with gravel. The driveway to the back of my office where the employees park is gravel - a daily lesson on how to deal with slick surfaces.

I hate making my noob mistakes out in public. My first time in heavy traffic yesterday I stalled the bike (first time in forever). I just kind of looked questioningly at my bike in the hopes people thought I was having mechanical problems.

At least someone was nice enough to stop and help you pick up the bike.

LOL! -

I do the exit same thing when stalling, Ill look at it and swear under my breath but loud enough so people can hear; or I'll throw my arms up in frustration at "the bike" - Has only happened twice on roads (no traffic yet, not even close to attempting busy streets) - but multiple times when starting up the bike (I either forget to change the gas to ON from the OFF switch and wonder why im getting no go, or I have it in 2nd gear and attempt to take off). I guess all that stuff is going to become instinct after awhile.

And someone was actually behind me when I skidded, but they just rolled by. The folks who helped didnt see me scrub. I was thinking back to the video "How to life the bike", but it just wouldnt give, and I was swearing there was SOMETHING blocking the bike from being pulled up. Turns out these things are just HEAVY.

Kinda bruised my ego, cause I had been doing so good up to that point (being able to shift to a complete stop using both brakes, while getting back to neutral or 1st gear, and then not stalling the bike pulling out of 1st) - so I was bummed for a few minutes until I started motoring again; this place where were at is SO large and almost always empty on the weekends, that it SCREAMS "use me".

I did something very similar my first ride after class. Lesson learned, bruises obtained, I won't ever do it again.

Hey, glad you're alright. and it was nice of the guy to stop and help you! Hopefully nothing on the bike got hurt, and your ego will heal!
Wrider

Front left turn signal, and the housing are cracked. . .but still works so I assume the light is ok, as is the wiring - Old Bike Barn has both the yellow-light-piece (not idea what this is called. . .the signal. . .blargh) and the signal housing/bracket/stay for a good price.

Also, and this just may be my nerves after spilling, but it seems the bike is woobly? - Of course I was going no more than 35mph (because of the spill hours earlier). . .but yea. . .Im probably just super-paranoid. Its weird - immediately AFTER the mild spill the bike was fine, was practicing speed, braking, coming out of 1st gear stop - and I wasnt even thinking "oh man. . .my bike is toast". I hope its just my jitters, since its shaking like it shakes when it's not getting enough juice from the engine.

I will say, getting this bike has been the best thing Ive done (other than going back to school) in a long time. . .feels good so yea. . .Ill dust myself off and get back in the saddle.