This I have learned

[Hopeful Bastard]

Do NOT, Under any circumstances turn hard right, lean the bike over AND pull on the front brake at the same time on freshly cut, wet grass.

[LBD]

Do NOT, Under any circumstances turn hard right, lean the bike over AND pull on the front brake at the same time on freshly cut, wet grass.

Lets try that again with ABS and Traction Control....

Best lesson I learnt was with my new XT500 and a flat rear tire....500m home....better hop off and push to save the tire...slightly up hill.

50 m later and Bugrit....Started it up, put it in 1st gear and walked along beside it.

All was well till I tripped and lost balance. Not wanting to drop the bike I held on and.....twisted the throttle. Up shen went and down she came in a screaming heap. I did not get out of the way quick enough ending up bent battered bruised and bleeding on the coarse seal.

Picked myself and bike up with the usual levers and mirror damage. Started it up and rode home.

[insomnia01]

When on tour & you stop for a refreshment break remember to CLOSE ALL BAGS YOU HAVE OPENED !!

Once when I was going to band camp I stopped at a rest area for a quick break, had a drink, blew me trumpet then shot off, 10min down the road I was getting a funny feeling like something isn't right THUD !!! RATTLE ,THUD AGAIN " What the F%#@in HEll !!! look in me mirror, HOLY SHIT I had left the top of me packs ( Ventura type 2 bags zipped together ) open & half of me gear had blown out , was all over the road & the traffic that was following me had to take evasive action to avoid running anything over but no one could.....when I was collecting all me gear off the road (in between laughing motorists) I had a mature lady come up to me & say " I found these on me wind screen " when she kindly presented me with my collection of Y fronts & other unwashed gear, we looked at each other then cracked up laughing

[Oakie]

Do NOT, Under any circumstances turn hard right, lean the bike over AND pull on the front brake at the same time on freshly cut, wet grass.

Been there.

[SVboy]

Hmmm doubt that puddle in that wheel rut is more than a few cm deep-SPLASH!! More like a Meter deep! 30 min of backbreaking mud paddling and the wee xr was saved!

[Icemaestro]

Always check front tire pressure before riding: Not when 5 metres down the road with cars behind you feeling the front vibration (it was a single, so should be vibrating a bit anyway) increasing!

Also, when one checks the oil before going for a ride, always remember to screw the dipstick back in hard or one may find that 100m down the road the front brakes have a slippery substance on them and don't feel like doing their job.

Also, remembering that gravel is not quite as torque/leaning friendly as normal road. That is all.

[Edbear]

When entering a mate's workshop on your shiny new cruiser to show off, and after blipping the throttle and shutting down, do remember to put the sidestand down before attempting to step off the bike... DAMHIK

[jim.cox]

money spent on good sticky tyres is not wasted...

[slofox]

, blew me trumpet then shot off,

You must have a very flexible back...

[The Singing Chef]

I stopped at a rest area for a quick break, blew me trumpet then shot off

What, in the middle of the rest area? i hope you at least went behind a bush?! There could have been kids around FFS!!

[baffa]

I've learnt that being able to turn the reserve tank on whilst riding is a handy skill. It saves you putting out on the harbour bridge and having to try do it then with a cellphone light and cars whistling past.

I've learnt that tarsnakes are not your friends. Infact, I feel I have worse grip on them than painted lines.

I've also learned I am the world's best rider, and invincible, seeing as I havent had any accidents yet

[yod]

If pootling out in the back roads by yourself (Route 52), after stopping for a quick photo op, remember to zip the pocket of your ventura pack back up after putting the camera back in.

35kms later a sinking feeling suddenly came over me, sure enough, camera was nowhere to be found. I thought fuck this for a game of soldiers, I have to try and find it so rode back the way I had come....

....and found it!

and it still works, although it's a bit dinged up....

[george formby]

Avoid doing off-road stuff you don't know by yourself with a heavily laden bike. She's a right bitch to pick up, and there's no-one around to help (and unless you want to walk a long way, you HAVE to pick it up).

Where you channeling me last Monday? Eerie.

Well, always remove your disc lock before you let a prospective purchaser test ride your bike.

If touring in Scotland DO NOT open your visor if you are in a swarm of midges, they will fly in & stay their for the rest of your holiday.

If you smoke do not be tempted to drill a hole in the front of your helmet so you can puff on a long ride. Cigarettes burn down in seconds & if you smoke a cigar the glowing red tip will be blown into your helmet & get stuck behind your ear making you an instant Lauda impersonator.

Make sure you can remove your foot from the footrest BEFORE you stop, fasteners on the bottom of your pants can get caught on the footrest..

Take the keys out of your pocket before you put your gloves on.

When changing the oil in your bike, don't pour the whole bottle in straight away, check the level & top up. Also replace sump bolt BEFORE said fill..

[Zedder]

Never trust that petrol station employees will have cleaned up the oily patch on the forecourt area where you ride in, park, then slip over at.

[Road kill]

Nothing,not a thing.
Ask my Mrs,she often tells me "You never fucking learn do you?"
I just say "yes dear" an go back to doing what ever it was I was doing wrong.
So I guess I did learn something,,,I'm never right,,so I don't argue.