How long did it take?
- Thread starter 03CobraT
- Start date
Laylas_Mom
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...sigh... I shall not man-bash on the oRg... That's what facebook is for... Mwah ahahah
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Posted via Mobile Device
Everyone is different. You need to start riding in traffic to get used to it.
A couple of hints:
1. Be Ultra-aware of the vehicles around you.
2. Don't crowd the cars in front. Whatever distance looks good, and double that for following distance.
3. Keep and eye on the cars behind you to make sure they aren't crowding you.
4. Get a Kisan PathBlazer headlight modulator, unless you are going to get an HID. The flashing gets better attention in traffic, but both are more visible to others than stock bulbs. Also, get a Back-Off on the brakelight ASAP.
5. Ride with good gear, all of it, even if it's just around the block.
6. Always look for an "out" that you can ride to for safety in the traffic. I have used the left median/shoulder a couple of times, which is the only reason I'm still alive today.
And the last:
7: Relax and enjoy. It's a passion that most people will never understand.
I stopped at 7 on purpose.
Excellent advice.
Assuming you have taken the MSF Basic Rider Course, add to that what Layas' mom mentioned about going out early in the morning with a friend a few times and you rshould be fine.
Laylas_Mom
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Really...the course in my town was very good. Highly recommend it.
RACER_X
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you get what you want outta the course. if you already know everything going into the course, what do you have to learn? /sarcasm
the most common person that doesn't get "anything" out of the course are usually young males, who've been riding a few months on their own.
i've had riders w/ centuries of exp. get something outta the class.
+1 I have actually never received feedback from any student saying that they did not get much out of the course. Hopefully you provided something on the course evaluation form so the program could be improved. The MSF takes student feedback seriously inorder to provides the best material possible.
Let me as you this:
- What were you hoping to get out of the class that you did not get?
- What would have made it more rewarding?
- What would you have added to the course material and what would you have taken away?
FanaticalKilla
Registered
The motorcycle training course is the single best thing that you can do for yourself. It teaches you things that you need to learn before you get into situation where you don't know what the hell your doing and you go down.
Emergency braking, clutch engagement and control, throttle control, counter steering, low speed control, how to control most any bike in a skid.
These are the fundamentals for riding most any motorcycle. I'll admit it won't make you confident, it gives you the fundamentals for when you get in a situation. A) You don't panic B) You act on instinct C) Hopefully live to ride another day. If you don't think the training school didn't do anything for you fine so be it. Go do some track days. There is nothing else in the world that will make you a better street rider. Pushing a bike to its limits and knowing what it is going to do and when it is going to bite you in the ass.
Emergency braking, clutch engagement and control, throttle control, counter steering, low speed control, how to control most any bike in a skid.
These are the fundamentals for riding most any motorcycle. I'll admit it won't make you confident, it gives you the fundamentals for when you get in a situation. A) You don't panic B) You act on instinct C) Hopefully live to ride another day. If you don't think the training school didn't do anything for you fine so be it. Go do some track days. There is nothing else in the world that will make you a better street rider. Pushing a bike to its limits and knowing what it is going to do and when it is going to bite you in the ass.
RACER_X
Registered
my guess is most riders push to their limits, not the bikes......
and i agree after you're comfortable w/ the bike do a trackday and see how slow you really are........
and yes i'm slow......
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I think this is a trick question. I've been riding for years and I never feel comfortable in traffic. I much rather be alone in the middle of nowhere than in heavy traffic. For me heavy traffic is sensory overload.
As others have said sign up for a MSF course even if you have your license. You won't regret that decision at all.
Oh and
As others have said sign up for a MSF course even if you have your license. You won't regret that decision at all.
Oh and
The course is great, I personally didnt feel like I got that much out of it. But the female instructor who was teaching the class was a real nasty SOB. That probably didnt help. ON ANOTHER NOTE, i got the bike this morning. All i can say is WOW, its incredible, Id say its like a cadillac. Its really nice to ride but if you slam on the gas or rather throttle its like an untamed beast. I only did a few miles because I had to get to work, but it was amazing and I dont regret buying it, Im very happy with it and I plan on spending alot of time on it, learning the ins and out, while also respecting the power of it. I took it nice and easy today and I had all sorts of A Holes honking and cursing me out. People hate riders in NYC. Its ridiculous.
The instructor can make a difference.
- Did you fill out a course evaluation?
- What were you hoping to get out of the class that you did not get?
- What would have made it more rewarding?
- What would you have added to the course material and what would you have taken away?
Try Atlanta rush hour traffic in the rain. Had to goes at it yesterday.
When you're comfy. period. There's no time table here brother.
When you're comfy. period. There's no time table here brother.
jphilipson
Registered
Ughh.. I have experienced Atlanta traffic a few times... YUCK. I-75 is like 6 lanes coming into the city from the north and it's a dead stop at rush hour lol
tonsofun00
Registered
whenever i feel truly comfy i always get ran off the road. i am very comfortable and confident with myself as a rider but i dont trust any cager d-bags. enjoy the ride as much as possible but stay allert cause no one else is alert of u.
Thanks for all of the great advice, this is my first bike so i'm going to be extra cautious. I live north of atlanta in woodstock, so i'm sure that i'll hit the rush hour traffic eventually. Two of my friends will come over on Saturday and they are going to help me with my shifting and if anything goes wrong on the street. I love my Busa, but formost I respect my Busa and its power.
Thank you to everyone for welcoming me into the family, I have really found a home and will take any and all advice to heart. I hope to be able to join ya'll in some of the rides real soon
Thank you to everyone for welcoming me into the family, I have really found a home and will take any and all advice to heart. I hope to be able to join ya'll in some of the rides real soon
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Traffic adds a whole new dimension to riding. Think of it as a moving obstacle course. Just when you thiink you know the course, it changes and the changes are usualy not predictable. You need to make sure you know your bike very well. Know where all of the controls are without having to think about it. Know how your bike is going to react without having to think about it. In traffic, you need to be able to keep your attention fully on the obstacle course and not be distracted by having to think about what you need to be doing instead of reacting to the changes. Always anticipate what you think another driver within striking distance might do, and plan an escape route incase they do.
That's not meant to scare you. I commute on my bikes in St. Louis rush hour traffic every day. Like everything else, work up to it. Start riding where there isn't traffic, find places with moderate traffic, and eventualy you'll be zipping through rush hour traffic. Depending on where you live, you may need to ride early in the morning or ate at night to start out without traffic.
That's not meant to scare you. I commute on my bikes in St. Louis rush hour traffic every day. Like everything else, work up to it. Start riding where there isn't traffic, find places with moderate traffic, and eventualy you'll be zipping through rush hour traffic. Depending on where you live, you may need to ride early in the morning or ate at night to start out without traffic.
shadetree57
Registered
Man, What ever you do, Get you plenty of seat time before you get in that Atl traffic. I drove through there years ago in a car and when I got to the south side of the city my foot was litterally shaking. They sceer me in ATL. Just be easy with the Busa, It aint no baby. I know, Double negative but South Ga. Slang.
Good Luck and welcome.
Good Luck and welcome.Similar threads
