First bike and I love it!

I just picked up a 1994 VFR 750 in absolutely perfect condition. 7200 miles and I've been riding all day :biggrin: This is my first bike and I have only been riding around my neighborhood, anybody have an good tips I can take in for perfecting my riding skills? I dumped it three times today, after that I think I finally have turning around down, wheres that touch up paint?...

Im really interested in opinions on exhausts, also. What makes this bike scream?

So far I love it, its the best investment Ive made, I think, when it comes to having fun!

 

Take a rider's safety course, I had ridden before, but not for 20 years, allowed me to get comfortable on a bike, before I bought my own.

 

Well... first off lad... a VFR is a bit 'much' for a first bike; but it sounds like you're already well along the path to learning that - the hard way.

Want to save yourself a lot of heartache as well as money? Find a small, cheap bike and do your learning on that while you clean up the dinged bits on the VFR. A 250 'runabout' works well. FIND AND ENROLL IN A BASIC RIDING COURSE, preferrably from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). Not only will they teach you skills that may well save your life, they'll give you a certificate that may save you money on your insurance.

Oh... and don't ever forget... ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time. Don't throw a leg over that bike unless you've got helmet, gloves, jacket, boots, and (preferrably) protective pants on!

 

I was actually looking for a Ninja 500, this one just sorta fell in my lap. I used to race quads and rode dirt bikes here and there. A street bike is a whole new world but as far as clutch and all that good stuff goes I have it down. Helmets are always a necessity for me, no worries there, they've saved my life, whats the point in riding without? And about the safety course, I already plan on going through with one, I'm just looking for tips from experienced riders, the things a Safety course WONT teach me. Thanks for the info though! I feel really comfortable on the bike so far and I'm having no problems with it after the few lay overs (they were either at a complete stop or small things I didn't pay attention to and lost balance), it takes time to learn anything new, you know.

 

Alrighty then, sounds like you have a good start. If you're okay with dinging up a VFR, then who am I to complain!?

Once you have a basic riding class under your belt (I still recommend using a smaller bike for that, and MSF often offers them), you might even consider a track school. Those can teach you bike control and techniques you can further develop into 'conditioned reflexes'. I assume you're familiar with the term counter-steering. It isn't an option, it IS the way you get a bike leaned over and turning. Find someplace you can consciously practice counter-steering techniques. Practice 'panic' stops and other avoidance maneuvers.

 

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new bike. I applaud you for coming here and looking for some helpful advice. Never stop in your efforts to learn about riding but don't rush things in your excitement and eagerness. I have to say that it struck me as rather tragic that you got your hands on what you describe as a '94 VFR 750 in "absolutely perfect condition" and you've already dropped it three times. While I admire your resolve to improve and the fact that you didn't just abandon motorcycling after dropping the bike three times in one day, your carefree attitude about dumping the bike worries me. Dropping a street bike is a big deal. Unlike the dirt bikes you say you've ridden, these aren't designed to take the impact of a drop; especially repeated drops. And, more importantly, dropping a street bike can result in serious harm to you or others on the road. In the MSF Basic Rider Course I took, one drop and you're out. They said goodbye to two people who had to come back the following month to try again.

I'm not a dirt biker but from what I've seen and read, off road riders will move the bike around beneath them, pushing it side to side while turning. That's not what you want to be doing on the street. Everything on the street should be smooth with you moving around on top of the bike for proper cornering position and using the counter steering at the bars as mentioned by FoothillRyder. As mentioned, the Basic Rider Course through MSF is a must. After you have some more time in the saddle (six months to a year, depending on how much you ride), you should consider doing the Experienced Rider Course that they offer. Lee Parks offers an Advanced Rider Clinic that many say is a good in-between step before you tackle one of the many track schools like the California Superbike School or one of the many others. In the meantime, pick up some books and videos and practice, practice, practice. Slowly. I think the David Hough books are good basic motorcycling books ("Proficient Motorcycling" and "More Proficient Motorcycling") and two of my favorite street riding books are "Total Control" by Lee Parks and "Sport Riding Techniques" by Nick Ienatsch. Some real eye opening stuff in there as to riding techniques for the street. I also recommend "Twist of the Wrist II" by Keith Code. I have the DVD and although the acting is really cheeseball, the information is great and being able to see it as opposed to just read it, helps a lot. Again, congrats, stay safe, wear your gear, have fun, and don't forget to call your mom and tell her you love her (sorry, was feeling very fatherly after this post).

Oh yeah, my opinion, forget about the pipes until you're a lot more comfortable on the bike. The fact that you want to know what makes the bike "scream" this early in the game has me shaking my head. Use the money you'd spend on a new exhaust system for protective gear and riding courses. Don't become another statistic. I, too, think a 750 is too much bike to start on but what's done is done. Something tells me you won't be trading it in for something smaller. Man, do I sound like an old fart or what? Still, sometimes with age comes wisdom. Good luck to you.

 

Thanks, Metallyguitarded, thats the kind of stuff I'm looking for! I understand where everybody is coming with the comment on it being to big for a first, I completely agree, believe me, but I love it. Its something I plan on keeping for awhile, lowering it wouldn't hurt I don't think, but I'm worried about dragging something. As far as the "make it scream" comment I made, that may be a little ahead of things. Remember I'm coming from a scene in which we flew around corners bouncing off the rev limiter with dirt flying, the noise is something I love, ya know? I feel I'm doing pretty good so far, practice makes perfect. More power isn't a necessity, I'm really comfortable the way it is. Are there any mods, like lowering, you guys could recommend? Is lowering worth the hassle even? I know with my quads lowering was something that helped in many areas depending what kind of racing you were doing, but again thats a totally different world. Thanks for everything guys, this is the first forum I have visited concerning my bike and have gotten a ton of help from great members already!