1st ride

1899 Views 30 Replies 11 Participants Last post by big Mike, 8 d ago

toddrs1979

Discussion Starter · 15 d ago

Did my riding course Sunday eve and all day Monday.
Never rode a motorcycle before in my life.
My left hand was killing me from holding in the clutch all day waiting in line for all the low speed lot manoeuvring.
Monday afternoon we went for a cruise on residential roads then a short stint on the freeway.
'Twas good!
One section of residential was all new build. So no traffic. Went trough 3-4 traffic circles there.
Not sure what I did different on one, but as I was going around the bike wasn't staying in my lane and drifted into the next lane a bit.
Gladly no one was there. Not enough counter steer on that one part I'm guessing?

Maybe my eyes drifted? I don't think so though as I was the last in our four person group so I was watching them. Could be wrong though?
I thought maybe it was an error counter / push steering? When it started going wide I was able to back off the throttle and bring it back in line.
Maybe I subconsciously steered differently when I backed off the throttle too? Yep, def want to understand what happened there so I can correct it as to not veer into other lanes. I'd prefer not to do that unintentionally....

Went for the maiden ride on my 650 Strom last night with my father in law behind me on his Boulevard.
I ordered an extended shifter and saddlebag guards a week ago from Adventuretech.
So glad I did. My biggest struggle was getting my size 13's under the shifter.
Not much room between the peg and the shifter.
Father in law suggest keeping my foot as far left on the peg as possible. Def helped.
But hoping the extender will make a big difference.

I could really feel the difference in power from the DR200 I rode at the safety course vs my 650. Twisted the throttle just a little like a did with the 200, and my Vstrom def moved a bit more! haha

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PerazziMx14

· #2 · 15 d ago

Congratulation on a safe maiden voyage. May you ride millions of trouble free miles.

Here is a shifter you might want to consider (or something like it) as it has adjustable length to get you flippers under.

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiTwPzrj__-AhXTkVsKHR4PDyMYABAJGgJ5bQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAASJeRoT5ppkR03QfF1Q0yU0rcU9zYOXiisImKbWiYzumyMmqfS3DM&sig=AOD64_37KhBywgyiaY23kYDU9Tyie_X5Sw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiK_vTrj__-AhX1j4kEHQPaBkgQ9aACKAB6BAgCEB4&adurl=

Cheers,

P-14

Reactions: 1

Dado8

· #3 · 15 d ago

congrats on your first ride !
since you are new in this hobby fyi, there are also a "paddle shifting, dual clutch" bikes available, for fatigue free ridding

i.e. my Honda Africa Twin DCT

Reactions: 1

Nicad

· #4 · 15 d ago

You will get used to the clutch and build up the muscles that pull the lever very quickly. The 650 is pretty easy on the forearms overall. You will start to get better in navigating roads and curves pretty quickly. You will get pretty proficient on a bike. In about a year and a half you will start to think you are pretty good at this, maybe even gifted. That is the point you have to shake your head and say, don't ever get over confidant you have this mastered. To avoid drifting in another lane always look where you want to go. I hate that feeling, because I come closer than I would like by misjudging things at least a few times a year in curves. Congratulations on the first ride!

Reactions: 3

toddrs1979

Discussion Starter · #5 · 15 d ago

2

PerazziMx14 said:
Congratulation on a safe maiden voyage. May you ride millions of trouble free miles.

Here is a shifter you might want to consider (or something like it) as it has adjustable length to get you flippers under.

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiTwPzrj__-AhXTkVsKHR4PDyMYABAJGgJ5bQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAASJeRoT5ppkR03QfF1Q0yU0rcU9zYOXiisImKbWiYzumyMmqfS3DM&sig=AOD64_37KhBywgyiaY23kYDU9Tyie_X5Sw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiK_vTrj__-AhX1j4kEHQPaBkgQ9aACKAB6BAgCEB4&adurl=

Cheers,

P-14

Thank you! I appreciate the tip. But, I've already ordered the shifter extension from Adventuretech @richlandrick based on the reviews I've read here and on ADVRider.

Dado8 said:
congrats on your first ride !
since you are new in this hobby fyi, there are also a "paddle shifting, dual clutch" bikes available, for fatigue free ridding i.e. my Honda Africa Twin DCT

Thank you! I've looked at quite a few of your posts. I'm a few hours north of you but def look forward to getting out on some of the rides of shared pictures of.

Yes, I was looking at the Honda NC750 DCT. Africa Twins are nice but as a new rider my insurance company limited me to 750CC's. Found a great deal on a leftover '22 VStrom 650XT so picked that up last month.

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StretchNM

· #6 · 15 d ago

Even though you've gone through the course (congratulations), in my humble e-pinion, practicing low-speed parking lot maneuvers is a key to riding success. Once a bike gets rolling, anyone can stay afloat and cruise down the road. But you'll find yourself at stop signs and stop lights more often than not, and also having to swerve or brake at lower speeds, sometimes while the bike is leaning. The slow-speed practice will pay off hugely and your confidence will rise.

Check out some of Moto Control's videos (and the videos of many others) regarding slow speed maneuvers. Good luck!

https://www.youtube.com/@MotoControlEn/videos

Reactions: 5

toddrs1979

Discussion Starter · #7 · 15 d ago

Nicad said:
You will get used to the clutch and build up the muscles that pull the lever very quickly. The 650 is pretty easy on the forearms overall. You will start to get better in navigating roads and curves pretty quickly. You will get pretty proficient on a bike. In about a year and a half you will start to think you are pretty good at this, maybe even gifted. That is the point you have to shake your head and say, don't ever get over confidant you have this mastered. To avoid drifting in another lane always look where you want to go. I hate that feeling, because I come closer than I would like by misjudging things at least a few times a year in curves. Congratulations on the first ride!

it was really only day 2 of the safety training course it was bothering me. I think that's because we would wait in line for our turn to go through each lesson in the parking lot. You know, all line up and do a U-Turn in a box, then go to the next line to practise walking speed balance, then to the next line to practise 1-2 shift then downshift and brake etc... Since we were moving up in line every 5-10 seconds, it didn't make sense to shift into neutral. So for 5 hours or so I was holding the clutch in and just releasing it a bit to move up in line.

While I was doing the road portion of the training and when I rode my bike last night it was fine.

toddrs1979

Discussion Starter · #8 · 15 d ago

StretchNM said:
Even though you've gone through the course (congratulations), in my humble e-pinion, practicing low-speed parking lot maneuvers is a key to riding success. Once a bike gets rolling, anyone can stay afloat and cruise down the road. But you'll find yourself at stop signs and stop lights more often than not, and also having to swerve or brake at lower speeds, sometimes while the bike is leaning. The slow-speed practice will pay off hugely and your confidence will rise.

Check out some of Moto Control's videos (and the videos of many others) regarding slow speed maneuvers. Good luck!

https://www.youtube.com/@MotoControlEn/videos

Agreed. I was forwarded this practise guide by a member on another forum I'm on.

http://gwrra.org/regional/ridered/L-O-A/GWRRAMotorcyclePLPFacilitator'sManual_4_08.pdf

I've got a parking lot nearby I can use. Kind of annoying for my fellow riders as I can't ride there on my own till I get my class 6. So someone has to accompany me to the parking lot to watch me do figure 8's, lol

You're correct. I def found the 'riding' much easer than the slower stopping / starting and slow speed maneuvers.

PerazziMx14

· #9 · 15 d ago

I doubt needing to buy a new DCT bike is needed. With some conditioning the problem will go away. The DL and DR200 both have a light clutch pull as is. You’re just using muscles in a way you are not currently acoustic too.

next will be your ass, back, shoulders, knees, neck. It all goes away with conditioning.

Reactions: 3

toddrs1979

Discussion Starter · #10 · 15 d ago

PerazziMx14 said:
I doubt needing to buy a new DCT bike is needed. With some conditioning the problem will go away. The DL and DR200 both have a light clutch pull as is. You’re just using muscles in a way you are not currently acoustic too.

next will be your ass, back, shoulders, knees, neck. It all goes away with conditioning.

Oh no. Def not buying another bike. I just happened to look at NC750's before I bought the Strom.
it was only the long day holding in the clutch during the safety course that bothered me. Riding was fine.
I'm hoping the shifter extension / lowering peg kit will do the trick for making room for my foot to get under the shifter.

PerazziMx14

· #11 · 15 d ago

toddrs1979 said:
Oh no. Def not buying another bike. I just happened to look at NC750's before I bought the Strom.
it was only the long day holding in the clutch during the safety course that bothered me. Riding was fine.
I'm hoping the shifter extension / lowering peg kit will do the trick for making room for my foot to get under the shifter.

No worries, your mods will work.

Reactions: 1

DLNUT

· #12 · 15 d ago

Congrats on your new bike and experience.
Great advice has been given. Please heed the advice.
I've been riding since '65 and I'm still learning. Geeze... did I just say that?
Do not get frustrated because you will.....
1. Drop the bike. It will happen. It probably will happen in front of family or friends.
2. If you say you will never go down on your bike, you will. Just don't be stupid, drive beyond your skill, trying to keep up with experienced riders. If your friends are going to fast to keep up with... find new friends.
3. Be aware of your surroundings at all times like pot holes and oily surfaces especially when stopping. I've done it and it's embarrassing but just suck it up if you do.
4. Don't ever blame your bike. You have a great bike and it will treat you right. Just take your time to learn what you can and cannot do and keep up the maintenance.

Be safe and a million fun miles to you.

Reactions: 5

toddrs1979

Discussion Starter · #13 · 15 d ago

DLNUT said:
1. Drop the bike. It will happen. It probably will happen in front of family or friends.

Oh I did last night. Was coming up to an uphill stop for a right hand turn in a residential and it flopped over. I was stopped so was able to just step out of the fall. It was in front of my father in law who is riding with me as I practise.

I've been doing a lot of reading before I even got the bike and read it's pretty much a given that I'd drop it. All good. Part of learning. Also why I had crash bars installed on my bike when I bought it, haha.

I was telling my father in law and my wife I'll drop my bike at some point and they were trying to be encouraging saying I wouldn't. I was really fine with it. No one got hurt, just a minor scuff on the hand guard, lifted it back up and carried on. Now I got the 1st flop and scape out of the way.

Speed won't really be a factor for me. I got that out of my system years ago. I'm a new rider but 44.

When I was doing the road portion my instructor told me I needed to go faster.... Even in my truck I'm no speed demon.

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Big Boy

· #14 · 15 d ago

Strengthen your bodies core muscles. Then learn how to support yourself using those core muscles. This will help keep the weight OFF your hands and make longer rides much easier.

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joe_13

· #15 · 15 d ago

Going wide is usually because:

Target fixation,... move your eyes!
Too fast... Slow BEFORE you start to turn
Countersteer!! Push right GO right!

The shifter foot lever can be easily adjusted higher or lower for big or small dogs! It's easier than getting a new shifter.

Reactions: 2

Dado8

· #16 · 15 d ago

4

toddrs1979 said:
Thank you! I've looked at quite a few of your posts. I'm a few hours north of you but def look forward to getting out on some of the rides of shared pictures of.

Definitely come down south when ready to hit some gravel...I can show you some great riding techniques...I got my '18Vstrom650xa 2yrs ago and I'm already an expert

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toddrs1979

Discussion Starter · #17 · 14 d ago

Dado8 said:
Definitely come down south when ready to hit some gravel...I can show you some great riding techniques...I got my '18Vstrom650xa 2yrs ago and I'm already an expert
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That looks like an awesome time! That's exactly the type of riding I want to do and why I wanted an adventure style bike vs a cruiser. Unfortunately there's nowhere really like that around Edmonton. So yep, to do that type of riding I basically have to ride / drive 4 hours 1st to get there, haha

joe_13 said:

Going wide is usually because:

Target fixation,... move your eyes!
Too fast... Slow BEFORE you start to turn
Countersteer!! Push right GO right!

The shifter foot lever can be easily adjusted higher or lower for big or small dogs! It's easier than getting a new shifter.

Click to expand...

I think it was a combo of 1 & 3. If anything I'm going to slow right now and being overly cautious.
Went riding again last night with my father in law and buddy following and observing.
They both noted when I'm turning corners, I'm either coming into or going out of them to wide.
So I think it's more number 1. I'm looking at the oncoming lane for traffic so heading to the lane.
Gotta work on turning my head more and looking where I want to go.
They also said I'm still riding the rear brake. Not as often as last time. So getting better.
So glad that I have two experienced riders that can go out with me to watch what I'm doing.
Gotta move my foot back on the peg.

Reactions: 1

big Mike

· #18 · 14 d ago

I see you mentioned your friends having a class six license, so I am going to make an assumption that you are in Alberta. (If I am wrong this can still apply). After you have had your license for a while a number of schools offer a more advanced course. A lot of the same things covered in the beginners course but at higher levels of difficulty. The ones I am familiar with are on your own bike. You can also find courses that are street oriented with traffic strategies etc.

As someone earlier said, I too started in 1965 and every year learn or relearn something.

One of things I do is if I have an oops, whether I fall or not, is when the ride is over I analyze what went wrong and how I could have mitigated the situation. Usually there are a number of factors involved not just one. It’s the Swiss cheese theory of accidents.

And seeing as how I haven’t mentioned it, welcome to the group and the ride.

Mike

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DLNUT

· #19 · 14 d ago

big Mike said:
I see you mentioned your friends having a class six license, so I am going to make an assumption that you are in Alberta. (If I am wrong this can still apply). After you have had your license for a while a number of schools offer a more advanced course. A lot of the same things covered in the beginners course but at higher levels of difficulty. The ones I am familiar with are on your own bike. You can also find courses that are street oriented with traffic strategies etc.

As someone earlier said, I too started in 1965 and every year learn or relearn something.

One of things I do is if I have an oops, whether I fall or not, is when the ride is over I analyze what went wrong and how I could have mitigated the situation. Usually there are a number of factors involved not just one. It’s the Swiss cheese theory of accidents.

And seeing as how I haven’t mentioned it, welcome to the group and the ride.

Mike

Great advice.
Safety or riding schools will show you how to break old/bad habits, learn new technics and ride better and safer a lot sooner than on your own.
If your an older experienced, or getting back into the sport, things have changed. All the advanced rider aids are there to help you... mostly. Learn to use them properly so you are safer.
Be safe and ride safe.

Reactions: 1

RK1450

· #20 · 13 d ago (Edited)

Constant betterment through practice and training. Riding is a perishable skill. So I try and keep up by watching MCrider and motojitsu on YouTube it’s free. Vision , cornering , braking, counter steering and a whole lot more there’s a lot to learn. Watch it,practice it and try and be the best you can be It really helps. All the best on your new bike and riding.

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