A milestone for me!! | GTAMotorcycle.com

A milestone for me!!

Driskal

Driskal

Member
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So I've only had my bike for about 2 weeks now. Never rode a motorcycle before. And today was big progress for me. I really havent had much of a problem with getting the bike going from a stop, but I was to afraid to put it into second gear. I have no idea why. I just couldnt do it. Well yesterday I was out practicing with my brother (who has been riding for over 5 years now) and I finally got her into second gear! It felt so good just to get over that hump. I dont know why I had such an issue with it. Now its a breeze!! I even took it out around the block for the first time yesterday as well. I felt really good to actually be riding and not just putting around my complex lol. Im gettin there, slowly but surely!! My safety course is in 2 weeks and I'm hoping that once I pass, I'll finally be "road ready"

Just wanted to share my trials with the other noobs like me!!
Happy riding
 
Haha good stuff. I was the opposite. Was more nervous stopping and going but was a breeze shifting gears. That all goes away pretty fast tho.
 
That's a new one. Well congrats on getting over it
 
Congratulations on your milestone... just some friendly advice = get comfortable shifting and become familiar with your bike's handling as "road ready" may take a little time and practice after the safety course. Ride safe and enjoy.
 
I remember those days. lol I'm so excited for you. It'll become second nature to you and you'll be out there cornering like a champ in no time. :)
 
Good for you. As they will tell you on the course
I'm hoping that once I pass, I'll finally be "road ready"
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isn't likely to be the case. You will have more knowledge but you'll still lack the experience. Find a nice big parking lot and practice everything you learn. When you have some parking lot time under your belt and are comfortable with panic stops and swerving then and only then venture out and make sure you are fully geared up. I'd also recommend riding with someone as much as you can for the first little while. Have them lead you then follow you and critique your moves. when you're not riding read and study all you can. Riding is a life long learning curve and you will never know it all. Good luck & enjoy.
 
The safety course will give you more tips on how to handle the bike which is good. Take the time to play around with the bike while you're practicing for the final test. I think in RTI's course they dont go past third. I cant remember if its third or second but they move through the course a little faster than what your probably used to. When you take the class, keep saying to yourself "If others can do it, so can I!" That should give you the push you need to get over an hurdles you encounter during the course. They want you to progress on your own time but they are limited to like 16 hours in 1 weekend. One tip before you start the course, get use to stopping and going and low speed turning and NOT looking at the ground. Turn with your eyes.
 
WESTBZERO said:
The safety course will give you more tips on how to handle the bike which is good. Take the time to play around with the bike while you're practicing for the final test. I think in RTI's course they dont go past third. I cant remember if its third or second but they move through the course a little faster than what your probably used to. When you take the class, keep saying to yourself "If others can do it, so can I!" That should give you the push you need to get over an hurdles you encounter during the course. They want you to progress on your own time but they are limited to like 16 hours in 1 weekend. One tip before you start the course, get use to stopping and going and low speed turning and NOT looking at the ground. Turn with your eyes.
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Yeah, keep your head/eyes forward and don't drop the bike. I believe it's only second gear they get up to. I took Learning Curves and it was only 1st and 2nd we were in. The first day can be a little overwhelming for someone who's never been on a motorcycle or dirt bike, etc, but after the first day, it will begin to feel like second nature.
 
Congrats on the milestone! Everyone has their own fears and it always feels great to beat them. In three months from now, you'll look back, laugh and wonder why this ever bothered you.

As for the course, the biggest omissions that I noticed when learning to ride, is that they don't teach you how to deal with a road-safe rate of speed (because you only get to 2nd or 3rd gear - in a parking lot), or how to deal with traffic. Take it slow and easy and eventually you'll get there.

Ride safe!
 
WESTBZERO said:
I think in RTI's course they dont go past third.
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Third gear is one of the lessons, but that is the lesson on downshifting.

Second third fourth fifth sixth - its all the same. The real reason to teach third gear is to teach a proper downshift. Plus it's in a parking lot-25-30 km/hr is plenty fast for new riders on a closed course.
 
Congrats -- pretty soon you'll be looking for the 7th gear which doesn't exist, lol.
 
Getting over stopping and going and shifting then comes stopping at lights on a steep hill... 1 test after another
 
Thanks for all the kind words and tips everyone!! I'm enjoying the challenge of learning to ride so much, all I wanna do is keep getting out there to practice more and more....Not enough hours in the day :(
 
Driskal said:
Thanks for all the kind words and tips everyone!! I'm enjoying the challenge of learning to ride so much, all I wanna do is keep getting out there to practice more and more....Not enough hours in the day :(
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Try not to ride when tired though...When you find yourself day dreaming on a straight stretch of road, it's time to stop ...that's my mental alarm clock...:D
 
Driskal said:
...but I was to afraid to put it into second gear. I have no idea why. I just couldnt do it...
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I had to smile to myself when I read your post. I remember those days oh so well! I don't believe I shifted during the course. I would just ease up on the throttle to slow down. It was too scary to attempt shifting. I think I was more afraid of doing something bad to the bike, more than anything. Now, after riding for several seasons, I can shift no problem. I'm still not sure about 'rev matching', but I'm sure one day I will have an 'ah ah' moment.

Good luck on the course. Yes, you'll be road ready after you pass, but there's so much to learn and it only comes with practice, practice, practice!
 
Driskal said:
So I've only had my bike for about 2 weeks now. Never rode a motorcycle before. And today was big progress for me. I really havent had much of a problem with getting the bike going from a stop, but I was to afraid to put it into second gear. I have no idea why. I just couldnt do it. Well yesterday I was out practicing with my brother (who has been riding for over 5 years now) and I finally got her into second gear! It felt so good just to get over that hump. I dont know why I had such an issue with it. Now its a breeze!! I even took it out around the block for the first time yesterday as well. I felt really good to actually be riding and not just putting around my complex lol. Im gettin there, slowly but surely!! My safety course is in 2 weeks and I'm hoping that once I pass, I'll finally be "road ready"

Just wanted to share my trials with the other noobs like me!!
Happy riding
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Very true, I've felt the same way. But once you find second, the rest will come easy! I've already started to look for 7th hahaha
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