Total Motorcycle Community Forums

New biker questions to follow, please be gentle.

1.) Could someone tell me where the rear brake is located (I don't have a bike yet and probably won't have a chance to start learning until shortly before or at the same time that I go for my MSF course in about a month or so). I know some bikes have linked brakes and others don't.

2.) Also, when shifting, would a push the shifter down to down shift or vice versa?

Anywho, thanks in advance everyone.

The rear brake is located directly in front of the right foot peg.

To downshift, you'd press down on the gear selector and to upshift, you'd push up on the gear selector

Thank you. I was curious but since I haven't found a suitable first bike yet, I haven't been able to experiment. I would like to know as much as possible before my first ride so that I am that much more prepared.

Take some time and go to a shop and sit on a few bikes. Good way to learn where the controls are. Also it will help you decide what type of bike you would like.

I've been planning to hit one of the bike shops in the area as soon as I can, hopefully tomorrow. Pathetic, for my birthday I'm gonna go sit on a bike and dream..... lol. I've got time, I won't be getting the bike till sometime towards the middle of September. Until then, it's dream, ask questions, dream some more, and sit on as many bikes as I can.

kwong2001 wrote:.

To downshift, you'd press down on the gear selector and to upshift, you'd push up on the gear selector

thats true but going from N to 1st you need to push down on you shifter and to go back to N you push half up and 2nd all the way up

Archaelas wrote:I don't have a bike yet and probably won't have a chance to start learning until shortly before or at the same time that I go for my MSF course in about a month or so.

Don't worry too much about not having ridden before taking the class. I hadn't either, and it pretty much starts out with "this is a motorcycle - here are the wheels..." By the end of the weekend, you will certainly know where everything is, and you will feel quite comfortable riding a bike. I certainly applaud your desire to learn as much as you can though!!

Thanks, sounds like when I worked as a Field Service Technician, I would go out with, "This is a computer, this is the keyboard. etc." Good to know they start with the extreme basics, as you can see, until I posted here, I didn't even know where the foot brake was or how to shift.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... s&n=507846
read that^

It tells you a lot of things that you need to know when riding a bike. and some you don't, but still nice to know so you understand how the bike works. Also, it'll give you a good heads-up on the MSF material so you know what you're getting into.

Heya Arch...,

Just catching up on some reading... so, are you done the course by now? Not to worry - the instructors will show you all about motorcycles just like StradBiker says. I was never too close to observe any bikes in detail before I took the course so it was most enlightening. But there is lots to read on the net if you have time to surf & read beforehand. Have fun, relax & enjoy... soon it'll be time to go bike shopping!