Twenty-Five Things I wish I knew when I started riding

[ST-DocLizard1]

       TWENTY-FIVE THINGS I WISH I HAD KNOWN WHEN I STARTED (1978)


1.    Never park your bike downhill into a parking space.
2.    Never park your bike downhill without being in gear.
3.    Never leave your bike running and unattended downhill.
4.    Never stop your bike with the front wheel turned.
5.    Use your rear brake as the control brake at slow speeds.
6.    Turn your head and look over your shoulder during U-turns.
7.    Look where you want to go.
8.    Don't always believe the neutral light.
9.    Always downshift to first gear before coming to stop.
10.   Check your tire pressure regularly.
11.   Keep your eyes level with the horizon when coming to a stop.
12.   Practice your starts and stops on different inclines.
13.   Practice stopping with only your left foot down.
14.   Change your tires when the minimum tread depth is 1.5mm f & 2.0mm r.
15.   Be prepared for wet weather; invest in top quality raingear.
16.   You will drop your bike no matter how new or old it may be.
17.   Unless your leather is lined, the black dye will run when it is wet.
18.   You can be cold at speed on a 70 degree day.
19.   Dress in layers with adequate air space in between.
20.   Two full seasons on an “Un-Tendered Battery” is reasonable, any more will tempt fate.
21.   Take the time to winterize your bike properly for storage.
22.   Buy the best helmet you can afford and one that fits. It's your brain.
23.   There is only one thing worse than wet…..its cold and wet.
24.   Cornering is the reason we ride in the first place. Become a master of the turns.
25.   Countersteering is the only way to turn your bike quickly!

This is a very unforgiving sport, if you or someone else makes a mistake, you
can pay for it dearly. You need to be an eternal student and minimize your risks. This
is especially important as we get older and our physical abilities deteriorate.

Please feel free to add to this post and number your tips accordingly. Let's keep
the new riders out of harms way and prevent them from becoming a statistic.
Remember, we were all rookies once.

Thanks,

Doc

[Sport-Touring]

[airborneXX]

Good list!

I'll add one...

When you're leading a ride, and looking for a restaurant, turn off, service staion, whatever. DO NOT panic stop when it suddenly appears. Point, give the turn around signal, and turn around safely.

[UFO]

NEVER linger in a car's blind spot...ever.
NEVER get boxed in next to a semi-trailer.  If you do, slow down so you are behind the trailer until you can pass.
Trying to determine if that car is going to creep out in front of you?  Keep an eye on it's front wheel, not the driver, or the bumper, or the entire car...watch its front wheels.

[Nimh]

Trying to determine if that car is going to creep out in front of you?  Keep an eye on it's front wheel, not the driver, or the bumper, or the entire car...watch its front wheels.

Dang I hate those "spinner" type wheels.  I'll never get used to that.  

[UFO]

If you see a car with spinner wheels you can safely assume they will pull out in front of you anyway.

[blackbeltrider]

26. When riding in traffic always have an escape route planned.
27. Take charge of your space when in traffic.
28. Car = moron inside
29. SUV = double moron inside
30. Mini-van = probable soccer mom moron inside
31. All those morons ARE out to get you.
32. stay clear of trucks of any kind - a tire explosion is impressive from a distance, a definite hazard up close.
33. keep a clear space at your six.
34. know the status of your six.
35. keep a space in front for visibility as much as you can. It takes a couple of hours for your testicles to descend from your abdomen, where they crawl just before ride over the piece of 4 x 4 (or other debris) that materializes from under the car/truck in front of you. It isn't rim friendly, either.

etc, etc.
 

[Dichotomous]

I dont know about the curriculum where you did your course, but they taught every single thing listed in here at my MSF BRC.

[kendenton]

Dang I hate those "spinner" type wheels.  I'll never get used to that.  

Came across my first set of those the other day (been out of riding for a decade) - scared the crap out of me  
Posted on: December 26, 2006, 06:21:15 pmAnother one

35) Don't leave your bike on its kickstand on asphalt on a nice hot summer day.

[jschmidt]

Is that list yours? I think it might be useful in rider training.

[Corwin]

Remember that you can change your lane position to make yourself more visible to drivers.  I know it is taught in the MSF course, but in practice, it is easily forgotten.  Especially important when approaching an intersection when a truck in the left turn lane is blocking the opposing left turner's view.  

Always use lane position to allow you the deepest possible view into blind corners or intersections.

[Corbeau]

(insert proper number here)

If you like to ride at 80 mph, you have to practice your emergency braking from 80 mph.

[basco]

+1 on the moron list and escape route plan.

add..In traffic, always look at least one car ahead of the one thats directly in front of you and don't ride in the center of the lane. Debris always gets caught there.

[Andrew]

36. No matter how Bright your clothing or bike, YOU ARE STILL INVISIBLE, so expect them not to see you

[RickC1957]

37. You NEVER, EVER have the right of way on a motorcycle...the first time you think you do, maybe be your last!

38. Never sport tour with either Vivid1 or Jammin....they will stop every 26 feet (yes i measured it!) to either take pictures or change play lists on their !@@#$$% iPods

39. Never have a severe allergic reaction, pop 3 benadryl and two aleve, cram your helmet on over your balloon sized face and ride for 10 hours, bad things happen!

[zero]

When riding in traffic on a 2 or more lane road approaching vehicles that are traveling the same direction as you, ride on the side of the lane closest to the vehicle you're approaching. They tend to see you better. ( as read in Stayin' Safe, by Larry Grodski).

[bubba zanetti]

If temps are above 90F ...Never ... ever ... leave the loo without a thorough inspection for hitch hiking Klingons ... ever ... never ... er .... nevermind.

[shah269]

40. Soccer moms dig guys in leather at grocery stores!
Especially if your hanging out in the produce department or the fish department trying to figure out what to make for dinner!
41. Riding is addictive as kinky sex! Once you start you really can't stop! And its all downhill from there and one day you will find yourself in the living room trying to figure out how the hell are you going to hide that deluxe Liberator love sofa you bought, so your parents don't think you and your wife are some sort of kinky pervert!

[andmoon]

Don't pump gas into your bike while seated...a spill onto hot engine parts can get too warm fast.

When in doubt maintaing throttle is usually safer than chopping it.

[STI-51]

#44. Sand happens!

#45. Fear of all of the above keeps the senses hightened... a good thing.

[Ian]

Knock on wood...

But 7 years, 4 bikes(many friends and family rides also) roughly 50,000+ miles and I haven't dropped a bike.  Crashed yes, but dropped no.

Just adding that you don't have to assume you will drop one.