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The have & the have nots

Have. it was a nightster "test drive" on a U-turn. As a newbie with height of 5'2, i hesitated to go for the "California stop" or to "tippy-toe" my way around the corner since there was oncoming traffic. Before the ride, I was told to try not to look down, but i did... And i had 4 fingers on the front brakes.. and presto! panic, steer full lock, 4 fingers on the front brake, looking down on the front wheels = a "lay-down".. no harm to me nor the bike. Another advice they told me.. if it's going down.. it's going down.. so don't even try to stop a quarter ton machine from kissing the asphalt..

a few weeks later I got into a safety ride course (before i owned my motorcycle) and I talked about the incident. they gave me tips as follow:

1. by looking forward (heads up) increases your body balance They simulated by making me mock like I'm on a bike and put a box of smokes 2 meters in front of me. Then they made me look at it. With 1 finger, an instructor pushed me.. i was easily leaning forward. Now they wanted me to look straight ahead (as far as i can see).. not so easily "pushed around".. :small3d026:

2. to brake, 70% front, 30% rear, to avoid brake locks, i was taught to use 2 fingers, the index and middle finger. being those two are "not that strong" with out the others.

3. try not to fully turn the handle bars on very low speed/ California stop. I am other committed to the California stop with wider turn angle assuming there is no oncoming traffic or to stop before the U-turn, wait for traffic to pass by, then do the Dip/ walk the motorcycle till it's straight..

4. either you're (me) committed, or better back down.. there is no in between..

now i practice those tips every day on my way to work and still practice figure 8's (slow riding) in the parking lot as much as i can..

Is there a thread on riding tips i can read here?
 
I joined the club shortly after buying my first bike in 30+ yrs. My driveway consists of a product called "dirty rock" a mixture of sand clay and round river rocks. ( packs pretty good on level ground ) unfortunately my approach to my carport was downhill. The rain had washed the rocks to the bottom and at 2 mph the front end washed out on me...twice. no damage or injuries. Third time was exactly like yours...coming out of driveway, leaning and then..."car". Down I went. Oh. well, only my pride hurt and no big deal. better that than contact with a cage.
 
yup twice both when i was 18. both stupid and my mistake. first time stopped at a stop sign and forgot to put my feet down (it was a good party and i was 18 i could do anything). don't drink that stuff and get on the road anymore. Second time coming back from work running up a hill came right up behind a logging truck then swerved into the left hand lane. ooops car stopped waiting on traffic for to make a left hand turn into the hospital. connected at about 45mph they would not let me go to the hospital i had to wait for a ambulance. only damage to me was a cut in my heal, but i was sore for DAYS with all the bouncing ended up 30ft in-front of the car. just when there was a break in the on coming traffic.

not even going to mention the dirt bike years
 
I've been down more than once. I could probably be president of the "have" club. Last time I was on a Kawasaki Concourse pulling up to the gas pumps prior to crossing Beartooth pass. One minute I'm up and the next my bike is laying on its side running at redline. I think it was a combination of my inattention, a dip next to the pumps and a top heavy motorcycle. Broke the footpeg, scratched the mirror and bruised my ego.

On the plus side I had my riding buddy mention the crash to his wife knowing she would call mine. When mine called me I blamed it all on a design flaw with the kawi and told her I was going to eventually trade it for something safer. She assumed I meant when I got home from my trip, not! I traded it away for a new Road King at Yellowstone H.D. Wife was so happy to see me alive when I got home she didn't get mad until two day's later.
 
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Everyone and anyone who's been riding for any length of time has dropped a scoot or two over the years, embarrassin but it happens to everyone. At the age of 9 old man gave me an old cushman, at the age 14 he gave me a honda 305, by 16 I was on a trumpet...and so on. You can bet every scoot I owned got 'dropped' at some time in it's ownership. Now when I drop this FB I just purchased ya can bet ya (EDIT) I wont tellin none of ya > laffs

I was fortunate as a kid, I grew up in a harley/trumpet atmosphere.

Please read this...

A Friendly Reminder - Harley Davidson Community

 
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BOWHIKER said:
First excuse me for asking a stupid question , what is a California stop ?
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It is when you slow, almost stop, and continue on without stopping i. e. come to the end of a driveway or a stop sign without coming to an absolute stop. Do not know where the term comes from exactly, but first heard it at my MSF class.
 
DanielB said:
I've been down more than once. I could probably be president of the "have" club. Last time I was on a Kawasaki Concourse pulling up to the gas pumps prior to crossing Beartooth pass. One minute I'm up and the next my bike is laying on its side running at redline. I think it was a combination of my inattention, a dip next to the pumps and a top heavy motorcycle. Broke the footpeg, scratched the mirror and bruised my ego.

On the plus side I had my riding buddy mention the crash to his wife knowing she would call mine. When mine called me I blamed it all on a design flaw with the kawi and told her I was going to eventually trade it for something safer. She assumed I meant when I got home from my trip, not! I traded it away for a new Road King at Yellowstone H.D. Wife was so happy to see me alive when I got home she didn't get pissed until two day's later.
Click to expand...

That's a great one! Everyone take note!
 
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