Intro and Rookie Rider Questions

[houstondvr]

Hey everybody. My name is Fletch (like the movie), I live in Friendswood (south of Houston), and I am new to riding. I just took my beginner course from Awesome Cycles in June and have a Yamaha 650 Classic which just turned over 600 miles Sunday on my solo trip down to West Columbia. Yeah! It would be nice to meet some experienced riders to learn from and hang out with. I am a special education teacher, but sometimes when I am riding I feel more like the student. I need MODIFICATIONS!! (Special Ed term) I'm still a big chicken and haven't ventured out onto I45 yet. Anyway, I have two girls of my own ages 14 and 12, and my wife and I are expecting our little suprise baby in January. Needless to say, I am going through my midlife crisis and look forward to riding further and further away from the house on the weekends for some quiet time before we start all over again.


OK...the more I ride, the more I am discovering that I have lots to learn. This weekend, while riding down to West Columbia, I had two big frustrations, and I thought somebody on here might be able to help.

Stupid Question ..1: OK...the rider wave. I realize that it is nice to wave to a fellow rider, but when I am going 65 mph and have to take my hand off the grip, I get nervous. Is this a Carnegie Hall answer: "Practice, Practice, Practice," or is there some advice.

OK...stupid Question ..2: At the beginning rider course, we practiced looking back prior to lane change. In a half helmet going 12 mph, this was a piece of cake; however, going 65-70 mph in a full face helmet with the shield down, makes this rookie rider nervous. I feel like the wind catches my head and tries to spin me around. Any suggestions or just another Carnegie Hall answer?

Thanks in advance. More Rookie Rider Questions to follow.

[Swift E]

Welcome to the funny farm.

Plenty of experience riders here to learn from.

#1 Don't take your hands off the bars if you do not feel confortable.
#2 Practice makes perfect.

[BigComfy]

welcome. in time you will learn to become comfortable in your new environment grasshopper. JK you'll get it mang

[houseofpaint]

WELCOME! and with time, comes experience. Keep all your safety gear on, and practice riding on low traffic (2-lane streets), get comfortable with that before moving onto the highway. cuz no matter how comfy and safe you feel on the highway, there's always some jackass eating, while on the cell phone, and shifting gears in their car, waiting to run you over. just get comfortable with your bike, and everything will come together smoothly.

[Mrs. ~T~]

hi sometimes the guys can get out of hand... dont let them hurt ur feelings!!!

[zero4o3]

Welcome to the funny farm.

Plenty of experience riders here to learn from.

#1 Don't take your hands off the bars if you do not feel confortable.
#2 Practice makes perfect.

+1

[flipboy326]

I live in Friendswood (south of Houston), .

lol, i think we know where friendswood is....haha

[JojoCbr1000rr]

well when you wave just grip the gastank tighter with ur legs u wont fall off and lane change the wind won't turn u around just practice practice try more night riding less cars out there. and alot more seat time just don't rush urself just have fun be safe:icon_thum

[ScooterTrash]

Welcome indeed! I am also in Friendswood, lets ride to galveston Saturday..we can take the feeder if ya feel uncomfortable.
Jes' don crash me noob.:eek3:

[BikerBarbie]

Hey Fletch!!

Welcome! Glad you're here!!

Biker Barbie

(Dawn) :keke:

[scrapp]

in my neihborhood, or sometimes on the street, people I know feel the need to get my attentions while Im coming to a stop, and I have no way to signal them because all my hands are busy. that kinda crap annoys me. Im just gonna start blowing people off

[JojoCbr1000rr]

lol:icon_thum

[houstondvr]

OK...thanks for the help. Galveston ride sounds like fun if its not raining. I'm sure more rookie rider questions are coming soon.

[BYRDMAN]

in my neihborhood, or sometimes on the street, people I know feel the need to get my attentions while Im coming to a stop, and I have no way to signal them because all my hands are busy. that kinda crap annoys me. Im just gonna start blowing people off
Give em the ol head nod!!!:BangHead:

[thatboygeorge]

welcome ...with time u will get more comfortable in those actions

[houstondvr]

OK...more rookie rider questions:

1. What are fairings?
2. What do you use to wash your motorcycle?
3. What is so special about billet? Looks like chrome to me.

Help a noob out will ya.

[ScooterTrash]

hahahahaha, lesson #1, just because some homos on tv are doing it, don't mean you gotta too. (your answer for billet question)

fairings are what keeps the bugs off ya
and I use soap and water on my scoot.

[Robert95z]

I like to use the honda spray cleaner and polish. I never wash my bike, this stuff works great, spray on and wipe off. Unfortantly their being discontiuned so get em while you can.

[houstondvr]

The only thing keeping the bugs off me is my helmet, so I guess I don't have them. OK...here is another stupid question:

Foggy face shield? I tried an anitifog spray, but it sucks. Any brand of spray or new shield that you use?

[houseofpaint]

1. fairings are the body parts on your bike (plastics)
2. same stuff i use on cars
3. billet is a type of metal that makes you look cool :nod:

4. JUST RIDE and don't sweat the small stuff. You'll be doin wheelies down the freeway before you know it! :icon_thum

[S_M_J82]

you got a 650 yamaha. well those are good bikes... put some accessories on there when your comfortable.. i work for yamaha gulf coast and just live down the road from in clear lake.. Just have fun and leanr at your own pace. it will come with time... And just to give you a heads up hope you bought the VIP plan with the bike. if not plan on spending around 285.00 buckes per service. just a warnin. Ride safe:)

[houstondvr]

Yep, I bought the VIP plan. I need to get it in there for the 600 mile service.

[Candie]

Hiya and welcome!

[h20chunker]

good choice in bikes, have one for the wife its almost bullet proof, except when she wrecks. you dont need a fairing on that bike, just a good wind shield. for practice ideas a good choice is "Ride Like A Pro" series by mike palladino. i think thats his name. got one of his vids, its good. i practice on all three of the bikes in the garage and ive been riding 30 years. find a big parking lot and just ride around and make circles and figure 8's making them tighter and tighter. seems silly but it works, and pretty impressive to drag your floorboards at night, it makes pretty sparks. for cleaning the bike ive used s100, spray on rinse off, and to get bugs off your helmet try pledge. you can use it on your faceshield too, helps a lot with the fog and bugs..................................wayne

[jrock]

Well ,, Welcome! congrats on your soon to be arrival. I got 3 kids too.
Its a midlife crisis? A bike can help ease some of the pain. haha
With more seat time you will get used to the dynamics of riding. Just dont relax too much or get overconfident. Its funny how you mentioned turning to check blind spots. I was nervous when I did it on the freeway. You will get the hang of it. Like the post above advises, parking lot and practice circles and figure eights and practice emergency braking. Remember the stuff awesome cycles taught you and you should be good to go.
Have fun and be safe!

Joel

[houstondvr]

Thanks for all the advice. I have been going to the parking lot and practicing turning (90 degree turns from a stop seem to give me some trouble), and the figure 8. I'm getting better, but still don't have those down as well as I would like. OK. It's time for a bonehead rookie confession. Don't ask me why I feel compelled to share but here it goes.

Always remember to never forget to bring your clear helmet shield when planning on riding home after dark. I left the Parent Orientation the other night and I had no clear visor, and only my sunglasses. Both were way too dark. I wound up having to ride with no eye protection. Not one but two bugs in my eye later, I was really wishing I wasn't such an idiot. The best thing I learned is that if you blink a lot the tears will wash the bugs out. Thank God no rocks jumped up and got me. I can only figure that the little gremlin bell I got from my BRC kept them away. Any stupid rookie biker moves you could share might make me feel better. I promise I won't laugh.

[Chris24]

well, sounds like you will be ok dude. it all comes in time, just second nature.

>Stupid Question ..1: OK...the rider wave.

no one is going to come after you for not waving. nodding lets them know you see them, but you dont want to take your hand off the grip. we all understand. thankfully, someone who understand your plight has put together a few tips for you, just watch this helpful video...

http://media.putfile.com/bikewaves

>OK...stupid Question ..2: lane change.

i found that turning quickly helps. you just need a glance to check your clear. just know the wind is there and go with it / compensate for it. you really dont have to turn too much either, your not trying to do the hokey pokey on the bike, just a good enough glance to be sure you are clear.

>OK...more rookie rider questions:

>1. What are fairings?

its the plastic/fiberglass body panels on a bike, fenders, etc. they are for aerodynamics, style, and a little protection for the engine.

>2. What do you use to wash your motorcycle?

i plan on making regular appearances at bike washes for charities...lol.

>3. What is so special about billet? Looks like chrome to me.
very good question. im not totally sure either, but these are my guesses.

-cheaper than chrome? (though i bet retail prices are about the same by now)
-might not chip or flake like chrome plated stuff?
-sounds more "high tech" and less "traditional custom" i.e. harley guys seem to ask for chrome for their cruisers, sport guys seem to want billet for their Busa's...

to be honest it looks the same to me too. lol.

[jrock]

Thanks for all the advice. Any stupid rookie biker moves you could share might make me feel better. I promise I won't laugh.

Here is one I made . I was going into a sharp left turn ( a sharp 90 degree turn) and a car was coming the other way. I didnt want to be in the turn at the same time as the car so i kept the speed up and braked late into the turn , as I leaned over into the turn I panicked and gave mor front brake while leaned over and the bike just fell like a rock!! A 30 mph lowside !(sliding on the bikes side) was the result.
I felt like such an idiot!! especially since I had to push my bike out from a six foot deep ditch!:BangHead: Scratched up leather jacket and bruised ankle (boots)and a little rash on my knee( jeans ) were my damages. My bike suffered scratched fairings and bar ends and engine cover. Its fixed now but the lesson remained. Dont let fear control the bike!:keke:

[Moody]

:hello:

[therky42]

:hello:

[BikerBarbie]

My favorite rookie rider thing I've done: the first time I left my own neighborhood I went down Hayes Rd. (you west side people will know right where I'm talking about)..got to the parking lot for 24 HR fitness. Well, I never noticed how many parking lots have a little upward incline..so, I start to turn into the parking lot, but another car was coming out of the parking lot at the same time. I freaked!! Not knowing if my right hand turn would be tight enough to NOT hit the car, I slowed way down going up the little hill. I was probably in 3rd or 4th grear. I started going up the little hill (really little!!) and my bike stopped right on the incline. I was still in 3rd or 4th...stuck on this little-teeny hill, holding up my bike. I couldn't down shift 'cuz I was actually holding up the bike. I didn't think to really gun it and see if I could get it to go from that gear....so, I just stood there until the bike just.....fell over.

Right away two guys got out and picked it up for me. I broke the clutch lever and had to ride it home (a "whole" mile :confused1 ) in first gear.

I felt Sooooooooooo stupid.

[houstondvr]

That video on the rider wave cracked me up. Thanks for sharing your rookie moves. I am finding that some days I have really great control over my bike and feel like I am leaning into the turn just right and with just enough throttle, but other days things just feel awkward no matter what I do. Practice and Patience my motto. Thanks for telling your stories. It really helps knowing you aren't the only one having difficulty.

[BikerBarbie]

YESTERDAY......

I got on my bike for the first time in over a month...well, duh--I should have had it on the trickle charger all this time. I pulled it out of the garage and tried to start it. Wouldn't start. :crying: So, I roll it back into the garage--which isn't easy. I have to get up enough momentum manually to get over this little hump. So, I get it in the garage and almost drop the bike! I blamed it on my foot not being 100% full strength. Then, I realized.....I ALMOST GOT OFF THE BIKE WITHOUT PUTTING THE KICKSTAND DOWN. Duuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhh.

extreme blonde moment

[jrock]

Not a problem:hello:
Another thing, I had times where I just didnt feel right on a bike and had some near misses. Now I listen to my *subconscience* if you will and just dont ride.
You have to be fully focused on the bike and if I feel clumsy or awkward or just feel funny , I dont ride.

[stlal]

Just remember you are riding the bike...its not riding you...In other words make sure you are in control of the bike!!

[TooBuku]

be smart
wear your gear
have fun.