New Rider Tips

I was reading SNOOPY's thread titled "New Rider" and the topic around seat height made me think about some of the mistakes I made when I first started riding not too long ago. Majority of my mistakes were made with zero speed or extremely low speed. Not all of them resulted with laying down the bike, but it's still better to avoid those scary moments. I thought it might help if we each shared our lessons learned for the new and experienced riders alike.

1. Staighten out before coming to a complete stop - Now this one I learned when I was taking the MSF Beginner Rider course, but the learner bike was a standard style 125cc, and it was extremely forgiving in many ways. It wasn't until I had my VFR did I realize the end result of not following this rule. This is most crucial when you come to a stop just before a left or right turn; Don't stop until you are straight.

2. When you come to a stop, pick a place where you can reach the ground - Unfortunately, I learned this one on my own. When coming out of say a gas station, as you attempt to merge into traffic, leave your front tire in the gutter (where the asphalt and side walk meet). If you stop with your front wheel 3-4 feet into the road, you may not be able to reach the ground. If you can reach the ground, you lean your bike. If you lean your bike too far, gravity will have it's way with your 480lb. bike.

3. When you stop on the shoulder, make sure the side stand won't sink into the dirt or mud - If you're not sure, move up a few feet or carry and use a puck. Also make sure the surface where you rest your side stand on is not higher than the surface your tires are resting on. One way to avoid this type of situation is to rotate the bike so that it points in a different direction. Often I find it helpful to point the front so that the bike is about 30 to 45 degrees into the flow of traffic. This also makes it easier to merge back into the traffic later.

Another thing that most new riders do not realize is to watch out (and avoid) for sand and/or gravel when paddling your bike around parking lots on the saddle with your feet. Sand and gravel will act like marbles under you feet and you can slip and drop the bike in an instant....sand and gravel is like kryptonite for two wheeled vehicles......specially 500+ pound motorcycles.....on the roads or on the parking lots....

Beck
95 VFR

Watch out for bike thieves too...they steal our bikes.

There's lots to add here, but at this point I'll add that you should ALWAYS leave the bike in gear when parked on the side stand. Center stands are for maintenance only. As soon as those tasks are done the bike should be returned to in gear on the side stand.

Your bike, and your wallet will thank you later.

There's lots to add here, but at this point I'll add that you should ALWAYS leave the bike in gear when parked on the side stand. Center stands are for maintenance only. As soon as those tasks are done the bike should be returned to in gear on the side stand.

Your bike, and your wallet will thank you later.

I'm curious as to why you state this. I have placed my VFR on the center stand about 95% of the time I park it.

There's lots to add here, but at this point I'll add that you should ALWAYS leave the bike in gear when parked on the side stand. Center stands are for maintenance only. As soon as those tasks are done the bike should be returned to in gear on the side stand.

Your bike, and your wallet will thank you later.

I'm curious as to why you state this. I have placed my VFR on the center stand about 95% of the time I park it.

There are earthquake faults, and inattentive people everywhere. Why make it easy for them?

There's lots to add here, but at this point I'll add that you should ALWAYS leave the bike in gear when parked on the side stand. Center stands are for maintenance only. As soon as those tasks are done the bike should be returned to in gear on the side stand.

Your bike, and your wallet will thank you later.

I'm curious as to why you state this. I have placed my VFR on the center stand about 95% of the time I park it.

There are earthquake faults, and inattentive people everywhere. Why make it easy for them?

I tend to think the center stand is the more stable platform than the side stand.

There's lots to add here, but at this point I'll add that you should ALWAYS leave the bike in gear when parked on the side stand. Center stands are for maintenance only. As soon as those tasks are done the bike should be returned to in gear on the side stand.

Your bike, and your wallet will thank you later.

I'm curious as to why you state this. I have placed my VFR on the center stand about 95% of the time I park it.

There are earthquake faults, and inattentive people everywhere. Why make it easy for them?

I tend to think the center stand is the more stable platform than the side stand.

if you have good footing on the side stand and in gear, you'll have the weight of the bike to one side that is stable and it wont get easily knocked over, were as if you have it on the center stand you have the weight "centered" and any good nudge will set the weight to one side and tip the bike over. an exaggerated example would be: how hard is to move an up right bike to a lying down one

If you are short legged, and a newish rider, don't try to look cool and rock your bike off the center stand while parked next to your friend's bike without lots of experience doing this maneuver. DAHIK...

I tend to think the center stand is the more stable platform than the side stand.

I have always felt this was true, but as I stop and think about it, the only time any of my bikes ended up on their side without me doing it, the bike was on the center stand on a level paved area. Very windy day so I think it actually blew over.
Would it have blown over if it had been on the side stand? Who knows?

I usually use the side stand because I'm lazy and can put it down before dismounting.
Fast and easy, like me. (Actually I'm just easy and not really fast)
Leaving the bike in gear makes sense to me and I think I will start doing that.