My progress so far

[duster]

Well some of you might remember me, I posted a while back saying I was going to learn on my own and not take the MSF.

I just thought I might come here and post my progress and some things I have observed.

I thought I might let you know what kind of bike I have, it is a Yamaha TW200. I couldn't recommend this bike more for a starter bike.

Anyway, the first three days of learning was spent in a parking lot. I practiced letting out the clutch smoothly, turning in tight circles, figure eights, I even practiced skidding the front and rear tire just to get a feel for it. Little by little I started venturing out on the streets and expanding my riding "territory".

Today I have ridden about two hours everyday for the last 2 weeks, boy has it been fun!

I forgot to mention I bought the book, "Proficient Motorcycling". It's a great book, to some, it might be "common sense", I think it is a great "reminder" of things to look out for, I especially liked the sections on urban riding and "booby traps".


I also must add that I am really happy I got a smaller bike, it is much more forgiving. To clarify that, I'll give an example: I was waiting at a light and I was distracted, I let out the clutch to quick with too high revs and the bike lurched out. On a more powerful bike, I think it would have been much more than a "lurch". On a smaller bike I can also focus on technique more, such as taking curves with a correct line.

I also noticed that my confidence is starting to grow and I can sense I am getting more aggressive with my riding, I have to curb that, it is hard though!


How do you guys curb that "urge" to push it? I was thinking about getting in the habit of reading about motorcycle accidents, to get "reminded" about the dangers.

[dean owens]

I was thinking about getting in the habit of reading about motorcycle accidents, to get "reminded" about the dangers.

i've yet to get on a motorcycle so take this for what it is, but i don't think that's good. if you want to succeed you hang out with successful people. if you want to fail, you hang out with failures. in driving my truck, i don't think about all the accidents i can get into, and i don't watch wreck footage. i focus on being a successful driver. again, in the business world, you don't study failures. you don't go to a simimar on how to fail at growing your business. you learn about success and the best way to get the best results. i would think the same would apply here. just my $.02

btw, congrats on studying and learning on your own. hope it continues to work out well for you.

[Flting Duck]

Good to hear things are going well.

I am self-taught and had the same urges to go fast - but on a KZ750. I dealt with it by restrcting my having fun to times when I was on a straightaway without any traffic around - figured it wasn't too risky.

[Damian]

I was thinking about getting in the habit of reading about motorcycle accidents, to get "reminded" about the dangers.

i've yet to get on a motorcycle so take this for what it is, but i don't think that's good. if you want to succeed you hang out with successful people. if you want to fail, you hang out with failures. in driving my truck, i don't think about all the accidents i can get into, and i don't watch wreck footage. i focus on being a successful driver. again, in the business world, you don't study failures. you don't go to a simimar on how to fail at growing your business. you learn about success and the best way to get the best results. i would think the same would apply here. just my $.02

btw, congrats on studying and learning on your own. hope it continues to work out well for you.

I imagine "thinking positive" has some effect, but I doubt it's the silver bullet that is going to usher one into motorcycling nirvana.

I love watching the stunt/crash videos on YouTube. Mostly because they are funny, but it does serve as a valuable reminder. In a lot of those videos you see a guy doing crazy stunts and doing very well - then all of a sudden: WHAM!

I'm not interested in doing stunts or going much over the speed limit, but those videos are a lesson on complacency. You find yourself able to go fast, or hold a wheelie a long time and you think you're on top of the world. Then you screw up one time and you and your bike are damaged - sometimes beyond repair. Watching those videos or reading those articles is a good way to learn lessons about complacency and overconfidence without having to get roadrash yourself.

[Nalian]

I imagine "thinking positive" has some effect, but I doubt it's the silver bullet that is going to usher one into motorcycling nirvana.

I love watching the stunt/crash videos on YouTube. Mostly because they are funny, but it does serve as a valuable reminder. In a lot of those videos you see a guy doing crazy stunts and doing very well - then all of a sudden: WHAM!

I'm not interested in doing stunts or going much over the speed limit, but those videos are a lesson on complacency. You find yourself able to go fast, or hold a wheelie a long time and you think you're on top of the world. Then you screw up one time and you and your bike are damaged - sometimes beyond repair. Watching those videos or reading those articles is a good way to learn lessons about complacency and overconfidence without having to get roadrash yourself.

+1 on all of the above. I like healthy reminders, and I'm not opposed to seeing darwin at work.

[storysunfolding]

If you think proficient motorcycling is good, subscribe to the Magazine where those articles were first published. http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/ $22 for the year!