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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
I was just wondering if anyone had any advice about riding positions for a newbie. I am signed up to take the rider class in May, and wont be riding my bike until after that. Hopefully they will teach me about how to sit, and not put weight on my wrists and such? Does anyone have any advice about that so I don't form bad habits?
Also, what do people think about riding with a normal backpack? Can they affect your riding much?
Thanks for any info.
i ride with a backpack when i commute to school. it doesnt bother me at all. just make sure the straps are tight so it doesnt flop around while you're cornering.
the msf will cover the basics of rider positioning.
sit forward grip tank with knee's use back to hold you up keep pressure off your wrists.... I am also taking the course in may but i been riding for 6 months or so
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Since joining this forum i am now very anti ninja 250 just from the majority of owners and the things they say
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevin_stevens
I have 30 years and several hundred thousand miles of riding experience, and my TLS was the most evil bike I've ever ridden. It actually whispered "I'm going to try to kill you today" every time I got on it. It was a total relief to get off of it and onto something safe like my '03 GSX-R 1K. But hey, if it works for him, great!
I don't know if its a universal thing, but I was taught to flap my elbows kinda like chicken wings, to make sure I wasn't locking them. Apparently you are more prone to throttle input errors if you are stiff arming the bars. Thats all I got for riding position.
A "proper" riding position is the balls of your feet on the pegs and you forearms as close to level with the ground as you can get. This is very difficult with many SS machines as you have to be in a full tuck to level off your arms. However once you get used to it, it is sort of a default. When you are getting ready to crank up the tempo you will find yourself naturally adopting this posture. It keeps your grip lose, you core supporting you and your body properly balanced ...and most importantly your feet from getting stuck between the pegs and the ground.
Sticking your elbows out is an old dirt trick used to better absorb front end impacts, I've never used it since I started riding street. On the note of dirt tricks I keep two fingers on the clutch and front brake at all times with my clutch lever adjusted 1" off the grip. Likewise I adjust the brake lever so a point where I can keep my fingers on it completely through the throttle travel.
It'll take you a bit to figure out what works for you. Position and control adjustments are personal things and what works for one rider may not for the next.
You say you're not riding your bike until after your class in May, but you want advice so you don't start forming bad habits... how does that work?
anyway, my plan was also to originally not ride my bike until after my MSF course... but i just got home about 10 minutes ago after being told the person that just came in at 6:04 took my spot, as i was an alternate. That was after being there since 5:20. Needless to say i'm fucking pist and am now probably going to ride before the next class I'm registered for comes around. and yes, i'm a fucking alternate again. (this time 2nd of 6, today i was 3rd of 3.)
so far tonight i have slammed people everywhere i go, i will go easy on you:
1. We cant change you made an ill-advised choice, i also made the choice i survived.
-I learned the hard way, thankfully by the grace of God no accidents.
2. sit back on your seat, leaning foward at the hips.
3. Squeeze tank with knees.
4. Your lower back should be getting a workout, for some reason my mid back is sore?
5. You should be able to hold that position with arms dangling.
6. When you place your hands on the controls, your knucles and elbows should be on the same plane.
7. Arms need to be loose at all times and relaxed.
8. useless information tip: Nicky Hayden would spent an hour a day sitting on his F4i squeezing the tank.
when you are ready to learn throttle control just shout.
I don't know if its a universal thing, but I was taught to flap my elbows kinda like chicken wings, to make sure I wasn't locking them. Apparently you are more prone to throttle input errors if you are stiff arming the bars. Thats all I got for riding position.
I haven't taken the msf yet but stiff arming the bars is paramount. if you stiff the bar youl will certainly get hurt. if the bike doesn't flat out tell you it's wrong than i will. IT'S WRONG! stay loose, keep your elbows inward and loose so you don't feel every bit of road your forks feel.
just relax and have fun. if you feel that you're tense then you're not ready for what you've just done. time to go back and start over.
its no bid deal. don't do it in traffic where you may need to stop fast. it helps take your weight off your wrists and forces you to use your core to hold you up since you can't very well lean on one bar only.
to the OP, use the time between now and MSF to do some exercises to strengthen your back muscles. rowing type stuff and "good mornings". lay on your stomach, tuck your toes underneath the couch put your hands behind your head and lift yourself up off the ground. do sit ups/crunches too. you'll save yourself a lot of fatigue by getting your core in shape now.
Bobby
__________________ I GOT YER FRICKIN' TOKEN RIGHT HERE PAL!.
Are you taking a sportbike rider class or a regular MSF rider class? If just a regular MSF class that supplies the bikes then you will most likely learn on some small 250cc standard/cruiser type bike where you sit upright, so you won't be learning much of how to properly sit on a sport bike.
I personally was told this by my salesperson who knew I was riding a sportbike for the first time. He said that the first mistake riders do is keep their elbows locked and put all their weight on their arms and wrists which causes pain and discomfort after awhile.
You want to keep your elbows slighty bent and use some of your lower back muscles to support you rather than all your weight on your arms and hands. This may feel hard to do at first, but after awhile your body and muscles adjust.
I personally feel to just relax and not stiffen my body and arms up when I ride helps alot. Riding gloves with a little bit of padding on the palms helps with comfort also.
thanks for all the info... I also had two other questions:
1) How many fingers should be on the clutch/front brake when driving around in some traffic?
2) Any suggestions about spray paint touch-ups on upper fairings?
thanks for all the info... I also had two other questions:
1) How many fingers should be on the clutch/front brake when driving around in some traffic?
2) Any suggestions about spray paint touch-ups on upper fairings?
depends on what you feel comfortable with as far as clutch/brake goes.
Newb riding position, etc...
nice, saw 3 guys doin that yesterday. is this something that is completely illadvised or is it no big deal?
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