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I've only been riding for about a week now. I'm getting pretty well rounded at riding but when it comes to turning from a stop sign, or riding out of my driveway I seem to struggle with it. I either pull out too slow or too fast and because of that over overshoot or pull in too slow to the lane I'm aiming for. Any pointers?

Need to practice with your clutch and learn when you start transferring the power to the wheel.

Did you take the MSF? If so practice the exercise they taught you when you first started learning clutch control.

I don't remember how the technique went 100% so to avoid being castrated I'll let the MSF instructors tell you

If you haven't taken the MSF you should consider taking MSF it really helps.

I was going to take the msf course but it was really really expensive here. And since I live in the desert there's miles before I'd get a chance to find another one at a resonable price.

In the mean time before you take the MSF you can always practice slow speed stuff in an empty parking lot. You can practice stopping, turning, clutch control, circles, zig-zags, among other things. That way when you get to the MSF you'll be a bit more confident. One thing that may help you in turning from a stop is dragging the rear break a little bit while you start to take off. At times dragging the rear break while applying a bit of throttle helps stabilize the bike enough for you during slow speed take offs and maneuvers.

ttty2t1j3 wrote:I was going to take the msf course but it was really really expensive here. And since I live in the desert there's miles before I'd get a chance to find another one at a resonable price.

There are two 'tricks' to handling this sort of situation.

1) When you make your stops, intentionally stop somewhat 'before' the corner. Most drivers habitually stop too far into the intersection. If you stop 5 or 6 feet before the required turn, you have a little space to go straight before turning. In a sense you are dividing the tasks (starting and turning) into two separate tasks, handling them one at a time.

2) The real issue is clutch control. Many people try to operate the clutch too fast. From a full squeezed postion they release too rapidly. Its a long slow gradual eaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssing out of the clutch. Apply some throttle (rev it up and hold it) then sloooowly ease out the clutch.

Most people try to treat the clutch like its a two position "on/off" switch. It isn't. THere are a lot of 'positions' between fully engaged and fully disengaged. You may have been told to "Not ride the clutch". This is bull. Feel free to ride it! Use it! Unless you are running one of a very few bikes with a dry clutch (some BMW and Ducati come to mind) its a wet clutch (oil bath) and eassing the clutch out over 4, 5, 6 seconds or more is harmless.


The following is NOT meant to be offensive. It is meant to cause you to think, and hopefully to reconsider. As for the MSF course: Let me ask you a question. What is more expensive?

A couple hundred for the MSf course ($275 in NY state)

or

A wrecked bike, three months of hospital bills ($300,000+++), legs that don't work anymore, an amazing collection of skingrafts, and a nice shiny new wheelchair?

So the MSF BRC is expensive . . . you'll most likely get it back in savings on insurance over the years. Both in direct savings via discounts, esp. if you take the ERC every couple of years, and by indirect savings b/c you learn how to THINK about riding a bike & avoid accidents.

I am also a new rider. I've had my bike a week now. Clutch control is tough. I still sometimes 'pop' it. grrrrrr

I also have your problem with starting turns from a stop. Print http://msf-usa.org/downloads/Riding_Tips.pdf, read it, get some cones or 1 liter bottles w/ sand & go do the practice stuff starting on page 60. It helps.

I sat thru the brc (had my arm in a sling) & am about to take the full course at the end of this month. Its worth it.

I had the same question. Good responses and I am looking forward to some parking lot practice.

MSF course should come first...the class ain't nowhere as expensive a skin grafts and MC repairs. Also you learn the right way from the get go and you don't have to unlearn any bad habits or improper techniques you may pick up doing it on your own.

Really though, the way to perfect a slow speed turn is practice.

I was going to say practice the figure eights they had you do in your MSF class, but you haven't taken the class.Those figure eights are good practice for learning how to control your bike at low speeds in turns. Do them as slow and tight as you can without putting a foot down. Then speed them up but keep them tight (dont increase the size of the eight). From that you will get better at overall control of your bike in tight places and you will get better at making those low speed turns without overshooting the lane or being too slow once you straighten up in the lane. Practice is the key.

When I took the course it was only because I couldn't test ride a bike at a dealership without a MC endorsement on my license and I couldn't get a licence without having a MC for the driving portion of the test. The MSF class counted as my driving portion of the DMV test so I was able to get my license without having a MC... I had grown up riding dirt bikes and didn't really think I needed the class...I only took it to get my license...

...but immediately upon completing the course I realized how foolish my reasoning had been. So much so, that now I feel that the course should be mandatory for everyone in order to get their MC endorsement on their license.

It may sound cliche but it will be the best few hundred dollars you ever spent...It may save your @ss one day.

Good luck and happy riding!
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Wow, the class is really expensive for you.

Where I live the fee is only 100$ for in-state and 195 for out of state.
The brc completion certificate waivers the skills test at the dmv in WV.