Did you drive standard before riding?

[marimirez]

How many of you already knew how to drive standard before you started riding. Do you think it made a difference? I am new to riding and I think the thing that make more uneasy about riding is shifting gears. I am wondering if it is just me.:confused1

[less_than_coop]

I knew how first, i think it helped. One last concept I had to worry about when I started riding.

[Mr. Unassailable]

learned bikes LONG before cars.. but my first 4 trucks and 1 car were all standards.. and i think knowing how to work the clutch on the bike probably helped me some in learning to drive the truck i first got.

[Brena23]

all my cars have been standard except two. I have gone threw 8 cars. And no its not because of them being in wrecks.. Just kept switching cars for a while lol

[hotnanas]

already knew how, but also got better from bikes

[SPYDER BITE]

It's definately easier if you understand the concept of driving a standard as opposed to an automatic no matter if it's a car, motorcycle, or an atv. I actually prefer a stick to an automatic in a sportscar or something along those lines they are fun!!!

[Candie]

I grew up riding dirt bikes,and I learned how to drive on a standard car. So I already knew the concept of changing gears manually when I started riding my sportbike!

[marimirez]

Someone was telling me that I should learn how to drive standard in a car first. So I can undersand my bike better. And since it is a car maybe I would be more comfortable. What do you guys think?

[SPYDER BITE]

Once you figure out how to get it rollin' without stalling the rest just seems to fall into place just be careful

[marimirez]

It's not so much shifting up as shifting down to stop for some reason. I layed my bike down while shifting down to take a sharp corner and i think i have kind of spooked myself out. I've also been told not to look down when shifting, learn to hear what gear you are in?

[dixiebabe83]

I didn't know how to drive a standard before I got on the bike. I had tried before but it would take me about 15 mins to go bout 1 block. I could drive one now if I had to but it wouldn't look pretty. Its a fun ride though. :keke: I never drove dirt bikes or anything like that. I went from riding a huge truck to a bike.

[Candie]

It's not so much shifting up as shifting down to stop for some reason. I layed my bike down while shifting down to take a sharp corner and i think i have kind of spooked myself out. I've also been told not to look down when shifting, learn to hear what gear you are in?

Never look down! Your eyes should always be on the road! You will learn what gear you are in just by the sound of your bike! U just need more seat time!

[dixiebabe83]

It's not so much shifting up as shifting down to stop for some reason. I layed my bike down while shifting down to take a sharp corner and i think i have kind of spooked myself out. I've also been told not to look down when shifting, learn to hear what gear you are in?

Or learn how to count.

[Faylaricia]

I started on cars with standard and drove them for years. I actually prefer them to this day but my truck has automatic now.

I am surprised nobody has ever mentioned that because I always wondered how folks get used to riding and shifting if they are not used to it. I think knowing it prior defintely helps. Think about getting a car that drives standard and it should help you get familiar enough with it to feel comfy all around.

[issanni]

started riding motorcycles when I was 6-7...so no I hadn't driven a car yet, let alone a standard trans.

[Mrs. ~T~]

nope, i still donnt know how to drive one!

[dbuck]

nope, i still donnt know how to drive one!

Yep, learned how to drive stick on the same car I still own (a 92 Eclipse...my dad bought it new)

It definitely helped when learning how to ride....

FWIW- I think everyone should know how to drive standard. What happens if you have an emergency and your only way out was driving a standard to get to the hospital, etc. Slim chances I know, but nonetheless a chance I wouldn't want to take.:icon_thum

[PrimoDoRossi]

nope, i still donnt know how to drive one!


you cant ride ..or drive lol....:keke:

[Javi]

cars first for me..

[ownage]

i learned on standard machines first...but it's all the same to me...standard just means i cant eat/drink and drive

[Chris24]

i learned on bikes first. ive tried to drive standard cars and drives me crazy.

[bumblebee]

Cars first, but now I only drive automatics so I can talk on the cell phone and read the paper at the same time.

[Cherub]

learned standard first then later got my big bike

[Seth]

Yah I learned in a car 1st, and it helped me realize what I was acutally doing when I shifted gears. it'll all come natural.

[Reidlos]

i started with a s.car.

[Pre-K]

I cant drive a standard for anything, but I like to think I can ride:confused1

[marimirez]

Well any and all tips are appreciated guys... Thanks

[Sassy Chassis]

I prefer manual transmission...I like being one with my car...and bike.

[t.dubya]

I think that the clutch and shifting is easier and more precise with a bike. the clutch is in your hand not by your foot. The more difficult part is that bikes do not stay upright on their own

Take MSF....you'll learn how to shift fine.

[PORSCHITO]

i drove standard all my life... yes it makes shifting on a bike easier...

but i think if ur starting fresh riding a bike is easier then driving a standard car but the hard part is keeping it unscratched.... like they say about texas holdem you can learn it in 5 min but it will take you a lifetime to master...

[therky42]

I learned on a dirt bike first then went to cars then to the sport bikes.

[marimirez]

I think that the clutch and shifting is easier and more precise with a bike. the clutch is in your hand not by your foot. The more difficult part is that bikes do not stay upright on their own

Take MSF....you'll learn how to shift fine.
I have taken my course. But that was over a year ago. I broke my arm and so I just recently decided to get a bike now that I am pretty much back to normal. I am basically having to learn all over again.

[arturo3rd]

it helps to know how to drive standard but different since you require different hand/foot coordination for the bike.

[Fight The Chaos]

I drove stick shift on a prelude before i rode a bike. Since driving stick was just habitual, the only thing it helped me ride the bike easier is how to sync rpms with the clutch throttle control. If you cant match rpm level and the speed you're at, you can experience alot of jolts. When downshifting, for example, you match your rpms w/ the amount of speed you are traveling, this is no different then a car.

[RACER X]

MSF, take it again, it';s around $150 and it couldn't hurt.

[50cc chick]

i have been riding before I was allowed to drive, but once I moved to street bikes, YES I could drive standard before riding street!!!

[aznhero913]

drove a bike way before driving a standard. imo, it doesnt make a difference.

[Nana]

car 1st, didn't seem to help too much with the bike...

[Mr.P]

Dirt bike first. drove a stick without any training or coaching at age 12. now I like to drive sticks and bikes every once in a while without using the clutch (except starting off). It's all about understanding the mechanics first and adapting your driving style to complement what you got. I got my basic understanding playing with legos in elementary school. I built a three speed shiftable transmission to make my electric lego three wheeler have speed and climbing ability. Probably why I went on to study engineering in undergrad....

[AznGoneNuts]

i learned standard in a car first. then i learned how to ride on a dirt bike.

[sbfuller]

It's not so much shifting up as shifting down to stop for some reason. I layed my bike down while shifting down to take a sharp corner and i think i have kind of spooked myself out. I've also been told not to look down when shifting, learn to hear what gear you are in?

Just make sure you're not trying to shift down or brake as you are entering the corner or during the corner. I don't know if you were but this can make you run off the road very easily

[ThomAss]

Learned when I was 8 on a RM80. I won't give the year. :icon_bigg

[marimirez]

Just make sure you're not trying to shift down or brake as you are entering the corner or during the corner. I don't know if you were but this can make you run off the road very easily
Exactly what I did, shifted down and hit the breaks. The road curved but i didn't. :BangHead:

[sbfuller]

Exactly what I did, shifted down and hit the breaks. The road curved but i didn't. :BangHead:

here is a quote for you, "Man is the Pupil, Pain is the Teacher". Bet you won't do that again huh?

[50fool]

I drove a standard before driving a bike. The first bike I got was an 83 yz250. I knew about the clutch and how to shift but I let the clutch out too fast my first ride and almost ran into a tree. I was young and dumb on the 250 it definitely wasn't a great bike to start on but within about 5 minutes of riding I had the clutch and shifting down pretty well.

When I bought my first street bike, shifting was a breeze. Now I can pretty much hop on any bike and ride it around. I like how they taught me in the MSF course. Just play with the clutch and find the friction zone before doing anything else. Once you find the friction zone you are good to go. If you slowly let go of the clutch handle you will find the friction zone. It is different on every bike and every bike has a different amount of power and will control differently but if you can find the friction zone you have nothing to worry about. The first time I rode my cousins 636 I made sure to find the friction zone. I rode my friends cruiser and you didn't even have to give it gas to take off, just slowly let out the clutch.

I think it definitely would have taken me a longer time to learn to ride if I hadn't started out in a standard car. My first car was a 95 civic which I still drive today. Gotta love standards....hondas too:)