[Need Advice] Beginner Rider on an R6

**Azura** · 04-06-2009 06:49 PM

God damn, that's a helluva lot of advice to cram down... Appreciate everyone's thoughts and support over my now new bike incident.

Well, taking everything that I've learned, I think I summed up a good approach to handling my situation. After cruising it around for hours upon hours I managed to pick up a lot of things from other riders to begin with. A few of them caught on to my "slow" starts and me fondling with the shift peg trying to get it into first.

A few tips I learned was, just as you start slowing down to a stop slowly drop it down each gear, then when it flashes N you know it's back in first. I guess it's easier to get back in first as long as you are rolling just a bit (like a car from what I remember). If you are unsure that you are in first, click it up one and see if it goes in neutral.

Then I learned how to solve my problem about it not going into first when it's "stuck" in neutral. Naturally, I would assume it's actually in Neutral and continuously press down when actually the bike is keeping it in neutral to keep the transmission aligned. I am not too sure what he was talking about but he said, just let go of the clutch, squeeze it in, then shift to first and I'll be good to go. But yea it works. At least now I do feel more comfortable stop and goin and have much more focus on the road, drivers, and such around me.

Well, luckily for me, I did complete the vehicular improvement course, so I am eligible to enroll into the Motor Bike Improvement course, I believe it's equivalent to this MSF. After I take it I can apply for my Bike License and also am allowed to drive the bike on base. Good news is I cannot take that until I get to my next unit, so I won't be riding my bike for about 2-3 months until I get it down here and take the course.
To be honest, selling the bike or exchanging it for another in my opinion is out of the question now. But I do think I am responsible enough to maintain a lot of discretion while I learn how ride a bike (not well) but safely!

But besides taking the MSF course, I think it'll be good to know learn other peoples experiences on bikes and learn from things they have done and the mistakes they have made. As much as riding is like my favorite thing to do now, I think I need to take it really slow after all your comments. But thanks very much for the info and the tips, I feel a little bit better that I heard enough people to agree on one thing to take it!

**Gill** · 04-06-2009 09:47 PM

Just be careful, man. None of us here want you to become a statistic. Look into that highspeed riding gear I mentioned. Protective vests (like http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...on-Jacket.aspx or this http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...-2-Jacket.aspx), leather track pants (like http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...her-Pants.aspx), good boots, good gloves, etc. Some folks would rather ride in a t-shirt and blue jeans, but... yeah. Besides, you're in the military, so I'm assuming they're making you wear long-sleeves and all the PPE. Mix and match what you'd need for your level of use for your bike. It's expensive, but if you ever have to dump the bike on purpose (or, God forbid, get into an accident) it will be worth every penny you spent.

Remember, guard yourself on the road like you're on patrol overseas. Idiot f'n drivers out there just don't pay attention to motorcycles.

**Bandaid** · 04-06-2009 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by Gillespie

Idiot f'n drivers out there just don't pay attention to motorcycles.

Quoted for truth! I always make a point to spot out the "elderly" drivers. More than once have I had to dodge a 'senior saint' pulling into my lane. You have to constantly be on ur guard. I always assume that people do not see me. Thats the way I roll

**Bamboo** · 04-06-2009 11:25 PM

Just figured a few things out. When you said base, I looked over and realized you are at Lejeune. Explains a lot. Seems like everyone here has a bike, and I have seen a lot of hot heads pull off some stupid stuff in Jacksonville. Have you been hanging out at Britt Motorsports?

Just so you know the guy that teaches the course on base is a pretty cool guy. My wife works with him, and said he know his stuff. I almost have her convinced to take the course, just for the heck of it. Try and take it while you are here. I was wondering if you were going to be able to drive on base, but you answered that in your post above.

**Blackdog1** · 04-07-2009 12:26 AM

I agree completely with Turkish on this and many others, especially the part about standing up to the "Tool" who told you it would be a good idea to get an R6!

I am also about to learn how to ride a bike. Being a complete motorsport adrenalin junkie, I thought about getting a CBR600 as my first bike. I am 6'4" ad 225lbs so a Ninja 250 just isnt going to cut it. "But the man at the dealer...he say no!!"

My local bike dealer was superb. I sat on a bunch of bikes to get an idea and I think I am going to get the Kwak Ninja 650R. It ha been rated as one of the best starter bikes for more mature riders for a couple of years now. Good riding position, more than fast enough, forgiving and a damn good looking bike too.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26um%3D1

Think R6 and think rip snorting untamed animal that would rather bite your head off, shred your skin and then do something sexually obscene with your dead body...and you get the beginning of the picture of how badly an R6 can mess up an amature rider! My cousins all ride bikes and have pretty much ridden everything, one just got rid of his R1 for Honda 1000RR and the other is riding an Aprilia Mille last time I checked...

Do yaself a favour...prk the R6 for while or trade it for something more sensible...

**Gogeta** · 04-07-2009 01:17 AM

Everyone has given some really good advice here. Thats for sure. I agree with everything.

Just a couple of tips I can think off right away:

You'll learn that motorcycles are the exact opposite of cars when it comes to dealing with a situation in traffic. Bikes are made to accelerate suddenly, not brake. Cars are made to brake suddenly, not accelerate quickly (quick enough to dodge an accident) So don't go grab assin those breaks every time you get cut off or merged on. Remember that its all in the throttle. You can let loose of the throttle to slow down quickly, and you can damn sure accelerate for a short burst and quickly get out of any cutoff situation.... unless you don't see it coming of course.

.... and learn to twist your head when looking around. I think people have a tendency when learning to ride is to lock their head straight forward and use their eyes left and right to watch for stuff. Its amazing how just a twist of the head will open up your FOV. Those full face helmets can block your eyesight just a bit at wider angles..

Finally, for the love of God... learn to trust your front tire man! Love it! Dream about it.... bring it flowers every once in a while.... it loves that stuff.

**TurkishDelight** · 04-07-2009 01:24 AM

Blackdog it's cool to hear you are getting into a bike! I have been a car guy for years, and have done some high performance driving etc. Not to your level, but I have driven some fast cars

Motorcycling is such a different and special experience. It's like nothing else. I have never felt so connected to a machine before. The ability for these machines to accelerate is truly awe inspiring!

Bottom line is that Motorcycles rock!

Just don't try and ride it like a car LOL! Double clutching your down shift is unecessary, and frankly I couldn't imagine trying to do that on a bike in the first place!

Throttle control IMO is the most important part about riding. Also consider looking at the Suzuki SV650, it is well established bike with similar specs to the Ninja 650. Touch more power than the Ninja and naked styling with a V-twin. Plenty of people upgrade them for track events too.

**Blackdog1** · 04-07-2009 01:47 AM

Hehehe thanks mate, yep a mate started on the SV.... he loved it for 2 years then actually upgraded to the SV1000! I felt really comfortable on the Ninja and I think I like the styling a bit more on the 650R, I really do like race style bikes more than the open non-fairing bikes!

But....a little more business needs to come my way before I start buying toys.....As of tomorrow...the Escort Cosworth Rally car is no longer mine!...waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

I have not done an event in the last year and it is such a waste just sitting there, so I am selling it to a guy who is going to convert to a full Escort WRC car....should be nice when it's done! If business gets back to sensible rather than flatline, I really like the new S2000 Rally cars..those things scream...but no more owning for me, renting the car per event is so much easier!

Roll on summer....roll on bike!!!

**TurkishDelight** · 04-07-2009 04:01 AM

Oh I hear you with the sport bikes. That is my primary love. Have you seen vids of the new 2009 R1? It's sounds soooooo exotic! Almost like a V4, but better!

**Bamboo** · 04-07-2009 10:08 PM

Speaking of bikes, if these come way down in price I would jump on one:
Zero S Street-Legal Electric Motorcycle

Range: Up to 60 miles (97 km)
Recharge time: Less than 4 hours (can take 110V or 220V)
Total weight: 225 pounds (102.1 kg)

And the best for last:

Typical cost to recharge: Less than $.01 per mile or kilometer

**TurkishDelight** · 04-08-2009 12:01 AM

Neat? Yes....

Fast? NO!

I wouldn't buy one personally. Maybe for city cruising?

**WhiskeySix** · 04-08-2009 12:10 AM

My brother is trying to help get this company off the ground:

http://www.electricmotorsport.com/

**Bamboo** · 04-08-2009 10:01 AM

Whiskey, your brother's bikes look even better than the ones I linked to

I don't see any prices on the site though.

And as Turk said, I don't mean this would be someone's only vechicle, but most people don't commute more than 50 miles to work, and if you do come close, just plug it in while you work so it is charged for the ride home. Plus, for me for instance, the job I just interviewed for, the fastest speed between my house and there is 45mph, and most of the way is either 25 or 35mph, so I don't need to go fast. I need to go cheap.

**WhiskeySix** · 04-08-2009 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by Bamboo

I don't see any prices on the site though.

$8500 (MSRP) ... not "cheap", but it's pretty much in-line with a new bike...

edit: If anyone's interested, let me know and I'll get you in touch w/ my brother - he may or may-not be able to 'work something out'

**Bamboo** · 04-23-2009 01:07 PM

This was just posted on engadget a few mins ago:

Engadget shreds on the Zero S all-electric motorcycle (with video!)

Of course it isn't good for everything, but it would be perfect for someone like me to ride to work, since the top speed limit is 45, and that is only for a short part. Most of the way the speed limit is 25-35.
Problem of course is the crazy price, but if it was like $3,000, I think it would be a good option. Especially when gas prices go back up, and this thing recharges for like $0.40.

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