1. Wear your gear. All the gear. Better to sweat than bleed.
2. All drivers are out to kill you all the time. Ride accordingly.
3. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Don't let your right wrist outride your common sense.
4. Read David Hough's "Street Strategies" and "Proficient Motorcycling."
5. Practice, practice, practice.
>Wear your gear. All the gear. Better to sweat than bleed.
Make yourself familiar with venting your helmet and jacket/shirt. Being out there on the range for 4-6 hours will make you sweat. I went on days where the high was in the mid 50s and I was smelling pretty gross by the end.
From a TX rider with built in chest warmers where it's hot as shit: This is good advice on gear! Nice jackets will have good venting to let you feel breezy when you're moving. Consider layering way, way less for summer (for guys just T shirt under jacket, bra is annoying but good for compression) and you'll be fine. Source: I wear a jacket during the TX summer.
If you really think you'll get heatstroke, stay hydrated and take the armor out of your jacket if that helps. But that honestly is rarely necessary as long as you're not in gridlock. If you get caught in traffic in dangerous heat, unzip/unbutton a lil.
Throw on some antiperspirant, and remember sweat over scars đź’Ş have fun!
Boots like formas that casual and functional, summer/spring jacket with back armor since its gonna get hotter, and go ride a bicycle for bit to get the feel of balance again
You have duck feet like me. I think the biggest boots I have are a 43 so probably too small for you.
Check out atomic moto in bend. They are the boot experts. They have a website.
Check their website. As a wide footed mother effer, I love Alpinestar Toucan boots.
You can also buy some good stuff on advrider.com. just don't piss off their flea market mods.
Your feet are exactly like mine down to the size. There are leather Oboz boots at REI that will fit you perfectly and also match your lumberjack outfit.
I have the sedici alexi full mesh to full thermal and windproof and sweating at 1°F perfect jacket year round, although protection offer is lacking as it's a textile jacket. If you got the money Alpinestar gp plus leather jacket is the way to go even better if you can afford the tech air 5 system and the new riding jeans that have airbags built into the pants
Wear all the gear all the time. Some folks, after gaining confidence, will choose to forgo one or more pieces of gear. Do not fall into that trap. Good luck on your course, have fun, and keep the dirty side down.
I'd recommend upgrading the gear once you finish the course, quality gloves with slighter long cuff than those with hard knuckle protection like the Alpinestar gloves (their leather ones feel like thin cloth in the sense that it's super flexible and nice but offers max protection) also look into riding jeans like the rev it Lombard 3s and a quality jacket and helmet, I'd say shoei agv or arai, shoei is the best of the bunch, also aim for an ece rating over Snell rating but Snell is good to ece is more desirable though.
Got the jacket, helmet, and gloves. Going to look for some boots next but I have a pair of leather ones that go beyond the ankles I was thinking of wearing for the course.
That works but motorcycle specific ones will have reinforced malleola and hard toes, protect you from dropping the bike on your ankle and not ruining the shoes with the shift lever.
I have one set of gear for hot weather like a perforated jacket, padded jeans, short style gloves, and armoured shoes. Then I have my colder riding gear which is a leather jacket, gauntlet style gloves, insulated pants, (basically padded ski pants) and long armoured boots. I also have 2 full face helmets, one that's tinted for day riding and one clear for night riding.
It might sound like I spent an assload of money on gear, I did, but a good chunk of it was second-hand stuff. The motorcycle jeans from amazon also make excellent work pants if you work in an industrial setting or just need to be on your knees a lot.
But seriously, it's okay to find cheaper gear on craigslist or whatever as long as its intact and functional. Buy new if you need to as well. Inevesting in gear is 1000% more important than anything as a new rider.
That'll work for the course but normal boots will result in broken angles and bones ina crash and steel toed ones can result in losing all your toes. Also the main point of boots is crush protection for when the bike lands on you and normal boots have no crush protection for the ankles
This may be a hot take, but I’d recommend buying cheaper gear at first, purely because there’s a decent chance your preferences will change once you’ve got some riding time. I didn’t go crazy, but before my safety course I pushed my budget and got the most expensive gear I could afford (which wasn’t saying much at the time) and ended up not getting along with the jacket, helmet, or boots.
Sorry I’m late on this - I’ve got a Joe Rocket jacket like yours which I think was $150 CAD, but to be honest, to do it again, I’d start with basically the requirements for the safety course (jeans, denim jacket, etc). Instead I pushed my budget at the time and instead of a $50 denim jacket, I got a used $150 leather jacket and found it way too hot and uncomfortable, and regretted getting it.
Riding is fun until it isn't...
Be mindful that if you mess up, you WILL get hurt (severity of which can vary), so don't do silly shit out of stupidity or adrenaline and certainly don't show off.
You'll be fine if you remain sensible. Getting gear makes you sensible, keep it that way.
Oh, and have fun, riding is exhilarating.
Practice, practice, practice, especially braking. If you want to go fast you have to know how to stop as quickly as possible.
After that I focus on turning. It shocks me how many crashes my riding group sees in the summer from new riders who can’t take a 50 mph turn at 35 mph without riding off into the woods.
That’s a big part of it, yes. Find a place, setup some cones, run drills. Best if you have a riding buddy to help but otherwise there’s lots of YouTube videos on things to practice.
Careful, many parking lots have loose gravel especially in colder climates after winter. Parking lots are a good way to go down. Make sure it’s clean before practicing.
Look where you want to go, not at the ground in front of you. Listen to the instructors and try to keep nerves down. The instructors at Team Oregon are really good at what they do!
Keep your head, and eyes up. It’s very common for new riders to fixate on their speedo, or look at the ground directly in ahead of the front tire.
Not only will you be able to anticipate hazards more quickly by seeing them sooner, your head is where your body’s gyroscope lives, and when you put your head down, your body wants to follow. The effect is more pronounced on a bicycle, but the mechanics still follow.
It’s not that you don’t look at your speedo, just that you glance at it. I’ve watched people gaze at the thing like it was a sunset.
For me, it was about listening to my bike’s RPMs, and start to be able to “hear” how fast you’re going.
One thing I struggled with in the Team Oregon course is they’ll tell you to “speed up to 20 then do this or that…”start braking at the cone, quickly counter steer around a cone, etc. It’s easy to get fixated on the speedometer and get thrown off what you’re supposed to do. That being said, the Basic course seemed pretty friendly towards newbies like me.
What part of Oregon are you located in?
My wife had this trouble getting up to or past 20. Nerves, she did not pass the class.
I had to remind her that once your pass this course they are saying you are accepted to drive on ANY USA ROAD 15mph-75mph+ you need to be able to get it up past 20, push your self. Even if you get it wrong the first 3 times. You show them you learned got it past 20 and then did the next task.
Good on you for taking a training course. ALWAYS REMEMBER people in cars don't give a shit about you and probably don't see you, it's difficult to scroll TikTok and drive. Always pay attention to your surroundings and when stopped at a stop light position yourself so you will have a quick escape route "not directly behind the vehicle in front of you" just in case that asshole updating their status on Facebook forgets that they are driving. Stay safe and enjoy the ride my friend.
Get a better helmet as soon as funds allow, hjc are absolute fucking garbage. Hot, heavy, loud, and will leave you concussed in a get off Speaking from first hand experience.
The cheapest you should go is around the $300 price point. Look for something that is Snell tested. Most importantly though is find one that fits properly. If you swing your head back and forth and the helmet moves around against your cheeks AT ALL it’s too big.
They’re trash. I’ve worked my way through the stomaching spending 500+ on helmets but you know what? It’s worth it. Arai Is my personal favorite.
And to elaborate on why hjc is trash is I got taken out by someone making an illegal left hand turn in front of me. I was told I got launched 40ft. Woke up 4 HOURS later that’s how hard I got knocked out. The helmet? Barely had a scratch on it.
>And to elaborate on why hjc is trash is I got taken out by someone making an illegal left hand turn in front of me. I was told I got launched 40ft. Woke up 4 HOURS later that’s how hard I got knocked out. The helmet? Barely had a scratch on it.
What does this have to do with HJC being trash?
ECE does more testing, and they include things like rotational trauma that DOT and Snell don't account for. DOT is just a simple drop test. Snell is decent for amateur racing helmets for cars, but not for motorcycles.
The YouTube channel FortNine has a good video on it, https://youtube.com/watch?v=76yu124i3Bo&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE
It's worth watching. I think they have one on the DOT standard, too. If there's any motorcycle channels worth watching, it's FortNine.
That’s garbage. HJC are fine. I prefer Shoei but HJC are a very safe helmet. They are a bit heavy, don’t vent as well as some more expensive ones, but unless your track riding they are fine. Most are even Snell rated. You can also get concussed with the most expensive helmet out there. I’ll go with science instead of your personal story of two crashes you’ve been in. The fact that you got pulled into and the helmet wasn’t scratched means your head didn’t hit.
Don't get yourself too scared, worst thing you can do is have your head clouded with fear.
Take your time, and stay in your own lane until your comfortable, you have to be able to push out of the comfort zone slowly, but don't rush.
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I am not a road rider, strictly dirt. But I am a firm believer in protective gear. I've had a few narly crashes that would've had me in the hospital or worse, but wit good gear allowed me to walk away with a few bruises. Get yourself some gear that is comfortable, that you will wear.
I have always stayed ahead of the speed of traffic. The less energy I spend looking over my shoulder, the more that can be spent on what’s ahead and constantly calculating! 80 k aggressive miles on liter bikes in Southern California freeways and roads and have been very fortunate. I attribute it to this practice, plus good vigilance. Stay safe out there!
The real danger starts once u start feeling really confortable. Riding a bike is really funny when u feel secure... but feeling comfortable is not the same as being secure...
That said, welcome to the club!
Gloves and helmet are the bare minimum. Get a padded jacket or some other armor. Your spine is just as important as your head.
For low speed maneuvers, you can ride the clutch, it's "wet" so it's not going to burn up like a car's clutch. It helps dramatically.
Ride like nobody can see you and they're trying to kill you at the same time. You'll see what I mean when you start riding
Ear protection is a good idea, be it earplugs or a good helmet. You don't want to hear eeeeeeeeeeee in your ears in your 30's
Don't ride if you're angry or tired. Bikes are significantly less forgiving to mistakes and inattention.
Congratulations on your choice to become a rider! Never stop learning. I’m 55 years old and just got my first bike 3 years ago.
My advice: maneuvering and defensive riding is the key to your success. Anyone can go fast in one direction but it takes a skilled rider lots of practice to master low speed maneuvering and emergency braking. Keep up your practice drills in empty parking lots. After your class, Stay on slower routes until you become fully acclimated to the bike. Then work your way up to high speed interstate riding. Don’t cave to other more experienced riders pressuring you to go outside your comfort zone. Ride your own ride!! Once you start riding at high speeds, it’s normal to feel a bit weirded out. That’s just your defenses protecting you. But as time goes by will feel more natural.
Keep us posted on your adventures, stay safe and have fun!!
Looks good.
Grab some boots and pack some rain gear… also I’d look into some riding jackets / pants. Make sure they’re durable (ready for a slide, if ever needed).
It helps to have a “go to” main jacket. That has the flexibility to accommodate various temps.
FWIW .. on boots, I alternate — engineer boots to Carolina loggers. I like them and they’ve held up very well.
No issues and would recommend, not too $ either.
All the gear as others said, but remember you always need to expect people in cars not to see you, it’s been proven that subconsciously the brain doesn’t process you as a threat so they don’t intentionally pull over or out into you, they simply don’t process you as a vehicle, practice hard straight braking using both brakes, and always keep your head on a swivel, don’t lolly gag in blind spots
While practicing straight breaking seems a bit homophobic but on the other hand straight braking is a really good technique to learn, but to each their own:)
If you like Root but can't find players interested in learning their own factions rules, try Ahoy. By the same people, but 2 players play an area control game while the other two play a delivery game. Most rules apply to all players, which makes it easier to teach.
Get a SNELL or ECE rated helmet when you can. A good leather jacket for cold weather riding and a good hybrid or mesh type jacket for hot weather riding with CE rated protectors in all jackets. Get a good set(s) of gloves. Always wear pants, atleast, and some type of boot while riding. Most importantly, RIDE YOUR RIDE! Ride within the boundaries of your current skill sets. Do not try to keep up with others outside your skills. That's a quick way to get hurt. Stay safe and have fun.
I did the team Oregon class in March a few years back and it rained almost the entire 2 days. Bring some good rain gear and water proof boots.
Put some rain x or wax on your helmet visor. You will be sitting still for a lot of the class in the rain and rain drops on the visor make it really hard to see when you start moving.
If you ride a cruiser, be mindful of the tailpipe when you are sitting still... Really easy to touch your leg on it if you aren't careful. In the future, if you carry a passenger, make sure they are also mindful of the pipe and to keep their feet on the pegs the whole time so they don't melt their boots. Start slow and work on finding the friction zone of the clutch in an empty parking lot. When in doubt, clutch in and come to a stop. Try to stop with the front wheel facing forwards if possible. Best of luck!
Ride the smallest cheapest thing you can stand to be seen on for a year. An armored mesh jacket is good even in the summer. With a few liners can be a 4 season jacket.
Keep a level head on your shoulders man
You’ll be tempted to start tricking and doing some wild stuff after you get a bit of experience but always remember your limits
Don’t be egotistical on and off the bike, ride your own ride. Don’t be peer pressured into anything and be courteous to everyone on the road, they might not to you but it always safer to give way than to be a dick about it. We don’t have a safety net in a crash so ride your own pace and don’t take too many risks. Making it home is more important than dicking around on the road.
Also! My tip for a new rider, if you feel uncomfortable, don’t push it. Your friends would rather wait for you for a couple of minutes at your destination than wait to join you in the afterlife or whatever it is you believe in. Have fun, enjoy your ride, and know that you’re invisible to caged drivers.
Exo covers are nice.
The new sastec armor is pretty invisible and strong
Gloves. With slide pads on palm and thumbs.
Fortnine has a great vid on how to prioritize.
https://youtu.be/rmWQKoN6yX0
You might fail.
Accept that and try again. Riding is a skill and is harder to do well than most people realize.
Tbh I tell people to go slow their first year of riding. Oftentimes stuff like jobs and family kill ride time, people realize riding is not really enjoyable for them, etc.
I've had a few friends (n + 1) realize it isn't for them, and one in particular bought a significant amount of gear and a modded bike within 2 years of riding.
Don’t worry if you can’t find neutral. Honestly, I took and passed my class last year and I never consistently found neutral for the full two days. To give me some confidence my instructor said “oh neutral on that bike is tricky” I know he was lying but it made me feel good about the experience.
It’s best to go a little hard on the clutch at first until you get it figured out (like ride it a little more than normal when taking off). It’s better to be a little hard on it at first and not stall, although it might be a good learning experience to stall once or twice, it’s just never fun in traffic on the road.
Boots definitely as others have said. Do not be tempted to use steel toe, in a crash these will slice your toes off.
Trousers. Kevlar jeans if you want a casual look. Textile trousers or leather otherwise.
Earplugs. Save your hearing
Definitely always look where you want to go and trust your bike. If ur bike is good and ur going like 8-10 mph it will not fall. Physics works wonders lol
When I took my class years ago the instructor gave me the single greatest piece of advice ever. He said when you ride motorcycles you gain a super power, you become invisible. Never forget that you’re invisible and ride accordingly. It doesn’t matter who has the right of way, doesn’t matter if you’ve made eye contact with the driver, you’re invisible, they don’t see you. This advice has saved me more than once
Weirdest thing for me when I was learning was my dad telling me that pushing your handle bars to the left makes you turn right, then getting out on the road and thinking about it while turning makes you understand
Hope you have fun. Of course, as other probably posted already — be safe. The best advice I have:
Listen to the instructors.
It’s all in the wrist. This advice is true for beginning and even beyond. You are in control.
Ok, I think pervious comments are missing one. Wear the gear, and everyone is trying to kill you, both true and covered.
Another is watch your own speed with other riders, especially in turns. It’s common for the last rider in a group to be newer and therefore less comfortable in turns. This encourages the newer rider to speed up on the straightaways to keep up, but this can also accidentally and surprisingly send you into a turn faster then even a more experienced rider could handle, let alone someone new. Make sure you are going YOUR speed in the turns and don’t worry about keeping up. If your friends leave you, find new friends or ask them for a dedicated learning ride that is purposely slow. Riding with friends did help me learn when starting out.
If you do find yourself going into a turn to fast, the bike can probably lean over more and therefore turn harder, especially if your not still slamming the brakes, but your instincts will almost certainty override that truth and you will straighten up and try more with the breaks. Probably not with great success.
Ride YOUR ride.
As an Arizona native, get good jackets, it’s never seemed cold to me and I’m a naturally warm person but riding can get COLD even in good weather. Always wear at least helmet, jacket, gloves, and EAR PLUGS(will circle back to this). If you like music while you ride, see if your helmet can support a Cardo system or something that way you can safely call an listen to music. Ear protection is a must, it’s not the engine that gets you it’s the wind noise so if you don’t wanna be deaf wear ear plugs. Get a good phone Mount too so you can use it for directions or taking a call or something, I use a Rockform and they’re good. And my last piece of advice is maybe look into a pin lock anti fog system for the helmet, all it is is a plastic insert that you apply to the inner face shield and it SIGNIFICANTLY if not entirely keeps your helmet from fogging up. I just started riding last year in April so these are all things I’ve learned and picked up, hope it helps someone!
The jackets I got were from the dealership, idk if I’d recommend that that personally but I like my jackets, on the next ones however I’ll look around more. Just don’t cheap out on your gear. My MSF driver said if you got a $50 dollar head wear a $50 helmet
Don’t beat yourself up if you drop the bike during the course, a guy in mine dropped it twice he never gave up, everyone in my group ended up passing
I went in with 0 experience last year at 16 years old and passed, then like a month later I bought my first bike a new 2022 r3, then proceeded to drop it twice in two weeks: first time cause I had the steering wheel lock on, I had to have strangers help me pick up the bike and I ended up breaking one mirror (I just glued it back). Second time I forgot to put the kickstand down and got off the bike, i ended up bending the gear shifter had to drive home from work in 3rd gear, my dad had to help me bend it back. But moral of the story don’t let anything stop you from riding, it’s been genuinely such an amazing experience nothing can compare! Also be careful out there try not to speed, even if it’s tempting, not worth the risks!
Trust your motorcycle, gear, and fundamentals when you acquire them. For example, when you’re leaning over to turn, don’t panic because it feels awkward. Trust your tires. When shit hits the fans whatever it may be, don’t overcompensate. Your motorcycle wants to stay upright as much as you do. Overly gripping the handlebars will lead to most of the bad stuff that can happen when you ride. Hold the bars as you’re holding the legs of a newborn toddler. Not too tight to break the leg, but grippy enough to have a good hold on them. All this is good in theory, but if you don’t maintain your motorcycle and gear, your won’t trust anything. Lastly, be confident, but do not under any circumstances get cocky. Many people have lost their lives or gotten injured for riding past their abilities. This includes deciding to move up to a larger engines after being comfortable with your current motorcycle. I am telling you, DO NOT GET A LARGER BIKE TOO SOON. If you ever have any questions, shoot me a message or post in this chat. At the end of the day, what works for me won’t necessarily work for you. Problems happen when you stray from your fundamentals, so whatever issue you have can be fixed by reverting to the basics.
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Did the basic course with Team Oregon spring of 2021. Specific to the course,. now knowing what I do, I wish they would have told us using the rear brake could help with low speed maneuvers. It would have helped me be more at ease doing the offset cone weave.
Agree with a lot of what is said. I’ve been riding for 35+ years. Expect not to be seen. Watch for cars turning left into your path. Watch the wheels, they start to turn long before the vehicle moves, get on the brakes early, it’s saved my butt many times and those I’ve taught to ride. Finally, counter steering is the most important skill you’ll ever learn and it’s counter intuitive. Don’t turn the motorcycle by leaning with your body, that’s secondary, turn into corners using your handle bars. Once you learn you’ll notice the difference. If you come into a curve a bit hot and feel like you’re “floating” and can’t get sharp enough, you’re leaning and not counter steering. Most single bike crashes are failure to navigate the corner. MSF beginner class doesn’t teach counter steering, you’re going to slow for it to happen yet. Tons of good YouTube videos on it. Best of luck to you. It’s the best way for me to be present in the moment alone with just the bike, the road, and the joy of riding. It makes all the seat discomfort, heat, cold, wet, and monkey butt worth it. Ride every day possible. It’s worth the extra time and effort to gear up and pre/ride check. I promise you’ll arrive at work alive and ready to go instead of in Zombie mode.
When you are taking the course, remember that making mistakes is part of learning. You are figuring out what not to do. Expect that you will make mistakes and learn from them. Don’t kick yourself for making a mistake while you’re doing something that is brand new. Make the mistakes in the class so that you don’t have to make mistakes when you’re out on the street.
Come into every turn slower than you think you need to. It feels great to accelerate out of a corner. It feels horrible to come into a corner too fast.
Yea, have a serious conversation with yourself about how willing you are to get injured. Riding motorcycles can be fun, but it is insanely dangerous. Do you have great balance, are your reaction times top notch, how about your situational awareness and vision overall? Can you process lots of information in a short amount of time and make judgement based reactions quickly? Not trying to scare you out of riding a motorcycle, but if you have something to lose (family, kids, wife) maybe stay off the bike. Everytime I get on the bike, I understand all it takes is one person not paying attention to end my life.
Source: Someone who rides motorcycles and is lucky enough to have walked away from getting ejected off my bike from a drunk driver.
Every.fucking.time! A new rider asks for advice, there's that guy who goes "riding is extremely insanely dangerous, don't do it, you will probably die (not trying to scare you)".
Give him/them a break, they are not idiots. More people die doing other things.
I was in same situation and almost got scared and gave up but did it nevertheless and was one of best choices I made.
Dude you'll be fine, take it easy, wear your gear and have fun.
1. Accept the fact that you will crash eventually. The intensity is a variable.
2. Practice, practice, practice. The more you spend on your bike, the more you will bond with it. Bond with the bike. Empty parking lots are a good place to fine tune your basic motorcycle skills (braking, throttle control, etc)
3. Be hypervigilant while riding. You have one life..
Relax! Take it slow. Leave heaps of space between you and the cars in front. The first time I nearly had an accident was because I was too close to the car in front when we suddenly had to break. I slammed on the breaks locking up the tyres and almost slid into the car. After that I took it easy and left more room for error.
Every near accident I have had was in some way my own fault. For going to fast and being too confident.
Take 5 minutes after every ride to think about what you did that could have been different or better. Where and why you went wrong. Then you will correct negative behaviour.
Never try to keep up with someone else. Always ride at your own pace.
And the final and most importantly. Have fun!
1.Gear
When it comes to gear,safety wise,its:
1.Helmet
2.Boots and Gloves
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When it comes to moto pants and Jacket,its not going to KILL you if you dont wear them statisticaly speaking,but you will obviously have road rash if you ever crash.
Try to wash your helmet pads every 2 months,i do it every 3 months bcs im a lazy pos.That will prolong their life and your helmet will smell nicer.
Helmets have "expire date" according to manufacturers and you should replace it every 3 years.
Same with gloves,they are seasonal wear,so again,according to manufacturers,you should replace them every year.
One item that can be used for lifetime if you take care of them is moto boots.
2.Riding
When i started riding i had issue of staying concetrated during my whole ride.
One motorcycle driver gave me an advice to say things that are happening on the road out loud.
For example:I am approaching an intersection,i gotta slow down,there's a traffic light turning red,i need to start slowing down,there's a stop sign,i need to look out for padestrians,there is gravel on the road,i gotta be careful,there is a blind turn here,im gonna slow down etc.
Its a really good practice and once you are used to it,you can be mentally present during the ride,if you find yourself struggling to do that.
3.Traffic and predicting situations
When it comes to traffic,its a tricky one,you are on a motorcycle,you do not have brakes as strong as cars do,you have to start predicting dangerous situations(someome merging,children running out on a road etc.)and either:
A:Avoid them by swerving out of the way if someone merges in front of you
B:Brake with (hopefully)enough space cushion you gave yourself by predicting that dangerous situation
C:Accelerate(sometimes this is also one of the ways to avoid a dangerous situation)
Its a skill you develop over a period of time,it may sound impossible to predict what someone is gonna do,but you can suprise yourself sometimes woth enough time and practice.
4.Right of way
NEVER fight for your lane,you are on a motorcycle,vs (in most cases) a car.
Let them have your lane and move out of the way.
That doesnt neceseraly mean to let drivers push you around. No.
Sometimes drivers will pass you dangerously close if theres two same direction lanes,even when there's also 1,i ground my position in the lane im in by driving in the middle of the lane
Graph :Lane positions
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| đźš– | 1 2 3 |
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So you have 3 possible lane positions:
1.Left side,this position is next to the
center line on the road.I ussualy use this position when i want to see the traffic in front and to see what is happening in front of me
3.Right side,theres nothing i can say about this position,its just a position we were all learned to ride in,i ussualy drive on right side if the vechile in front drives in way where i cannot see if im in lane position 1
2.Center,i use this positions on two lane same dircetion roads,beckause it doesnt allow cars to just mindelessly cross into my lane while passing someone else,of course,if you see someone in the mirror obviously about to hit,you are going to move,thats where your situational awarness and your concetration comes into play.
I never ride in this position directly behind a vechile,beckause if they ever brake hard,and i dont have enough time to stop,im gonna crash directly into them,unlike in positions 1 and 3,where, if you do crash into them,there is a possibility for you to fly over the vechile instead of crashing into it,plus it also gives you an escape path,so that you can swerve out of the way.
5.Tools and safety equipement
Learn what tools you need if your motorcycle ever stops working and wear them with you,learn to use them.This includes tools you need to remove,for example plastics that are in the way.
One of the things i dont see many riders wear with them is fire exstinguisher,compact sized ones do exist,and god bless you never need to use it,but when a motorcycle catches on fire,be it your bike or someone elses,no car driver or driver in general is crazy enough to get close to a burning motorcycle,or burning vechile in general.
6.Ego
I get it,adrenaline is gushing through veins,it feels amazing,and its hard to stop once you start speeding,and going hard in the corners,but i assure you,once you get off that motorcycle and look back,you will say
"Jesus christ that was dumb,why did i go 80 in that curve when i saw sand on the road".
Sometimes we all should question ourselves and do better.
7.Have fun and enjoy yourself!!!!
1. Wear your gear. All the gear. Better to sweat than bleed. 2. All drivers are out to kill you all the time. Ride accordingly. 3. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Don't let your right wrist outride your common sense. 4. Read David Hough's "Street Strategies" and "Proficient Motorcycling." 5. Practice, practice, practice.
I'll look into David hough, thanks.
>Wear your gear. All the gear. Better to sweat than bleed. Make yourself familiar with venting your helmet and jacket/shirt. Being out there on the range for 4-6 hours will make you sweat. I went on days where the high was in the mid 50s and I was smelling pretty gross by the end.
Also TOTAL CONTROL by Lee Parks
From a TX rider with built in chest warmers where it's hot as shit: This is good advice on gear! Nice jackets will have good venting to let you feel breezy when you're moving. Consider layering way, way less for summer (for guys just T shirt under jacket, bra is annoying but good for compression) and you'll be fine. Source: I wear a jacket during the TX summer. If you really think you'll get heatstroke, stay hydrated and take the armor out of your jacket if that helps. But that honestly is rarely necessary as long as you're not in gridlock. If you get caught in traffic in dangerous heat, unzip/unbutton a lil. Throw on some antiperspirant, and remember sweat over scars đź’Ş have fun!
And understand how countersteering works on a motorcycle.
Boots like formas that casual and functional, summer/spring jacket with back armor since its gonna get hotter, and go ride a bicycle for bit to get the feel of balance again
Honestly riding a bike is a good idea, expecially with gear on. Yeah boots are next if I can find them.
What size feet do you have? I may have some old boots I can send you.
10 1/2 wide but I have a high arch so some brands I need to go 11 wide it's annoying.
You have duck feet like me. I think the biggest boots I have are a 43 so probably too small for you. Check out atomic moto in bend. They are the boot experts. They have a website.
I'm out in Pendleton but I make the trip out there every once in awhile, I'll check them out.
Check their website. As a wide footed mother effer, I love Alpinestar Toucan boots. You can also buy some good stuff on advrider.com. just don't piss off their flea market mods.
I've had trouble finding wide, I'll check their website.
Good luck!
Thank you!
The course will have boots.
Your feet are exactly like mine down to the size. There are leather Oboz boots at REI that will fit you perfectly and also match your lumberjack outfit.
I'll look into them, thanks.
Never heard of Formas. They look sick as fuck. Thanks for this!
I have the sedici alexi full mesh to full thermal and windproof and sweating at 1°F perfect jacket year round, although protection offer is lacking as it's a textile jacket. If you got the money Alpinestar gp plus leather jacket is the way to go even better if you can afford the tech air 5 system and the new riding jeans that have airbags built into the pants
Wear all the gear all the time. Some folks, after gaining confidence, will choose to forgo one or more pieces of gear. Do not fall into that trap. Good luck on your course, have fun, and keep the dirty side down.
Thanks bud, I appreciate it.
I'd recommend upgrading the gear once you finish the course, quality gloves with slighter long cuff than those with hard knuckle protection like the Alpinestar gloves (their leather ones feel like thin cloth in the sense that it's super flexible and nice but offers max protection) also look into riding jeans like the rev it Lombard 3s and a quality jacket and helmet, I'd say shoei agv or arai, shoei is the best of the bunch, also aim for an ece rating over Snell rating but Snell is good to ece is more desirable though.
Got the jacket, helmet, and gloves. Going to look for some boots next but I have a pair of leather ones that go beyond the ankles I was thinking of wearing for the course.
That works but motorcycle specific ones will have reinforced malleola and hard toes, protect you from dropping the bike on your ankle and not ruining the shoes with the shift lever.
OK I'll go looking for some this week.
Cyclegear has good deals. If you can go into a store they have clearance sections too.
I have one set of gear for hot weather like a perforated jacket, padded jeans, short style gloves, and armoured shoes. Then I have my colder riding gear which is a leather jacket, gauntlet style gloves, insulated pants, (basically padded ski pants) and long armoured boots. I also have 2 full face helmets, one that's tinted for day riding and one clear for night riding. It might sound like I spent an assload of money on gear, I did, but a good chunk of it was second-hand stuff. The motorcycle jeans from amazon also make excellent work pants if you work in an industrial setting or just need to be on your knees a lot.
But seriously, it's okay to find cheaper gear on craigslist or whatever as long as its intact and functional. Buy new if you need to as well. Inevesting in gear is 1000% more important than anything as a new rider.
I agree with this completely.
This sounds good. I bought this jacket for spring but I'll probably need a new one for summer.
That'll work for the course but normal boots will result in broken angles and bones ina crash and steel toed ones can result in losing all your toes. Also the main point of boots is crush protection for when the bike lands on you and normal boots have no crush protection for the ankles
I'm having a hard time finding wide motorcycle boots. Any recommendations?
I have yet to find any that work for me either still on the look though
This may be a hot take, but I’d recommend buying cheaper gear at first, purely because there’s a decent chance your preferences will change once you’ve got some riding time. I didn’t go crazy, but before my safety course I pushed my budget and got the most expensive gear I could afford (which wasn’t saying much at the time) and ended up not getting along with the jacket, helmet, or boots.
So what's a ball park of cheaper? 200 bucks? I see some jackets going to 1k and that seems nuts, until I hit the pavement.
Sorry I’m late on this - I’ve got a Joe Rocket jacket like yours which I think was $150 CAD, but to be honest, to do it again, I’d start with basically the requirements for the safety course (jeans, denim jacket, etc). Instead I pushed my budget at the time and instead of a $50 denim jacket, I got a used $150 leather jacket and found it way too hot and uncomfortable, and regretted getting it.
Don't crash.
Riding is fun until it isn't... Be mindful that if you mess up, you WILL get hurt (severity of which can vary), so don't do silly shit out of stupidity or adrenaline and certainly don't show off. You'll be fine if you remain sensible. Getting gear makes you sensible, keep it that way. Oh, and have fun, riding is exhilarating.
Thanks bud, I appreciate it
Practice slow speed control, even after you think you got it down. Figure 8 all day
Yeah my first weekend with the bike I plan on hitting a parking lot and trying to do a figure 8 all day.
Also right turns from a stop. It's a common maneuver that can result in a stall and dropped bike for a newbie
Haha license for 2 years, riding for 1….randomly for me it’s the left, I either overshoot it or try to stall it.
Practice, practice, practice, especially braking. If you want to go fast you have to know how to stop as quickly as possible. After that I focus on turning. It shocks me how many crashes my riding group sees in the summer from new riders who can’t take a 50 mph turn at 35 mph without riding off into the woods.
Parking lot training best for that?
That’s a big part of it, yes. Find a place, setup some cones, run drills. Best if you have a riding buddy to help but otherwise there’s lots of YouTube videos on things to practice.
Careful, many parking lots have loose gravel especially in colder climates after winter. Parking lots are a good way to go down. Make sure it’s clean before practicing.
That's going to be an issue around here, they sold all the salting equipment and now they just lay gravel down in the winter.
Look where you want to go, not at the ground in front of you. Listen to the instructors and try to keep nerves down. The instructors at Team Oregon are really good at what they do!
Get boots ASAP. You’ll want a firm footing and confidence when you are moving the bike around especially if/when you tip over foolishly
Yeah I didn't think much about it but after taking everyone's recommendations I'll try and find something soon.
Keep your head, and eyes up. It’s very common for new riders to fixate on their speedo, or look at the ground directly in ahead of the front tire. Not only will you be able to anticipate hazards more quickly by seeing them sooner, your head is where your body’s gyroscope lives, and when you put your head down, your body wants to follow. The effect is more pronounced on a bicycle, but the mechanics still follow.
I hear a lot of people say you start figuring out your speed by the feel, how long does sit usually take?
It’s not that you don’t look at your speedo, just that you glance at it. I’ve watched people gaze at the thing like it was a sunset. For me, it was about listening to my bike’s RPMs, and start to be able to “hear” how fast you’re going.
One thing I struggled with in the Team Oregon course is they’ll tell you to “speed up to 20 then do this or that…”start braking at the cone, quickly counter steer around a cone, etc. It’s easy to get fixated on the speedometer and get thrown off what you’re supposed to do. That being said, the Basic course seemed pretty friendly towards newbies like me. What part of Oregon are you located in?
I'm out in Pendleton, taking my class in hermiston soon.
My wife had this trouble getting up to or past 20. Nerves, she did not pass the class. I had to remind her that once your pass this course they are saying you are accepted to drive on ANY USA ROAD 15mph-75mph+ you need to be able to get it up past 20, push your self. Even if you get it wrong the first 3 times. You show them you learned got it past 20 and then did the next task.
Watch Twist of the Wrist 2
Good on you for taking a training course. ALWAYS REMEMBER people in cars don't give a shit about you and probably don't see you, it's difficult to scroll TikTok and drive. Always pay attention to your surroundings and when stopped at a stop light position yourself so you will have a quick escape route "not directly behind the vehicle in front of you" just in case that asshole updating their status on Facebook forgets that they are driving. Stay safe and enjoy the ride my friend.
Thanks bud, you stay safe to!
Get a better helmet as soon as funds allow, hjc are absolute fucking garbage. Hot, heavy, loud, and will leave you concussed in a get off Speaking from first hand experience. The cheapest you should go is around the $300 price point. Look for something that is Snell tested. Most importantly though is find one that fits properly. If you swing your head back and forth and the helmet moves around against your cheeks AT ALL it’s too big.
They're bad? Reviews seemed decent but I'll keep looking around.
They’re trash. I’ve worked my way through the stomaching spending 500+ on helmets but you know what? It’s worth it. Arai Is my personal favorite. And to elaborate on why hjc is trash is I got taken out by someone making an illegal left hand turn in front of me. I was told I got launched 40ft. Woke up 4 HOURS later that’s how hard I got knocked out. The helmet? Barely had a scratch on it.
Dude that's awesome, OK after my course I'll start looking into something better.
No worries, we all gotta start somewhere, just speaking from experience as I’ve been riding for 15 years
>And to elaborate on why hjc is trash is I got taken out by someone making an illegal left hand turn in front of me. I was told I got launched 40ft. Woke up 4 HOURS later that’s how hard I got knocked out. The helmet? Barely had a scratch on it. What does this have to do with HJC being trash?
You don't need a Snell rating, ECE is fine. If it's just DOT, it's borderline useless in a crash.
Ece is the euro standard right? Do they rate the helmets better then dot?
ECE does more testing, and they include things like rotational trauma that DOT and Snell don't account for. DOT is just a simple drop test. Snell is decent for amateur racing helmets for cars, but not for motorcycles. The YouTube channel FortNine has a good video on it, https://youtube.com/watch?v=76yu124i3Bo&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE It's worth watching. I think they have one on the DOT standard, too. If there's any motorcycle channels worth watching, it's FortNine.
That’s garbage. HJC are fine. I prefer Shoei but HJC are a very safe helmet. They are a bit heavy, don’t vent as well as some more expensive ones, but unless your track riding they are fine. Most are even Snell rated. You can also get concussed with the most expensive helmet out there. I’ll go with science instead of your personal story of two crashes you’ve been in. The fact that you got pulled into and the helmet wasn’t scratched means your head didn’t hit.
Respect the bike.
Don't get yourself too scared, worst thing you can do is have your head clouded with fear. Take your time, and stay in your own lane until your comfortable, you have to be able to push out of the comfort zone slowly, but don't rush. .
That's good advice. I'll probably hold off on some group rides until I'm feeling somewhat comfortable.
Take it easy. I know it's great to just pull the throttle and have the bike go wroom but it's also a sure way to get hurt if you don't know your bike
Gloomhaven is *chef’s kiss*
It's soooo good.
Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Now is the cheapest time to make them.
I am not a road rider, strictly dirt. But I am a firm believer in protective gear. I've had a few narly crashes that would've had me in the hospital or worse, but wit good gear allowed me to walk away with a few bruises. Get yourself some gear that is comfortable, that you will wear.
Yeah I bought this nice riding shirt with a few pads in it for my training course but I want something more protective once I'm on the road.
I have always stayed ahead of the speed of traffic. The less energy I spend looking over my shoulder, the more that can be spent on what’s ahead and constantly calculating! 80 k aggressive miles on liter bikes in Southern California freeways and roads and have been very fortunate. I attribute it to this practice, plus good vigilance. Stay safe out there!
Thanks bud, you to!
Don’t go into the other side of town wearing red. Also you need boots
Yeah boots are my next purchase.
Always get going slowly for a few mins until your tyres are warm.
Don't tense up
The real danger starts once u start feeling really confortable. Riding a bike is really funny when u feel secure... but feeling comfortable is not the same as being secure... That said, welcome to the club!
Thanks bud!
Gloves and helmet are the bare minimum. Get a padded jacket or some other armor. Your spine is just as important as your head. For low speed maneuvers, you can ride the clutch, it's "wet" so it's not going to burn up like a car's clutch. It helps dramatically. Ride like nobody can see you and they're trying to kill you at the same time. You'll see what I mean when you start riding Ear protection is a good idea, be it earplugs or a good helmet. You don't want to hear eeeeeeeeeeee in your ears in your 30's Don't ride if you're angry or tired. Bikes are significantly less forgiving to mistakes and inattention.
Ear plugs! That's what I was forgetting, Thank you. Thanks for the advice bud.
Congratulations on your choice to become a rider! Never stop learning. I’m 55 years old and just got my first bike 3 years ago. My advice: maneuvering and defensive riding is the key to your success. Anyone can go fast in one direction but it takes a skilled rider lots of practice to master low speed maneuvering and emergency braking. Keep up your practice drills in empty parking lots. After your class, Stay on slower routes until you become fully acclimated to the bike. Then work your way up to high speed interstate riding. Don’t cave to other more experienced riders pressuring you to go outside your comfort zone. Ride your own ride!! Once you start riding at high speeds, it’s normal to feel a bit weirded out. That’s just your defenses protecting you. But as time goes by will feel more natural. Keep us posted on your adventures, stay safe and have fun!!
Thanks for the advice bud, I appreciate it.
Stay the course
Don't go spending 25k on a brand new bike
Yeah no, I want to treat myself a bit but by that I'm thinking 10-12kish
Maybe go a bit lower unless you don’t mind dropping an expensive bike, it will happen everyone drops a bike atleast once in their life
Looks good. Grab some boots and pack some rain gear… also I’d look into some riding jackets / pants. Make sure they’re durable (ready for a slide, if ever needed). It helps to have a “go to” main jacket. That has the flexibility to accommodate various temps. FWIW .. on boots, I alternate — engineer boots to Carolina loggers. I like them and they’ve held up very well. No issues and would recommend, not too $ either.
All the gear as others said, but remember you always need to expect people in cars not to see you, it’s been proven that subconsciously the brain doesn’t process you as a threat so they don’t intentionally pull over or out into you, they simply don’t process you as a vehicle, practice hard straight braking using both brakes, and always keep your head on a swivel, don’t lolly gag in blind spots
Practicing straight breaking is a good idea, thanks.
While practicing straight breaking seems a bit homophobic but on the other hand straight braking is a really good technique to learn, but to each their own:)
If you like Root but can't find players interested in learning their own factions rules, try Ahoy. By the same people, but 2 players play an area control game while the other two play a delivery game. Most rules apply to all players, which makes it easier to teach.
Same people? I'll add it to my list, thanks bud.
Get a SNELL or ECE rated helmet when you can. A good leather jacket for cold weather riding and a good hybrid or mesh type jacket for hot weather riding with CE rated protectors in all jackets. Get a good set(s) of gloves. Always wear pants, atleast, and some type of boot while riding. Most importantly, RIDE YOUR RIDE! Ride within the boundaries of your current skill sets. Do not try to keep up with others outside your skills. That's a quick way to get hurt. Stay safe and have fun.
Thanks bud
Ride to your ability not the ability of the others around you.
Get riding jeans
I definetly need some.
Jeans will tear like tissue paper on the road. I have the scars on my knee caps as a reminder.
Assume nobody can see you. Most danger I've encountered happens when passing / overtaking others.
I did the team Oregon class in March a few years back and it rained almost the entire 2 days. Bring some good rain gear and water proof boots. Put some rain x or wax on your helmet visor. You will be sitting still for a lot of the class in the rain and rain drops on the visor make it really hard to see when you start moving.
Good advice, thanks.
If you ride a cruiser, be mindful of the tailpipe when you are sitting still... Really easy to touch your leg on it if you aren't careful. In the future, if you carry a passenger, make sure they are also mindful of the pipe and to keep their feet on the pegs the whole time so they don't melt their boots. Start slow and work on finding the friction zone of the clutch in an empty parking lot. When in doubt, clutch in and come to a stop. Try to stop with the front wheel facing forwards if possible. Best of luck!
I plan on buying a cruiser so that's good advice, thanks.
Ride the smallest cheapest thing you can stand to be seen on for a year. An armored mesh jacket is good even in the summer. With a few liners can be a 4 season jacket.
Keep a level head on your shoulders man You’ll be tempted to start tricking and doing some wild stuff after you get a bit of experience but always remember your limits
Don’t be egotistical on and off the bike, ride your own ride. Don’t be peer pressured into anything and be courteous to everyone on the road, they might not to you but it always safer to give way than to be a dick about it. We don’t have a safety net in a crash so ride your own pace and don’t take too many risks. Making it home is more important than dicking around on the road.
Dude, Root and Gloomhaven are so good! >_<
Right! It's fantastic.
Also! My tip for a new rider, if you feel uncomfortable, don’t push it. Your friends would rather wait for you for a couple of minutes at your destination than wait to join you in the afterlife or whatever it is you believe in. Have fun, enjoy your ride, and know that you’re invisible to caged drivers.
If you're not already wearing them, get some armours jeans, my logic is, in a slide, one of your legs may be pinned between the bike and the tarmac.
Yup I'm searching now, so many different kinds it's making my head spin.
Exo covers are nice. The new sastec armor is pretty invisible and strong Gloves. With slide pads on palm and thumbs. Fortnine has a great vid on how to prioritize. https://youtu.be/rmWQKoN6yX0
Thanks bud, I'll check it out.
You might of linked the wrong video bud.
Hahha. Sorry. I guess I grabbed the pre-vid ad. Will edit https://youtu.be/rmWQKoN6yX0
You might fail. Accept that and try again. Riding is a skill and is harder to do well than most people realize. Tbh I tell people to go slow their first year of riding. Oftentimes stuff like jobs and family kill ride time, people realize riding is not really enjoyable for them, etc. I've had a few friends (n + 1) realize it isn't for them, and one in particular bought a significant amount of gear and a modded bike within 2 years of riding.
Yeah that's why I don't want to go all out on a 20k bike. One I might drop it, but also I might just realize I don't like riding. I hope I enjoy it
rubber down, shiny side up.
Look where you want to go in the turn, think like manual car when letting off clutch give it gas to keep it alive, also have fun
Don’t worry if you can’t find neutral. Honestly, I took and passed my class last year and I never consistently found neutral for the full two days. To give me some confidence my instructor said “oh neutral on that bike is tricky” I know he was lying but it made me feel good about the experience.
https://msf-usa.org/basic-ecourse/ This is not a replacement - but has good information.
Be very careful on exchange ramps. The shoulders are usually covered in dirt that you can slip on and you will go over the concrete barrier.
That's good info, I'll keep it in mind.
It’s best to go a little hard on the clutch at first until you get it figured out (like ride it a little more than normal when taking off). It’s better to be a little hard on it at first and not stall, although it might be a good learning experience to stall once or twice, it’s just never fun in traffic on the road.
That's good advice, thanks.
Shiny side up, when you think you're good, remember you're not, try not to die.
What doe shiny side up mean?
Boots definitely as others have said. Do not be tempted to use steel toe, in a crash these will slice your toes off. Trousers. Kevlar jeans if you want a casual look. Textile trousers or leather otherwise. Earplugs. Save your hearing
Definitely always look where you want to go and trust your bike. If ur bike is good and ur going like 8-10 mph it will not fall. Physics works wonders lol
Motorcycle safety course. Plus advanced course with you motorcycle
Taking the beginner course at the end of March, then I might take the intermediate they offer.
When I took my class years ago the instructor gave me the single greatest piece of advice ever. He said when you ride motorcycles you gain a super power, you become invisible. Never forget that you’re invisible and ride accordingly. It doesn’t matter who has the right of way, doesn’t matter if you’ve made eye contact with the driver, you’re invisible, they don’t see you. This advice has saved me more than once
Does this invisibility help if I rob a bank?
Weirdest thing for me when I was learning was my dad telling me that pushing your handle bars to the left makes you turn right, then getting out on the road and thinking about it while turning makes you understand
Have fun, but not so much fun that you forget that you’re in danger. That’s all I can think to add to this already full list of great advice.
Sign up for your local MSF course ASAP and do it!
Hope you have fun. Of course, as other probably posted already — be safe. The best advice I have: Listen to the instructors. It’s all in the wrist. This advice is true for beginning and even beyond. You are in control.
Ok, I think pervious comments are missing one. Wear the gear, and everyone is trying to kill you, both true and covered. Another is watch your own speed with other riders, especially in turns. It’s common for the last rider in a group to be newer and therefore less comfortable in turns. This encourages the newer rider to speed up on the straightaways to keep up, but this can also accidentally and surprisingly send you into a turn faster then even a more experienced rider could handle, let alone someone new. Make sure you are going YOUR speed in the turns and don’t worry about keeping up. If your friends leave you, find new friends or ask them for a dedicated learning ride that is purposely slow. Riding with friends did help me learn when starting out. If you do find yourself going into a turn to fast, the bike can probably lean over more and therefore turn harder, especially if your not still slamming the brakes, but your instincts will almost certainty override that truth and you will straighten up and try more with the breaks. Probably not with great success. Ride YOUR ride.
Thanks bud, I appreciate it. I need to see if theres any groups near me that are more beginner friendly.
After you get your endorsement go to a parking lot and practiced what you learned. I did that and it helped immensely. Have fun!
Keep the rubber side down
Stay in the moment and focus (on the instructor) during class
It’s a great course, have fun and make some friends, I really enjoyed mine. Good luck bud.
When you start riding you've a big bag of luck and fuck all skills! As one runs out the other grows.... don't tip the scales too far
Trail riding gives you the reaction time you need once u are on the road
Look into Motojitsu. His riding training tutorials are very good and start very simple.
Do what the instructor teaches you, that’s why you’re going
Don’t stop with one, Take as many training courses as possible. Vision is the biggest thing look where you want to go and ride within your limits
1. Good safety gear is worth the cost 2. Look where you want the bike to go. 3. Always practice- no matter how confident you get on the bike
Jeans, leather jacket, over-the-ankle shoes/boots.
Listen to your instructors
Drink water. Don't want to cramp when trying to shift.
As an Arizona native, get good jackets, it’s never seemed cold to me and I’m a naturally warm person but riding can get COLD even in good weather. Always wear at least helmet, jacket, gloves, and EAR PLUGS(will circle back to this). If you like music while you ride, see if your helmet can support a Cardo system or something that way you can safely call an listen to music. Ear protection is a must, it’s not the engine that gets you it’s the wind noise so if you don’t wanna be deaf wear ear plugs. Get a good phone Mount too so you can use it for directions or taking a call or something, I use a Rockform and they’re good. And my last piece of advice is maybe look into a pin lock anti fog system for the helmet, all it is is a plastic insert that you apply to the inner face shield and it SIGNIFICANTLY if not entirely keeps your helmet from fogging up. I just started riding last year in April so these are all things I’ve learned and picked up, hope it helps someone!
Any brands you recommend to start looking at jackets?
The jackets I got were from the dealership, idk if I’d recommend that that personally but I like my jackets, on the next ones however I’ll look around more. Just don’t cheap out on your gear. My MSF driver said if you got a $50 dollar head wear a $50 helmet
Don’t beat yourself up if you drop the bike during the course, a guy in mine dropped it twice he never gave up, everyone in my group ended up passing
That's good to hear. I'm pretty nervous but I'm sure I'll have fun.
I went in with 0 experience last year at 16 years old and passed, then like a month later I bought my first bike a new 2022 r3, then proceeded to drop it twice in two weeks: first time cause I had the steering wheel lock on, I had to have strangers help me pick up the bike and I ended up breaking one mirror (I just glued it back). Second time I forgot to put the kickstand down and got off the bike, i ended up bending the gear shifter had to drive home from work in 3rd gear, my dad had to help me bend it back. But moral of the story don’t let anything stop you from riding, it’s been genuinely such an amazing experience nothing can compare! Also be careful out there try not to speed, even if it’s tempting, not worth the risks!
Thanks, I appreciate it!
Trust your motorcycle, gear, and fundamentals when you acquire them. For example, when you’re leaning over to turn, don’t panic because it feels awkward. Trust your tires. When shit hits the fans whatever it may be, don’t overcompensate. Your motorcycle wants to stay upright as much as you do. Overly gripping the handlebars will lead to most of the bad stuff that can happen when you ride. Hold the bars as you’re holding the legs of a newborn toddler. Not too tight to break the leg, but grippy enough to have a good hold on them. All this is good in theory, but if you don’t maintain your motorcycle and gear, your won’t trust anything. Lastly, be confident, but do not under any circumstances get cocky. Many people have lost their lives or gotten injured for riding past their abilities. This includes deciding to move up to a larger engines after being comfortable with your current motorcycle. I am telling you, DO NOT GET A LARGER BIKE TOO SOON. If you ever have any questions, shoot me a message or post in this chat. At the end of the day, what works for me won’t necessarily work for you. Problems happen when you stray from your fundamentals, so whatever issue you have can be fixed by reverting to the basics.
Thanks for the advice bud, I appreciate it.
Do watch some crashes and learn how to avoid them
Remember to have fun learning- all those exhilarating firsts are in my past now and I remember how fun it all was. Enjoy the process!!
Watch Dan Dan the Fireman!
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Did the basic course with Team Oregon spring of 2021. Specific to the course,. now knowing what I do, I wish they would have told us using the rear brake could help with low speed maneuvers. It would have helped me be more at ease doing the offset cone weave.
I'll ask about that, because I see on YouTube people recommending to learn it.
Agree with a lot of what is said. I’ve been riding for 35+ years. Expect not to be seen. Watch for cars turning left into your path. Watch the wheels, they start to turn long before the vehicle moves, get on the brakes early, it’s saved my butt many times and those I’ve taught to ride. Finally, counter steering is the most important skill you’ll ever learn and it’s counter intuitive. Don’t turn the motorcycle by leaning with your body, that’s secondary, turn into corners using your handle bars. Once you learn you’ll notice the difference. If you come into a curve a bit hot and feel like you’re “floating” and can’t get sharp enough, you’re leaning and not counter steering. Most single bike crashes are failure to navigate the corner. MSF beginner class doesn’t teach counter steering, you’re going to slow for it to happen yet. Tons of good YouTube videos on it. Best of luck to you. It’s the best way for me to be present in the moment alone with just the bike, the road, and the joy of riding. It makes all the seat discomfort, heat, cold, wet, and monkey butt worth it. Ride every day possible. It’s worth the extra time and effort to gear up and pre/ride check. I promise you’ll arrive at work alive and ready to go instead of in Zombie mode.
Thanks for the info bud, I'll look up some videos on cornering to get some tips.
When you are taking the course, remember that making mistakes is part of learning. You are figuring out what not to do. Expect that you will make mistakes and learn from them. Don’t kick yourself for making a mistake while you’re doing something that is brand new. Make the mistakes in the class so that you don’t have to make mistakes when you’re out on the street.
Come into every turn slower than you think you need to. It feels great to accelerate out of a corner. It feels horrible to come into a corner too fast.
Dress for the slide, not the ride.
Yea, have a serious conversation with yourself about how willing you are to get injured. Riding motorcycles can be fun, but it is insanely dangerous. Do you have great balance, are your reaction times top notch, how about your situational awareness and vision overall? Can you process lots of information in a short amount of time and make judgement based reactions quickly? Not trying to scare you out of riding a motorcycle, but if you have something to lose (family, kids, wife) maybe stay off the bike. Everytime I get on the bike, I understand all it takes is one person not paying attention to end my life. Source: Someone who rides motorcycles and is lucky enough to have walked away from getting ejected off my bike from a drunk driver.
Every.fucking.time! A new rider asks for advice, there's that guy who goes "riding is extremely insanely dangerous, don't do it, you will probably die (not trying to scare you)". Give him/them a break, they are not idiots. More people die doing other things. I was in same situation and almost got scared and gave up but did it nevertheless and was one of best choices I made. Dude you'll be fine, take it easy, wear your gear and have fun.
Thanks for the info bud, I appreciate it
1. Accept the fact that you will crash eventually. The intensity is a variable. 2. Practice, practice, practice. The more you spend on your bike, the more you will bond with it. Bond with the bike. Empty parking lots are a good place to fine tune your basic motorcycle skills (braking, throttle control, etc) 3. Be hypervigilant while riding. You have one life..
Thanks for the advice bud, I appreciate it.
Relax! Take it slow. Leave heaps of space between you and the cars in front. The first time I nearly had an accident was because I was too close to the car in front when we suddenly had to break. I slammed on the breaks locking up the tyres and almost slid into the car. After that I took it easy and left more room for error. Every near accident I have had was in some way my own fault. For going to fast and being too confident. Take 5 minutes after every ride to think about what you did that could have been different or better. Where and why you went wrong. Then you will correct negative behaviour. Never try to keep up with someone else. Always ride at your own pace. And the final and most importantly. Have fun!
Thanks bud. Yeah it sounds like I really need to focus on not getting to close to other cars.
Ride a bike and bomb hills. Or a gas powered scooter.
1.Gear When it comes to gear,safety wise,its: 1.Helmet 2.Boots and Gloves |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| When it comes to moto pants and Jacket,its not going to KILL you if you dont wear them statisticaly speaking,but you will obviously have road rash if you ever crash. Try to wash your helmet pads every 2 months,i do it every 3 months bcs im a lazy pos.That will prolong their life and your helmet will smell nicer. Helmets have "expire date" according to manufacturers and you should replace it every 3 years. Same with gloves,they are seasonal wear,so again,according to manufacturers,you should replace them every year. One item that can be used for lifetime if you take care of them is moto boots. 2.Riding When i started riding i had issue of staying concetrated during my whole ride. One motorcycle driver gave me an advice to say things that are happening on the road out loud. For example:I am approaching an intersection,i gotta slow down,there's a traffic light turning red,i need to start slowing down,there's a stop sign,i need to look out for padestrians,there is gravel on the road,i gotta be careful,there is a blind turn here,im gonna slow down etc. Its a really good practice and once you are used to it,you can be mentally present during the ride,if you find yourself struggling to do that. 3.Traffic and predicting situations When it comes to traffic,its a tricky one,you are on a motorcycle,you do not have brakes as strong as cars do,you have to start predicting dangerous situations(someome merging,children running out on a road etc.)and either: A:Avoid them by swerving out of the way if someone merges in front of you B:Brake with (hopefully)enough space cushion you gave yourself by predicting that dangerous situation C:Accelerate(sometimes this is also one of the ways to avoid a dangerous situation) Its a skill you develop over a period of time,it may sound impossible to predict what someone is gonna do,but you can suprise yourself sometimes woth enough time and practice. 4.Right of way NEVER fight for your lane,you are on a motorcycle,vs (in most cases) a car. Let them have your lane and move out of the way. That doesnt neceseraly mean to let drivers push you around. No. Sometimes drivers will pass you dangerously close if theres two same direction lanes,even when there's also 1,i ground my position in the lane im in by driving in the middle of the lane Graph :Lane positions | | | | | | | 🚖 | 1 2 3 | | | | | | 🏍 | So you have 3 possible lane positions: 1.Left side,this position is next to the center line on the road.I ussualy use this position when i want to see the traffic in front and to see what is happening in front of me 3.Right side,theres nothing i can say about this position,its just a position we were all learned to ride in,i ussualy drive on right side if the vechile in front drives in way where i cannot see if im in lane position 1 2.Center,i use this positions on two lane same dircetion roads,beckause it doesnt allow cars to just mindelessly cross into my lane while passing someone else,of course,if you see someone in the mirror obviously about to hit,you are going to move,thats where your situational awarness and your concetration comes into play. I never ride in this position directly behind a vechile,beckause if they ever brake hard,and i dont have enough time to stop,im gonna crash directly into them,unlike in positions 1 and 3,where, if you do crash into them,there is a possibility for you to fly over the vechile instead of crashing into it,plus it also gives you an escape path,so that you can swerve out of the way. 5.Tools and safety equipement Learn what tools you need if your motorcycle ever stops working and wear them with you,learn to use them.This includes tools you need to remove,for example plastics that are in the way. One of the things i dont see many riders wear with them is fire exstinguisher,compact sized ones do exist,and god bless you never need to use it,but when a motorcycle catches on fire,be it your bike or someone elses,no car driver or driver in general is crazy enough to get close to a burning motorcycle,or burning vechile in general. 6.Ego I get it,adrenaline is gushing through veins,it feels amazing,and its hard to stop once you start speeding,and going hard in the corners,but i assure you,once you get off that motorcycle and look back,you will say "Jesus christ that was dumb,why did i go 80 in that curve when i saw sand on the road". Sometimes we all should question ourselves and do better. 7.Have fun and enjoy yourself!!!!
Dude this post is awesome, Thank you. I'm saving this to refer to later, I really like the idea of saying out loud what I want to do next.
You should post this in r/calimariraceteam and see what they think. Jk. I’ll save you the trouble. They’ll call you straight.
Getting a strong Trailer Park Boys vibe….
Underwear goes inside the pants
Do I have to buy my own gear for the riders course?
Depends on the state. My place said they had a couple helmets to rent but highly encouraged you bring your own.