Skills to Learn

bsawant

bsawant

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So, I did a quick search and didn't seem to find one with all info in one place.

Anywho, I've been riding for 2 months now around 3500kms and I am looking to see what skills should any new rider learn as we advance?
So far I can/am comfortable with:

1) Rev Match while downshifting, applying the front brakes, and at constant speed
2) U-turn on a standard 2 lane road without putting my foot down (right and left turns)
3) leaned the Ninja 250 until the stock 130 rear started to get a bit dodgy
4) have counter-steer down fairly well
5) Looking where I'am going especially when turning
6) In group rides staying on my side of the lane on straights and turning
7)???
8)???
 
7) swerving to avoid objects falling out of trucks/cars stopping abruptly
8) braking in a turn
9) emergency brake with front/rear
10) riding in the rain
11) slow speed maneuvers
12) starting from a stop with the wheels turned?
13) doing a kickstand spin? (though IIRC it's not easy on the 250)
 
Master texting with your gloves on.... Lol
 
1) Not group riding with people you meet at Tim Horton's
2) Not meeting at Tim Horton's to go group riding with people
3) Keeping your bike shiny for the ride to Tim Horton's
4) Don't spill coffee/iced cap on your ride so it's still shiny when you leave Tim Horton's
5) Remembering to bring paper bills so your change doesn't fall out of your pockets while riding to Tim Horton's.
6) Not bothering to learn the kick stand spin... it takes X-times to drop the bike before you actually learn it.
 
Don't think making U-turns to the right is really going to be needed in NA. Instead, Slow speed maneuvers in general.
 
Coming to a complete stop & taking off while facing uphill.
 
AL3RT said:
Coming to a complete stop & taking off while facing uphill.
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I almost got surprised with an off-camber uphill stop. I didn't notice the horizontal slope and almost binned it. Luckily I can reach the ground pretty easily on both sides.
 
Mr.Azim said:
1) Not group riding with people you meet at Tim Horton's
2) Not meeting at Tim Horton's to go group riding with people
3) Keeping your bike shiny for the ride to Tim Horton's
4) Don't spill coffee/iced cap on your ride so it's still shiny when you leave Tim Horton's
5) Remembering to bring paper bills so your change doesn't fall out of your pockets while riding to Tim Horton's.
6) Not bothering to learn the kick stand spin... it takes X-times to drop the bike before you actually learn it.
Click to expand...

What do you have against tim hortons?
 
I like the suggestion to practice riding at walking speed. Beyond that I would think you pretty well just need to keep riding and doing what you're doing.

Practicing being 'road-aware' would be the only thing I don't see on your list of skills you have developed. I know you are developing them, but it's one thing I don't think too many people consciously realize to be a vital skill.

Being able to lean a bike over and go fast is nice, but that's not gonna save you from being cut-off, or t-boned or cresting a hill with someone in your lane, etc...
 
Critical thinking on adrenalin: Only way to master this, is through muscle memory and constant and consistent practices. If you have to think about something during an emergency situation, you're gonna have a bad time because 99.9% of your being will tell you to abandon course and escape, where the prudent actions is to carry it through to safety. Look up Keith Code's twist of the wrist video (I think it's on youtube in segments). He spends quite a bit of time on this.
 
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xfactor said:
Critical thinking on adrenalin: Only way to master this is through muscle memory and constant and consistent practices. Ff you have to think about something during an emergency situation, you're gonna have a bad time because 99.9% of your being will tell you to abandon course and escape, where the prudent actions is to carry it through to safety. Look up Keith Code's twist of the wrist video (I think it's on youtube in segments). He spends quite a bit of time on this.
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Full Video Here http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforu...ist-II-refresh-your-skills-for-the-new-season

I'd say the most important skills, other than riding your bike of course, are to protect yourself from the idiots in this city.
 
I remember the guy from Fast Riding School telling us all the time "Smooth is fast, fast is smooth!" Be smooth...
 
Bagman said:
I like the suggestion to practice riding at walking speed. Beyond that I would think you pretty well just need to keep riding and doing what you're doing.

Practicing being 'road-aware' would be the only thing I don't see on your list of skills you have developed. I know you are developing them, but it's one thing I don't think too many people consciously realize to be a vital skill.

Being able to lean a bike over and go fast is nice, but that's not gonna save you from being cut-off, or t-boned or cresting a hill with someone in your lane, etc...
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Looking ahead and around and then some more recognize potential danger is better than reacting. I try to never follow a pickup truck full of misc furniture / junk this way you never have to dodge when stuff falls out. Picking out the lane changers that are in front of you and the ones that dont signal etc.

Awareness > reaction
 
Ymax said:
Looking ahead and around and then some more recognize potential danger is better than reacting. I try to never follow a pickup truck full of misc furniture / junk this way you never have to dodge when stuff falls out. Picking out the lane changers that are in front of you and the ones that dont signal etc.

Awareness > reaction
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This is a lot of the reason why I don't think new people should start on ss. I was always taught that sitting up made you more aware and have a better line of sight for everything. A lot of people get 'tunnel vision' on a rocket and that's not good when you're learning.
 
xfactor said:
Critical thinking on adrenalin: Only way to master this is through muscle memory and constant and consistent practices. Ff you have to think about something during an emergency situation, you're gonna have a bad time because 99.9% of your being will tell you to abandon course and escape, where the prudent actions is to carry it through to safety. Look up Keith Code's twist of the wrist video (I think it's on youtube in segments). He spends quite a bit of time on this.
Click to expand...

its all in 1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVWNinsmkAw

[video=youtube;bVWNinsmkAw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVWNinsmkAw[/video]
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