Soon to be new rider: general advise please!

[Sun Rider]

Hello all!

I've been reading your forums here for the past several days, and I find you all to be an interesting and ecclectic group; and thats why I think you can help a new guy out!

So, here is the deal: I am going to sign up for the T.E.A.M. riding course for this next weekend, and hopefully end up with a license and a feeling of accomplishment. I know, from friends and other who ride, that safety cannot be overstressed when it comes to bikes. I also know that I live in a state (Arizona) that is 3rd for trafic fatalities in the entire country. Having said this, I know I will sound like an idiot when I say I respec the bikes and what they can do, and I don't have any interest in dying anytime soon.

I guess I should tell you all some background on my experience in fast moving objects. In terms of bikes, I have only ridden one, and I broke it. My friend was showing me the ropes and I did great in that parking lot, got into second gear at one point, and had a blast. Then I was coming to a stop and put my foot down too early, lost my balance, and dropped his bike. The clutch lever proved to be weak, snapped off, and we all had a good laugh (though I was out 25$ for the new lever). Moral of the story: don't put your feet down too soon!

I have been riding ATV's since I was 5, know how to clutch and shift with a high degree of proficiency, as well as know just how much throttle is too much (on a 450 sport ATV, that can be a hard lesson to learn). The trouble is, breaking my friend's bike by dropping it has made me TERRIFIED of dropping another bike (almost to the point of a phobia level of fear). I know I have to just chaulk it up to experience, but its not easy since I am a bit of a perfectionist. Although the ATV experience may help with some things, I am not stupid enough to think that one skill set will translate into another (and bikes are definitely another). Yeah, sure, I driver really fast cars, but that doesn't help either, as you all should already know.

Long story short, i am not worried about riding or crashing (everyone crashes at some point, or so i'm told) but I do have some concerns. Namely, dropping the bike and being smeared by a 90 year old woman in a Cadilac that weighs 6000 pounds. How did you guys overcome your fear of dying from other driver stupidity?

Second, after I take the class next weened and pass, I need to start looking for a nice starter bike. I have taken the advice you all keep telling new riders, and I will NOT be running out to my local dealing and buy a 10k$ 600cc sport machine. Here is where I need the real advice: The bike I would ultimately want to get my hands on would be a new GSXR 600. Having said that, I need some advice on what to get to learn on.

I know there are tons of posts that keep stating the same thing for starter bikes, but one thing bugs me: shouldn't I learn on something that has similar seating ihgh, position, and configuration as the bike I ultimately want? Or doesn't it matter what type i learn on? If it DOES matter, however, then what would be a good, comparable learner ride to a modern 600cc sport bike like those Gixxers I am drolling over?

Well, sorry for the long, ranting post...its just that, this is something I have wanted to do for sooo long now, I am just excited like nothing else to finally get on with it, get my training, get my license, and get on a bike of my own! Thanks in advance for the replies, and happy motoring all!

[Sun Rider]

Oh, and I almost forgot: I am 6'2", lanky at 155 pounds, and I have legs that are very long. Just in case that is need to know info!

[mntbiker2008]

first off... welcome! this forum is full of helpful info. I cant answer your first question as i have not started riding yet but after reading countless threads on what bike is right, id have to say take a look at the ninjas. i think its the 650. these i have heard are a decent beginner bike (its all about respecting the power of the bike) If you are in to cruisers, i would look at some of the honda shadows or any 600 cc cruiser. you might find that they are comfortable. go to your local dealer and ask to sit on the sport bikes and the cruisers. see what style you like best. you might like the looks of the sport bikes but you may find that your neck gets strained or you dont like leaning forward so much. in that case, a cruiser might be best. (almost) anybody can learn on a powerful bike. asuming they dont kill themselves by being temped by the power, however, it will take longer to catch on and know how to control the bike.

im sure quite a few people will chime in here and answer your questions.


Ride safe!

Aaron

[Sun Rider]

Thanks Aaron! Well, I hope I can get some nice nput from some of the more experienced riders here. I just want to get the right learning bike, and be safe and have fun.

I figure this is the right place to get the help I need :P

[Dodsfall]

Your feet should stay on the pegs while the bike is moving. They don't work well as outriggers. It's a bad habit that a lot of riders get themselves into. It also looks goofy to see a rider take a 5-step "Fred Flinstone" or slide their feet every time they start or stop.

Every style of bike will handle a bit differently, but an experienced rider can transfer from one style to another without much trouble. Learning the basics of riding in general is more important than learning on any one type of bike.

The rider's safety is almost totally in their own hands. Sure, there situations that may come up that a rider can do nothing about. Many of the accidents that do happen could have been avoided, however. People will pull out in front of you, turn left in front of you, move into your lane and generally try to kill you. Being able to watch out for these hazards and identify them before it's too late will go a long way toward keeping a rider safe. Making assumptions that the car pulling out from that parking lot will wait for you to go by before proceeding can cause a lot of pain. Slowing down and covering the brake can help in a lot of these situations.

[black27696]

Looks like a lot of your questions have been covered. In regards to any fear you have about getting hit by other vehicles, don't worry too much about it, but don't stop worrying about it. When you get more comfortable on the bike you end up with you'll be more comfortable avoiding accidents.

Also, the fear you have about dropping the bike should be taken care of in the rider course. You'll have fun in the course and learn what you need to know about operating a bike, at least to start with.

[Sycamore Slim]

Welcome to the Forum! I too am a new rider. Listen to the "wise-guys" here on the forum, they know more than u could imagine.

As far as fear of getting smeared on the road. I tend to wanna keep a little fear in me. Not so much that i am intimidated, but just enough so that i always remember that a bad crash could be just around the next corner. That keeps me grounded as i ride around. It makes me put my helmet on everytime. It makes me wait more time after drinking a beer....etc...I think maybe a little fear, JUST A LITTLE, is a good thing. Maybe some of the super moderators here on the forum have input on that..???

Enjoy your safety class, it's a blast! Oh, and you will have a great "feel" on what type of bike is right for you after your class. A bike u might think is too little now, might seem just right after your class, and vice versa.

[CaptCrashIdaho]

Fear is nature's way of saying: "Be Careful". As long as you don't become paralyzed by it you'll be OK.

One thing to remember (since you're proficient at clutching and shifting) is that if you're in a Beginner's Course--you're going to come in at a point in the cirriculum where you'll be ahead of the curve. "Being bored" for the first few exercises might seem natural. However, this is actually a time for you to look at what you're doing and fine tune it--look at the basics and make sure your fundamentals are clean.

I have some vids at: http://www.HowzitDoneCrash.com that might help. The Howzit Done on braking and the offset cone weave might help. A lot of your success is gonna be directly related to your mental attitude and that looks good from here! Keep your head and eyes up, look where you want to go.

Be safe and HAVE FUN!

[iTrev]

Originally Posted by Sun Rider

Oh, and I almost forgot: I am 6'2", lanky at 155 pounds, and I have legs that are very long. Just in case that is need to know info!

And I'm 6' and weigh in at 150 pounds, so we're fairly close. The Ninja 650R was a fantastic first bike for me and I'm fairly confident that it will be a great first bike for you as well. It may be 650cc's but it's a parallel twin engine, not an inline 4 cylinder race engine, so it's very manageable as long as you don't get too throttle happy.

It's a great looking bike too, gets great gas mileage, and has a good seating position to help you learn some tighter maneuvers easier.

[Sun Rider]

Thanks for all the great help, all! Actually, I anticipated being bored to a certain extent, but since that T.E.A.M. class is going to help me out and make me exempt from the DMV test, I think it should be great. Besides, I don't claim to know everything :P

iTrev, as for your advice about the Ninja 650R, what year did you have? Id like to start searching for on in the area and maybe drag my good friend (who is a 6 year veteran rider) to go check it out. After a sit test I'll know if it feels nice.

CaptCrash, thanks for the link to your vids. I will definitely check them out. Between researching the classes and bikes, I have also been looking up as many videos as possible (and some of them are absolutely useless, expect the ones involving horrific accidents, which actually remind me that this is like playing Russian Reulette).

Anything else I should keep in my mind for this? I'm just excited and can't wait

[CaptCrashIdaho]

Sleep well. Stay hydrated. Bring snacks.

NO TRIPLE CHEESEBURGER AT LUNCH. (You'll fall asleep...)

[dustbuster]

The class can also point out any bad habits you might have to change to relate to the street. Good luck and have fun. +1 on the water, not sure what part of Ariz. your at but it's been 100 to 107 here lately, and I did the class in July!

[iTrev]

Originally Posted by Sun Rider

iTrev, as for your advice about the Ninja 650R, what year did you have? Id like to start searching for on in the area and maybe drag my good friend (who is a 6 year veteran rider) to go check it out. After a sit test I'll know if it feels nice.

Mine was a 2007.

[Sun Rider]

Originally Posted by dustbuster

The class can also point out any bad habits you might have to change to relate to the street. Good luck and have fun. +1 on the water, not sure what part of Ariz. your at but it's been 100 to 107 here lately, and I did the class in July!

Yes, most definitely. When we are rocking temps of 100+ with 5% humidity, I know full well that hydration is the key to not dying!

However, there are no guarantees that I will be able to get into the class anytime soon. I am stuck at work right now (sucks, I know), but as soon as I can I am going to call and see about class schedules and availability. I'm not too worried though, but I definitely hear the T.E.A.M. Arizona guys are awsome.

Hmm, 2007 650R huh? Sounds pricy I was hoping to get something around $1500 and just not worry about dropping it, plus have the added bonus of getting the same value out of it when I sell it later to get my brand new bike.

[dodgyluck]

You're pretty tall. I'm 6'5" and when I ride a sport bike it can be quite uncomfortable on the legs after a while. Try looking at cruisers like the Shadow as someone else suggested. I don't think they make them any bigger than the 750 now which is sad. I have an older 1100 and I wouldn't suggest going any lower than that for big guys on a cruiser if you want passengers. I feel that cruisers make riders, especially new ones, less tempted to get into problems related to acceleration and speed (ie. wheelies and showing off). I love them both, but it takes a certain maturity to know your limits and knowledge to understand the bike. As for getting over your fear of getting smeared... that never completely leaves. It really is a war zone out there. US AGAINST CARS. That's why it brings bikers from all backgrounds together so quickly because we're more conscious of the dangers we face every day. Other feel differently I'm sure, but for me, when a good friend comes to me who has never ridden and they want me to help them decide if they should buy a bike, I NEVER ENCOURAGE THEM. Now, if they think long and hard and decide they want to come into our world, then by all means I'll help them shop for a bike and I'll show them the ropes

[iTrev]

Originally Posted by Sun Rider

Hmm, 2007 650R huh? Sounds pricy I was hoping to get something around $1500 and just not worry about dropping it, plus have the added bonus of getting the same value out of it when I sell it later to get my brand new bike.

Depends... I bought mine brand new for $5800 out the door. I don't think it was too pricey or too cheap.

I just so happen to be selling it by the way but even used it's worth a bit more than $1500. :/

[Sun Rider]

Originally Posted by iTrev

Depends... I bought mine brand new for $5800 out the door. I don't think it was too pricey or too cheap.

I just so happen to be selling it by the way but even used it's worth a bit more than $1500. :/

Well, I don't plan on laying down a bike or crashing in any way....but I will plan FOR it so I can be prepared if it does happen. I think that is a good way to look at it, and thus I dont wan't to tempt fate and get something outside of my price range for "throw away" bikes. honestly, I completely agree with everyone on the forums, and I just want something I can ride and learn on, and NOT get myself into trouble with.

I'm onlye 28, and that leaves me plenty of time to have brand new, fancy and fast bikes!

[Sun Rider]

Well, I called T.E.A.M. Arizona this morning and go the low down on the beginer riding course. They are offering a 4 day course in late June, as opposed to the normal 3 day course. The reason this is good: the four day course is all night time. Thats right, I wont have to sit in the blazing Arizona sun in 105 degree weather, instead I will be riding at night, starting at 6pm.

Courple things I was wondering: Has anyone done the night riding course before? Also, they said I needed to bring eye protection that is clear, like saftey glasses. This seems odd to me, considering if I have a helmet on, why use eye protection? Also, they said I needed to wear shoes with ankle support. Is this true? Will I fail / be prevented from taking the class if I show up without shoes with ankle support?

Hmm, lots to think about....but I am excited still :P

[Dodsfall]

They will probably not allow you to take the class without the proper gear. The eye protection is to keep dirt and bugs out of your eyes. You will probably want to keep your visor open during the class.

[Sun Rider]

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

They will probably not allow you to take the class without the proper gear. The eye protection is to keep dirt and bugs out of your eyes. You will probably want to keep your visor open during the class.

OK, thanks! What about the shoes with ankle support?

[Dodsfall]

Originally Posted by Sun Rider

OK, thanks! What about the shoes with ankle support?

They will most likely send you home and tell you to sign up again once you get some boots. An inexpensive pair of hiking or work boots will work just fine. You don't need to spend a lot of money on them.

[Sun Rider]

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

They will most likely send you home and tell you to sign up again once you get some boots. An inexpensive pair of hiking or work boots will work just fine. You don't need to spend a lot of money on them.

Sounds like a PITA....I guess if I have to, I have to. Thanks for the input all, and keep the bike suggestions coming! I am signing up for that class on June 21st, so it will be a couple weeks before I will have any updates. But rest assured: when I pass the class and get a bike, you will all definitely hear from me and maybe get some pics

Happy riding!

[Dodsfall]

Wearing sturdy boots is really a good idea when you ride. The extra support and protection around the ankle area is worthwhile. I won't ride without them.