by "PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
Published 10/30/2017 at 08:33
by "PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
Published 10/30/2017 at 08:33
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So as some of you may remember, this summer, I dug out my motorcycle out of the garage. Took it for a spin around the block. Landed it on my ankle and spent the rest of the time recovering.
Contemplated either taking ANOTHER Motorcycle safety course or sell motorcycle.
I figured I’ll take another motorcycle safety class.
So this weekend, I was taking the class. Going around a turn and like an idiot, grabbed the front brake. Front wheel got away from me... and landed motorcycle on same fucking ankle.
Now, granted my error in brake grabbing, but also motorcycle was much too small for me. Handle bars were digging into my knees on the turn so I had to make lots of adjustments to make a turn.
Also, I didn’t feel like a complete idiot, when instructor did a face plant off a motorcycle while doing a demo for the class. I feel bad he got hurt (not terribly) but still. Been instructor since 1985. I suppose everyone succumbs to gravity sooner or later.
So now... I’ve seen my instructor eat pavement. I’ve landed bike on me twice.
Do I give up? Do I sell my bike and proclaim failure or do I get back on the horse and try again?
Sometimes the stars align themselves just so that it is a sign that it’s not meant to be.
Other times, it’s just a course you have to go through to get better experience before you get out there in the real world.
"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
10/30/2017 at 08:35, STARS: 0
Is that a 700 or 1100?
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/30/2017 at 08:36, STARS: 0
That one is an internet image. Mine is 1100.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
10/30/2017 at 08:38, STARS: 1
keep going!
do NOT give up.
"McMike" (mcmike)
10/30/2017 at 08:50, STARS: 0
It’s not the use of the front brake in a slow turn that concerns me, but how MUCH front brake you grabbed.
Are you in the habit of only using the rear brake while riding?
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
10/30/2017 at 08:53, STARS: 2
Are you having fun? Does this sound like something you want to do for years? If so then persevere. If not, no harm in saying you gave it a shot but it isn’t for you. I am riding more and more on trails and dirt roads these days and while the falls are more common, they hurt a bit less and I’m not worried about being lunched by a semi truck. The pain is worth the fun. But if it wasn’t fun, I’d sell the bike and get out of it all.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/30/2017 at 09:01, STARS: 0
Let’s say I don’t have habits. I tooks MSFT class1. Got my license. Got my bike... and parked it. Several years later, landed it on my ankle. Took MSFT2. Landed it on my ankle.
So as you can see, I have nearly 0 experience and therefore no habits.
I was going around a curve and with handlebars in the way, ended up going a bit too fast. Natural reaction is to slow down. So I grabbed the first brake control that came to mind.
After that however, I was riding those rear brakes a LOT.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/30/2017 at 09:03, STARS: 0
I wish I can find some dirt near me to go and ride... I would even ride my street bike on dirt. I can care less. It’s over 20 years old. Its not in mint condition so few scratches won’t hurt it a bit. But I am also nervous taking it out on a highway. I can’t keep it between my legs in a parking lot in front of instructors... for now... but damn it, I am stubborn.
"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
10/30/2017 at 09:19, STARS: 1
Are you having fun? Does this sound like something you want to do for
years? If so then persevere. If not, no harm in saying you gave it a
shot but it isn’t for you.
This is key.
I owned a motorcycle for a couple of years, nothing special, but it was a fun little bike. I sold it after I realized that I put less than 1000 miles on it in the 2 years I owned it.
It just wasn’t for me.
Though I do dream of getting a dirt bike someday...
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
10/30/2017 at 10:01, STARS: 0
Different people will tell you different percentages, but everyone agrees that the front brake provides most of your stopping power. At the extreme end, some racers use an ATV thumb throttle as a rear brake lever.
I watched an inexperienced rider split the lane between me and the adjacent car at a red light, his rear wheel completely locked and the front wheel rolling. He was lucky to get it stopped before he slid into the crossing traffic.
Brake dynamics on a bike are a funny thing. The front brake will make the bike want to stand up until the tire loses grip and slides out. When braking, your weights shifts forward, unloading the rear tire. That makes it very easy for the rear tire to start sliding.
How old are the tires on your bike? Old tires can get hard and slippery and that might be part of your problem.
What is the condition of the pads and rotors? Old pads can do weird things like unexpectedly gripping when they were gently raking a moment before. This isn’t much of an issue in a car, but on a motorcycle, it can put you on your butt in the blink of an eye.
How good are you at modulating the brakes? You can’t just grab the brakes while on a bike, especially when cornering. Just like in a car, any sudden changes upset the balance of the vehicle, but on a bike, these can result in you kissing the pavement. It isn’t clear from your description if the front washed out or the rear slid out. If it was the front and there wasn’t any debris on the road, I’d take a good look at that front tire.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/30/2017 at 10:06, STARS: 0
This was on a motorcycle provided in class. frequently ridden. With all good pads and running well and often.
What I am saying is that as an idiot, in the curve, with bike leaning, i tapped the front brakes to slow down.... when you do that.... you end up like me... under a bike. Don’t be like me. Don’t end up under a bike. Get cable.
As for my bike. That was a different issue. Again.... problem between keyboard and the chair.
I know I need practice... but if every time i go out to practice I end up with an injury, i think i will leave this sport to professionals
"AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
10/30/2017 at 10:24, STARS: 0
So, you bought a motorcycle that is 1100cc and you are just taking riding courses? (Did I miss the part where you rode dirt bikes from the age of 2-15?
If I didn’t miss that, then...) I suggest that you keep riding, but maybe sell the 1100 and get a bike between 300-600cc.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/30/2017 at 10:28, STARS: 0
Oh, I rode bikes since I could stand... they were tricycles or bicycles. no motors.
All the motorcycle owners I had ever encountered said like one - i wish I had more CCs. Get a big bubba and have room to grow.
I might not sell my 1100... but might get me a 300-500 to get a little better experience.
"nermal" (nermal)
10/30/2017 at 10:35, STARS: 1
Work on understanding how a motorcycle handles (and crashes).
Using the front brake will not cause you to crash. Using the front brake in a turn will not cause you to crash, when done correctly the motorcycle will actually turn better. Either trail brake into the turn, or apply the brakes lightly enough that the front doesn’t lose traction. Getting scared and quickly grabbing a handful of front brake in a turn will cause you to crash, however.
Focus on raising your eyes and looking thru the turn, where you want to go. This will slow things down and reduce the panic factor. Practice being smooth applying and releasing the brakes - don’t stab them on and release quickly.
The MSF course teaches panic stopping, where they want you to stand the bike up and grab a handful of brakes to stop in a hurry around a turn.
"AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
10/30/2017 at 10:40, STARS: 1
The more CCs thing is sort of real, but its also dependent on location, and rider skill. Here in Okinawa I can’t think of any reason to buy a bike that is bigger than a 700 even if I thought I could ride a larger bike to its limit (I can’t). Speed limits max out at 80kph (that’s on the tollway) with 50kph being the normal, and lane splitting/filtering is a main reason for having a motorcycle so getting a bigger bike just makes those things more difficult.
For instance: I have to ride a 1300 for the license exam, and I’m supposed to shift it out of first gear, but the fastest I can go during the test is 40kph. I can barely put it into 2nd gear at that speed.
I would definitely get something smaller. That way you can use the throttle a bit more without having to worry about unleashing a huge monster.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/30/2017 at 10:48, STARS: 0
yep. All true. But there is also the idiot factor. ME. Only way to fix this idiot is to either keep practicing or give up and take a bus
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
10/30/2017 at 11:11, STARS: 0
Well said.
"Monkey B" (monkeyb)
10/30/2017 at 11:40, STARS: 0
my feeling is it’s something you either get or you don’t. It all moves much more quickly when out on the roads with many other nuances past basic control. Riding is fun, but if you are apprehensive it’s not...and being apprehensive makes it more likely there will be a mistake.
I would say if you are intent to learn and really want to ride consider getting a dirt bike and hone your skill with a lighter machine that won’t mind being dropped along a softer landing surface. Increased comfort level and understanding of the dynamics will free your thought process up to handle the other aspects of it.
"Monkey B" (monkeyb)
10/30/2017 at 11:44, STARS: 1
another thing of note, cruisers aren’t exactly the easiest to control, especially at low speed. Weight and poor riding position are detrimental to rider control.
I wouldn’t try to ride that bike off road....it’s ill suited
"Tristan" (casselts)
10/30/2017 at 12:18, STARS: 0
Ninja 250 = 30 hp
Ninja 500 = 50 hp
Shadow 1100 = 50 hp
CBR600RR = 105 hp
I hate that CCs are arbitrarily used to determine rideability. I went straight from my beginner MSF class to riding a borrowed FRZ600, then immediately bought a Honda Valkyrie which I rode for 40,000 miles without incident. I’m 6'7" and 230 pounds. I would be an accident waiting to happen on a ninja 250. A 100 HP bike doesn’t have 100 HP from idle to redline... If your reaction in a tense situation is to crank the throttle wide open, you probably shouldn’t ride because that reaction will kill you on any bike.
"nermal" (nermal)
10/30/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 1
Work on the mental aspect first.
The adage “Whether or not you think you can, you’re probably right” applies here. First convince yourself that you are able to do it, and then proceed.
"Spoon II" (Spoon_II)
10/30/2017 at 13:02, STARS: 0
I use my bike almost exclusively for around town (80kph and below), mostly because the highways where I live are potholed terrors. Nothing wrong with using it as a town commuter vehicle! And it’ll help you build up maneuvering skills!
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/30/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 1
If I need to get around town, i need a car because more likely than not, I am transporting the missus or something bulky in the car for the yard or something.
I am too chickenshit to get motorcycle on a highway because there is more than 100% chance, i will be sitting in traffic.
I need to get me a light bike so I can practice going around the block.. .then take it on a highway and see how I do. get used to shenanigans and then take the big boy out
"AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
10/30/2017 at 21:01, STARS: 0
Actually, a large amount of variables go into what makes a motorcycle good for an individual to ride. The size and weight of the rider being one.
You sir, are a bonafide dragon slayer, and obviously shouldn’t consider a smaller motorcycle. You also rode a bike with (if I remember correctly) a stock 2up position for a bit to gain skills, which you had the luxury of borrowing from a friend - a bike that is also set up to bring the hp in the high revs. (Me, I’m 6'2" and 180lbs. so I don’t really fit a small bike either.)
PartyPooper is pretty obviously not you (or me), considering the two falls, and wondering if he should keep trying. Since one fall was on his 20 year old bike he isn’t familiar with, and the other is on a (most likely) poorly maintained, abused 250 generic/cheapest the course could keep running, then yes he should keep trying.
And I wasn’t talking about opening the throttle wide open in a panic situation. I was talking about grabbing a lot of throttle and not being ready for the acceleration, which can cause panic.
Oh, and just consider the difference for mere mortals that a 66% increase in power could make (30 increased to 50 isn’t small). I started on a GS500 - it had plenty of hp to get a beginner into trouble, and it probably had less than when it was new.
The point is: tailor your advice to the person when possible.
Oh, and I hate the way your story ends. That tale always bothered me when reading Arthurian legends.
"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
10/31/2017 at 08:35, STARS: 0
I had an ‘86 Shadow 1100. Loved that bike. Not as scooty as the V65 Magna before it, but a great comfy ride for longer trips.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/31/2017 at 08:41, STARS: 0
Yeah. It’s definitely not scooty but it is comfortable. I just wish it was a few tons lighter.