Good riding habits.

[terbang]

Especially bad on left handers with approaching traffic!

You got it there Leong, I have lost 2 really good friends (yup they were killed) on left hand corners and nearly lost my missus in the same way. Part of the problem on lefties is that you have less of a view of how the corner progresses (because your lane is on the inside) and if it's one of those that tightens you tend to only realise this very late in the scenario. Often too late with a drift or lowside out wide, into other lane, cage coming the other way....

[sunhuntin]

That's good advice, thanks. I'd never thought about that before.

There's so much to learn about a simple thing like stopping at traffic lights!

As far as the mirrors thing goes, how does everyone deal with pulling out into traffic when you've stopped at the side of the road? It's almost impossible to wait for a completely clear patch on SH2 but the GN250 really doesn't have any oomph... In the winter I've been finding I'm so bundled up that I can't really turn my head too much but relying on my mirrors is a bit hit and miss and I have to be honest I had one close call a few weeks back when I totally misjudged how far away the 4wd coming up behind me was, and also how fast he was going.

Maybe I should start a new thread for this one? It is a bit off the original topic...sorry.

ive got the same model as you. if for any reason im stopped on a highway, when i pull into stop, i will make so im slightly angled with my back end pointing to the fences behind us. makes me easier to see and also for me to see. try not to bundle your head up too much....buy a cheap skivvy and cut the neck out, works a treat! leave enough give so you can look around easily.
i wait until it is clear for ages, and then take off, accellerating fast and changing up as fast as i can, to keep ahead of the traffic. same as with pulling out of sideroads/driveways really. i tend to look both ways a few times before moving at all. i try not to use my mirrors for such moves, as youve found, they arent very reliable "objects are closer than they appear!" i prefer a head check over the mirrors, as i can fully trust my eyes.

just remember, by waiting until you know its safe, all youll lose is time. by not waiting, you could lose your life.

[Fub@r]

I had awful paranoia from the mirrors on my Ginny couldn't really see squat behind me and being in Auckland traffic I was waiting for a rear ender. Spent $20 and got two slightly longer mirrors. Now I have full view of behind me and feel far more comfortable.

As I come to intersections I constantly check my rear always on the lookout for a female driving and doing her makeup coming up behind. Always keeping an eye open for a gap if I need to get out of the way

[Squeak the Rat]

A couple of good habits that I think are important:

• Indicators. When you exit a corner get into a routine of cancelling your indicators after your first gear change.

• “Lifesaver” head check. Look over your shoulder before turns, lane changes or even change in lane position.

• Braking into corners - release the brakes before you turn, apply throttle (constant - not accelerating) and then turn. Try to avoid going into a corner on the brakes and/or with no throttle. The front wheel is grippiest when the suspension is not loaded.

[Blairos]

On the "Approaching an Intersection" or set of lights, I tend to clutch in, and step down thru all the gears, whilst gently braking, so I am in neutral by the time I come to a full stop (assuming of course I am planning to stop )
Then both feet on the ground

I read somewhere on here that they look for these two things on your Restricted/Full Test? Is this correct?
Got my 6R test on Wednesday next week...

[sunhuntin]

On the "Approaching an Intersection" or set of lights, I tend to clutch in, and step down thru all the gears, whilst gently braking, so I am in neutral by the time I come to a full stop (assuming of course I am planning to stop )
Then both feet on the ground

...

thats it, thats the one i do the most. my aim is to have it in a low enough gear so if the light changes, i cant ease out the clutch and accelerate straight away. usually first or second, depending on speed. and i never leave the bike in neutral unless shes not moving. when stopped at lights, im in first and holding the clutch in...helps with slight downhill patches as well, clutch out enough to stop me rolling.

[redbaron36]

other dangers ive found is how slippery a road gets after a light rain, it brings the oil to the surface but not enough to wash it away. And lastly a parking tip, take care if you have to put the stand down on dirt/grass, ive seen it many times where the bike appears stable and a few minutes later the stand sinks in far enough that the bike tips over, nothing worse then smashing up your bike when your not even on it!

hope that helps abit, and good to see another person getting into bikes

I agree with that one hard as when you park on it then you come back to it and bang theres your mirror gone again.
Have done this at least twice at home.
ME = dumbass for not learning the 1st time.

[Zapf]

Hey Guys'n Gals... basically, i'm looking to start off right and drill in 'good' riding habits early before I develop my own not-so-good ones.

Looking for advice even on the more basic level...

Corners:

I've found i've got a fair bit of engine breaking on the bike, and have been using that a fair bit to set myself up speed wise, even downshifting to get a bit more - this is very much a hangover from my cage driving... brakes more secondary (and only on the straight beforehand if possible), turning in with a constant bit of throttle then accelerating out of the second half of the corner.

Also, if I find mid corner i'm in too high a gear, is it safe to downshift or is liable to stuff me up?

If someone could lay out a bit of a 'process' they've developed for approaching corners it'd be much appreciated...

There is a few things involved.

1st know what gear to be in for the corner
2nd pratice being able to shift smoothly
3rd be in the right gear

1st. You'll get to know ur bike enought so that you'll have the rev range between 1/3 to 1/2 of your max rpm (e.g redline) that should give you a good balance of power and engine braking, so that you can nicely setup and roll into the corner.

2nd. Clutch and throttlo control, smooth shift is important for traction. Specially in the wet. You don't want to loose traction because of locking up the rear wheels.

3rd. Read point 1. Read the corner and know your bike well enought to be in the right gear.

[sunhuntin]

I agree with that one hard as when you park on it then you come back to it and bang theres your mirror gone again.
Have done this at least twice at home.
ME = dumbass for not learning the 1st time.

carry a small flat bit of wood with you...just a thin bit, like plywood or something. acts the same as a camels foot...bigger surface to spread the weight. flat beer cans dont work...they just sink anyway [tried and untrusted]

even hot tarmac melts and can cause sinking. when i worked at pak n slave, i was forever moving my bike to stop the stand sinking too deep...even the 50cc scooters were leaving holes! LOL. ended up finding some wood like above, and supplying it to the staff on bikes. so down by the fuel site, by the vent poles, theres a shitload of lifted up tarmac caused by bikes.

[Roj]

As I come to intersections I constantly check my rear always on the lookout for a female driving and doing her makeup coming up behind. Always keeping an eye open for a gap if I need to get out of the way

don't forget about the guys shaving with a rechargable razor, can't be sexist here

[Roj]

Hey Guys'n Gals... basically, i'm looking to start off right and drill in 'good' riding habits early before I develop my own not-so-good ones.

dont hug the left side of the road when in a lot of traffic, while the road code says "as far left as practicable" I take this to mean I occupy the same width as a car, I tend to travel in the right hand wheel marks, I have had cars try to pull in where I was in a line of traffic in my early days of riding,

[The_Dover]

don't crash

[Crisis management]

I saw "good riding habits" and The_Dover and was sure it was a pisstake.
Disapointed , however, very succint Dover, we will all take note of your experience....

[The Stranger:Me]

What can I say.
See these people they really rock.

[pritch]

so I am in neutral by the time I come to a full stop

I have no idea what they're looking for in a test so you had better practice what they tell you. In the real world though select first just as you roll to a stop.

If you sit far enough back from the vehicle in front with the bike in gear and suddenly you hear squeeling tyres you have options. Parked close behind another vehicle in neutral you have none!

Always try and have options...