Topic: First "long" ride

[Wobbly]

Hence we mount from the left

Well, horses and motorcycles that is. 

[lone*X]

Just now saw the continuation of this thread.  Daauum!   
"I've only been riding for just under two years. I have maybe 6,000 miles under my belt. I've taken 3 motorcycle training courses (I don't think just taking the DMV test is enough, and I don't care how long you've been riding. That just means you probably have been practicing errors over and over again)."

After riding for 52 years and teaching rider safety for a few of those years,  I have to wonder if the reason for taking three training courses was that he kept flunking them!  Maybe he needs to be on the trike forum.  This is pure arrogance.   

[martin99]

Anybody sells popcorn? Dave?

I can piss the farthest, we can all go home now.

So what are you saying, you don't appreciate propstand threads now?

Sheesh, some guys get all uppity over the slightest little things...

[fendersrule]

Just now saw the continuation of this thread.  Daauum!   
"I've only been riding for just under two years. I have maybe 6,000 miles under my belt. I've taken 3 motorcycle training courses (I don't think just taking the DMV test is enough, and I don't care how long you've been riding. That just means you probably have been practicing errors over and over again)."

After riding for 52 years and teaching rider safety for a few of those years,  I have to wonder if the reason for taking three training courses was that he kept flunking them!  Maybe he needs to be on the trike forum.  This is pure arrogance.

Sorry if I'm not jumping on the bandwagon of "don't take breaks" and "ride completely relaxed because there's nothing to worry about".

And no, I've passed there separate courses and still plan to further my training. I actually have been passing all my riding tests with little to no errors. The point I'm making is that everyone should be taking safety courses, regardless on how long they have been riding. That's a fact. Passing the DMV course does not make you a safe rider.

[Retro Rocket]

Just now saw the continuation of this thread.  Daauum!   
"I've only been riding for just under two years. I have maybe 6,000 miles under my belt. I've taken 3 motorcycle training courses (I don't think just taking the DMV test is enough, and I don't care how long you've been riding. That just means you probably have been practicing errors over and over again)."

After riding for 52 years and teaching rider safety for a few of those years,  I have to wonder if the reason for taking three training courses was that he kept flunking them!  Maybe he needs to be on the trike forum.  This is pure arrogance.

Sorry if I'm not jumping on the bandwagon of "don't take breaks" and "ride completely relaxed because there's nothing to worry about".

And no, I've passed there separate courses and still plan to further my training. I actually have been passing all my riding tests with little to no errors. The point I'm making is that everyone should be taking safety courses, regardless on how long they have been riding. That's a fact. Passing the DMV course does not make you a safe rider.

Thats not a "fact" thats your opinion.....

[scottly]

Found this, has an air of plausibility ..

 "Traditionally people who rode horses had swords. Most people being right handed a sword is worn from the left hip. Trying to mount a horse from the right with 3 feet or more of sharp steel could lead to a very unwelcome sequence of events for both horse and rider. Hence we mount from the left."

Thanks Bob! That makes sense to me! Once the standard was set, it was carried over to motorcycles. It also might explain why kick-stands are universally on the left, while rear brake, shifters, and kick-starters may be located on either side? 

[70CB750]

I think I will try getting on from right side - if I can remember and stop myself in time

The key is on the left, the valve on the right, there is really no simple side and difficult side, just a habit.

I know I get on bicycle from either side with no real preference.

[750K]

Just now saw the continuation of this thread.  Daauum!   
"I've only been riding for just under two years. I have maybe 6,000 miles under my belt. I've taken 3 motorcycle training courses (I don't think just taking the DMV test is enough, and I don't care how long you've been riding. That just means you probably have been practicing errors over and over again)."

After riding for 52 years and teaching rider safety for a few of those years,  I have to wonder if the reason for taking three training courses was that he kept flunking them!  Maybe he needs to be on the trike forum.  This is pure arrogance.

Sorry if I'm not jumping on the bandwagon of "don't take breaks" and "ride completely relaxed because there's nothing to worry about".

And no, I've passed there separate courses and still plan to further my training. I actually have been passing all my riding tests with little to no errors. The point I'm making is that everyone should be taking safety courses, regardless on how long they have been riding. That's a fact. Passing the DMV course does not make you a safe rider.

I took a riding course when I got my licence and yes it taught me alot about being safe on the road, what lane position to be in and when blah blah blah. But nothing beats real riding experience, I'll take a couple of years of road experience over a 6 day class anytime. If anything I'd be interested in taking the race certification class that's offered in my area but I don't have a bike that's set up for track use and I'm not about to safety wire and risk dumping my daily rider, just to learn some advanced skill sets.

[andrewk]

Just now saw the continuation of this thread.  Daauum!   
"I've only been riding for just under two years. I have maybe 6,000 miles under my belt. I've taken 3 motorcycle training courses (I don't think just taking the DMV test is enough, and I don't care how long you've been riding. That just means you probably have been practicing errors over and over again)."

After riding for 52 years and teaching rider safety for a few of those years,  I have to wonder if the reason for taking three training courses was that he kept flunking them!  Maybe he needs to be on the trike forum.  This is pure arrogance.

Sorry if I'm not jumping on the bandwagon of "don't take breaks" and "ride completely relaxed because there's nothing to worry about".

And no, I've passed there separate courses and still plan to further my training. I actually have been passing all my riding tests with little to no errors. The point I'm making is that everyone should be taking safety courses, regardless on how long they have been riding. That's a fact. Passing the DMV course does not make you a safe rider.

Nobody says don't take breaks, or don't worry about the idiots and environment around you, just that you don't have to stop every 30 minutes, and you don't and shouldn't ride all tense.  Unless you're riding a vibration prone 450, then your hands will be asleep by then anyway.

Lots of people here, myself included, put on more miles in one year than you have in two.  Doesn't make any one of us safer or better than the other, but experience matters.  Taking the course, or multiple courses is a great idea.  Getting experience solidifies what you learned in school- shows you what you really know and what you think you know.  What experience will tell you is that sometimes you can burn miles all day, and sometimes you can't.  We all should know our limits, and I know that at 30 minutes in, I'm just getting comfortable in the saddle, just getting warmed up to ride, ride, ride.

I understand you are an enthusiastic guy who feels like he is on his game at all times, but I feel that anyone who has actually gone to a real riding course/school knows that the way you apply the knowledge is by doing.  And if you aren't making mistakes, you aren't learning. 

[scottly]

But, I know you're just the big swinging d*ck who doesn't make mistakes at riding school. 

Huh?!!  This thread has gotten way off track. Personal attacks are not looked fondly upon on this forum. Perhaps a refresher on the rules of behavior would be warranted?

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[andrewk]

Sigh.  Not intended to be personal.  Forgot that everyone around here was touchy.  I'll go back and edit.

[scottly]

It's not a matter of being touchy, Andrew, it's more a matter of people piling up against an individual they've never met. Play nice, people....

[andrewk]

It's hard to be a respectful smart-ass, especially online, but it's who I am.   When I was younger, and thought I had figured it all out, an older guy (not much older, cause I'm still pretty young) called me a BSD (the phrasing I just used) after I was getting all technical about his riding style, critiquing him.  I had taken a DMV/MSF, and a skills course, had a big head about it.  So my buddy and I go out for a ride, and he's way faster in the corners than I am.  So I have this sort of epiphany that, maybe I am still a novice.  And I was.  It was a good wake up call, and I'm a better rider now because of it.  It takes time to discover both your limits and the limits of the machine, especially when the only riding experience you get is in traffic.

Now, I can understand how my comment would be perceived as a personal attack, and without the anecdote there's no way to know.  But that's where I was coming from, and I guess I wanted you to know.    [/hijack]

[Vinhead1957]

We are all novices again every spring!   

[Stev-o]

Gold Dude asked for popcorn?

[goldarrow]

Gold Dude asked for popcorn?

That's it?!?! Will need much more than that...don't be stingy stev-o

[dave500]

ill get some more,or will i?shouldnt have grown that beard?

[Retro Rocket]

It's not a matter of being touchy, Andrew, it's more a matter of people piling up against an individual they've never met. Play nice, people....

Scott, your getting soft in your old age....

[dhall57]

Boy this thread has made a left turn at Albuquerque instead of a right and really got lost. NCCB was just asking for a little advice on what for him was a longer ride and was just wanting some input that's all(not a slug fest between a few members) name calling and arguing about who's right on who's wrong and voicing their opinion very strongly. Like what be said before, opinions are like a$$holes everybodies got one. So here's mine: I think all of us here graduated from kindergarten many years ago so lets act a little more like it ok guys

[Wobbly]

These forums are 90% entertainment and 10% useful information. No one should take anything said here either too personal nor too serious. "Fendersrule" and I are on opposite sides in this thread, but that doesn't prevent us from communicating in a friendly fashion by e-mail. As in any of these forums, often the only thing people have in common, is that--often by chance--we drive the same or similar kind of motorcycle. To help each other out where it counts is all that matters. In the mean time: let's arm-wrestle. 

[Xnavylfr]

For NCCB, if you rode from Garner in any direction on the NC interstates or even the 2 lanes this time of year, it becomes quite interesting especially about sunset.
Hello DEAR, DEAR , DEAR.
Riding is learning =If you don't learn or notice something different each time you ride, then you have placed yourself in the DANGER zone.
I can bet every person on this board at some time in their life have been there!!
You have driven the same hiway/road so many times going and coming home from work that you get to work and realize you missed the exit to get coffee. This zone doesn't take 30 mile on the saddle or 100 miles on the saddle to hit, it is just the repetition of  the act, the hum of the engine, the thump thump of the road bumps and you can fall in the zone. You kinda get the feeling that you are setting still and the world is rotating under you.. My .02 cents

Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[Stev-o]

Gold Dude asked for popcorn?

That's it?!?! Will need much more than that...don't be stingy stev-o

Ok, ok....