Basic skills

[superjackal]

Can anyone recommend a decent video link to safe riding tips?

For example, I check my rear mirrors a lot and I’m finding it can be dangerous should traffic come to a complete stop in front. I’m checking then looking over my shoulder to check the blind spots. A colleague recommend a downwards glance over your shoulder as a better way. Is there a proper technique or safe way to do it?

When shifting, I lift off the accelerator completely as my wrist isn’t that flexible and the accelerator grip has a long travel on my bike. Do you lift your hand off completely or twist it forward? I’m finding the new bike gets a bit unsettled so I must be shifting my weight too much. I also wondering whether I move my left leg too much. Little movements as much as possible the key?

Motorway/emergency braking, I’ve not had much luck with emergency stopping. Very nervous to try anything drastic. For example, in a car you brake to shift the weight of the car to the front wheels then modulate your brakes. It’s different on a bike as you have the front and rear. What’s good technique?

For the moment, I’ve calmed myself right down and concentrated on following distances.

Is rideforever a good course?

[The End]

Twist of the Wrist 2:

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v20959402FsQ2jz6A?h1=A+Twist+of+the+Wrist+2

[oneofsix]

Is rideforever a good course?

yes, and will answer most of your questions and give you some things you can practice on your own. It will teach you a save way to practice your emergency stops too

[GTRMAN]

Can anyone recommend a decent video link to safe riding tips?

For example, I check my rear mirrors a lot and I’m finding it can be dangerous should traffic come to a complete stop in front. I’m checking then looking over my shoulder to check the blind spots. A colleague recommend a downwards glance over your shoulder as a better way. Is there a proper technique or safe way to do it?

When shifting, I lift off the accelerator completely as my wrist isn’t that flexible and the accelerator grip has a long travel on my bike. Do you lift your hand off completely or twist it forward? I’m finding the new bike gets a bit unsettled so I must be shifting my weight too much. I also wondering whether I move my left leg too much. Little movements as much as possible the key?

Motorway/emergency braking, I’ve not had much luck with emergency stopping. Very nervous to try anything drastic. For example, in a car you brake to shift the weight of the car to the front wheels then modulate your brakes. It’s different on a bike as you have the front and rear. What’s good technique?

For the moment, I’ve calmed myself right down and concentrated on following distances.

Is rideforever a good course?

Yes it is, Roadsafe in Wellington also run courses in braking techniques etc subsidised by the local councils. $20 for a full day course, well worth it.

[Banditbandit]

Can anyone recommend a decent video link to safe riding tips?

For example, I check my rear mirrors a lot and I’m finding it can be dangerous should traffic come to a complete stop in front.

Yeah .. this is a trap .. I have no idea what to do about it .. except NEVER take your eyes of the vehicles in front ... but that's quite hard to do .. about this time last year I took my eyes of very slow moving traffic - and the stupid cage in front of me stopped dead. I didn't hit it but I locked the front wheeel and dropped the bike ..



I’m checking then looking over my shoulder to check the blind spots. A colleague recommend a downwards glance over your shoulder as a better way. Is there a proper technique or safe way to do it?

I find that if my mirrors are set up properly my blind spot so very small and quite close - I rarely turn to look unless I'm riding in a group with people I barely know and there might be a motorcycle sitting in the blind spot. Cars are too big to be in the blind spot on two-way roads ... in lanes there is a point in left and right lanes where cars might be ... but usually I have an inclination they are there because the cars have previously been visible and now they are not ... but this is rare ..


When shifting, I lift off the accelerator completely as my wrist isn’t that flexible and the accelerator grip has a long travel on my bike. Do you lift your hand off completely or twist it forward?

Normally I twist the wrist .. (but then I have a short twist on the grip ... about 2mm from off is 130klicks in top on the big one) ... sometimes I let go .. but that's very rare ... and usually when I ride long distance and use the opportunity to stretch my fingrs ..



I’m finding the new bike gets a bit unsettled so I must be shifting my weight too much. I also wondering whether I move my left leg too much. Little movements as much as possible the key?

When and how is it "unsettled" ? What do you mean by that? It might pay to tighten up/loosen off your suspension settings.


Motorway/emergency braking, I’ve not had much luck with emergency stopping. Very nervous to try anything drastic. For example, in a car you brake to shift the weight of the car to the front wheels then modulate your brakes. It’s different on a bike as you have the front and rear. What’s good technique?

Progressively squeeze the front brake ... apply the rear brake slightly after the front brake ... this is a practice issue ... apply the rear brake when the weight has pushed down the forks and most of the weight is on the front wheel ... the pressure you put on the brakes depends on how quickly you want to stop (obviously) ... but in an emergency most of us (well I do ) just stand on everything and pray ...

But this is something you need to practice ... most of us don't get into emergency braking situations often enough to get the required practice .. find a good piece of road with bugger all traffic and practice practice practice ... if you don't then when you need it is too late to learn ...


For the moment, I’ve calmed myself right down and concentrated on following distances.

Is rideforever a good course?

Dunno about that one .. never done it .. but any course is a good course - you wil learn something ... I've seen the main instruictor a couple of times and he is good ..

[Grashopper]

I'd definitely recommend doing a course. For example one of these: http://www.prorider.co.nz/motorcycle-training-courses.php?course=4

I did both the SafeRider and the SmartRider so far. The SafeRider was in a class room and in a big car park. We practised a lot of emergency braking there. And after every try you got feedback directly from the instructors. That was really useful.

The SmartRider was at first in a car park and we practised braking there (and yes, also got feedback after every try) and then we went out on the open road. Was mostly about hazard assessment, road positioning and cornering, but the instructor asked us at the beginning what we felt we had problems with and then focussed a lot on that.

A video is more of an addition to a course, but cannot replace one.
(That's my 2 cents from my loooong experience of 4 months of riding :) )

[iYRe]

I tend to not care much about what is behind me in the traffic.

If you are worrying about what's coming behind, you're not controlling what's in front.

The only thing I look for is flashing lights or headlights - and my mirrors are set up so I can see them without looking away from in front of me.

Also, checking should be instinctive and reflexive, your life depends on it. No thinking, just do.

[Tigadee]

I found this channel very helpful for roadcraft tips:
http://www.youtube.com/user/RoadcraftNottingham (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC062163835B4F220)

[george formby]

I found this channel very helpful for roadcraft tips:
http://www.youtube.com/user/RoadcraftNottingham

:2thumbsup My G/F subscribes to his channel.

Yeah, OP. Go do some more training & then practice, keep practicing. You should be taught correct braking technique which will then enable you to progressively brake harder. How the controls on your bike are set up should get the once over too, brake levers correctly positioned, throttle properly adjusted etc.

In traffic I try to stay in space in my lane, I don't tail gate or follow directly behind a car if I can help it, always to the right or left so I can swerve easily should they stop unexpectedly. Um, put another way. I try to keep clear road ahead of me, not a car bumper. I also try to avoid the vehicle ahead's blind spot and will happily give a driver a wee toot of the horn if I don't think they have seen me. A wee toot..
I also constantly flick my vision from my mirrors, both, too what is happening ahead. Checking the road lay out, up coming junctions, traffic lights, brake lights coming on a few vehicles ahead etc to try & anticipate what is going to happen next. I use my life saver for every change in position on the road, even within my lane. You never know when somebody will try to claim your bit of road.
Same as looking ahead I look as far back in my mirrors as I can, trying to spot participants in the rush hour GP, emergency vehicles coming up & rabid lane chicaners.

[superjackal]

When and how is it "unsettled" ? What do you mean by that? It might pay to tighten up/loosen off your suspension settings.

A slight, very slight, sway. I think it's just my weight shifting . Don't think there's anything wrong with the bike.

[Banditbandit]

A slight, very slight, sway. I think it's just my weight shifting . Don't think there's anything wrong with the bike.

Yeah .. sounds like weight shifting ... I never do it ... just use countersteering asnd balance on the throttle ... I'm too old now to learn a new way to ride ...

But it might be suspension ... it's not something "wrong" with the bike - it's about the settings that suit you best ... in a corner the bike should feel stable and suspension can affect that ...

I'm no expert on suspension settings ... I do know that tightening up the front end on my 650 dramatically changed the way it cornered ... after tightening it the bike felt like it was on rails ... I got some advice from an expert ... who also suggested tightening the rear ... but I haven't done it yet ...

When it comes to suspension I talk to people who know ... and their advice has always been right ... talk to the shop where you bought the bike ..

[oneofsix]

A slight, very slight, sway. I think it's just my weight shifting . Don't think there's anything wrong with the bike.

Could be caused by you letting go the throttle grip, a bit of weight shift and a bit of imbalance in the bar.

[superjackal]

Could be caused by you letting go the throttle grip, a bit of weight shift and a bit of imbalance in the bar.

It's hard to explain. Where the bike was moving straight, my transfer of weight minutely alters the course. I think you're right and it's it's just me being a newbie and moving too much.

[Erelyes]

I found this channel very helpful for roadcraft tips:
http://www.youtube.com/user/RoadcraftNottingham (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC062163835B4F220)

x3 on this channel. Very helpful. Especially their 'smooth gear changing' vid (this will help you with shifting) & their wet weather riding vid.

Also if you can bear listening to an aussie accent ( :bleh: ) then this one isn't too bad for the basics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmSULIu1Zk4

Personally I find it easy to keep an eye on what is happening a head of you, when you're checking your rear views.

Lifesavers - If you're unbalancing it sounds like you're twisting your torso/shoulders as well as your head/neck. I guess some people have more flexible necks than others... perhaps just practice it... dynamic stretching (e.g. actually doing the action) will do a lot more than any static ('hold for 5 secs') neck stretch to help

[The End]

I’m finding the new bike gets a bit unsettled so I must be shifting my weight too much. I also wondering whether I move my left leg too much. Little movements as much as possible the key?


May have already been posted above, but I'm going to take a guess that as you are moving your weight around on the bike, you are using your hands to balance/move you around the seat. This would be putting pressure on the bars causing the bike to feel unstable.

Basically it's as though you are unintentionally counter steering by putting pressure on your bars as you move around.

The video I linked above (Twist of the Wrist 2) has a whole section on counter steering and positioning on your bike, definitely give it a watch.

[Tigadee]

This American one is also helpful and typical of Americans, is straightforward and simple to understand.
http://www.youtube.com/user/motorman857 (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB76B192649091250)

[superjackal]

yes, and will answer most of your questions and give you some things you can practice on your own. It will teach you a save way to practice your emergency stops too

Well, I did it. Took the novice Rideforever course last Friday. Well worth the time and money. The instructors are experienced and clearly passionate about motorcycles. Made everyone feel very welcome and had time for any questions you wanted to ask, no matter how dumb. Got my mojo back big time afterwards. In particular, the ability to practice high speed stops and cornering/handling at the abandoned suburb in Upper Hutt was superb. Got some great feedback from the instructors which was confidence boosting.

Thoroughly recommend to anyone thinking about it. I going to sign up for the next course, for sure.

[Maki]

For example, I check my rear mirrors a lot and I’m finding it can be dangerous should traffic come to a complete stop in front. I’m checking then looking over my shoulder to check the blind spots. A colleague recommend a downwards glance over your shoulder as a better way. Is there a proper technique or safe way to do it?

When shifting, I lift off the accelerator completely as my wrist isn’t that flexible and the accelerator grip has a long travel on my bike. Do you lift your hand off completely or twist it forward? I’m finding the new bike gets a bit unsettled so I must be shifting my weight too much. I also wondering whether I move my left leg too much. Little movements as much as possible the key?

Motorway/emergency braking, I’ve not had much luck with emergency stopping. Very nervous to try anything drastic. For example, in a car you brake to shift the weight of the car to the front wheels then modulate your brakes. It’s different on a bike as you have the front and rear. What’s good technique?


Be careful about checking your mirrors. You don't want to end up plastered onto the rear of a truck because you were looking at your mirrors.

Just flick your wrist forward while shifting, no need to come off the throttle completely.

Let your bike compress the forks, shift the weight to the front wheel, and then modulate the brakes. If you are braking really hard, forget about the rear brake unless you are riding some kind of cruiser. On most bikes almost all the weight shifts to the front when braking so if you brake with the rear all you will achieve is a locked rear wheel.

[superjackal]

Be careful about checking your mirrors. You don't want to end up plastered onto the rear of a truck because you were looking at your mirrors.

Just flick your wrist forward while shifting, no need to come off the throttle completely.

Let your bike compress the forks, shift the weight to the front wheel, and then modulate the brakes. If you are braking really hard, forget about the rear brake unless you are riding some kind of cruiser. On most bikes almost all the weight shifts to the front when braking so if you brake with the rear all you will achieve is a locked rear wheel.

Good advice thanks.

I'm curious about not coming off the throttle completely. Maybe it's habit from driving an old sports car but I tend to let the revs drop and let the syncro take care of the rest?

I find the rear helpful as an after-thought. Concventrate on the front then balance with the rear?

[Maki]

Good advice thanks.

I'm curious about not coming off the throttle completely. Maybe it's habit from driving an old sports car but I tend to let the revs drop and let the syncro take care of the rest?

I find the rear helpful as an after-thought. Concventrate on the front then balance with the rear?

"Most all of the gearboxes on motorcycles are " constant mesh ". That means all the gears are constantly meshed with one another and are always spinning. Because of this, there are no synchros to speed up the gears when they engage, like there are in automotive gearboxes."
http://www.dansmc.com/gearbox.htm

Yes, matching revs is good. If you let the revs drop all the way down and try to shift, then chances are the revs are not well matched. If you want to learn how to match revs really well, try to do smooth clutch less up-shifts. If done correctly the shifts will be perfectly smooth.

For normal braking using the rear is fine. For hard panic braking just concentrate on the front.