Finished MSF and Riding My Bike!!

[miles]

So I completed the MSF this weekend. What a fun experience that was!! The instructors were awesome and they did the lesson that was mandated by Tx but also threw in their actual real world experience. I entered the class never even ridden a bike before and came out with enough confidence to ride my own bike thats been sitting in the living room for the last couple of months lol.
I was the only one in full riding gear taking the lessons.. Everyone else was in jeans and long sleeve sweaters. So I felt kind of silly decked out in full Dainese gear, but I'm glad I was because it gave me the confidence to ride the curves and emergency stops harder. I only dumped the bike once, I locked my front wheel and fell to the side -.-  That was nothing compared to the poor girl who locked the front wheel during a swerve and flew over the handle bars..

But today I put on all my gear and took my 2008 Ninja 500R out around the block.. We have a middle school and a large ditch next to each other and it makes the streets into a figure 8 type, with curves and a lot of stops so I practiced like that. I took a spill after getting to 50mph, tried to take a curve, couldnt slow down fast enough and too afraid to lean aggressively. Even though I got the bike to nearly a stop, the curb got to close and I had t

o ditch the bike. Surprisingly no scratches other then the ones that were already there from the owner before, it wasn't too bad. But after that I went in circles around the block for an hour or two.

I tend to hold the clutch a lot.. probably more then I should but I don't really know. I
t was a neighborhood with a lot of turns and stops so is that expected? What gear should I take turns in? Also what angle should i go up or down steep driveway ramps?

So- my two cents worth. Always start in first gear. I understand it's easy to forget to downshift all the way, so make it part of your slowing down procedure. As you're approaching a stop, keep shifting down as your speed decreases, until you shift to first at less than 5 mph.

this serves two important functions. The first is to put you in the correct gear when you start up again. The second is that it keeps the bike in the proper rev range to accelerate if need be. An example might be coming to a red light that turns green before you stop fully. If you'd just pulled in the clutch as you slowed, toy wouldn't be able to roll the throttle on and go- you'd have to find the correct gear, and maybe stall out or something embarrassing like that. If you're already in the right gear, it's all smiles.

Do the same approaching a corner. Downshift as you slow on approach, then roll through the turn in second or third (or whatever gear is appropriate) and elope through the turn itself without touching the clutch. The only time you really want to be working the clutch mid-turn is very slow maneuvers like U-turns. The clutch upsets the stability of the bike, which is not desirable when turning.

Motorcycling is a bit like skiing in that you have to have some speed to learn how to control things, but speed is frightening at first. The fact you're keeping it close to the speed limit is perfect for now. 25 to 45 mph is plenty fast enough to learn all you need to for now. Keep it cool and don't let the thrill of speed get you in trouble.

As suggested above, communications systems like the SENA or the chatterbox can be a great aid. I've been very pleased with the SENA, and enjoy how it let's
me communicate with others while riding. Of course, we mainly use it to heckle each other...

The main piece of advice I can give is never stop trying to improve your skills. There s no motorcyclist anywhere who couldn't stand to get better. I consider skills better than most, but I try to work on my techniques with every single ride.

[bomber]

The main piece of advice I can give is never stop trying to improve your skills. There s no motorcyclist anywhere who couldn't stand to get better. I consider skills better than most, but I try to work on my techniques with every single ride.

ANd this is one of the things that makes motorcycling such an engaging thing . . . . you can ALWAYS learn more, always improve -- this keeps me curious and alert, and willing to sharpen my skills . . . . .

Congrats!

[bassjones]

Whatever else you do, if you find yourself in a corner going faster than you're comfortable with, do NOT touch the front brake or release the throttle. Brake and you'll probably (almost certainly) low side. Release the throttle and you'll stand up and end up in the oncoming lane. Just force your eyes to a point beyond the curve, keep steady throttle and press a little harder on the inside bar. Most (mine was, as are most others I know) first crashes are a direct result of panicking in a curve and locking up the front brake. Of course, the best thing to do is not get into a corner too fast, but it happens and when it does, try and ride it out. You'll probably find out your bike can turn a lot better than you thought it could then pull over, breathe for a minute, say a prayer, and clean out your boxer shorts... Get back on and keep riding.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Most (mine was, as are most others I know) first crashes are a direct result of panicking in a curve and locking up the front brake. Of course, the best thing to do is not get into a corner too fast, but it happens and when it does, try and ride it out. You'll probably find out your bike can turn a lot better than you thought it could then pull over, breathe for a minute, say a prayer, and clean out your boxer shorts... Get back on and keep riding.

That being said, my first lowside was because the tires lost traction    

I could see the corner tightening up and as I leaned the bike more and said to myself over and over "Trust your tires. Trust your tires." A few minutes later I was sliding along the road and the bike did a nice little belly flop into the dirt  

But bassjones has made some valid points and you should pay attention. Naturally, the best thing to do is not to get into one of these situations in the first place  

[Kootenanny]

I could see the corner tightening up and as I leaned the bike more and said to myself over and over "Trust your tires. Trust your tires." A few minutes later I was sliding along the road and the bike did a nice little belly flop into the dirt  

I distinctly recall riding around a curve, which seemed to be getting tighter and tighter.  I kept trying to get the bike to turn, but it just wouldn't...and I rode right off the outside of the shoulder and into the ditch.  I can't recall if I used the brake or not, but my tires never lost traction...until I was off the pavement.  

BTW, this incident occurred long before I ever took any training or heard the word, "countersteering..."  

[bassjones]

I distinctly recall riding around a curve, which seemed to be getting tighter and tighter.  I kept trying to get the bike to turn, but it just wouldn't...and I rode right off the outside of the shoulder and into the ditch.  I can't recall if I used the brake or not, but my tires never lost traction...until I was off the pavement.  

BTW, this incident occurred long before I ever took any training or heard the word, "countersteering..."  

Target fixation?

[Kootenanny]

Target fixation?

Simple lack of skill...

[bassjones]

Simple lack of skill...

 

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Simple lack of skill...

 


mine could have been one or more of the following:
 - loss of traction due to lack of too small of a contact patch with the pavement
 - loss of traction due to pine needles/debris near the edge of the road
 - loss of traction due to levering up on the footpeg (I'd scraped the peg on the previous turn)

Whatever it was, it was an eye-open for me, and I'm glad that I was able to walk/ride away from it  

[Kneescrubber]

As you begin to gain confidence you'll want to increase your speed thru a corner. Whether it's very slow or very fast the key issue you'll be dealing with is center of gravity (cog) and the effect it has relative to the angle of lean. Other than hard braking or acceleration, the cog of the bike will never change. That means you are the variable. This understanding; this feeling will only come with practice. Whether you realize it or not, you're already doing that at a slow speed. And I applaud you for that. I wish every new rider took the same approach you're taking.

[Kootenanny]

 


mine could have been one or more of the following:
 - loss of traction due to lack of too small of a contact patch with the pavement
 - loss of traction due to pine needles/debris near the edge of the road
 - loss of traction due to levering up on the footpeg (I'd scraped the peg on the previous turn)

Whatever it was, it was an eye-open for me, and I'm glad that I was able to walk/ride away from it  

No, I simply rode wide, right off the road.  That time, anyway...there were others.

[02Tac]

Every time I get to the MSF range I take a couple spins around the u-turn box on the C14.  Like you said.  Practice practice practice.

+1  I am lucky in that the place I work at has a rarely used (and recently repaved) parking lot that doubles as an MSF range with all the lesson lines painted on.