Some newbie questions

RodneyAnonymous · 08-06-2012, 06:08 AM

Hello everyone!
So, I'm super new to riding, I've had my bike about a month and loving it, but there some things I'm a bit fuzzy on and I'm hoping some of you guys can give me some help with them.

1) My garage is a few inches off the ground and has a roughly 45 degree angle slope leading into it. Getting the bike in is easy, but getting it out is a bit unwieldy. The very first time I tried backing it out I ended up laying it on the ground! It's a two car garage that's often empty during the week when my roommate is gone. Even then, though, I'm not sure there's enough room for me to turn it around, definitely not when his car is parked inside. Any tips for this?

2) What are some good ways for handling all your gear when you actually go inside somewhere? My bike has the seat come off with a lock and a wire I can loop through the D ring on my helmet, but I'm not sure how safe that would be to just leave it there (or in the sun) and I don't have a solution for my gloves or jacket.

3) Any tips on riding during the day in the heat without turning into a sweaty mess? Is it even possible without compromising safety? I've only been riding at night so far and even then when it's cooler I end up sweating a lot.

4) Is it possible to use drive thrus on a bike?

5) My bike has no fuel gauge, only a low fuel warning light. Are there any tried and true ways to make sure I don't ever run out of gas? Do I just need to make sure I fill up frequently?

Apologies for the long post and thanks in advance for any help that anyone can give me.

Dodsfall · 08-06-2012, 09:43 AM

1) Something like this may work:

+ YouTube Video

2)You could get a cable with a lock to secure both the helmet and jacket. Just run it through the sleeve of the jacket and the visor area of the helmet. Just stuff the gloves into the helmet, they should be ok.

3) An armored mesh jacket is the best route. While they don't provide as much abrasion protection as leather or textile, it beats passing out from a heat stroke. As far as getting sweaty in hot weather, I don't think that can be completely avoided.

4) I'm sure you can use a drive-thru as long as you have somewhere on the motorcycle to hold whatever you are getting. It would work ok if you were buying a coffee and have a cup holder, for instance. If you are buying a few bags of food to take home to the family, it's better to just park and go inside.

5) The fuel light works pretty well in my experience as a reminder it's getting close to fill-up time. It's a great habit to set your trip[ odometer at every gas fill up and know the approximate range of your motorcycle. Remember that a lot of city riding will give lower MPG than riding on the highway for most motorcycles.

SpitefulHam · 08-06-2012, 10:22 AM

Not sure what kind of bike you have but if it's light enough you could do the "spin" maneuver for getting it around.

You Tube

As for coming down the driveway, mine is similar to yours and I can't go down backwards. It just feels too clumsy. The couple of times that I did it I just kept light pressure on the front brake and made sure both my feet had good purchase as I SLOWLY backed down. It scares me though so I typically come down nose first, light pressure on the rear brake to help keep me upright.

jester · 08-06-2012, 11:52 AM

4- I used to work fast food and people would try to come through the drive through on their bikes but they would not usually register so we never knew they were out there....maybe systems have changed in the last 10 yrs though. Try it and see

RodneyAnonymous · 08-06-2012, 03:24 PM

Thanks a lot guys, this is very informative.

SpitefulHam - How light would you say a bike would need to be for me to be able to do that spin? I have an 08 Ninja 650.

Dodsfall · 08-06-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodneyAnonymous

Thanks a lot guys, this is very informative.

SpitefulHam - How light would you say a bike would need to be for me to be able to do that spin? I have an 08 Ninja 650.

You should be able to spin that around. Just be careful and maybe have a friend help steady it the first couple of times until you get the hang of it.

Notice that you have to grab the side opposite the kickstand and go in a clockwise direction keeping pressure forward to keep the stand from folding.

RodneyAnonymous · 08-06-2012, 05:07 PM

Thanks Dodsfall.

distantThunder · 08-06-2012, 10:07 PM

rodney ... a few quick answers.

1. when backing out of your garage down a slope.
back out slowly, wheels aligned, and with the front brake using gradual pressure. so long as the front wheel is braked (while you are reversing in neutral), the bike will be more stable. use the brake to control speed - SLOW! Use your legs to keep it up. a lot of new riders have some issues when first wheeling around bikes ... don't sweat it.

2. don't do drive thru's. besides the obvious fact that it really hard to manipulate everything, you don't have a place to put food and drinks - there's also the fact that auto drivers may be too close to your bike. just park outside and walk in.

3. hot days on a bike are a sweatbox. you can ride with the visor of your helmet partly up. and if you get a "vented" leather jacket - that also helps. but heat is still heat - you'll feel it.

4. fuel gage - you'll just get to know your gas consumption. right now - don't push it past the warning light. but your bike should still have 20-30 miles when that light comes ON.

5. gear when you are at a fast food place ... I hang my helmet on the handlbars. I put my gloves and glasses inside it. I always position my bike so I can see it thru the windows. Have never had any problems.

good luck,
dT

Kiwi Steve · 08-07-2012, 06:58 AM

I always walk my bike backwards into the garage, so I can ride out or walk it forward out of the garage. I have about a 1 inch step between the level of the driveway and the garage floor.

When walking your bike backward, have your left hand on the left handgrip, place your right hand on the seat (on the seat strap if it has one, or the sissy bar), have your body a little back from where it would be if moving the bike forward, turn your body front on to the side of the bike and step your feet sideways.

Do you know that when moving your bike forward and turning it to the right you should move your body position forward, almost up to the front of the tank - this is because your left hand will be stretching out forward as the bars turn away from you, and this position keeps control of the bike.

RodneyAnonymous · 08-07-2012, 08:19 PM

Thanks for the input, KiwiSteve. backing my bike in is unfortunately not an option due to the height and slope getting into the garage, but I'll definitely remember that for other times!

08-06-2012, 06:08 AM	#1
RodneyAnonymous Newbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 4	Some newbie questions Hello everyone! So, I'm super new to riding, I've had my bike about a month and loving it, but there some things I'm a bit fuzzy on and I'm hoping some of you guys can give me some help with them. 1) My garage is a few inches off the ground and has a roughly 45 degree angle slope leading into it. Getting the bike in is easy, but getting it out is a bit unwieldy. The very first time I tried backing it out I ended up laying it on the ground! It's a two car garage that's often empty during the week when my roommate is gone. Even then, though, I'm not sure there's enough room for me to turn it around, definitely not when his car is parked inside. Any tips for this? 2) What are some good ways for handling all your gear when you actually go inside somewhere? My bike has the seat come off with a lock and a wire I can loop through the D ring on my helmet, but I'm not sure how safe that would be to just leave it there (or in the sun) and I don't have a solution for my gloves or jacket. 3) Any tips on riding during the day in the heat without turning into a sweaty mess? Is it even possible without compromising safety? I've only been riding at night so far and even then when it's cooler I end up sweating a lot. 4) Is it possible to use drive thrus on a bike? 5) My bike has no fuel gauge, only a low fuel warning light. Are there any tried and true ways to make sure I don't ever run out of gas? Do I just need to make sure I fill up frequently? Apologies for the long post and thanks in advance for any help that anyone can give me.

08-06-2012, 10:07 PM	#8
distantThunder Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,244	rodney ... a few quick answers. 1. when backing out of your garage down a slope. back out slowly, wheels aligned, and with the front brake using gradual pressure. so long as the front wheel is braked (while you are reversing in neutral), the bike will be more stable. use the brake to control speed - SLOW! Use your legs to keep it up. a lot of new riders have some issues when first wheeling around bikes ... don't sweat it. 2. don't do drive thru's. besides the obvious fact that it really hard to manipulate everything, you don't have a place to put food and drinks - there's also the fact that auto drivers may be too close to your bike. just park outside and walk in. 3. hot days on a bike are a sweatbox. you can ride with the visor of your helmet partly up. and if you get a "vented" leather jacket - that also helps. but heat is still heat - you'll feel it. 4. fuel gage - you'll just get to know your gas consumption. right now - don't push it past the warning light. but your bike should still have 20-30 miles when that light comes ON. 5. gear when you are at a fast food place ... I hang my helmet on the handlbars. I put my gloves and glasses inside it. I always position my bike so I can see it thru the windows. Have never had any problems. good luck, dT Last edited by distantThunder; 08-06-2012 at 10:09 PM..

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08-06-2012, 11:52 AM	#4
jester Verified Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 64	4- I used to work fast food and people would try to come through the drive through on their bikes but they would not usually register so we never knew they were out there....maybe systems have changed in the last 10 yrs though. Try it and see

08-06-2012, 03:24 PM	#5
RodneyAnonymous Newbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 4	Thanks a lot guys, this is very informative. SpitefulHam - How light would you say a bike would need to be for me to be able to do that spin? I have an 08 Ninja 650.

08-06-2012, 05:07 PM	#7
RodneyAnonymous Newbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 4	Thanks Dodsfall.

08-07-2012, 06:58 AM	#9
Kiwi Steve Master At Arms Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Mackay, Queensland, Australia Posts: 191	I always walk my bike backwards into the garage, so I can ride out or walk it forward out of the garage. I have about a 1 inch step between the level of the driveway and the garage floor. When walking your bike backward, have your left hand on the left handgrip, place your right hand on the seat (on the seat strap if it has one, or the sissy bar), have your body a little back from where it would be if moving the bike forward, turn your body front on to the side of the bike and step your feet sideways. Do you know that when moving your bike forward and turning it to the right you should move your body position forward, almost up to the front of the tank - this is because your left hand will be stretching out forward as the bars turn away from you, and this position keeps control of the bike.

08-07-2012, 08:19 PM	#10
RodneyAnonymous Newbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 4	Thanks for the input, KiwiSteve. backing my bike in is unfortunately not an option due to the height and slope getting into the garage, but I'll definitely remember that for other times!