Update. I had a lesson over the weekend and did so much better. Hill starts, u turns, clutch control. Was in traffic. Stalled and panicked with traffic behind me. But managed to compose and contine through the roundabout. 2 issues were. Forgetting to turn indicator off and a bit slow. Feel a lot better about it. Thanks for all your information.
star29,
Jul 6, 7:42pm
Hi All,
Hoping to get some good tips here. I just brought my first ever bike. I went for a first ride on it and just about wiped myself out. Whats the key to steering?
I've booked in for some lessons. But any advice would be much appreciated.
desmodave,
Jul 6, 9:11pm
What are you riding ? all balance and feel with the clutch and throttle , look where you want to be heading . You need a certain amount of momentum to stay upright power off the bike will want to drop , power on the bike will want to stand up .Start slow and build confidence and the speed will come Depending on the bike style riding slow standing up may help you get a feel . I learnt on dirt bikes as they handle the drops better .Smooth is good . There be plenty of info on youtube . Keep chipping away and it will come together . Good luck and have fun . If you havent already , sign up on Kiwibiker , there may be some1 handy that has time to help you .
star29,
Jul 6, 9:20pm
Thank you for your advice. I have a Suzuki intruder 250. I went yesterday around the block and just about crashed twice! It scared the crap out of me. I crossed the centre line pulling out and i just about hit an island at the roundabout. I feel that i am not steering correctly. I dont want to be a hazard on the road but i am determined to learn. Without killing myself or anyone else in the process. I seemed fine on the straights and had the gear changes sussed. Its the rolling back, taking off and steering.
m16d,
Jul 6, 9:30pm
Good god, haven't you even got the basics. have you not ridden a pedal bike. My best advice would be sell the bike before you wipe out yourself or someone else.
msigg,
Jul 6, 9:35pm
Ride a push bike first. Then go to somewhere nobody is around like an industrial area on a weekend and go round and round, up and down all day.
msigg,
Jul 6, 9:35pm
Ride a push bike first. Then go to somewhere nobody is around like an industrial area on a weekend and go round and round, up and down all day. Go with the motorbike.
annie17111,
Jul 6, 9:46pm
I learnt to ride a motorbike on a farm and found steering hard at first and hit a bank, slowly so I was fine. Know anyone with a dirt bike and some land?
star29,
Jul 6, 9:50pm
I have ridden a push bike. And i am starting lessons. I did the basic handling but clearly not enough to get on the road.
star29,
Jul 6, 9:52pm
No i don't.
pettal,
Jul 6, 9:54pm
momentum is your friend .
intrade,
Jul 6, 10:06pm
ok i would recommend to use Euro-truck simulator with logitech g27 steering gas and clutch setup- That game is almost 100% to drive like my mb 140 6 meter long van. stalling on hills you name it. if you can drive in eurotruck simulator without crash 500km then you sure will be quite save in the real world. As there is some maniac drivers in that game who wipe you out . but thats a game only and you can reset as where in real live you cant. oh crap bikes lol i would say riding a pushbike would be the first step. dont know if games for bikes are as good to learn for that push-bike scooters then big bike be the way to go.
intrade,
Jul 6, 10:11pm
for motorbike basically only slow speed you steer the faster you go the more steering is done by leaning over. it is definetly dangerous and dont use the front brake as main brake you do not want to lock up a front wheel on a bike . clutch control moves from the left foot as per eurotuck simulator to your left hand and shifting gears is don with the foot on bikes. you can whipe out a bike transmission when you shift in to wrong gear more easy driving with scooter variomatic cvt like.
kazbanz,
Jul 6, 11:44pm
First of all I STRONGLY recommend you don't ride on the road until you have had some more lessons. Now is the time to develop good riding habits Second I would get the actual bike checked over by a professional to ensure there are no mechanical issues with it. Worn head bearings, bald tyre, Under inflated tyre. Stupid handlebar setup immediately come to mind
androth2,
Jul 7, 12:10am
When I had a big motorbike years ago I practiced on metal roads .Its ok going straight but slowing for corners at intersections can cause problems with turning
star29,
Jul 7, 12:55am
Thank you. I am looking forward to lessons. I mean, i have to start somewhere.
star29,
Jul 7, 12:56am
When doing lessons I will be on the road. Instructor said see how we go and what needs to be worked on. The bike has very low km's and just recently had a WOF.
kazbanz,
Jul 7, 1:33am
I'd recommend doing some time in a carpark practicing your low speed riding ,getting familiar with the electrical controls and practising your emergency braking before going out on the road. I cannot disagree with Intrade too much regarding braking and its darned important knowing how to stop as fast as possible in all conditions. Just in case you don't know. Motorcycle braking progressively increases the effectiveness of your front brake whilst progressively DECREASING the effectiveness of your rear brake as you increase the braking effort. it starts on a bike like yours as roughly 50/50 but as you brake harder and harder the weight transfer makes the front better and better to the point where you can have your back wheel off the ground (VERY unlikely on your bike) Re the bike.--I'm sorry but none of that means squat. It helps having low km from a mechanical endurance point of view. BUT the here/now of the bike could be something that's almost unridable. It only takes 5 minutes for an experienced person to check the bike over to be sure its right now in rideable condition. Just to clarify where I'm coming from. Owned bikes constantly for 40 plus years, ex racer,ex coca cola riding school instructor, even ran a few track days a few years back. EDIT-You are in Waitakere so Im guessing you are using the guy based at the seventh day Adventists car park.
gusthe1,
Jul 7, 3:14am
You couldnt get more wrong if you tried
snork28,
Jul 7, 3:38am
stay away from painted lines on the road especially when wet, i found that out the hard way 52 years ago when i got my first bike.
socram,
Jul 7, 3:51am
Brake on the straight - never in a corner.
Some good advice above (generally). If you are drifting out, on the exit, then either you are turning in too soon or not leaning into the corner, or entering the corner too fast - or a combination of all 3.
I think that a modern 250cc bike is possibly too powerful for an absolute beginner.
I'm not as experienced as some on here, but never had a problem transferring from a push bike to a motorbike - but back then, my 200cc bike was flat out at 80kph.
bwg11,
Jul 7, 4:10am
After reading the thread, I think the very first thing you should do is as Kaz suggests in post #17. That is let someone with experience test the bike. If you can ride a push bike, you shouldn't be having the issues you are. Things like front/rear alignment, tight steering head bearing or a defective steering damper, all can make bike virtually unridable.
gunhand,
Jul 7, 4:33am
I can not add to much to the above advise really but, get off the road until you have your problems solved. As you said you don't want to be a hazard or kill yourself. I would imagine you have a death grip going on when you were doing what you were doing and that will stop you steering correctly. Relax and don't over think it all. As said, find a empty car park or even better still if possible find a dirt bike and a paddock to learn in. Im not sure about others but everyone I know learnt on a dirt bike. You can fall off as much as you want lol. I think someone said it above but look where you want to go not at the hazards. If you look at them at this stage in your motorcycling life you will hit them every time, or come close. Its called target fixation, and applies to all wheeled objects and then some. Good luck with it all.
apollo11,
Jul 7, 4:42am
I thought you needed to pass a basic handling course before you were given your learners? This will give you the basics on steering, counter-steering, four stage braking etc. I'd stay off the road and away from traffic until I was fully confident on the bike, if I were in your situation. Watch out for target fixation, it's something that gets everyone in the beginning. Your bike will go in the direction you are looking, so force yourself to look past a corner and not into it.
apollo11,
Jul 7, 4:48am
Completely wrong. The front brake will provide nearly ALL of the braking force in an emergency stop. That is why they teach four stage braking, so you learn to control it instead of grabbing a handful.
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