New all around...

Isobael · 09-11-2011, 06:17 PM

Hi, name is Sandie. I met my hubby because of his motorcycle and it's been a love affair ever since (both hubby and riding!).

However, after marrying, we gave up the bike due to impending parenthood and lack of funds.

After 14 years, we picked up a used bike to get back on the road with. It's a 85 Honda Magna VF700. Not pretty, but it runs.

Before we got rid of the Vulcan those years ago, he started to teach me to ride. As a passenger, I was fine. Had no problems leaning, using my knees and thighs in the turns, could ride for hours without issue. The Vulcan was a 500cc and I loved that bike.

Now we have the 700 and he thinks I ought to learn on it. He's taken me to a parking lot where I could practice taking off in first gear and shifting up to 2nd, then back down to 1st to slow down and take the turn to come back. (I'd like to know why left hand turns are easier than right hand ones when going in large ovals around the parking lot - like a track! i can take a left hand turn with greater ease, but having to take a right and I get shaky and wobbly.) His mindset is...I learn on the 700, I can then ride the 700 and he gets himself another bike.

This is to get me used to the controls and what it feels like before I go into the riding course for my endorsement. When he's not with me at the parking lot, I'm practicing in my driveway - 20 feet forward, to learn how to control the clutch and throttle, for taking off. (I really suck at it. I'm still nervous about giving it too much throttle and either killing the engine or having the bike jump forward too fast.)

I'm getting good at pulling the clutch when I start to get too nervous (see "panic") when I approach a turn too fast. Hubby's adamant about me learning panic=pull the clutch in.

I'm not a little girl...5'8 and 230 pounds...but the 700 just seems like it's too big and bulky for me. I'm not sure if it's mental or actual...or if bandying the number around reinforces the fact that it's a bigger bike than I like and it's what's scaring me.

The hubby thinks if I learn on the 700, then I'll be confident to ride any bike, whereas if I learn on a smaller bike (250's in the class), then a bigger bike will only intimidate me later.

What say you?

stantony1 · 09-12-2011, 12:12 AM

Any bike you hop on will have a learning curve no matter how experienced you are. Going smaller to larger or larger to smaller.

I suggest you build a skill foundation on a smaller bike first, it is just physically and psychologically easier. You'll get to know what your capabilities truly are without worrying about the weight and size of the bike. And you won't kill yourself on high HP/torqued bike.

Regarding clutch in as you approach a turn too fast... I am not qualified to comment on that but I think one of the more senior riders can tell you what is right AND wrong with "clutch in" during panic mode.

vistavette · 09-20-2011, 06:11 PM

You should stop trying to ride that bike until you take and pass the MSF rider basic course. You could be seriously hurt. The bike probably isn't too big but you do not yet have the basic skills to ride a motorcycle; the class will teach you that in a controlled environment with professional riders.

murphyshuman · 09-22-2011, 01:22 AM

It's almost always a bad idea for a spouse to teach a spouse anything. Take the msf course it's well worth it and only takes three days. I'm a firm believer in learning your skills on a smaller machine. Bad habits are easy to develop, difficult to get rid of, and can get you killed. If you're not intimidated by the bike it will be easier to learn. Riding a motorcycle is intense multi-tasking at any time. Why make it more difficult?

bigk · 09-22-2011, 01:53 AM

I took the motorcycle cycle safety class and highly recommend it. The instructors made mention that a lot of the students mentioned that they wish they would of taken the class when they first started.

They developed bad habits when they had some one teach them, rather then learning the correct way in a controlled environment and developing good habits that you can use for a life time.

09-11-2011, 06:17 PM	#1
Isobael Newbie Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Bonney Lake, WA Posts: 5	New all around... Hi, name is Sandie. I met my hubby because of his motorcycle and it's been a love affair ever since (both hubby and riding!). However, after marrying, we gave up the bike due to impending parenthood and lack of funds. After 14 years, we picked up a used bike to get back on the road with. It's a 85 Honda Magna VF700. Not pretty, but it runs. Before we got rid of the Vulcan those years ago, he started to teach me to ride. As a passenger, I was fine. Had no problems leaning, using my knees and thighs in the turns, could ride for hours without issue. The Vulcan was a 500cc and I loved that bike. Now we have the 700 and he thinks I ought to learn on it. He's taken me to a parking lot where I could practice taking off in first gear and shifting up to 2nd, then back down to 1st to slow down and take the turn to come back. (I'd like to know why left hand turns are easier than right hand ones when going in large ovals around the parking lot - like a track! i can take a left hand turn with greater ease, but having to take a right and I get shaky and wobbly.) His mindset is...I learn on the 700, I can then ride the 700 and he gets himself another bike. This is to get me used to the controls and what it feels like before I go into the riding course for my endorsement. When he's not with me at the parking lot, I'm practicing in my driveway - 20 feet forward, to learn how to control the clutch and throttle, for taking off. (I really suck at it. I'm still nervous about giving it too much throttle and either killing the engine or having the bike jump forward too fast.) I'm getting good at pulling the clutch when I start to get too nervous (see "panic") when I approach a turn too fast. Hubby's adamant about me learning panic=pull the clutch in. I'm not a little girl...5'8 and 230 pounds...but the 700 just seems like it's too big and bulky for me. I'm not sure if it's mental or actual...or if bandying the number around reinforces the fact that it's a bigger bike than I like and it's what's scaring me. The hubby thinks if I learn on the 700, then I'll be confident to ride any bike, whereas if I learn on a smaller bike (250's in the class), then a bigger bike will only intimidate me later. What say you?

09-20-2011, 06:11 PM	#3
vistavette Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 691	You should stop trying to ride that bike until you take and pass the MSF rider basic course. You could be seriously hurt. The bike probably isn't too big but you do not yet have the basic skills to ride a motorcycle; the class will teach you that in a controlled environment with professional riders. __________________ 09 HD Ultra 06 Bonneville T100 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-22-2011, 01:22 AM	#4
murphyshuman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 1,778	It's almost always a bad idea for a spouse to teach a spouse anything. Take the msf course it's well worth it and only takes three days. I'm a firm believer in learning your skills on a smaller machine. Bad habits are easy to develop, difficult to get rid of, and can get you killed. If you're not intimidated by the bike it will be easier to learn. Riding a motorcycle is intense multi-tasking at any time. Why make it more difficult? __________________ Murph

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09-12-2011, 12:12 AM	#2
stantony1 Kindergarten Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: MA Posts: 530	Any bike you hop on will have a learning curve no matter how experienced you are. Going smaller to larger or larger to smaller. I suggest you build a skill foundation on a smaller bike first, it is just physically and psychologically easier. You'll get to know what your capabilities truly are without worrying about the weight and size of the bike. And you won't kill yourself on high HP/torqued bike. Regarding clutch in as you approach a turn too fast... I am not qualified to comment on that but I think one of the more senior riders can tell you what is right AND wrong with "clutch in" during panic mode.

09-22-2011, 01:53 AM	#5
bigk Verified Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: West Coast, U.S.A Posts: 55	I took the motorcycle cycle safety class and highly recommend it. The instructors made mention that a lot of the students mentioned that they wish they would of taken the class when they first started. They developed bad habits when they had some one teach them, rather then learning the correct way in a controlled environment and developing good habits that you can use for a life time.