Basic Riding Errors

setanta · 08-27-2009, 9:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadFred

good advice

What is a HGV? I assume its a car

Sorry no, its a Heavy Goods Vehicle...Lorry...Truck, you know the big ones

DeadFred · 08-28-2009, 12:38 AM

haha nice, over the pond we call em Trucks or Semis.

setanta · 08-28-2009, 7:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadFred

haha nice, over the pond we call em Trucks or Semis.

Now you know

DeadFred · 08-28-2009, 11:45 AM

even though I am as new as they come... I noticed something yesterday that kind of irked me.

I was in heavy traffic on the 91e maybe going 10mph in my car (yikes) two sport bikes go flying by at probably 50 on the line dividers... The dudes were not wearing gear except a helmet.

In my state, it is legal to ride lines but damn... you gotta be kidding me. Those dudes are asking for it...

setanta · 08-28-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadFred

even though I am as new as they come... I noticed something yesterday that kind of irked me.

I was in heavy traffic on the 91e maybe going 10mph in my car (yikes) two sport bikes go flying by at probably 50 on the line dividers... The dudes were not wearing gear except a helmet.

In my state, it is legal to ride lines but damn... you gotta be kidding me. Those dudes are asking for it...

Couldnt agree with you more

moonmanhere · 09-29-2009, 8:13 PM

Someone said a few pages back that pulling the clutch all the way in as opposed to taking it in just to the critical point before shifting was a basic error and cut down on efficiency. Apparently, it's one I've been making consistently. Had a nice long ride today and got to test out a few things... I don't think it's an extremely obvious riding error, but I do appreciate the post. Shifting can be a lot quicker and more accurate if you pay attention to exactly where the clutch disengages from the gears and don't just yank the lever all the way in. So thank you.

setanta · 09-30-2009, 5:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonmanhere

Someone said a few pages back that pulling the clutch all the way in as opposed to taking it in just to the critical point before shifting was a basic error and cut down on efficiency. Apparently, it's one I've been making consistently. Had a nice long ride today and got to test out a few things... I don't think it's an extremely obvious riding error, but I do appreciate the post. Shifting can be a lot quicker and more accurate if you pay attention to exactly where the clutch disengages from the gears and don't just yank the lever all the way in. So thank you.

Sounds pretty pedantic to me but I see the point, pulling it in though saves a chance of cocking up the gear change, which could be highy dangerous to a newbie.
No need to use clutch going up anyway....put a little pressure on the gear shifter and blip the throttle a little, voila ur up a gear, works everytime.
Try it

LifeIsGood169 · 10-13-2009, 8:14 PM

Can we compile a big list of all the most common mistakes (and post it as a sticky)? So new users don't have to search through 10 pages of posts/repeated items.

Seems like a good idea.

& I agree.... it is definitely worth investing some *extra* time in the parking lot practicing with the brakes & controls before getting out into traffic. It's a so much different feeling stopping in a bike vs a car. You just like get sucked out of your seat when you keep applying that front brake more.

If I've been off the bike for a couple of months, while it's warming up, I always lean it over from side to side so my body remembers the weight, before I get going.

As far as mistakes.... I've just seen people go into corners too fast, I've seen a few people turn off their bikes at longer red lights, and a lot of not leaning with the bike through corners. My dad saw a guy on a bike turn left in front of a bus at an intersection. Needless to say, even though he had a helmet on, he didn't even live 15 seconds. He said blood poured from his neck & it almost made my dad quit riding, even though he didn't know the guy.

You basically just always want to keep a decent space cushion around you at all times, because people on the road do crazy stuff, even though tailgating and stuff adds to the adrenaline rush of the ride. oh and always signal... because you usually don't see what kills you until it's too late & that signal could help the other driver apply the brakes just enough to save you.

setanta · 10-13-2009, 8:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeIsGood169

Can we compile a big list of all the most common mistakes (and post it as a sticky)? So new users don't have to search through 10 pages of posts/repeated items.

Seems like a good idea.

& I agree.... it is definitely worth investing some *extra* time in the parking lot practicing with the brakes & controls before getting out into traffic. It's a so much different feeling stopping in a bike vs a car. You just like get sucked out of your seat when you keep applying that front brake more.

If I've been off the bike for a couple of months, while it's warming up, I always lean it over from side to side so my body remembers the weight, before I get going.

As far as mistakes.... I've just seen people go into corners too fast, I've seen a few people turn off their bikes at longer red lights, and a lot of not leaning with the bike through corners. My dad saw a guy on a bike turn left in front of a bus at an intersection. Needless to say, even though he had a helmet on, he didn't even live 15 seconds. He said blood poured from his neck & it almost made my dad quit riding, even though he didn't know the guy.

You basically just always want to keep a decent space cushion around you at all times, because people on the road do crazy stuff, even though tailgating and stuff adds to the adrenaline rush of the ride. oh and always signal... because you usually don't see what kills you until it's too late & that signal could help the other driver apply the brakes just enough to save you.

I agree with most of your post but for the last paragraph I have a different viewpoint, its up to us to make sure we are safe not other peoples job to do that. If we ever relinquish our responsibility to maintain our own safety we will die

on the sticky thread and we keep it simple

LifeIsGood169 · 10-14-2009, 12:01 AM

oh my bad.... I didn't mean to recommend poor/aggressive driving. I just know that some people do it & will always do it no matter what... so I was just recommending they at least use turn signals.

My main point there was a good space cushion will save you from A LOT of accidents. Just that extra second to react helps so much; I've been there.

orien87 · 11-09-2009, 4:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setanta

Sounds pretty pedantic to me but I see the point, pulling it in though saves a chance of cocking up the gear change, which could be highy dangerous to a newbie.
No need to use clutch going up anyway....put a little pressure on the gear shifter and blip the throttle a little, voila ur up a gear, works everytime.
Try it

I didn't read much of this post, I kinda jumped over to the last page.

The technique that I self learned while riding during my first couple of weeks was to, like you said put a little pressure on the gear shifter, but what I do different is that I tap clutch lever 20% and throttle down -30% for split second. The gear will just fall in to place and engine will synchronize well with the transmission. At first the time it took for me to change gears was like 1-2 seconds (with out the new technique) which is extremely slow. With the improved pattern I was down to 0.0-.4 seconds. This technique is more for causal riding not for racing. I sure that its no discovery or secret, any comment?

What do you mean by blimp? I just trying to get a perspective on what you are trying to say. Can you explain it to me again? I don't have all the biker lingo down so forgive me for that one. I know that shifting gear doesn't necessarily require you to pull clutch lever down...