Skills to Learn

[RetroGrouch]

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Recover from a front tire skid.

 

[LoneRonin]

13) doing a kickstand spin? (though IIRC it's not easy on the 250)

yes it is.

 

[bsawant]

7) swerving to avoid objects falling out of trucks/cars stopping abruptly
8) braking in a turn.................................................I am okay with this at around 30-50 kph, havn't had the chance to do it at higher speeds
9) emergency brake with front/rear........................Practicing this for a bit, any tips on being terrified of locking up the front?
10) riding in the rain...............................................Do this regularly (love riding too much to let a little rain bother me)
11) slow speed maneuvers....................................What other slow speed maneuvers should i work on other than U-turn right and left?
12) starting from a stop with the wheels turned?..If this is for those left turns when in the middle of the intersection then I am good with this
13) doing a kickstand spin? (though IIRC it's not easy on the 250)

.tried and tried, just can't get the hang of it!

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.

LOL always keep the bike shiny, whether to timmies or not!

Don't think making U-turns to the right is really going to be needed in NA. Instead, Slow speed maneuvers in general.

I started to practice this when to be more comfortable with parking lots/especially motorcycle designated. Also, during the first week i learned i was very uncomfortable with making right u-turns, slow and fast, so, decided to practice.

Coming to a complete stop & taking off while facing uphill.

Good with this one, What i do for this is be on my back break and as soon as i feel the friction zone kick in i release and get going

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.
looks like my gf is going to be walking beside me more often lol.

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.
never think i'll ever be fully road aware, there is always someone doing something unexpected. however, i've become good at reading "body language" of cars and always maintaining a good following distance.

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...

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.I'll keep this one in mind, new rule for me is to stay far away from distracted drivers and looking out for potentially hazardous junk in the trunk!

Awareness > reaction

Breaking hard at highway/secondary road speeds (120 - 80 kms) without locking up wheels

i'll be sure to practise this one more, as i still sometimes lock the rear

Recover from a front tire skid.

Terrified of doing this, any tips?


Thanks for the awesome reply guys, really helpful!

 

[3fundred]

Putting your bike on a rearstand yourself

 

[bsawant]

Putting your bike on a rearstand yourself

hahah i do that every night, only way it will fit in the garage with the 2 cars.

also, a bit off topic has anyone used clear skateboard griptape on their rear seat?

(wish we had a "Questions we think are too narrow to start a thread on" thread)

 

[bboySushi]

Putting your bike on a rearstand yourself

^+1!!

Don't know how many times I've had to do this. Sucks for GSXRs because our kickstands are so short so it always feels like it keeps leaning over. The front stand is even harder for me..think the stand I have is just messed up though

 

[RetroGrouch]

Terrified of doing this, any tips?

No one actually practices front tire skidding. It just happens sometimes and if you come out smelling like daisies instead of pushing them, you've succeeded.

 

[KarGo]

1) Not group riding with people you meet at Tim Horton's

SO true, met some guys going west one night. As soon as we hit the highway they ride like retards, going well over 160, weaving, etc. Never again.....

 

[Joe250]

No one actually practices front tire skidding. It just happens sometimes and if you come out smelling like daisies instead of pushing them, you've succeeded.

I'm 0/1

 

[Kuro]

Useful

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

 

[bsawant]

Thanks, for the vid! very helpful. Also, glad he said centripetal not centrifugal

 

[Kri$han]

Ugh, well for one, learn the difference between "braking" and "breaking".

 

[jc100]

^ beat me to it.

Also...kick stand spins, hmm....do you know much about metal fatigue?

 

[bleed_blue]

[video=youtube;41rrJx23hAY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41rrJx23hAY[/video]

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