First day on a motorcycle. Wow - why didn't I do this sooner? | GTAMotorcycle.com

First day on a motorcycle. Wow - why didn't I do this sooner?

R

roark007

Member
Forum Sponsor
I'm taking a MSF course in toronto and we got quite a lot of riding in today. Incredibly fun. Had no trouble with friction zone control - maneuvering could be tighter of course. Only trouble was when we went to first - then second - and then back to first for a hairpin corner. They didn't want us to hold the clutch in around the corner - just leave it in first and make a nice tight turn - sometimes it worked out - but a lot of the times the bike was jerking around (during the corner)

Any tips?
 
There is a difference between holding the clutch in and keeping it in the friction zone. Easiest way to be smooth at really low speeds is to feather the clutch and/or keep it in the friction zone, while also using some rear brake.
 
I know it's hard with everyone in front holding up traffic but if you can stay slightly on the throttle through the turn that will eliminate the jerkiness and make your life easier. Glad you're having fun, I miss those days and the excitement of learning to ride.
 
Yup, you need to keep some tension on the drivetrain to avoid the jerkiness. That means a bit of throttle and/or a bit of rear brake. I remember being taught that and it helps a lot.
 
I'll keep everything in mind tomorrow. Thanks everyone - great advice. I wasn't clear earlier though - for this particular turn - they wanted our hands completely off the clutch. Anyway - I was just looking at the m1 road test components online - it seems like the test is ridiculously easy compared to the exercises they had us pulling today. Has this been everyone's experience? From what I can tell there's a walk test. A serpentine ride. And an acceleration and stop procedure. It seems like there should be more to it if they want to unleash people on to the road.
 
yes my friend you got it.
that is what the test is all about and depends where you went for your course.
somewhat have a different angle to the test.
good luck with the test
 
roark007 said:
I'll keep everything in mind tomorrow. Thanks everyone - great advice. I wasn't clear earlier though - for this particular turn - they wanted our hands completely off the clutch. Anyway - I was just looking at the m1 road test components online - it seems like the test is ridiculously easy compared to the exercises they had us pulling today. Has this been everyone's experience? From what I can tell there's a walk test. A serpentine ride. And an acceleration and stop procedure. It seems like there should be more to it if they want to unleash people on to the road.
Click to expand...

If you can't touch the clutch then rear brake and some (smooth/steady) throttle is likely your friend.

As for the test, it is easier than the rest of the stuff they have you do on day 1, however they are pretty strict regarding time to complete certain parts, and staying within the lines they draw in the lot. I know I lost marks on one test as I stopped a few inches short of the box they wanted my front tire in (since you can't really look down) -- something that really doesn't matter at all when on the actual road.
 
mstram said:
So, what happened on day 2 ?

Did you pass ?
Click to expand...


You know what - I didn't. It was brutal. I had no major issues all weekend - only stalled once. But on my test - I stalled right out of the gate. Then I stalled right out of the gate on my 2nd test. It was insane. As soon as they added a guy timing me with a stopwatch and a testing environment - I just froze up. It was the craziest thing. Anyway - I'm re-doing the test on saturday but honestly I don't know how it's going to go. I just don't do well with tests. Does anyone know what the re-test is like at the colleges? I have a bike to practice on - but I don't want to take it out anywhere without insurance first. Not even a parking lot for fear the cops will bust me instantly.
 
Bummer.

So 2 stalls is a failure ?

Did you stall it "starting off the line", or while already moving ?

Have you gotten ins quotes for M1 vs M2 ?

Wherever you have the bike parked now, you could at least practice friction zone starting without "driving anywhere". Just rocking it back and forth ~10 feet

>As soon as they added a guy timing me with a stopwatch and a testing environment - I just froze up

As silly / newage .. whatever it might sound like, you might practice "mental visualization" and relaxation exercises. Sports athletes do it all the time, have "mental coaches" to help them with "high pressure" situations.

Deep breathing, is a fundamental of all relaxation / medition exercises.

Any situation is only "high pressure" to *you*, and how you react.

Let your jaw "hang", relax your hands and wrists and all muscles in your body like a "rag doll".

Tell yourself a joke, remind yourself of an amusing situation.

Think about the 6 billion other people on the planet who don't know you're taking a test, and they dont care :)

MIke

 
Last edited:
good advice. i don't think it was the stalling that failed me per say- only that I had crossed a line and I now have a certain amount of time to get to the other end. Stalling lengthened my time considerably.

Friction zone wasn't really a problem. I need to simulate a testing environment where I shift from 1st to 2nd - but I'm worried about being busted for trying.
 
Did you stall it shifting into / out of second ?

What's stopping you from getting insurance ?

End of season ?

Where are you storing the bike in the winter ? If it's somewhere where you're going to want theft / vandalism insurance, might as well get the insurance.

Otherwise, you might inquire if 2 or 3 month insurance is available.
 
There's no point getting insurance with just an m1 - I haven't looked into it - but I highly doubt you can get a good rate without the safety course completion certificate.

I stalled it going from 1st to 2nd - immediately after starting. Had no problem doing this all weekend - but under pressure I let the clutch out too fast.
 
roark007 said:
There's no point getting insurance with just an m1 - I haven't looked into it - but I highly doubt you can get a good rate without the safety course completion certificate.
Click to expand...

If your rate is not going to be significantly different between an M1 or M2 + course I'd say that's worth looking into.

And that raises an interesting question.

Does passing the test signify "course completion" ? Or is passing the test a seperate "entity" from "completing the course". Might be a good question to ask an insurance broker.

There are numerous threads here on 1) Will companies insure just an M1 and 2) Do companies take the safety course into consideration. I think I've read them all :) As I don't have a license or bike yet, but have been researching.

From what I've read (I haven't called any companies yet), the only company that might take the course into consideration is Rider's Plus.

One of the threads I read, someone here wrote that every company they called, they didn't care about course completion, just how long you've had your license and what level.

Mike
 
Actually I got my ninja 250R and my M2 recently, base on what I can tell, most insurance company don't care rather if you got your M1 or M2 but more about how many years you have your "G". I called Statefarm and TD, I went with statefarm because they were cheaper, they insure me with my M1 and even after i got my M2, still the same price, I took the RTI safety course, they did not take that into consideration, but i got a great rate from statefarm, very cheap!, So now I am trying to sell my 250R and move onto something bigger. =) If it sell great, if not than I'll just keep riding it, soo fun! Gratz on your decision, I will say it is great to ride and it is def a lot of fun =), I for one also found this out 1st hand haha.
 
roark007 said:
I stalled it going from 1st to 2nd - immediately after starting. Had no problem doing this all weekend - but under pressure I let the clutch out too fast.
Click to expand...

Um.. you shouldnt be shifting to 2nd "immediately after starting". Is that what you did? ? Or you dumped clutch immediately and didnt get anywhere?? Either way - It takes some time to ride thru 1st gear so you can shift to 2nd properly. Each gear is made for a certain speed range - so when you shift too early.. youre in too high a range for the speed youre actually travelling - then the motorcycle bogs or stalls.

FYI - The test is not about "time" or how fast you can do the sections in. Its about TECHNIQUE!!!!!
Poor technique = errors. Its simple. So focus on your technique not: "OMG I have to be faster!!"!

Students always get caught up in the fact that it's timed. If you shift too early that IS improper technique. The student is not listening to the feedback the motorcycle is giving them and now the engine will bog or stall bc of this early shift. This causes a speed error on the test but is a DIRECT result from poor technique. See what I mean??!
When a student crosses a line during the test it demonstrates a lack of control of the motorcycle (from poor technique) -yikes! Crossing lines are weighted heavily for points...because it could obviously have serious consequences. The good news is that is typical in the learning phase!!! Totally normal. You just need some good coaching tips and for sure MORE practice.

The retests at schools/organizations are usually the same. They allow you some practice time - and then if youre ready - take the test. The MTO allows a student 2 tests before they feel the course must be repeated. So if youre not ready - dont take the retest - and reschedule for more practice and test at another time (within that season). And retests are usually WAY more relaxed than the test during the course... so the students nerves are def less.

However, I would recommend a quick private lesson for you (from a professional who can teach you properly). Many riders dont realize that this is a long journey and continual education is a MUST to be proficient.. So ANY money you put into your riding education gets returned to you ten-fold. Every year you should take at least ONE kind of development course in riding. And in your first few years you should def take a few more.

Have fun!!!
ride with SOUL
www.motorsoul.ca
 
Last edited:
roark007 said:
You know what - I didn't. It was brutal. I had no major issues all weekend - only stalled once. But on my test - I stalled right out of the gate. Then I stalled right out of the gate on my 2nd test. It was insane. As soon as they added a guy timing me with a stopwatch and a testing environment - I just froze up. It was the craziest thing. Anyway - I'm re-doing the test on saturday but honestly I don't know how it's going to go. I just don't do well with tests. Does anyone know what the re-test is like at the colleges? I have a bike to practice on - but I don't want to take it out anywhere without insurance first. Not even a parking lot for fear the cops will bust me instantly.
Click to expand...

FYI, when I did mine with RTI the bikes were pretty much hit-or-miss, in that some were fine, some had dodgy clutches, others had transmission problems, etc, etc. What I made sure to do for day2 is scope out a good running bike (in my case a CBR125R) and then attempt to 'claim' that bike for the remainder of the day. I didn't do that on day1, and with at least one of the bikes I used that day, I would have liked failed the tests as well, since it would not kick up into 2nd 60% of the time (and typically get stuck in first or neutral).
 
Otay said:
Actually I got my ninja 250R and my M2 recently, base on what I can tell, most insurance company don't care rather if you got your M1 or M2 but more about how many years you have your "G". I called Statefarm and TD, I went with statefarm because they were cheaper, they insure me with my M1 and even after i got my M2, still the same price, I took the RTI safety course, they did not take that into consideration, but i got a great rate from statefarm, very cheap!, So now I am trying to sell my 250R and move onto something bigger. =) If it sell great, if not than I'll just keep riding it, soo fun! Gratz on your decision, I will say it is great to ride and it is def a lot of fun =), I for one also found this out 1st hand haha.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure most companies don't actually have M1 rates -- I know when I called TD MM, they said they only do M2 and M, however they give M1 riders M2 rates assuming they 1. take the course, and 2. upgrade to a M2 within either 60 or 90 days of getting insurance. Side note, I did call them after passing and they didn't seem to care about the course certificate number at that point in time, and only cared that I had upgraded to a M2 license.
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom