tips for non-driving motorcyclist

[scootnz]

anyone else had to learn to drive after a long time riding? I have 8 years riding behind me, plenty of city and open road, long trips, both islands, etc.

I am now forced to join the ranks of car drivers (2nd baby due in March, and am tired of altercations with bus drivers who are mostly too lazy to get off their asses and offer any assistance to pregnant woman with toddler and folded pushchair), and will be getting a car and learning to drive in the next few months.

I will still be commuting to work on a bike, rather than in a car.

I had two driving lessons years ago, hated it, the instructor didn't understand why getting in a car was so different for me to riding a bike. I found it strange being on one side of the vehicle instead of in the middle, if you know what I mean, and the limited visibility was hard to get used to. And I've never had a car to practice driving in anyway.

I just wondered if anyone else had had to learn to drive for the first time after riding for a long time.

[Indiana_Jones]

lol it does feel weird I must say, the most annoying thing for me is the foot work,the controls are such a hassle

btw, welcome

-Indy

[Motu]

Learning is what life is all about - you don't want to learn? There is an exit door.....

[justsomeguy]

I haven't been regularly driving for a few months now.

After a gap of around 4 weeks from a cage I had to transport my dads work 4x4......... got a bit of a fright when I hit the brakes for the first time....

They -uh- take a bit longer to stop than a bike with decent brakes -

[crashe]

Get someone to take a car around to an industrial area for you to practise in.
The industrial area wont be used as much on the weekends.
And practise driving there... Just going around the block a few times...
reversing and parking in the driveways, parallel and angle parking plus three point turns.
After that find a street with a hill on it.. you need to practise hill starts as well.

When you get more confident, then start going out into the quiet streets... then venture into more used streets and then the motorways.

By using a industrial area first in the weekends when not many are around that is a good way to start getting used to driving a car.

Only go out for a hour each time.... and work up to longer periods...
as it can be quite stressful at first.
Driving instructors only give one hour lessons.

Are you wanting to buy a auto or a manuel?
If you go for your license in a AUTO then it will be written on your license AUTO. Then you cant get caught by the police using a manuel. As that is a fine to do that (not sure how much of a fine - probably about $150)
But if you go for it in a Manuel car.. then they dont write anything down and you can then drive either a manuel or a Auto.

Find a good friend to help you and not your partner...lol.

Get the car road code out to revise certain rules...
Plus I think it has in there the basic steps of what to do when you first get in the car. Setting the rear vision mirror, checking the seat is in the right postition for you, checking the handbrake is on, seatbelt on etc etc.

Good luck in learning to drive a car.

I am not using my car for weeks and weeks on end and have no trouble getting back in and driving it... mind you I have been driving a car for years and years. I also have my HT license as well.

[Posh Tourer :P]

I drive very rarely usually (though the last 6 months it has been my job), and when I get back into a car, I'm always annoyed by the clumsy controls, lack of visibility round corners (stupid A-pillars!!), and having to sit in traffic.

much rather be on a bike.......

[Back Fire]

I havnt even sat in the pilot seat of a car let alone tried to learn... hope I never do... wierd abnormal machines

[avgas]

yeh i know how it is..... got so pissed at my old man while learning to drive, after riding for so long.
The whole car thing seemed illogical, Why should i have to take my hand of the wheel to change a gear etc.
My recommendation, go buy a cheap car, and sneek out to a close buy car park at night, and learn to drive there on your own - or alt off road is better.

[myvice]

Tips to remember;
You cant lane split! I know you think you can get through that gap but if you look to your left you have another 1.5 meters to squeeze through as well.
You wont be the first off at lights all the time anymore! See above for further details.
You cant clear your vision by wiping your hand in front of your face or by flicking your visor open! The reason for this is that some idiot has put a large piece of glass in front of you, you now have to use another leaver, usually opposite the one for the indicators, to make the crud you are trying to see through one consistent smear across your vision.
You will need more than a 1x2-meter gap to park in!
Twisting the steering wheel wont make you go any faster!
Leaning to go around a corner doesn’t work! You actually have to steer the thing around them, and slow down for them too.
Your only proactive gear is a 3-inch wide helmet strap!
When you yell at people they can’t hear you! Unless you wind down your window, and they can see your face now, and they can probably understand what you’re saying as it isn’t muffled anymore.
Remember how $20 gas could do you for the week?
You may want to consider growing another leg if you buy a manual type car, for some un-known reason they have 3 pedals.
You will find out that a 5-ton truck can hide behind a pillar that is only 20mm wide!
On the up side;
All you need are your keys, no helmet, gloves, boots, jacket, pants, wet weather gear (or to check the weather report) etc. You just jump in and go without the slightest bit of preparation!
You get to carry lots of stuff you have never needed befor! As you have little ones you can carry thing like that 3 week old tuna sandwich under the passenger seat, one 1/2 empty pot of yoghurt that is sitting on its side, about 200 pages of A4 sized paper with pictures on them, your body weight in plastic toys... And lots more!

Have fun!

[Velox]

Yep - I've only got my car learners licence and never drive and need to learn how propely. Had 5mins of practice last weekend and can change gears at least! And drive around logs. Which is always good.

My main worry is that I don't know where the front and sides of the car are - on the bike they're pretty much your knees and your nose! Pretty much.

[Karma]

I havnt even sat in the pilot seat of a car let alone tried to learn... hope I never do... wierd abnormal machines

I dunno... I'd have to say I go both ways on this issue

Bikes are great fun yes, but you can also have a lot of fun banging out some tunes on a decent car stereo chucking it around corners and such.

[justsomeguy]

I dunno... I'd have to say I go both ways on this issue

Bikes are great fun yes, but you can also have a lot of fun banging out some tunes on a decent car stereo chucking it around corners and such.

chucking it around corners and such. - It's more fun than you think.

oops better shup up before I turn this into car vs bike thread 379812.342a(1)

[noyz]

I did the same, Rode bike for years then decided I really should have a car licence.
What I found hard was:

- Road position even with heaps of practice the testing officer still knew i had come from a bike background with my road position.

- Hand break never had one of these before and I was forever leaving it on

- Windscreen wipers I was too use to using the little wipe thing on my thumb or lifting up the visor a few times my Girlfriend had to yell at me as I tried to squint through the drops.

[scootnz]

myvice, I needed that laugh...thank you. the 3 pedals are definitely something I haven't comprehended yet. the instructor was no bloody help at all - my partner gave me the best tip to help (ABC - accelerator, brake, clutch).

actually, another good reason to learn to drive myself is that my partner forgets hes in a car, and drives like hes on a bike. terrifying.

and I can plug all sorts of gadgets in to a car as well - my scoot has no battery, so couldn't put any fancy tech gadgets onboard. I have to figure out some advantages to driving instead of riding.

definitely a manual, though, I know I prefer geared scooters to autos, I'm guessing I'll feel the same about cars.

managed to sell one of my two remaining bikes for cash, which is just as well as the AA turned down my loan application because I only have a learner car licence...

[Skyryder]

I am now forced to join the ranks of car drivers (2nd baby due in March, and am tired of altercations with bus drivers who are mostly too lazy to get off their asses and offer any assistance to pregnant woman with toddler and folded pushchair), and will be getting a car and learning to drive in the next few months.

Instead of the drivers being to lazy to get off their arses may I suggest, that as bus drivers are responsible for any shortfalls in their takings, they do not leave their money to be stolen because you are unable to cope with getting on and off a bus. The simple fact is that by the time the driver removes his takings, shuts down his ticket machine etc the passanger has already sorted out her difficulties with the pushchair or whatever. If you want a personalised service take a taxi. Buses are there to take you from point A to point B. Anything extra is free if the driver has the time.

Skyryder