First 10 miles

[Fat Kid]

At work we have a parking which is shared between motorcycles and scooters. And when it's packed it's everyone everywhere with domination of motorcycles.
Even i'm sin in parking on scooter space... But in the morning i caught a wannabe who was sitting on motorcycle side i guess he felt lonely on empty scoots side:

[Saftie]

I believe this was the first time I ever read an entire thread without skipping pages
However, what began as a learner's diary turned into a florida sightseeing thread and I was missing something. So here is my question or request if I may:

Can you tell us more about your confidence in riding now vs a few months ago?
I assume you no longer stall the bike etc.

i think its awesome you just got on the bike and rode. Best way to learn.


Keep writing and i'll keep reading


G

[Saftie]

And btw, the movie "gone fishing" is awesome

[Fat Kid]

Originally Posted by Saftie

I believe this was the first time I ever read an entire thread without skipping pages

Thank you for your hospitality to me. My English teacher would be amazed that anyone could hold longer then 2 sentences of my writing

However, what began as a learner's diary turned into a florida sightseeing thread and I was missing something. So here is my question or request if I may:

Can you tell us more about your confidence in riding now vs a few months ago?
I assume you no longer stall the bike etc.

Sure, actually i would like to have as many requests as possible cuz as i find out sometimes i just forgot or may not pay attention to some detail which might be interesting for someone.

Actually I still sometimes stall bike, but for a different reasons. Previously it was mostly due to nervousness and learning, now due to problematic road conditions (for example starting to move on a hill with an extra weight of a passenger).
Like my main mistake at first rides was stopping on a light and not switching to the first gear. To fight that issue I made my self a habit of double checking before trying to move.
Also my permanent issue was guessing which gear I'm in so i start memorizing and counting gears. Right now it's mostly under control of unconscious or muscle memory.

Confidence... i would say every ride is building your confidence, and riding in different conditions is helping to support confidence by experience. And to have better experience you need base of self education and self assessment. Capt Crash is a best teacher you can find, there are his posts here and his videos on Youtube - watch you never know what knowledge might help you

i think its awesome you just got on the bike and rode. Best way to learn.
Keep writing and i'll keep reading
G

Sorry if I made you think this way. Lots of help in my riding i got from MSF course, and if not my work schedule I would happily attend their next level riding course. The information they providing worth a lot.

Thank you again for reading

[Saftie]

Yes, the MSF courses are great, I took one years ago. Maybe ill take a refresher in spring.
And I watch / used to watch YouTube videos for dos and don'ts.

About the gears: memorizing is good and you probably notice that once you are familiar with your bike that you can often tell the gear by looking at RPMs (or listening to engine) and your speed.

[Fat Kid]

Originally Posted by Saftie

Yes, the MSF courses are great, I took one years ago. Maybe ill take a refresher in spring.
And I watch / used to watch YouTube videos for dos and don'ts.

About the gears: memorizing is good and you probably notice that once you are familiar with your bike that you can often tell the gear by looking at RPMs (or listening to engine) and your speed.

I purchased my motorcycle almost year after MSF, and everything came back pretty quickly. The most important they put the basis for safer riding.

On my bike it's listening, no tach

[justinmahn]

Yeah that's the reason I downshift as I slow down. Helps me to make sure I'm in the right gear incase the light turns or something else happens.

[Fat Kid]

Originally Posted by justinmahn

Yeah that's the reason I downshift as I slow down. Helps me to make sure I'm in the right gear incase the light turns or something else happens.

I just started to practice it. Don't like it much, but it's a big helper in case of "uncertain" lights

[Saftie]

Originally Posted by Fat Kid

I just started to practice it. Don't like it much, but it's a big helper in case of "uncertain" lights

What I did in the beginning when approaching a light was to pull the clutch, kick the gears all the way down into 1st and cruise ( remember to hold clutch).

When I had to stop I was automatically in 1st. If the light turned green while i was still moving I just counted up again, usually 2nd or third, depending on speed.

Now I just downshift, match revs and use the engine to slow me down.
Here is a good article:

Throttle Blipping for Downshifts

[Fat Kid]

Originally Posted by Saftie

What I did in the beginning when approaching a light was to pull the clutch, kick the gears all the way down into 1st and cruise ( remember to hold clutch).

doing the same, but now, when possible i prefer to brake with engine thru 3rd and then perform described at 1st and 2nd gear

When I had to stop I was automatically in 1st. If the light turned green while i was still moving I just counted up again, usually 2nd or third, depending on speed.

Yep that's a choice, but normally i check the intersection for a lights showing the light change (peds lights) and depending on that i could even gust get into neutral and roll to line.

Now I just downshift, match revs and use the engine to slow me down.
Here is a good article:

Throttle Blipping for Downshifts

THX for article... will try some of it... but:

"Since your bike will likely do 50 mph in second with ease"


50mph that's upper 4th or lower 5th... and I wish to have 6th...