Basic Riding Errors

scud · 10-22-2007, 6:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dicknose

Where you will find its really good is when another bike has snuck up on you. You think cars have trouble seeing you - bikes seeing bikes is even harder since most of us have bigger blind spots than cars (our body, arms in the way, harder to see sidewards with a helmet etc). Plus other bikes can all too easily assume - its another bike so its no danger.

And on the reverse note - be careful when passing other bikes!

yes yes definately! i was on the freeway, in my lane, next to another dude on a bike, he decides to move into my lane, while im still in there! lucky we both fitted!

maybe the fact that it was night, and my bike is black may have contributed to it?

bgcheese · 10-22-2007, 11:59 AM

When riding at night with no traffic, be aware of the cross roads, I find if I ride towards the center or if it is two lanes use the inside lane stay away from the edge of the road it allows the car driver to see you quicker if you are riding in the outside lane the driver has to look further and most time they don't look that far.

Also a more nice urban community problem, ride all the roads for commute slowly and keep an eye out for sprinklers. Remember where they are at and try to avoid that lane, change you route, or make sure you ride slow through that area. They can cause issues in the early morning if it is cold and they kick on for the first time right when you are riding just like ICE very scary!!! Especially on new blacktop. I nearly fell over on a straight section of road I tapped the break to slow down for an intersection and it slid a little no problem, it just made be more aware of that danger.

dicknose · 10-22-2007, 6:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scud

yes yes definately! i was on the freeway, in my lane, next to another dude on a bike, he decides to move into my lane, while im still in there! lucky we both fitted!

maybe the fact that it was night, and my bike is black may have contributed to it?

I doubt it was you were black.
More like he noticed you there and tried to squeeze in anyway.

As much as we worry about cars and trucks (and especially taxis) we tend to under estimate the danger of other bikes. Its made worse because we can fit closer together and assume that its safer to do.
But I think in general bikes are more unpredictable than other road users. I know their vision is worse, they tend to make quick changes in speed and direction and are more likely to come close to me than a car. All of this means other bikes are something you do need to be careful of.

dicknose · 10-22-2007, 7:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giza

Took a mate riding on the weekend,he got a crb250r,hasnt done much riding,problem he has is, he looks at the road in front about 10ft,not through the corner were he needs to go.He did come off once on a corner because corner was a it bumpy,too fast and he went straight off,lucky for him all grass and plenty run off,he dropped it on its side no bad damage to himself or the bike,just experience for next time.

been a while since Ive been on a cbr250 but I dont remember them being overly head down - bum up. So it shouldnt be a physical issue of not looking forward.
Next ride with him go behind and check his head is turning to look thru corners.

A habit to teach him is in traffic to look ahead of the car in front. In fact its not a bad tactic to base your distance to the car in front depending on the distance to the car in front of them (ie if they are close behind someone leave an extra bike length than normal)

low-rider · 10-25-2007, 6:40 AM

well, i think of myself as a beginer biker (i ride for about 4 years). so me as a beginer can tell you what is counter steering. if you are entering a left bend (corner) you have to push your bars to the right so your bike will lean left. It's much faster and easier way to lean your bike (professional riders use this technique a lot). without counter steering there is no fast riding. Because if you wanna lean your bike only with your body weight in high speed cornering you will not be able to lean your bike enough. so maybe we beginers know some tricks

scud · 10-25-2007, 6:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low-rider

well, i think of myself as a beginer biker (i ride for about 4 years). so me as a beginer can tell you what is counter steering. if you are entering a left bend (corner) you have to push your bars to the right so your bike will lean left. It's much faster and easier way to lean your bike (professional riders use this technique a lot). without counter steering there is no fast riding. Because if you wanna lean your bike only with your body weight in high speed cornering you will not be able to lean your bike enough. so maybe we beginers know some tricks

im sure u meant push them with ur right, so it leans right...

low-rider · 10-25-2007, 8:47 AM

no scud, if you are going into the left bend, curve, corner (call it as you like) then you wanna lean left. to be able to lean left quick and much easier (agresive) you have to push your bars to the right (i mean right)...your front tire has to look to the right (i dont mean a lot to the right...its small movement) and after pushing your bars to the right your bike will go itself into left lean. after you lean your bike to the left you are returning your bars in the middle or at the second half of the bend you can push your bars a little left. those movements of the bars are not large movements...

or if you enter the bend with to much speed you can brake (what is a little risky in the corner) or you can lean more...to be able to lean even more try to push your bars opposite of the bend and you will see that bikes go more down. it's so simple. go on a parking lot and try to go straigth with your bike (do it with let's say 40 or 40 mph) and try lean your bike with your body weight...and after that try the same thing (lean with your body weight) and at the same time with help of counter steering. If you are leaning your bike to the left then in the begining of the operation push your bars to the oposite (right). you will find out that bikes goes to the lean much easier and faster then when you have used only your body weight. its very hard to lean your bike on the track when you are riding very fast and agressive. its easy to lean your bike with your body weight when your speed is slow. a lot of speed doesnt let you to lean your bike. more speed less leaning, thats why you need help as much as you can get...that is counter steering. am i the only one who knows about it?

And you call me a beginer. guys, did you ever ride your bikes faster then 50 mph? have you ever been on the track? now i know im not a beginer...and i didng to to some fancy MSF or whatever.

low-rider · 10-25-2007, 8:52 AM

counter steering helps you to move your bike into the lean and not to go trough whole bend with bars oppsoite to the bend.when you lean your bike enough for certen bend then there is no need to continue with counter steering...

dgux · 10-25-2007, 9:11 AM

I've got my biker career starting with a NSR125R, moving to a NSR250. a YZF-600 and actually a CBR900-RR.
Beside the huge acceleration and final speed difference, I think the 125 was harder to drive clean then a "big bore". Why ?
On a small bike people tend to sit and drive and in some way they get around the corner.
They don't think how to steer, to lean, to switch gears, they just drive.
The relative small mass allows a lot of mistakes and they get used of it.

As they move to something bigger they (hopefully) realize that they have to look and think ahead and that there is only one way to get around the corner with some small room for variations.

Actually I think that most of the people who drives a "small bore" don't know how to drive, they just move from "A" to "B".
As they get at least a 500ccm they learn almost from scratch the meaning of drive a bike.

low-rider · 10-25-2007, 1:15 PM

Basic riding errors...hm...i dont like beginers not knowing what is counter steering

i found something for you guys Countersteering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

read it carefully.maybe you'll learn some

Phadreus · 10-25-2007, 1:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 129CBRider

Stay in front of them at least 10 car lengths. There isn't a law against getting to the speed limit in the first 60 feet,<snip>.

Actually there are (in Ohio anyways), they're called "Excessive Acceleration", or "Exhibition Driving", or "Wreckless Operation", or "Intent to show speed", or "Drag racing". They are all "subjective" laws to some degree and left to the officer's discretion.

low-rider · 10-25-2007, 5:29 PM

we all have to be easy on the throttle. we have to be carefull for the others also...we have to predict what others can do so we are able to avoid their mistakes. we are small and hard to notice in traffic. and bikers are mostly more skilled then average drivers so we cant expect car drivers to have reflexes and skills like us. they make mistakes in traffic more then we are so predict every drivers action and be easy on the throttle. biggest mistake for new riders is when they own bike for about 10 days and they think they are confident in their biking sklills, they are not affraid anymore and they twist their right wrist...move on the throttle...and then when something unpredictible happens they dont have enough experience to react as they should.even experienced drivers make mistakes and ditch. dont get to comfortable on your bike...ever...even after 10 years of riding. have respect for those 100 and so horses

129CBRider · 10-26-2007, 12:34 AM

Intent to Show Speed...that's one I haven't heard of yet.

Bigdaddy75 · 11-04-2007, 5:30 AM

The most basic riding error you see day in and day out is gear - or lack of gear. People will never wise up.

UncleJesse954 · 11-07-2007, 12:52 AM

how many of you give a little "blip" of the throttle when downshifting to make it smooth. i use this technique but it causes slight interruption in front brake as i have to let go when i blip throttle. i could go even deeper into turns with steady uninterrupted front brake AND smooth downshifting throttle blips. how do you experts do it?

UncleJesse954 · 11-07-2007, 12:53 AM

or do i need to forget about blipping and just lay on the brakes and slam the downshifts

UncleJesse954 · 11-07-2007, 12:54 AM

no its much smoother to blip

UncleJesse954 · 11-07-2007, 1:53 AM

maybe it's not that big of an issue because of how well bikes can decelerate alltogether. so i will continue the precise throttle blipping downshift and just plan my braking accordingly

.OrgOwner · 11-09-2007, 5:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleJesse954

how many of you give a little "blip" of the throttle when downshifting to make it smooth. i use this technique but it causes slight interruption in front brake as i have to let go when i blip throttle. i could go even deeper into turns with steady uninterrupted front brake AND smooth downshifting throttle blips. how do you experts do it?

I think it very much depends on the type of corner your going into - honestly it's not something I think about doing so next ride I am going to pay attention.

tymeshare · 11-19-2007, 12:27 AM

Assuming that the animals in cages can see you...i know it's been said already. I have lost a friend and nearly lost two others because of this stupid belief("they can see me!..I'm riddled with neon and flashy paint"). I ride to work every day in the summer/spring/fall and twice a week(at least) in the winter. At least once a week(sometymes twice a day) some animal(usually the horn rimed grey hair type) will pull out in front of me or cross into my lane

. i guess its hard for them to judge my distance/speed..or...they just don't care. Either way EVERY tyme i approach a cage i either change lanes or slow down...

Just my thoughts....

Chal De Cecco · 11-19-2007, 12:42 PM

New riders coming in too hot, hammering the brakes by keeping them on and then going into panic mode and standing the bike up. The result being you become an unguided missile with lots of speed still to scrub off. Fight this panic mode like mad, counter steer heavily and begin increasing your lean angle. Trust your rubber because you didn't buy those hard rubber shank discount tires did you? Worst case scenario is a possible low side but I will take that any day versus going straight or over the top on a high side launch.........

egyptys1 · 11-19-2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninetoonine

Are you serious?!?!? Using a cell phone? Glad I haven't seen that yet.

I saw an off duty sheriff smoking and talking on a cell phone while riding

.

egyptys1 · 11-19-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dicknose

Definitely good.

If you have room in front and dont do a gaze longingly at the gap it shouldnt be a problem.

Where you will find its really good is when another bike has snuck up on you. You think cars have trouble seeing you - bikes seeing bikes is even harder since most of us have bigger blind spots than cars (our body, arms in the way, harder to see sidewards with a helmet etc). Plus other bikes can all too easily assume - its another bike so its no danger.

And on the reverse note - be careful when passing other bikes!

Especially other bikes! Some Harley had pulled to the center to make a left turn, but when I started to go by him he swerved over to the shoulder and almost took me out.

UncleJesse954 · 11-22-2007, 3:44 AM

somebody said something about looking back. sometimes (just sometimes) i feel like my mirrors might've left out part of the seen behind me so i take a good scan of whats goin on in front of me and then i GLANCE back for an INSTANT. i see nothing wrong with that. i know lots of bikes out there have totally non-functioning mirrors too. so sometimes i think it's necessary

-Z- · 11-23-2007, 10:16 AM

Kinda skimmed the thread, so maybe it's been mentioned but I didn't notice it...

The biggest skill mistake I see inexperienced riders making around my part of California here is making the mistake of thinking that being on a bike or just taking the MSF course automatically makes them skilled at riding. These are the ones you see talking **** within just a couple of weeks of riding about how they are the fastest through the twisties in the area or what speed they hit on the freeway last night. These are also the ones that you hear about later when your friend turns to you and says, "Hey, did you hear about <INSERT NAME HERE>? Totalled his bike last night man! He (crashed into a truck/lowsided around a turn and bike went over the edge/slammed into a curb and or light pole) and the bike is completely done man!"

The second biggest skill mistake I see inexperienced riders making around here is doing wheelies. No, I'm not talking about wheelie-technique or style points. I'm talking about, "Hey, I just got my first bike today! Wanna see what I can do?" This usually comes seconds before the horrifying sound of metal grinding on asphalt and plastic parts snapping off.

I guess what I'm really saying is that the biggest skill-related mistake I see inexperienced riders making is thinking that they are far more skilled than they really are.

DualPersonality · 12-01-2007, 5:17 AM

the unforced spur-of-the-moment maneuver is a Bad Thing. i've done it myself. get distracted for a moment and end up needing to make a not-so-well-planned lane change just to avoid missing a turn.

so my strategy is this: work on always staying focused in the first place, but if i do wind up in that situation, don't react with a risky move. ride a little farther (a Good Thing) and catch the next turn.

i've read that about half of all motorcycle crashes do not even involve another vehicle.

cbr99xx · 12-01-2007, 5:25 AM

Street or track... Ego.

OH... And make sure they take those pesky labels off your tires before you leave the shop....

wakdinphx · 12-10-2007, 11:56 PM

I agree, check that ego at the door.

And, as I learned at Keith code's school, keep your weight off the bars to avoid panic reaching your main steering control. Do this by gripping the tank with your knee's.

Also the class taught that 'throttle control' is your friend, be smooth with it, and all the other controls.

And as I've heard from a cop, "raise your horizon's", meaning look way ahead.