What is the best thing you have learned?

Get up here in the spring, we'll take care of that. :rockon:

 

I took and "advanced riders course" this past spring and they never mentioned "Counter Steer" not once. We learned about views and line of site and emergency steering, braking and object avoidance. The term "counte Steer" never was used. I guess I need to loonk this up, I'm not familiar with it.

 

Push bar left, bike falls right, follow through turn.
Push bar right, bike falls left. follow through turn.

You probably do it every ride and don;t even realize it.

 

Here's a simplified explanation " on how Countersteering works ":

Countersteering Linky:
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP048.html

 

Please re-read Masons fine post above if you EVER sit in neutral at stoplights!!!!

I saved my sorry butt from serious injury by following those rules when some ditzy, phone-gabbing bitch didn't notice the red light or ME!

ALSO learned not to spill fuel on the front of my trousers when filling UP!!!!!!!OUCH!

 

I guess I was fortunate in that counter-steer was actually covered in the Tennessee Motorcycle driver handbook I had to study way back when, when I got my motor driven cycle license at 14 yoa. I've never taken a safety course, learning all of my bad habits myself and picking up good pointers here and there. The tip which has helped me most after getting back on a bike after a 10 year hiatus is looking through the turns and not stare at anything, especially something you want to avoid. It has made me much smoother through corners.

 

"Slow in, fast out. Fast in, dead out!"

 

Best thing i've learned is to know my own limits and be comfortable with them.My number one rule is if i have to cross a center line to make a courner i'm pushing too hard and i slow down.I watch videos on line from Deals Gap and other areas and wonder when i see a bike cross the center line what are they going to do if a car,truck,bike, whatever,was there and they didn't have the room to make the courner.
Best thing i've learned to do is to pass some of the info i've learned on.Five or six years ago i started hanging at the back with the newer riders on group rides,i was tired of picking up the pieces and basic first aid,its sound wierd but its true.Started teaching the safty course and really like that,countersteering and braking drill get a few more runs when i teach.

 

truer words have not been spoken.
any fool can go fast in a straight line.
but leaning over deep in a turn is .........something.

the the VFR is really good at it.

 

I was riding with a group of habitual neutral-stoppers. I didn't imitate them. Besides, if I'm in neutral, how can I clutch drop a wheelie?

 

Back to the orginal question...

The best thing I've learned is to be persistant. I wrecked my first bike (a friend's) in spring 1994; hit some gravel... I bought the 2d bike I owend and wrecked in summer 2006; I got cut off and ended up doing a stoppy at 65mph and sliding for about 50ft before stopping in a nice soft front yard (walked away)... I swore then I would never ride a bike again. 5 months later, after the shock and scars started to heal I took my insurance money and bought a '87 VFR 700F. The last 19 months have been a lot of fun, and I'm glad I didn't give up. Plus I got tired of feeling like I got kicked in the nuts every time I passed a bike on a 75 degree day and I was stuck in my car.

p.s.
MSF is planned for early spring

 

This is the reason I walked away from my 2d wreck

 

Help me out here as my clutch hand gets tired at long lights. :frown:

Is there an exercise you do to strengthen your left grip/wrist when you are not riding?




:wink:
This post is like t-ball for some of the people trying to learn how to post smart-ass responses... it is just sitting there waiting for you. :biggrin:

 

It was tempting but I'll leave it for someone else. I never was a very good smarta**.

 

Its an easy exercise Nozzle!

When you are lying in a hospitol bed just have someone bring you a rubber ball you can squezze over and over in your clutch hand. Works great!

That way the next time you can avoid being rear-ended!

He swings! Home run LOL!

BZ

 

Until your grip gets stronger/used to it, you can slide your hand out further on the grip. It will give you more leverage and make it easier on your hand.

 

I admit to temptation to slip it into neutral on my '86 VFR; the positioning of the clutch lever and the relatively high lever resistance of the hydraulic system compared to the cable clutches on my Yamahas and Kwak make it a bit of a pain to sit there and hold in.

As far as exercises for the clutch hand, I'll go ahead and be the smartass: First, find some good porn....

 

Best thing I learned. Don't Panic. As a teenager I was out surfing a rowboat, perhaps not to smart, anyway it flipped on top of me and I was stuck under the boat. Not really a big problem as I had a nice pocket of air but I panic and damn near drown myself. When I recovered I realized what an idiot I had been. So I decided never panic and I haven't since. Most of the time just do your best and don't worry about it and things will work out. Kind of been my life philosophy ever since. Also why I like to VFR so much, don't panic, do your thing and she will get you out of trouble.