Getting my learner licence

[vegan_virgin]

hello fellow forum goers, at the super age of 43 and having recently bought an old scooter for commuting to work i have been shocked that i havent taken to two wheels sooner! then again i didnt get my car licence until i was in my 30's

so, i have booked in a course to teach me the basics to ride a geaared bike and then do my test- i have 1 3/4 hours to lelarn......im guessing that will be enough even for somebody of my yearage?

i have been reading all sorts of learn to ride a motorbike articles online so think i have the basics in my head, as far as where the brakes and clutch are anyhow, and get another three hours lessons once i have my licence to put it all into practice.

not got any questions or anything at this point in time, i just thought i would share with you all my sense of excitement which feels like

[CookMySock]

not got any questions or anything at this point in time, i just thought i would share with you all my sense of excitement which feels like

It's great innit.

Suggestion: Decide RIGHT NOW if you ever want to be able to steer a large and heavy motorcycle around a tight corner at open road speed.

Decided yet? If you do, then google "countersteering" right now and read and digest, then ride everywhere steering ONLY by pushing on the bars. Embed it in your brain like your life depends on it, coz it does.

edit: if you want to putt-putt everywhere, then don't worry about it.

Steve

[The Everlasting]

Welcome to KB,riding a bike is real good fun.

[vegan_virgin]

Suggestion: Decide RIGHT NOW if you ever want to be able to steer a large and heavy motorcycle around a tight corner at open road speed.

i do want to!

thanks for the advice, been reading up and watching various videos. i pretty much drive like this on the scooter (and in my car) so hopefully i can now be a bit more conscious of doing so and apply it to my bike riding which i am expecting to be a diferent experience altogether

[Pascal]

i do want to!

thanks for the advice, been reading up and watching various videos. i pretty much drive like this on the scooter (and in my car) so hopefully i can now be a bit more conscious of doing so and apply it to my bike riding which i am expecting to be a diferent experience altogether

I'd say "Welcome to the fold" but you're already hooked The only words of advice I have is to take all advice given with a pinch of salt. There are some on this site that you should almost never listen to. So, look up Mentors in your area. They are the people with a ME tag in green next to their name and there should be a list of them around here somewhere. They're good people, know their way around and can sort you out with the type of skills you need and help you progress.

[CookMySock]

bike riding which i am expecting to be a diferent experience altogether

Yes indeed.

Write it across your forehead in vivid marker - steer only with the bars.

It will feel odd for some time, but a year down the track you will begin to believe it, and at that point you will have developed an ability that many will never have, and some will argue does not even exist.

Steve

[Ferkletastic]

Welcome to the fold man. It's the only way to fly.

Like has been said, take any advice from KB with a huge grain of salt as the signal to noise ratio can be pretty intense.

[Slyer]

I don't know why you are so insistent on countersteering DB?
As far as I know it's the only way to steer.

What kind of bikes are you looking at?

[Cayman911]

Welcome to KB !

now.. DB ...For some reason i seem to refuse to understand conter steering? usualy i just turn, i dont think about how i turn. it just happens.

now ive been watching videos on countersteering.....why would the bike go right if you turn left? :S i usualy just....i dunno slightly turn and lean? dunno never thought about it

[Pascal]

For some reason i seem to refuse to understand conter steering? usualy i just turn, i dont think about how i turn. it just happens.

You've ridden a bicycle before? Then in all likelyhood you've countersteered intuitively. I asked the same questions when I started. I found that for me, overthinking it made it too complicated. I'd ridden a pedal bike before and knew the principles already although my brain didn't know it. I practiced it a bit on a straight road, doing normal speeds and that cemented it for me. Now - it just happens.

There should be lots and lots of discussion on the topic, I haven't bothered to search again.

[one fast tl1ooo]

Welcome to kb

[CookMySock]

For some reason i seem to refuse to understand conter steering? usualy i just turn, i dont think about how i turn. it just happens.

First of all, can we please people, not go hard out into yet another countersteering thread?

@Cayman911, sure you can just ride around and let it happen, but the problem is when you get a fright tipped deep into some corner, all your training(sic) goes out the window, you stand your bike up and brake hard in a straight line, and then you die.

"Just letting it happen" is what I call "steering with your arse." Everyone who rides can do this without thinking, but not everyone can tighten a widening corner by pushing on the inside bar when they are already laid wayyyyyyyyy over, but for those who have been brought into motorcycling by only steering with the bars - it happens naturally.

Steve

[Cayman911]

hmm ill pay more attension to what im doing next time i go for a ride. maybe i am doing it, maybe im not. but ill give it a go anyways if im not and see how it goes.

it's definitely caught my interest. cause i have had the couple corners that made the line "Shit shit too fast too fast Sloooooooowdown" run in my head, but somehow i magicaly made it ,or skillfully. you decide haha

[CookMySock]

i have had the couple corners that made the line "Shit shit too fast too fast Sloooooooowdown" run in my head

And that is the problem. If you could steer with the bars and keep your feelings in check, you would be a much safer rider.

This is the number one thing that kills bikers.

Steve

[Cayman911]

And that is the problem. If you could steer with the bars and keep your feelings in check, you would be a much safer rider.

This is the number one thing that kills bikers.

Steve

just come back from a ride having a go at counter steering, im pretty sure i must have done it before. but now that i was actually focusing on that point, its awesome.

i see why they say its handy for quick or high speed turns. its responsiveness is uncomparable to the old lean and turn method.

Thanks Steve for bring it up