[JonF]

This is a brand new section here at Riderforums. It was started as a way to help brand new riders get started or to answer questions. New riders will find that Riderforums is a friendly place with alot of experienced and sensible riders from which they can ask advise.
This is more of a Question and Answer type forum than a place for people to "enlighten others with their wisdom" by posting information that no one has asked about. In other words, wait for someone to ask a question before you dole out advise.
As for the new riders with questions, don't believe everything you read on the internet! Like I said before, there are alot of experienced and sensible riders here but there is still the possibility of bad advise.
So new riders, :welcome: to riderforums and feel free to ask any questions you have.

Here is an example of how this section works. I'll use a question that comes up alot in these types of forums.

I would like to try riding. I have never ridden a motorcycle before. How do I start?

Enroll in a MSF course. www.msf-usa.org The MSF course will teach you the mental skills to help you survive on the street and the basic motorcyle riding techniques used on the street. Many states accept the course completion certificate that allows you to obtain a motorcycle license without also having to pass the state's motorcycle licensing tests. If you are not in the US there may be similar courses in your Country.

 

[greenebroke]

Hey Jon, great idea. We all need to be responsible and pro-active in our riding experience. Education, education, education, right!

 

[calfer]

Greetings to all my name is aleksey I from Russia at me z1000 2003года am engaged stunt

 

[Ninja650rDude]

IS NICE! HIGH FIVE!

Sorry, I couldn't resist the Borat joke :laugh:

But seriously, to all you newbies: I rode my bike around for a couple of days before getting the WA state motorcycle operators manual and studying it to pass the written-only learners permit test -big mistake. I was turning right onto an arterial from a stop and I accidentally twisted the throttle open too far, which made the bike surge forward throwing me back in my seat. Being thrown back pulled my arm/wrist/the throttle back even more, which made the bike surge even harder, ect., ect., ect. making it next to impossible for me to complete my turn without coming inches away from hitting a passing utility truck
Moral of the story -get your learners permit first. That manual has all kinds of info you'll need, like:"Start with your throttle wrist flat. This will help keep you from accidentally using too much throttle." Take the MSF training course and learn on one of their bikes if your having doubts about your ability.

 

[bikemoneyman]

Got to tell you this.The best experience I got is experience.Well I learned dirt bike first.Can't even imagine learnining on the street.Just my :2cents:
Craig

 

[janthony12]

buying a first bike

Whats up every one! I just want to get your advice on getting a new bike. I have a little experience in street riding, I live in LA and thinking of riding to work as soon I get comfortable, and confident. And also my work is about 40 miles one way. I have a lot of friends that ride but they have different advice on witch bike to purchase. My first choice is the kawasaki 650r and by the way i'm 6' tall and about 230 pounds. some of my friends say that it might be too small or I might out grow it right away. and also if you could give and advice if I should get a used or new, because I noticed w/ the kawasaki 650r price w/ the new one is not that big of a difference. Thanks for any advice you could give.

 

[yyz0]

My first choice is the kawasaki 650r and by the way i'm 6' tall and about 230 pounds. some of my friends say that it might be too small or I might out grow it right away.

I would hazard to say that for a beginner it is better to start small and "Grow out of it" than to start too big and not be able to handle it. Look at it this way, would you want your 16yr old child to learn to drive in a Dodge Viper? I about 220lbs and I ride a ZR-7S, it has more power than I should ever need. Yes, I have to shift it sometimes to get that power but that's what a transmission is made for. I see write ups for cruisers that state "there's so much torque that you don't have to shift once in high gear, just roll on the gas". What's wrong with shifting?

On occasion I have the chance to ride my wifes 250 Rebel. And while I can't pass 10cars in one shot(or probably even 1 car), I still enjoy the ride because I'm on 2 wheels. I wouldn't want to ride it as my only bike but it is still a bike.

The key for a new rider is a bike that fits you and you feel comfortable on. The bigger the motor on a big the bigger the rest of it normally gets in both size and weight.

What do you want to do with this first bike? Pass any car you feel like anytime you want? ride wheelies all the way to work? Or just Ride and save money on gas?

 

[janthony12]

Great question, my answer will be , I want to ride and save gas, but really more on the enjoyment of riding. I want a bike that I could ride for hours, and practical to use here in California, because of the traffic. That led me to the kawa 650r. I test rode my friends bikes mostly sports bike, but I dont seem to enjoy that seating position and I guess too much power for me. I dont really want to go too fast, more on just cruising. And also if you guys have any advice on getting a new or used, cause I noticed the price difference w/ this bike is around 1k for a new one since it just came out last year.

 

[wilk]

Got to tell you this.The best experience I got is experience.Well I learned dirt bike first.Can't even imagine learnining on the street.Just my :2cents:
Craig

To help you imagine, I did learn on the street. Motorcycle course, books (Ultimate Guide to Riding, Street Smart, High Performance Street riding etc...) and lots of practice with full protective gear. Especially maximum force/ minimum time stops. This sport is not to be taken lightly if you want to keep your body parts together.

 

[darkmini]

n00b

I've had my bike 2 months now, and just joined this forum today (though I've been reading it for a couple of weeks).
Thought I'd dorkishly say "HI! I'm a n00b!" and be hit or something

I dunno. I'm just glad there's a bunch of great info and opinions here. Thanks *thumbs up*

 

[KXonZ]

I've had my bike 2 months now, and just joined this forum today (though I've been reading it for a couple of weeks).
Thought I'd dorkishly say "HI! I'm a n00b!" and be hit or something

I dunno. I'm just glad there's a bunch of great info and opinions here. Thanks *thumbs up*

welcome aboard, feel free to ask questions and add input if you have it! there are alot of great guys around here that are very willing to help. #1 piece of advice.....make good use of the search function before asking a question that has been covered a million times! helps keep you in good standing, lol jk. enjoy!

 

[rickedd46]

Interesting thread.

I have a question which it is of much importance.

Has anyone ever been instructed on countersteering when they took their MSF course?

This little secret can save lives.

Thank you.

 

[JonF]

Interesting thread.

I have a question which it is of much importance.

Has anyone ever been instructed on countersteering when they took their MSF course?

This little secret can save lives.

Thank you.

Yes, we discuss it and we have have exercizes that demonstrate it.

 

[WhiteLiterBike]

Hi all, and thanks for a great forum!

I'm new here, and to bikes in general. I've always wanted to ride, but now, aged 33, I think I'm "less stupid" enough to stay in one piece. I'm currently going through the motions of obtaining my motorcycle driver's license :woot:

I live in France, but as a Franco-American I come to the US often. So here's a quick Q for you: can you ride in the US with a foreign license? (Search gave nothing on this topic.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[KXonZ]

Interesting thread.

I have a question which it is of much importance.

Has anyone ever been instructed on countersteering when they took their MSF course?

This little secret can save lives.

Thank you.

i dont understand the idea behind this. i often hear new guys,( not that you are) raving about how great countersteering is and how evrybody should "learn" this teqnique. i cant for the life of me figure out how in the hell anybody can even ride a motorcycle without countersteering. in other words, i think its just a natural movement. is it even possible to ride at all without doing it? i realize that at somepoint you will "learn it" ie... be able to have a name for it, but you were already doing it before that day.

i guess it comes down to.. how can you have an epiphany about something you already know and do?

 

[JonF]

Let me ask you this. Do you remember how hard it was at first to learn how to ride a bike? That is because when you lose your balance and try to steer the bicycle to to keep your balance you fall over anyway. Why? Because you are trying to steer when you should be countersteering. So if you can ride a bicycle you dont have to learn how to countersteer when you learn to ride a motorcycle. You are doing it without realizing it.

 

[KXonZ]

Let me ask you this. Do you remember how hard it was at first to learn how to ride a bike? That is because when you lose your balance and try to steer the bicycle to to keep your balance you fall over anyway. Why? Because you are trying to steer when you should be countersteering. So if you can ride a bicycle you dont have to learn how to countersteer when you learn to ride a motorcycle. You are doing it without realizing it.

exactly my point!! so why is it that folks who ALREADY ride are always talking about how they have just "discovered" countersteering and how wonderful it is?

 

[JonF]

Maybe because of the heavier machine and the higher speeds they can actually feel it. You really dont feel it on a bicycle.

 

[bikemoneyman]

Oh yes I remember my first time on a bike.It was an overweight 26 in Schwinn.My dad gave me a push in our alley and I went as far as I could till I hit a brick wall.My first time on a mini-cycle was better.It was a 1971 58cc Yahmaha.Had a 4 speed with a clutch.Learned in the dirt on my buddys bike and then on a Kawasaki 100 Bushmaster.Thought I was Joel Roberts.Remember him?
Craig

 

[Guest]

The point is that most people do it without realising that they do it.

Back in the sixties the mags had to run a lot of articles to convince riders that bikes corner with the wheels out of line. For normal riding it doesn't matter whether you know you're doing it or not, but in an emergency situation lack of knowledge can lead to you taking the wrong action. That's why it should be explained to new riders, along with the fact that it isn't magic and it's only what they already do anyway.

If you do it naturally you lean the bike and let the bars fall over. If you're aware of what you're doing you can push on the bar and get into the turn a lot faster - useful if you have to swerve in a hurry.

Rob