I 'have a friend' who is guilty of doing all of these in the very early days but I am a lot better... errr., I mean he is a lot better now thanks to great videos like yours. 😁 June 2023 Update: Just received my full unrestricted rider licence and now enjoying my 2008 Suzuki Boulevard C109R 1800cc beast of a bike, cruising the roads and highways with confidence and ease. Thanks again Andre for all your work. Your videos were, and still are, a very valuable source of information for me.
I never took classes. I was riding dirtbikes @ 12 and taught myself. Before Social Media, you didnt have a million critics either so ppl werent as nervous to look like a beginner. Remember, theres nothing wrong with being a beginner. Experience is lifes greatest teacher
TRAINING plus experience. Develop early bad habits which go uncorrected and they will become part of muscle memory and attitude and later in life will be very difficult to correct. As an ex- UK ADI in the 1990's during experienced driver training I've seen some total horror shows including a US citizen who changed into neutral around 30 yards from every potential stop.
@@stevetrawley3521 Training is Definitely Important... if you're older and don't have confidence, but younger ppl, especially children or teens, learn the best by DOING & WATCHING. Too many ppl worry about the way they Look and that's bc of SOCIAL MEDIA. You will gain style from Experience and Experience only. Riding a bike is supposed to be extremely Easy so there's no need to complicate things by telling them how they should look when they're riding. It's important to develop your own style of riding and not try to look like the guy with 100k subscribers. With all that said, I appreciate the time you take trying to teach others! Live Free - Ride Hard
same brother. I was 18 years old wearing shorts and a beater on a 1200 cc Ninja. Lmao. Back before all the bs, it was better in some ways but the info available now is abundant and accessible.
I would like to add to the "riding down the middle of the road", the middle of the road is also where most vehicles drop oil or other fluids, if a slight rain starts this part of the road gets slippery first. If you ride in the part of the lane where every vehicle is depositing rubber you get better grip on the road. Good video.
One small issue with that (albeit situational) is that due to that extra travel, those parts of the road can be deeper. Allowing for pooling to take place, leading to hydroplaning. But assuming the surface is good. Yes of course riding in lane 1 or 3 is the better bet
@@kenwittlief255 Any car can leak oil. (Except electric obviously) Oil seals still fail, parts come loose etc. But even if they didn't. What about the millions of not so modern cars? Plus lorries, vans, coaches, trucks etc? Modern and not.
I am a motorcycle instructor in the UK and I can tell you, I see these things every day...and a lot more. I've watched a few of your videos and I can tell that you're very good at your job. Keep up the good work.
As youre an instructor you will see this every day.Like a midwife sees babies getting born every day.... However if you are seeing motorcyclists whove passed their test and are doing this.....Now Im worried🤭
@@TheLiamis the test is strict but easy. If it was more difficult, people would put more effort and actually learn something. When I did my licence in my home country, that was every second day, three hours of training and was two months long...just to pass Module 1. In the UK we do three days training and mod 1 and 2 tests are within those days. I very often see very bad riders passing their test, just because they've been lucky on the test.
@@calvinclarke1364 bollocks what? other than your comment. If you're already aware of these skills then the video obviously isn't relevant to you however there are other people out there who will benefit
Other than taking some advanced rider courses, your best bet is to join a rider group and learn from experienced riders on regular weekend rides. Best thing I did in my 20s was ride with blokes who were 10 or more my senior, on regular weekend rides. Moto being, rain, hail or shine, the ride goes on. If you live by the fair weather rider moto, you're asking for trouble. All riders need to know how to ride in all conditions. All the best with your practice, cheers
I can honestly say I've not made any of these beginner mistakes... because I haven't begun yet. But now that you've shown me what to look out for, hopefully I will do well at my beginner course. Thanks.
I just got my license and I will say make sure to not look down. Once I started looking up where I wanted to go and tucked in my legs, my bike became way more stable.
@@FlamingCockatiel It's been mostly cleaning and sorting. We are trying to sell a house to release some funds to really get into it. We have located a local company that specialises in resotrations to assist us with the engines, just need the funds.
@@HumblePeon2 looks like my Bro and I will have the funds to get our lessons and licences by the end of the year while restoring my late father's two 80's BMW R100's. The funds are mostly for the restorations. Super excited. Have a local school lined up that will do all the training on their bikes, including prepping for the learners license, as well as loan their bikes for the actual test, all for about $360 (converted) start to finish.
Each beginning of season a couple times,and when you change your tires for new ones to get off the manufacturer’s compound on the edge of the tire it’s crucial….ride safe..
It is one of the trials on the french driving licence, you have a minimum time to match before finishing the slow part, this is HARD when you start riding
I’ve been binge watching all your videos… it’s amazing how much information you’re giving and how much of an impact it’s made on how I ride my bike. Man, thank you very much. You’ve definitely prevented countless accidents.
Excellent video. I am a veteran biker who took a safety course before I ever took my bike out on the road. It was well worth it. In the beginning, the scariest thing was cornering. I was scared to death of leaning into the turn in fear the bike would go over. I gradually learned otherwise and was eventually counter-steering like a pro.
I am getting back on a motorcycle for the first time in forty years. Rode trials competitively in my youth, so hoping my basic comfort level is still deep inside me. Love the video. It covers some really basic things that are good for me to remember. One thing - proper bicycle position should have a slight bend in the elbows. For all the same reason as on a motorcycle plus the arms absorb vibration when they are supple. Thanks again!
Know this one myself and I can say this for sure, that it all comes back to ya. It's just that you gotta keep reminding yourself that your not the rider you once was....good luck and enjoy you passion again !
I've been riding since I was 14 years old and got my license more than 35 years ago; the only "bad habit" I found myself doing even today is often riding with hands in a fully extended (straight) position, but you see, even though this position may lead to "sore palms" from time to time, is much more comforting for my back (for my current bike), so I am going to keep this position for short periods of my motorbike trips -especially for long ones.
Vibrations in your hands leading to "sore palm" is leading to permanent damages to blood vessels. It'll only get worse with the time and it's a really common injurie when you're working with a jackhammer or if you're a baker. There is no way to recover when the damage is too heavy even with surgery. if your fingers start to get numb, you'd better find a new way to ride or you'll be unable to do it at all soon.
@@johnloeffler218 Seat and bar position and shape can fix a lot of problems like this and a short wheelbase just limits how many passengers you can add on. If you want a proper ergogenic position you don't want to follow the racing motorcycles because those positions are to optimize aerodynamics, not spine health. But the most upright, laid back positions are also flawed and only feel better for people who don't really work to solve the problems but instead want the position that feels most like their favorite chair for watching TV.
My training years ago recommended you should mostly use both front and rear brakes simultaneously, but smoothly. Also I was taught to ride just left of centre line of the road or lane (UK, left side driving) - called the 'command position' (furthest from the kerb). Allows view of road ahead, easier to overtake from and gives a chance of swerving out if necessary. Also, you are in the driver's door mirror of the vehicle ahead = safer. If you take the left side of your lane (UK nearer the kerb) then any need to swerve may be less easy.
that's kind of an 'old school' lesson, I think to get people to not be afraid of the front brake. The truth is, the rear brake all but useless when your goal is to stop. Scrubbing a little speed? Sure, use the rear brake; if you really need to stop, it's all the front.
I do agree a heavier bike with a long wheel base will get more out of the back brake because more weight will be on the rear wheel; the great majority of the power remains on the front, however
I’m a self taught rider and I’m proud to say I’ve never been scared of the front brake, was one of the first things I made sure to get good at before I went out on the road
As a seasoned rider, I appreciate the information you shared. You did and excellent job describing the problem, why it is a problem, how to fix it and the benefits of fixing it. Kudos! ....Sharing with all the riders I know.
You know how to spot a beginner..??? You watch RUclips videos of pretentious judgmental RUclips beginner’s trying to make silly and uninformative videos of poorly inexperienced riders when they too are not really great riders themselves, but make videos as if they are ...IMO but I could be way off as well 🤷🏻♂️
When I first started riding I definitely did the whole 50 pencing when hitting U-turns. Took a bit of practice before I got comfortable enough to not feel like I was going to fall over. I also used to put my foot down through turns, a habit I picked up from dirt bike riding.
@@ManOfAttitudeLP1998 with the correct technique any bike can be ridden through a tight u turn with the handlebars at full lock. Full dressed tourers included
Great video. Keep in mind that we've all been beginners at some point, some learn quicker than others. Best is keeping practicing in empty parking lots/anywhere that is safe. There is no such thing as "practicing too much". Happy trails everybody, stay safe!
we all have to start somewhere, and when i started i found that you just don't know what you don't know, so as long as you learn from your mistakes (and YT vids like this) you're on the right track and will get there in the end. GL
I'm still learning. I've done all of those things you mentioned. I've been riding off and on for 30 years and many highway trips behind me. I had one unforgetable no-injury crash in 1992. I find as I get older and less limber, even though I feel my motorcycle control is still OK, swinging my leg over the saddle is more difficult. The one thing that bothers me most is simply seeing others riding without any protective gear as if they feel they cannot possibly crash. Those that don't wear at least gloves and boots also can't stop straight, or they drag their feet when they get going.
I'm still a novice rider, and this video has become a great tip for me. Even if I wasn't driving the motorcycle in the wrong way, I was able to pay a little more attention to a lot of things that I wasn't really aware of. Thank you.
Thank you for the video. A big thing I did was target fixate. Example- making a turn you do not want to hit the curb you see while turning but you get afraid of the curb so you lock onto that curb. You go where you look so you hit the curb. Know this and force yourself to look into the turn and down the path of the lane you want to go.
I know your pain. Been an older rider who suffers from limited movement it can look comical getting on and off my bike. But I'm never going to stop riding even if I have to get a trike
@@2wheelsdownunder28 Some of the reverse trikes look pretty cool. Everyone I have talked to that owns something like a Can-Am has said it as a blast and they love it. Unless you are in a club, like who cares about anyone else’s opinion on what you ride?! Personally, I ride for my own enjoyment.
I think it's easy to forget that we were all beginner riders at one point in our lives, these videos are great reinforcement that we are always learning and perfecting what we do, to still have fun and be safe in the process.
Yet another outstanding video, Andrei - thank you! All are great tips, and I particularly appreciate the "not riding directly behind another vehicle" nugget. It took me a few months of riding before I implemented that strategy, and it makes a world of difference for the exact reasons you cite.
Middle of any well used highway lane has a healthy dose of oil build up. Ride in that, particularly at traffic lights and it’s coated onto tires and brakes only work as well as the tire contact to the road surface less the oil buildup. 😎
I don't really ride a motorcycle and just randomly watch these videos and I can honestly say you're really good at explaining stuff and the tips are helpful, I immediately understood what you were talking about without even having to think about it which I wish I could do at school really 😂
I passed the MSF beginner course less than 2 weeks ago and have been riding for a bit over a week- I am VERY glad I did a lot of research beforehand about how to be a safe rider, got full gear, etc. My weak point is definitely turning at slow speeds, clutch control, and swerving. The swerving is difficult because it goes against my instincts XD I bought a few tennis balls and cut them in half, I've been going to empty parking lots and practicing at my weak points. I have my advanced MSF course this Friday and Saturday; I'm pretty sure I won't pass, but I want to take it anyhow to get a gauge of my skill and to learn the course layout so I can practice even more.
signs of becoming a great rider is to know his/her weak points, willing to take time to practice and willing to take courses. Good luck to you and hope to hear you are doing laps in a race track in 6mos or less. Ride safe
I got my bike license at 18, at 28 I took a train course and learned a lot. 30 more years of riding on and off later I'm still learning new techniques. Be safe
you dont have to go to a parking lot to practice all your riding skills practice them on the street everytime you ride - wait till there is no one behind you and practice your serving, countersteer, hard braking at stop signs and red lights stop short at corners and creep up at 1mph without putting your feet down
@@kenwittlief255😅You do have to practice in an empty parking lot for safety. Especially if you want to practice turning/Figure 8s, you dont want to do that on the road 😂
I have firsthand experience in this department. As I am a noob. I always forget to turn off my blinker, and I'm notorious for randomly honking my horn.
when I first started I was honking at and flashing everyone when trying to use my blinkers. Luckily that didn't last long. But turning off the blinker is something I sometimes still forget.
Try to get into the habit of make the turn, change gear, cancel the blinker. After a very short while it will become second nature and you won't even have to think about it.
Im an intermediate level rider and thanks to this channel Im starting to get better and better at slow speed manoeuvres while trying to always stick to good habits and proper technique. It’s actually quite awesome spending one hour doing all sorts of slow speed exercises, then getting on the road. It’s like an intense warmup. After it, riding on the roads feels breezy. Thanks so much for offering such valuable information in such clear and precise manner. Simply the best on RUclips.
I got my motorcycle license in Illinois and learned from Wisconsin riders more advanced techniques. When I moved to Alabama I was shocked that in the manual from the dmv in Alabama they want you to ride in the middle of the lane unless it's raining. The state is responsible for many injuries with practices like this.
@@Agony-q ooh darn I didn't know that. The book in IL said stay near the zipper, or out of the middle of the lane and my WI friends told me the same. I watch so many bike videos where cars cut off bikes because they check a side mirror and the bike is not in view because they are in the middle of the lane. Granite most cat drivers don't have their side mirrors set properly to where they can only see a sliver of their own car. Most people set up mirrors where about half of the mirror shows their own car.
Might not say it in the book, but I've ridden through every state in the "lower 48" and all over Alaska... AND at least in practice/traffic, I've never seen "stay in the middle" being actively enforced. Might be the ticket I'd gladly pay, though... or at least, I'd argue the thing in court. The other ticket I'd gladly pay (but never got one) is "taking a filtering position" at lights and signs... I don't actually filter or split... I avoid that like the plague, myself... BUT at lights and signs, I set my bike up to slip into the widest "escape" ahead of me between other vehicles just in case the person behind me screws up... AND I've filtered right past a cop in a "non-filtering" state, when the guy approaching the rear was playing with his phone... I didn't even get time to respond to the cop's "What the hell are you doing?" before the SUV slammed into him from behind... I still didn't get a ticket... I got to stick around and give a witness statement for the officer... AND I retrieved the cell phone from some distance down the street while the cop was working on his paperwork for the situation... which was rather fun. Anyways... thought it was somewhat relevant and at least worth a chuckle... ;o)
@@Agony-q Well, from the days gone by, when the center of every lane anywhere was so covered in black greasy goop that riding it was an invitation to disaster... to the MSF and actual statistics to support the 3-lane-position system as clearly safer and simpler... It's just going to be difficult for a cop to justify actually pulling a biker over for THAT ticket... AND there's still a WHOLE LANE for us to move from side to side with other vehicles and wind buffeting and visibility getting dubious... It would be a ticket I could pay and go RIGHT BACK to doing the same thing... haha... It might be an extra sensitive cop, but I think there's at least some sensibility to the force. They're pretty skilled at "playing stupid", but he seemed to understand I only filtered there to avoid becoming street grease... AND he kind of had plenty of citations at the time to write up... The offending driver was pretty mouthy at the WORST possible time. ...so I could forgive him if he "forgot" my ticket, and I sure as hell wasn't going to remind him. ;o)
From what I have seen and heard from trainers it is much debated and there are pros for each, and it can be situational. Do what feels safest for the road, the traffic and the conditions
@@cyclingsfatsuma9808 When I started riding, we were always told to ride in the middle of the lane, that was against riding at the inside edge of the road for visibility both for people coming out of side roads and how clearly you appear in people's rear view mirror. This was the only part of the video I didn't entirely agree with as a beginner issue, as you say there are pros and cons and it's down to circumstances as to what is the safer position to ride in, but I apparently spend a lot of time riding like a beginner still after 46 years.
I am older rider and I feel like I am becoming a younger rider by your standards. I have a hard time getting my leg over to mount the bike. I've been riding sport bikes since my mid 20s and am now 59!
Some days I have this issue. I'm 64, and sometimes later in the week after the job has beat on me, it's an effort to get the leg to flex up over the tail section. I make it, but is a bit painful at times.
Good list. For me, it's really only the poor turning and braking that concern me. Especially on group rides. Couple other issues with riding down the middle: 1. The center is where oil or other engine fluids can build up from cars with leaks. 2. In bad conditions, you should try to follow the tire path of the vehicle in front of you. The car tires will push rain, dirt, gravel, or grass/leaves out of your path (and into the center where you don't want to be).
The arm position tip also applies to bicycles, and for much the same reason(s). You're more in control and resilient with a loose, calm upper body on a bicycle too, and it's also a sign of a new cyclist there.
Thanks man! I've definitely been guilty of most of these as I begin riding this year but getting better with more experience and help fellow riders like you 👍🏻
2:47 i was doing that after a crash (smaller one) (and still do it when i am in forest as the road there cannot be trusted) because my front was damaged so i couldnt trust my bike (for example when turning left my damaged front would turn kill switch off)
thanks for this video. you asked about mistakes i made as a beginner that you didn't mention here. so: when i was a beginner (1979) i looked at the tarmac in front of the bike instead of at the place i wanted to go. it turns out peripheral vision can tell me about near obstacles so i don't need to look for them. also turns out that the bike will go where you look so that had better not be too immediately close. also, my teacher had learned in the 1950's so for a long time i used the rear brake to slow down and the front brake in addition if i was to stop. this worked at parking lot speeds but really held me back on the twisties. thanks again.
Great vid.. From riding for over 43 years (all weathers, all year round and as a long distance professional courier for over 2 years) I progressed from 2 stroke off road to 2 stroke ON road and now latter days BMWs over 1000cc tourers.. YES as you rightly point out.. some of the really bad riders are painful to watch.. Luckily in the UK the insist on riders taking training before taking a machine on the road et before their test et 👀WHAT the riders wear ? Tee shirt, jeans, sneakers... or some girl on the back wearing heels and little else.. Oh yes.. believe me..😗 I NEVER ride without the right gear.. AND NO girl on my bikes ever wore anything but the right gear.. from helmet to leathers to footwear.. 👀An experienced rider is one with the machine.. it is one with them.. part of them.. the ability to control the momentum in ie traffic to such a level where you can almost come to a stop WITHOUT having to put your foot down et that's one with the machine.. perfect balance, perfect momentum.. and EXPERIENCE.
Being a seasoned rider myself and having friends that are looking to get their big bike licence,they often ask me what they are doing wrong. Now i have found this vid i will direct them to watch it. I found this very good at explaining what not to do and why. Thank you for taking the time to make the vid
Been riding for a long time, and turning is still something of an issue for me. I am simply too afraid to lean the bike too much because when leaning the bike, there is a point where the smooth, consistent lean suddenly tips too fast, making me feel like I'm not leaning, but falling, which forces me to immediately steer into the turn to stand the bike up out of fear. This happens at speed or at low-speed turns. I just can't remedy it, I'm always afraid of the bike falling over OR the wheels slipping from under me. And I feel like I have everything else pretty much trained well, I have great clutch and gear control, braking feels natural, I take the correct position on the bike... It's only turning (arguably the most important skill on a bike) that I have an issue with. Also, this issue is almost completely exclusive to supersports/crotch rockets. I have no issue turning on a supermoto or a cruiser bike (have even scraped the pegs on a cruiser bike many times), but supersports, which are supposedly cornering masters, just have too aggressive of a riding position, making me feel like I'm not in control of a bike but just trying to hang on.
The magic I learned today and I saw in your video is looking where you’re going. Just moving the head makes a huge difference. Lean the head into the turn- huge improvement for me!
I wouldn't go far as to say riding in the centre of the lane is considered a beginner move. It's very much situational. Here in Japan, we're told to always ride on the left side in the riding school for our license but is something that no motorcyclist follows. Riding on either the left or right sometimes invites cars (and potentially other bikes) to try to overtake you, creating a dangerous situation. When I first got my license I rode on the left but soon realized there are more gravel/sand build up and not to mention I had cars who took my left leanings to mean I was giving way or something and try to overtake within the lane, almost causing a crash on couple of occasions. I only ever go left/right now if I want to see past the car in some occasions. Usually I have a good line of sight because we sit a little higher than most drivers in cars except for trucks and SUVs of course...
Same in Mexico. I drive in the middle of my lane on purpose because thats where there are less holes in the roads and also if I ride on the side, cars will come very close to me and not respect my space.
They thought me the other way arround (we were supose to ride on the right side of the lane). When on motorways I use left side when Im on left lane and right side of the lane on the right lane - this gives me time to react. Lot of car drivers only use mirrors when changing lanes and I had couple of duchebags forcing themselves on my lane nearly hitting me.
Great Video. I'm 67 & Just bought my 1st bike (xvs1100) I'm guilty of driving down the center. never again. I Wanted to say thanks, I sometimes wonder if You & others know how much we appreciate it. Keep up the good work. Thanks again
I really enjoyed this. Thank you for being so clear with your information. I have liked and subscribed. I just got my motorbike licence four days ago, and the requirement for getting a motorbike licence in the state of New South Wales in Australia, requires doing a course for two half days, riding on the road once we have our Learners permit, then going for a assessed test. I did mine as part of the Stay Upright program. I really enjoyed it and it covered a lot of information and really builds confidence as a rider. I had only ridden dirts bikes in my younger years. I got my motorbike licence the day after my 58th birthday. I really love the sense of community amongst bike riders. It doesn’t take much to strike up a conversation with other riders and make friends. There are some who think getting your licence when you’re older is a bit crazy, but a lot of riders especially, really respect you for doing it. I must say that riding since I got my licence is a lot nicer than waiting to do the final test. It’s a mental and physical freedom once you’re on the bike. I know now for sure why people enjoy their motorbikes so much more. Finally, I just want to say, I appreciate that you never stop learner how to ride better. A licence is just the start of learning. Thank you for giving new riders (and I’m sure the more experienced riders will also appreciate your videos) like me, a continued education in being able to ride our bikes better and more safely. Thank you!
Great video and very soft and nice way to explain it! i still remember the days when slow manuever my sports bike at the beginning, i was so unsecure on the bike that i was afraid to fall over, and it was normally much worse when you are insecure :D nice video :D
I’m not going to lie, I forgot to put my kickstand up onetime, my riding buddy pointed at it and laughed, then when I stopped to park, I forgot to put it down. That was a very embarrassing day of riding. 😂
I was rushing to do something and forgot to put my kickstand down. I dropped my bike as I swung my leg over the seat. It was embarrassing but it was a learning lesson to always make sure that stand is down before dismounting. It was in my beginner days.
For any of you guys starting, when using the front break, bend your elbows! It helps remove more pressure on the front of your bike which will let you break harder without the back tire lifting up from so much force on the front. This tip has helped me out break many people on the race track without almost any chance of flipping. The point is not to use this only for track days or racing but it will help you break harder in emergency situations like the ones u see in the video.
The technique is right but your physics are wrong. It puts more weight over the front wheel, increasing traction. It also dampens the body-weight shift forward (that's why it's easier to do stoppies with locked elbows, it keeps your body weight static). I wouldn't recommend this technique to noobs though, they might not have the arm strength to keep from sliding over the bars. Also, it's spelled "brake" not "break".
Good video. I'm back on a bike after 20 year break. Everything is coming back quite easily except riding at high speed on the freeway. It's just a mental thing to adjust to all the traffic, lane changes, trucks and of course the wind. Cheers.
That's how he knows. He's addressing the things that beginners do that make operating on 2 wheels more problematic or more dangerous. He says the same shit in every video but it never stops being the thing you needed to hear
I also have a "friend" who is guilty of many of these. He learned a lot from the video, especially the mounting from the footpeg! Brilliant. Thank for the video, very helpful.
My trainer TOTALLY MISSED my bicycle arms and the whole two days I STRUGGLED. A dangerous habit I would not know about without you. Thank you for this info!!! Probably would’ve dropped my bike a lot without this video.
Trying to be confident is something i feel you really need to master doubting yourself can lead to many problems from starting to stopping turning braking you name it take your time and try believe in your own ability pick faults out you feel your lacking in and try to improve on them! Many thanks for the video and tips! ❤
Best take I got as a new rider. You might find muscles you haven't used for years getting sore and your core is gonna get worked! Feels great, I'm addicted.
3:15 for anyone paying attention still…. No the bike doesn’t just magically keep itself up… it’s all about keeping your EYES up and chin up in the direction you want the VEHICLE to go. Look at the rider himself he has his head up and looking and confident the vehicle will go his way. Please don’t be lazy and kill someone with lack of knowledge or laziness
I'm 76 yo now and haven't been on a bike for 50 years, since my Norton 750 Commando - nor am I ever likely to be on one again, as much as I'd love to. But I've been inspired by watching this. Maybe I'll take it up again!
It almost drove me to tears when that cb-1 rolled up. I've owned three of them (two '89s and a '90), all blue and, I so miss that mighty little machine.
Thank you for such great information. I've been riding for almost 2 months part time. I've learned a lot from your videos. I'm a very good bicycle rider and that helped me a lot on the bike, turning, breaking and confidence on my bike and knowing what to expect, when and what to do. Thank you
Been rinding over a year now... now i know why sometimes my hands hurt after long rides put too much pressure on them thanks man and never knew to look that far into a turn 😊
When I was new, I would get nervous in twisties and try to steer my way through. On a very rural road (read: no help, no cell service), I nearly launched myself off the side of a mountain. I decided to practice more, and now I LOVE tight turns. I go back to that near death spot often and try to get better and better.
hey, great video man! here's mine -putting down the right foot only when stopping, instead of the left foot or both -the rev goes up (for a short time) when changing gears (you should untwist your wrist first before pulling the clutch) except if your bike got a quickshifter -rev bombing or pressing horn when braking + maneuvering is possible (in an emergency, prioritize maneuvering, the car is not gonna fly away even if you press 10 second horn)
i do that. the ugly inflexible grab-the-pants way to get my leg over. yes, there's a top box. but, i don't trust my kick stand on my K100RS, having had it break off and the bike fall over even without my mounting weight. thanks for your suggestion, i'll see what i can do to adopt your suggestion.
Great presentation! Can I suggest that for mounting and dismounting, the bike should always be left in first gear? Being in gear acts like a parking brake and ensures that the bike doesn’t roll away when you put your foot on the foot peg! Just get into the habit of parking your bike in first gear and you can’t go wrong. Thanks again 😊
I've been riding on the street since 2012 and never even considered using the peg to mount. Having short legs, this will come on very handy as I am so tired of the massive leg swing over the rear bag.
They way I park next to a wall at work, and at home in the garage, promotes mounting from the right via the peg, as you describe. The one bike I have not mastered this on is the CRF250 Rally, as its suspension compresses so much I have a hard time centering my weight towards the kick stand. Easier to squeeze between the bike and the wall or walk the bike or away from it. As for left peg mounting, a number of my motorcycles have had backrests or boxes, so stepping up on the peg quickly became my preferred solution.
Been on motorcycles for 47 years now. You nailed it on these common mistakes. I think the most common one is keeping your feet down when launching the bike - even on a straight line. That one just hurts to watch!
Your video is absolutely correct. Any "non learner" riders who are watching this video and recognise their bad habits demonstrated in this video should immediately practice to prevent the bad behaviour. If not, they will alway be a learner rider no matter the number of years they've been riding. Everything demonstrated in this video is basic rider knowledge and should be known by riders if they wish to improve their survival skills whilst riding. Thank you for your time. Cheers from Australia.
What an excellent video sir . I am self taught and have been riding for many years but I admit I learned some very useful hints from this . In particular not riding with straight arms . Thank you so much for uploading this. You may even have saved a few lives .... Who knows . Best wishes from the UK ...
Very good information, never thought of mounting the bike on foot pegs , great idea! I brake okay mostly use both brakes but not good at slow speeds tend to want to put my foot down , need some practice! Thank you for good advice! Always a better way to ride!
Valuable insights here. I have only just considered learning about bikes so I can go for driving tests, so these are excellent things for me to keep in mind
I wish I knew about the mounting trick with the footpeg before. Sometimes my hip would act up making it difficult to swing my leg over. I will remember it if I ever have a bike again.
I’ve been riding for about two weeks and i have definitely caught myself doing a couple of these things. I however live downtown Toronto with tons of stop and go, so i am getting much better with the extremely slow speed maneuvering
Great video. I hope it helps keep all riders safe. Just a note, another reason not to ride in the center is any fluid, oil, coolant etc... leaking from a car will drop in the middle causing a slippery surface, be aware, be safe.
I certainly remember doing the one where the feet are pointing down and catching my boots on the road. I was lucky, I got the message before it caused a significant problem and it is so easy to fix.
I 'have a friend' who is guilty of doing all of these in the very early days but I am a lot better... errr., I mean he is a lot better now thanks to great videos like yours. 😁
June 2023 Update:
Just received my full unrestricted rider licence and now enjoying my 2008 Suzuki Boulevard C109R 1800cc beast of a bike, cruising the roads and highways with confidence and ease.
Thanks again Andre for all your work. Your videos were, and still are, a very valuable source of information for me.
👍😂😂
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Me too !
I never took classes. I was riding dirtbikes @ 12 and taught myself.
Before Social Media, you didnt have a million critics either so ppl werent as nervous to look like a beginner. Remember, theres nothing wrong with being a beginner. Experience is lifes greatest teacher
TRAINING plus experience. Develop early bad habits which go uncorrected and they will become part of muscle memory and attitude and later in life will be very difficult to correct. As an ex- UK ADI in the 1990's during experienced driver training I've seen some total horror shows including a US citizen who changed into neutral around 30 yards from every potential stop.
It is always good to learn from your mistakes... but much better to learn from other peoples'.
@@stevetrawley3521 Training is Definitely Important... if you're older and don't have confidence, but younger ppl, especially children or teens, learn the best by DOING & WATCHING. Too many ppl worry about the way they Look and that's bc of SOCIAL MEDIA. You will gain style from Experience and Experience only. Riding a bike is supposed to be extremely Easy so there's no need to complicate things by telling them how they should look when they're riding. It's important to develop your own style of riding and not try to look like the guy with 100k subscribers.
With all that said, I appreciate the time you take trying to teach others!
Live Free - Ride Hard
same brother. I was 18 years old wearing shorts and a beater on a 1200 cc Ninja. Lmao. Back before all the bs, it was better in some ways but the info available now is abundant and accessible.
@@stevetrawley3521 lmao thats crazy-
I would like to add to the "riding down the middle of the road", the middle of the road is also where most vehicles drop oil or other fluids, if a slight rain starts this part of the road gets slippery first. If you ride in the part of the lane where every vehicle is depositing rubber you get better grip on the road. Good video.
One small issue with that (albeit situational) is that due to that extra travel, those parts of the road can be deeper. Allowing for pooling to take place, leading to hydroplaning. But assuming the surface is good. Yes of course riding in lane 1 or 3 is the better bet
where do you live where cars are leaking oil and fluids from their engine?!
modern cars DO NOT LEAK OIL
@@kenwittlief255 where people drive 2008 or earlier cars
@@kenwittlief255 who told you modern cars don’t leak oil? Any vehicle can leak oil even cars with low mileage
@@kenwittlief255 Any car can leak oil. (Except electric obviously) Oil seals still fail, parts come loose etc. But even if they didn't. What about the millions of not so modern cars? Plus lorries, vans, coaches, trucks etc? Modern and not.
I am a motorcycle instructor in the UK and I can tell you, I see these things every day...and a lot more. I've watched a few of your videos and I can tell that you're very good at your job. Keep up the good work.
Thank you!
As youre an instructor you will see this every day.Like a midwife sees babies getting born every day....
However if you are seeing motorcyclists whove passed their test and are doing this.....Now Im worried🤭
I live in UK as well and so many people drag their feet on the parking lot etc. it is just insane. Most of them claim to be experienced riders.
Scary since our uk lessons/test system is so strict. Any of these would probably be a fail.
@@TheLiamis the test is strict but easy. If it was more difficult, people would put more effort and actually learn something. When I did my licence in my home country, that was every second day, three hours of training and was two months long...just to pass Module 1. In the UK we do three days training and mod 1 and 2 tests are within those days. I very often see very bad riders passing their test, just because they've been lucky on the test.
Hey mate! I’ve been riding for less than a month, and I’d like to thank you for taking the time to make this! Extremely valuable information and tips.
Thank you!
Bollocks
It's been 4 months how is it going?
@@calvinclarke1364 bollocks what? other than your comment. If you're already aware of these skills then the video obviously isn't relevant to you however there are other people out there who will benefit
Other than taking some advanced rider courses, your best bet is to join a rider group and learn from experienced riders on regular weekend rides. Best thing I did in my 20s was ride with blokes who were 10 or more my senior, on regular weekend rides. Moto being, rain, hail or shine, the ride goes on. If you live by the fair weather rider moto, you're asking for trouble. All riders need to know how to ride in all conditions. All the best with your practice, cheers
I can honestly say I've not made any of these beginner mistakes... because I haven't begun yet. But now that you've shown me what to look out for, hopefully I will do well at my beginner course. Thanks.
I just got my license and I will say make sure to not look down. Once I started looking up where I wanted to go and tucked in my legs, my bike became way more stable.
Have you begun yet? If so, how's it going?
@@FlamingCockatiel It's been mostly cleaning and sorting. We are trying to sell a house to release some funds to really get into it. We have located a local company that specialises in resotrations to assist us with the engines, just need the funds.
@@BloodSteyn Don't delay too loing. I waited too long to learn to ride and it is my big regret.
@@HumblePeon2 looks like my Bro and I will have the funds to get our lessons and licences by the end of the year while restoring my late father's two 80's BMW R100's. The funds are mostly for the restorations.
Super excited. Have a local school lined up that will do all the training on their bikes, including prepping for the learners license, as well as loan their bikes for the actual test, all for about $360 (converted) start to finish.
Slow speed turning is seemingly the toughest thing for me. I really need to occasionally get in a parking lot and practice it.
Trust the bike and let it do it’s thing
Keep practicing it, I’ve been riding for ten years. I still get the urge do slow turns and slaloms in parking lot.
Each beginning of season a couple times,and when you change your tires for new ones to get off the manufacturer’s compound on the edge of the tire it’s crucial….ride safe..
It is one of the trials on the french driving licence, you have a minimum time to match before finishing the slow part, this is HARD when you start riding
I’ve been riding for 40 years and still paddle, even though I can do the odd wheelie and scrape a knee.
I’ve been binge watching all your videos… it’s amazing how much information you’re giving and how much of an impact it’s made on how I ride my bike. Man, thank you very much. You’ve definitely prevented countless accidents.
Excellent video. I am a veteran biker who took a safety course before I ever took my bike out on the road. It was well worth it. In the beginning, the scariest thing was cornering. I was scared to death of leaning into the turn in fear the bike would go over. I gradually learned otherwise and was eventually counter-steering like a pro.
The mounting and dismount with the pegs is a huge help. I never thought about that. I enjoy your tutorials. I’ve actually learned quite a bit.
It's kind of obvious. Especially if you've ever watched a cowboy movie; how they mount a horse using the stirrups.
I am getting back on a motorcycle for the first time in forty years. Rode trials competitively in my youth, so hoping my basic comfort level is still deep inside me. Love the video. It covers some really basic things that are good for me to remember. One thing - proper bicycle position should have a slight bend in the elbows. For all the same reason as on a motorcycle plus the arms absorb vibration when they are supple. Thanks again!
Know this one myself and I can say this for sure, that it all comes back to ya. It's just that you gotta keep reminding yourself that your not the rider you once was....good luck and enjoy you passion again !
I did it after 20yrs on a very powerful bike. Just take it easy everywhere.
You never forget, a good trail rider can ride any bike anywhere, b safe
@@deborahchesser7375 A "Good Bike Rider" can rider can ride any Bike and be Safe.
They know their Capabilities and Limitations. 😂
Good luck and ride safe buddy
I've been riding since I was 14 years old and got my license more than 35 years ago; the only "bad habit" I found myself doing even today is often riding with hands in a fully extended (straight) position, but you see, even though this position may lead to "sore palms" from time to time, is much more comforting for my back (for my current bike), so I am going to keep this position for short periods of my motorbike trips -especially for long ones.
It's the length of the wheel base and your stature.
Vibrations in your hands leading to "sore palm" is leading to permanent damages to blood vessels. It'll only get worse with the time and it's a really common injurie when you're working with a jackhammer or if you're a baker.
There is no way to recover when the damage is too heavy even with surgery.
if your fingers start to get numb, you'd better find a new way to ride or you'll be unable to do it at all soon.
@@johnloeffler218 Seat and bar position and shape can fix a lot of problems like this and a short wheelbase just limits how many passengers you can add on. If you want a proper ergogenic position you don't want to follow the racing motorcycles because those positions are to optimize aerodynamics, not spine health. But the most upright, laid back positions are also flawed and only feel better for people who don't really work to solve the problems but instead want the position that feels most like their favorite chair for watching TV.
@@maxdee5237 The fully extended arms will also trash his elbows and possibly his shoulders while doing nothing good for his spine.
My training years ago recommended you should mostly use both front and rear brakes simultaneously, but smoothly. Also I was taught to ride just left of centre line of the road or lane (UK, left side driving) - called the 'command position' (furthest from the kerb). Allows view of road ahead, easier to overtake from and gives a chance of swerving out if necessary. Also, you are in the driver's door mirror of the vehicle ahead = safer. If you take the left side of your lane (UK nearer the kerb) then any need to swerve may be less easy.
that's kind of an 'old school' lesson, I think to get people to not be afraid of the front brake. The truth is, the rear brake all but useless when your goal is to stop. Scrubbing a little speed? Sure, use the rear brake; if you really need to stop, it's all the front.
@@MrJeffinLodi All breaking helps, espescially if you ride heavier bikes that are very hard to perform a "stoppie" with.
I do agree a heavier bike with a long wheel base will get more out of the back brake because more weight will be on the rear wheel; the great majority of the power remains on the front, however
Use the back only for low speed manouvring.
Didn't get you. Driving on the left of the central line would keep you closest to the kerb, wouldn't it, instead of further?
I’m a self taught rider and I’m proud to say I’ve never been scared of the front brake, was one of the first things I made sure to get good at before I went out on the road
As a seasoned rider, I appreciate the information you shared. You did and excellent job describing the problem, why it is a problem, how to fix it and the benefits of fixing it. Kudos! ....Sharing with all the riders I know.
Thank you! Much appreciated! 😊
You know how to spot a beginner..??? You watch RUclips videos of pretentious judgmental RUclips beginner’s trying to make silly and uninformative videos of poorly inexperienced riders when they too are not really great riders themselves, but make videos as if they are ...IMO but I could be way off as well 🤷🏻♂️
"As a seasoned rider" (watching beginner videos)
@@jimmyswollnuts7662 you seem to know it all. Great trait for a "good" rider..
When I first started riding I definitely did the whole 50 pencing when hitting U-turns. Took a bit of practice before I got comfortable enough to not feel like I was going to fall over. I also used to put my foot down through turns, a habit I picked up from dirt bike riding.
U turns also depend on the bike some bikes are just too heavy and need a lot of space
@@ManOfAttitudeLP1998 with the correct technique any bike can be ridden through a tight u turn with the handlebars at full lock. Full dressed tourers included
@@UFO-047 Sure but it is scarier I prefer light bike I am also short and not that heavy of a person
Everybody should start on dirt, I’ll always believe that. Bike control is number 1
Great video. Keep in mind that we've all been beginners at some point, some learn quicker than others. Best is keeping practicing in empty parking lots/anywhere that is safe. There is no such thing as "practicing too much". Happy trails everybody, stay safe!
Progressive front brake is the absolute must thing to learn. It saved me multiple time from rear ending something during an emergency stop
Beware, the above is not this channel, its a well known scam
@@thetessellater9163 what?
we all have to start somewhere, and when i started i found that you just don't know what you don't know, so as long as you learn from your mistakes (and YT vids like this) you're on the right track and will get there in the end. GL
I'm still learning. I've done all of those things you mentioned. I've been riding off and on for 30 years and many highway trips behind me. I had one unforgetable no-injury crash in 1992. I find as I get older and less limber, even though I feel my motorcycle control is still OK, swinging my leg over the saddle is more difficult.
The one thing that bothers me most is simply seeing others riding without any protective gear as if they feel they cannot possibly crash. Those that don't wear at least gloves and boots also can't stop straight, or they drag their feet when they get going.
Beware, the above is not this channel, its a well known scam
Helmet and boots are my minimum requirements for my self unless I'm putting around on my dirtbike at the farm
why boots?
@@mad-fo2fl to not break your ankle and foot in case you crash but tbh i never put them. Only helmet and gloves since it's crazy hot where i live.
Anyone who's ever gone down on asphalt at any sort of speed counts gloves amongst their "must haves".
why is it bad to seem like a begginer?
It's not unless u to ride infront
Absolutely agree! 37 years ago i was also a beginner.
Its not bad if you ARE a beginner.
Because beginners do things poorly. If you're seen as a beginner you are seen doing things poorly.
@@Neeko90 you dont need to explain it... there is nothing wrong in being a beginner.
I'm still a novice rider, and this video has become a great tip for me. Even if I wasn't driving the motorcycle in the wrong way, I was able to pay a little more attention to a lot of things that I wasn't really aware of. Thank you.
Not for my 6 years of riding underbone moped bike :))
I like the diplomatic way that you suggest others have such difficulties but the people in your audience have got past such difficulties. Thank you.
This video and the last one are fantastic. The information is good as always, but the humour and the editing are just ... perfecto!
😆😆
Perfetto in ltaliano.
Thank you for the video. A big thing I did was target fixate. Example- making a turn you do not want to hit the curb you see while turning but you get afraid of the curb so you lock onto that curb. You go where you look so you hit the curb. Know this and force yourself to look into the turn and down the path of the lane you want to go.
At my age, an awkward mount or dismount just indicates that I'm getting old and my body doesn't work quite like it used to work.
Conveniently, that’s also the age when you start caring less what other people think!
I know your pain. Been an older rider who suffers from limited movement it can look comical getting on and off my bike. But I'm never going to stop riding even if I have to get a trike
@@2wheelsdownunder28 Some of the reverse trikes look pretty cool.
Everyone I have talked to that owns something like a Can-Am has said it as a blast and they love it.
Unless you are in a club, like who cares about anyone else’s opinion on what you ride?!
Personally, I ride for my own enjoyment.
Yeah I commonly have a bit of mud on the seat of my dual sport.
Preach it brother, preach it......
I think it's easy to forget that we were all beginner riders at one point in our lives, these videos are great reinforcement that we are always learning and perfecting what we do, to still have fun and be safe in the process.
Yet another outstanding video, Andrei - thank you! All are great tips, and I particularly appreciate the "not riding directly behind another vehicle" nugget. It took me a few months of riding before I implemented that strategy, and it makes a world of difference for the exact reasons you cite.
Thank you!😊
Middle of any well used highway lane has a healthy dose of oil build up. Ride in that, particularly at traffic lights and it’s coated onto tires and brakes only work as well as the tire contact to the road surface less the oil buildup. 😎
I don't really ride a motorcycle and just randomly watch these videos and I can honestly say you're really good at explaining stuff and the tips are helpful, I immediately understood what you were talking about without even having to think about it which I wish I could do at school really 😂
I passed the MSF beginner course less than 2 weeks ago and have been riding for a bit over a week- I am VERY glad I did a lot of research beforehand about how to be a safe rider, got full gear, etc. My weak point is definitely turning at slow speeds, clutch control, and swerving. The swerving is difficult because it goes against my instincts XD
I bought a few tennis balls and cut them in half, I've been going to empty parking lots and practicing at my weak points. I have my advanced MSF course this Friday and Saturday; I'm pretty sure I won't pass, but I want to take it anyhow to get a gauge of my skill and to learn the course layout so I can practice even more.
signs of becoming a great rider is to know his/her weak points, willing to take time to practice and willing to take courses. Good luck to you and hope to hear you are doing laps in a race track in 6mos or less. Ride safe
I got my bike license at 18, at 28 I took a train course and learned a lot. 30 more years of riding on and off later I'm still learning new techniques.
Be safe
you dont have to go to a parking lot to practice all your riding skills
practice them on the street everytime you ride - wait till there is no one behind you and practice your serving, countersteer, hard braking at stop signs and red lights
stop short at corners and creep up at 1mph without putting your feet down
You just suck at riding (and probably at life too). Quit riding now before you hurt yourself (even though that would be very funny to see).
@@kenwittlief255😅You do have to practice in an empty parking lot for safety. Especially if you want to practice turning/Figure 8s, you dont want to do that on the road 😂
When you 6'2" you never have the awkward mount dismount issue. Your leg just goes clean over everything.
There is no tall bike for anyone with more than 180cm of height.
Yeah imagine making a mass produced product for most of the population
I have firsthand experience in this department. As I am a noob. I always forget to turn off my blinker, and I'm notorious for randomly honking my horn.
Yes, that's a good one!😄
when I first started I was honking at and flashing everyone when trying to use my blinkers. Luckily that didn't last long. But turning off the blinker is something I sometimes still forget.
@@kamorris09 screw the blinkers, nobody got time for that
I don't even have blinkers.
Try to get into the habit of make the turn, change gear, cancel the blinker. After a very short while it will become second nature and you won't even have to think about it.
Im an intermediate level rider and thanks to this channel Im starting to get better and better at slow speed manoeuvres while trying to always stick to good habits and proper technique. It’s actually quite awesome spending one hour doing all sorts of slow speed exercises, then getting on the road. It’s like an intense warmup. After it, riding on the roads feels breezy.
Thanks so much for offering such valuable information in such clear and precise manner. Simply the best on RUclips.
I got my motorcycle license in Illinois and learned from Wisconsin riders more advanced techniques.
When I moved to Alabama I was shocked that in the manual from the dmv in Alabama they want you to ride in the middle of the lane unless it's raining.
The state is responsible for many injuries with practices like this.
@@Agony-q ooh darn I didn't know that. The book in IL said stay near the zipper, or out of the middle of the lane and my WI friends told me the same.
I watch so many bike videos where cars cut off bikes because they check a side mirror and the bike is not in view because they are in the middle of the lane.
Granite most cat drivers don't have their side mirrors set properly to where they can only see a sliver of their own car. Most people set up mirrors where about half of the mirror shows their own car.
Might not say it in the book, but I've ridden through every state in the "lower 48" and all over Alaska... AND at least in practice/traffic, I've never seen "stay in the middle" being actively enforced. Might be the ticket I'd gladly pay, though... or at least, I'd argue the thing in court.
The other ticket I'd gladly pay (but never got one) is "taking a filtering position" at lights and signs... I don't actually filter or split... I avoid that like the plague, myself... BUT at lights and signs, I set my bike up to slip into the widest "escape" ahead of me between other vehicles just in case the person behind me screws up... AND I've filtered right past a cop in a "non-filtering" state, when the guy approaching the rear was playing with his phone... I didn't even get time to respond to the cop's "What the hell are you doing?" before the SUV slammed into him from behind... I still didn't get a ticket... I got to stick around and give a witness statement for the officer... AND I retrieved the cell phone from some distance down the street while the cop was working on his paperwork for the situation... which was rather fun.
Anyways... thought it was somewhat relevant and at least worth a chuckle... ;o)
@@Agony-q Well, from the days gone by, when the center of every lane anywhere was so covered in black greasy goop that riding it was an invitation to disaster... to the MSF and actual statistics to support the 3-lane-position system as clearly safer and simpler... It's just going to be difficult for a cop to justify actually pulling a biker over for THAT ticket... AND there's still a WHOLE LANE for us to move from side to side with other vehicles and wind buffeting and visibility getting dubious... It would be a ticket I could pay and go RIGHT BACK to doing the same thing... haha...
It might be an extra sensitive cop, but I think there's at least some sensibility to the force. They're pretty skilled at "playing stupid", but he seemed to understand I only filtered there to avoid becoming street grease... AND he kind of had plenty of citations at the time to write up... The offending driver was pretty mouthy at the WORST possible time.
...so I could forgive him if he "forgot" my ticket, and I sure as hell wasn't going to remind him. ;o)
From what I have seen and heard from trainers it is much debated and there are pros for each, and it can be situational. Do what feels safest for the road, the traffic and the conditions
@@cyclingsfatsuma9808 When I started riding, we were always told to ride in the middle of the lane, that was against riding at the inside edge of the road for visibility both for people coming out of side roads and how clearly you appear in people's rear view mirror. This was the only part of the video I didn't entirely agree with as a beginner issue, as you say there are pros and cons and it's down to circumstances as to what is the safer position to ride in, but I apparently spend a lot of time riding like a beginner still after 46 years.
I am a new rider and having these pointed out is very helpful. Thank you!
I am older rider and I feel like I am becoming a younger rider by your standards. I have a hard time getting my leg over to mount the bike. I've been riding sport bikes since my mid 20s and am now 59!
i am 57 been riding since a kid and just got a 2022 rebel 1100 automatic and love it.
At 65, my R1 is great. Gotta keep stretched , limber, ready to climb trees yr round!
@@MadMax-gc2vj automatic? you're sounding like you're 80 or 90. my Father is 69 in a month's time and still rides an R6 and a Daytona 675.
Some days I have this issue. I'm 64, and sometimes later in the week after the job has beat on me, it's an effort to get the leg to flex up over the tail section. I make it, but is a bit painful at times.
Glad you kept it Sportbikes
...I'll be the same in some years God willing to still be riding
Good list. For me, it's really only the poor turning and braking that concern me. Especially on group rides.
Couple other issues with riding down the middle:
1. The center is where oil or other engine fluids can build up from cars with leaks.
2. In bad conditions, you should try to follow the tire path of the vehicle in front of you. The car tires will push rain, dirt, gravel, or grass/leaves out of your path (and into the center where you don't want to be).
The arm position tip also applies to bicycles, and for much the same reason(s). You're more in control and resilient with a loose, calm upper body on a bicycle too, and it's also a sign of a new cyclist there.
And women. No matter how long they've been riding they hold the bars like they're afraid of them.
I have done 6:19 on 250 cc it hurted bad was offroading and didnt see big rock covered with field coming
Thanks man! I've definitely been guilty of most of these as I begin riding this year but getting better with more experience and help fellow riders like you 👍🏻
Hi
The first two years are the hardest; EVERYTHING is coming at you- and most of it brand new.
2:47 i was doing that after a crash (smaller one) (and still do it when i am in forest as the road there cannot be trusted) because my front was damaged so i couldnt trust my bike (for example when turning left my damaged front would turn kill switch off)
Just starting to learn and will incorporate all of this in my driving! Thanks a lot!
My first tip to ya dont call it driving, its riding. Driving is for cars. Have fun.
7:42
I knew all the other ones, but this is something I never thought of.
Learnt something here.
Thanks a lot for this video!!!
thanks for this video. you asked about mistakes i made as a beginner that you didn't mention here. so: when i was a beginner (1979) i looked at the tarmac in front of the bike instead of at the place i wanted to go. it turns out peripheral vision can tell me about near obstacles so i don't need to look for them. also turns out that the bike will go where you look so that had better not be too immediately close. also, my teacher had learned in the 1950's so for a long time i used the rear brake to slow down and the front brake in addition if i was to stop. this worked at parking lot speeds but really held me back on the twisties. thanks again.
Great collection. My beginners mistake was riding always on the right part of the lane, like on a bicycle. Also very good explanations.
Great vid.. From riding for over 43 years (all weathers, all year round and as a long distance professional courier for over 2 years) I progressed from 2 stroke off road to 2 stroke ON road and now latter days BMWs over 1000cc tourers.. YES as you rightly point out.. some of the really bad riders are painful to watch.. Luckily in the UK the insist on riders taking training before taking a machine on the road et before their test et 👀WHAT the riders wear ? Tee shirt, jeans, sneakers... or some girl on the back wearing heels and little else.. Oh yes.. believe me..😗 I NEVER ride without the right gear.. AND NO girl on my bikes ever wore anything but the right gear.. from helmet to leathers to footwear.. 👀An experienced rider is one with the machine.. it is one with them.. part of them.. the ability to control the momentum in ie traffic to such a level where you can almost come to a stop WITHOUT having to put your foot down et that's one with the machine.. perfect balance, perfect momentum.. and EXPERIENCE.
Being a seasoned rider myself and having friends that are looking to get their big bike licence,they often ask me what they are doing wrong. Now i have found this vid i will direct them to watch it. I found this very good at explaining what not to do and why. Thank you for taking the time to make the vid
Been riding for a long time, and turning is still something of an issue for me. I am simply too afraid to lean the bike too much because when leaning the bike, there is a point where the smooth, consistent lean suddenly tips too fast, making me feel like I'm not leaning, but falling, which forces me to immediately steer into the turn to stand the bike up out of fear. This happens at speed or at low-speed turns. I just can't remedy it, I'm always afraid of the bike falling over OR the wheels slipping from under me.
And I feel like I have everything else pretty much trained well, I have great clutch and gear control, braking feels natural, I take the correct position on the bike... It's only turning (arguably the most important skill on a bike) that I have an issue with.
Also, this issue is almost completely exclusive to supersports/crotch rockets. I have no issue turning on a supermoto or a cruiser bike (have even scraped the pegs on a cruiser bike many times), but supersports, which are supposedly cornering masters, just have too aggressive of a riding position, making me feel like I'm not in control of a bike but just trying to hang on.
get a road bike and learn to lean that, get something with a with a similar position, sport bike drop bars, naked get a flat bar
The magic I learned today and I saw in your video is looking where you’re going. Just moving the head makes a huge difference. Lean the head into the turn- huge improvement for me!
I wouldn't go far as to say riding in the centre of the lane is considered a beginner move. It's very much situational. Here in Japan, we're told to always ride on the left side in the riding school for our license but is something that no motorcyclist follows. Riding on either the left or right sometimes invites cars (and potentially other bikes) to try to overtake you, creating a dangerous situation. When I first got my license I rode on the left but soon realized there are more gravel/sand build up and not to mention I had cars who took my left leanings to mean I was giving way or something and try to overtake within the lane, almost causing a crash on couple of occasions.
I only ever go left/right now if I want to see past the car in some occasions. Usually I have a good line of sight because we sit a little higher than most drivers in cars except for trucks and SUVs of course...
Do not reply to this above - it is not this channel, its a common scam.
Also good to ride in center on curvy roads, so you can transition to outside of lane prior to entering corner.
Same in Mexico. I drive in the middle of my lane on purpose because thats where there are less holes in the roads and also if I ride on the side, cars will come very close to me and not respect my space.
They thought me the other way arround (we were supose to ride on the right side of the lane). When on motorways I use left side when Im on left lane and right side of the lane on the right lane - this gives me time to react. Lot of car drivers only use mirrors when changing lanes and I had couple of duchebags forcing themselves on my lane nearly hitting me.
Great Video. I'm 67 & Just bought my 1st bike (xvs1100) I'm guilty of driving down the center. never again. I Wanted to say thanks, I sometimes wonder if You & others know how much we appreciate it. Keep up the good work. Thanks again
Noobie here. Great tips. Especially the mount / dismount one. Thanks 👍
Glad it was helpful! Many thanks!
Only because you are a Newbie do you think these are good tips. It hurts to see how easily bad data is so easily embraced and then replicated as fact.
I ride in Japan. been riding for a year and went through training to get my license. Thanks for your tips .
Stalling uphill and trying to start again only to stall again then using too much throttle to compensate. That's the worst feeling!
Yes this 😢
Yes! Or stalling on a traffic light, when it turns green!😁
This is my nightmare, the uphills
Beginner here, I've definitely been holding on to the handles like a bicycle! Thanks for tips, will put a stop to that asap!
Lol how did I ride for 50 years without a accident without RUclips expert telling me how to ride.
I really enjoyed this. Thank you for being so clear with your information. I have liked and subscribed.
I just got my motorbike licence four days ago, and the requirement for getting a motorbike licence in the state of New South Wales in Australia, requires doing a course for two half days, riding on the road once we have our Learners permit, then going for a assessed test. I did mine as part of the Stay Upright program. I really enjoyed it and it covered a lot of information and really builds confidence as a rider.
I had only ridden dirts bikes in my younger years. I got my motorbike licence the day after my 58th birthday. I really love the sense of community amongst bike riders. It doesn’t take much to strike up a conversation with other riders and make friends.
There are some who think getting your licence when you’re older is a bit crazy, but a lot of riders especially, really respect you for doing it.
I must say that riding since I got my licence is a lot nicer than waiting to do the final test. It’s a mental and physical freedom once you’re on the bike. I know now for sure why people enjoy their motorbikes so much more.
Finally, I just want to say, I appreciate that you never stop learner how to ride better. A licence is just the start of learning. Thank you for giving new riders (and I’m sure the more experienced riders will also appreciate your videos) like me, a continued education in being able to ride our bikes better and more safely. Thank you!
Great video and very soft and nice way to explain it!
i still remember the days when slow manuever my sports bike at the beginning, i was so unsecure on the bike that i was afraid to fall over, and it was normally much worse when you are insecure :D
nice video :D
Thank you for your video. I'm a newer rider and you showed me that I've developed some bad posture and riding techniques. I'm practicing your tips
I’m not going to lie, I forgot to put my kickstand up onetime, my riding buddy pointed at it and laughed, then when I stopped to park, I forgot to put it down. That was a very embarrassing day of riding. 😂
How did the bike allow that? 20+yr old bikes shut off when you go to gear with the kickstand down
I was rushing to do something and forgot to put my kickstand down. I dropped my bike as I swung my leg over the seat. It was embarrassing but it was a learning lesson to always make sure that stand is down before dismounting. It was in my beginner days.
Thanks!
Gracias😉
For any of you guys starting, when using the front break, bend your elbows! It helps remove more pressure on the front of your bike which will let you break harder without the back tire lifting up from so much force on the front. This tip has helped me out break many people on the race track without almost any chance of flipping. The point is not to use this only for track days or racing but it will help you break harder in emergency situations like the ones u see in the video.
Thanks for the tip!
The technique is right but your physics are wrong. It puts more weight over the front wheel, increasing traction. It also dampens the body-weight shift forward (that's why it's easier to do stoppies with locked elbows, it keeps your body weight static). I wouldn't recommend this technique to noobs though, they might not have the arm strength to keep from sliding over the bars.
Also, it's spelled "brake" not "break".
Good video. I'm back on a bike after 20 year break. Everything is coming back quite easily except riding at high speed on the freeway. It's just a mental thing to adjust to all the traffic, lane changes, trucks and of course the wind. Cheers.
So what..... weren't YOU a beginner at some point???
That's how he knows. He's addressing the things that beginners do that make operating on 2 wheels more problematic or more dangerous. He says the same shit in every video but it never stops being the thing you needed to hear
I also have a "friend" who is guilty of many of these. He learned a lot from the video, especially the mounting from the footpeg! Brilliant. Thank for the video, very helpful.
My trainer TOTALLY MISSED my bicycle arms and the whole two days I STRUGGLED. A dangerous habit I would not know about without you. Thank you for this info!!! Probably would’ve dropped my bike a lot without this video.
Trying to be confident is something i feel you really need to master doubting yourself can lead to many problems from starting to stopping turning braking you name it take your time and try believe in your own ability pick faults out you feel your lacking in and try to improve on them! Many thanks for the video and tips! ❤
I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and I have learned a few new things on this instructional video. Thank You!
Best take I got as a new rider. You might find muscles you haven't used for years getting sore and your core is gonna get worked! Feels great, I'm addicted.
3:15 for anyone paying attention still…. No the bike doesn’t just magically keep itself up… it’s all about keeping your EYES up and chin up in the direction you want the VEHICLE to go. Look at the rider himself he has his head up and looking and confident the vehicle will go his way. Please don’t be lazy and kill someone with lack of knowledge or laziness
The dive is really cool! Wish I knew that one earlier. I didn't buy a bike because I couldn't reach the kickstand.
I'm 76 yo now and haven't been on a bike for 50 years, since my Norton 750 Commando - nor am I ever likely to be on one again, as much as I'd love to. But I've been inspired by watching this. Maybe I'll take it up again!
It almost drove me to tears when that cb-1 rolled up.
I've owned three of them (two '89s and a '90), all blue and, I so miss that mighty little machine.
Thank you for such great information. I've been riding for almost 2 months part time. I've learned a lot from your videos. I'm a very good bicycle rider and that helped me a lot on the bike, turning, breaking and confidence on my bike and knowing what to expect, when and what to do. Thank you
Been rinding over a year now... now i know why sometimes my hands hurt after long rides put too much pressure on them thanks man and never knew to look that far into a turn 😊
Riding again after 35 years, I spotted some mistakes I am doing myself while handling the bike. I will try to erase them, thank you for these hints.
When I was new, I would get nervous in twisties and try to steer my way through. On a very rural road (read: no help, no cell service), I nearly launched myself off the side of a mountain. I decided to practice more, and now I LOVE tight turns. I go back to that near death spot often and try to get better and better.
hey, great video man!
here's mine
-putting down the right foot only when stopping, instead of the left foot or both
-the rev goes up (for a short time) when changing gears (you should untwist your wrist first before pulling the clutch) except if your bike got a quickshifter
-rev bombing or pressing horn when braking + maneuvering is possible (in an emergency, prioritize maneuvering, the car is not gonna fly away even if you press 10 second horn)
i do that. the ugly inflexible grab-the-pants way to get my leg over. yes, there's a top box. but, i don't trust my kick stand on my K100RS, having had it break off and the bike fall over even without my mounting weight. thanks for your suggestion, i'll see what i can do to adopt your suggestion.
Great presentation! Can I suggest that for mounting and dismounting, the bike should always be left in first gear? Being in gear acts like a parking brake and ensures that the bike doesn’t roll away when you put your foot on the foot peg! Just get into the habit of parking your bike in first gear and you can’t go wrong. Thanks again 😊
I've been riding on the street since 2012 and never even considered using the peg to mount. Having short legs, this will come on very handy as I am so tired of the massive leg swing over the rear bag.
I wish I had seen the peg mount earlier! It makes so much sense and looks a lot better. Will try it next time I get on my friends tall bike
They way I park next to a wall at work, and at home in the garage, promotes mounting from the right via the peg, as you describe.
The one bike I have not mastered this on is the CRF250 Rally, as its suspension compresses so much I have a hard time centering my weight towards the kick stand. Easier to squeeze between the bike and the wall or walk the bike or away from it.
As for left peg mounting, a number of my motorcycles have had backrests or boxes, so stepping up on the peg quickly became my preferred solution.
Been on motorcycles for 47 years now. You nailed it on these common mistakes. I think the most common one is keeping your feet down when launching the bike - even on a straight line. That one just hurts to watch!
5:25 jam is absolutely smacking at this point and I am listening to the music more than your words lol great vid
Your video is absolutely correct. Any "non learner" riders who are watching this video and recognise their bad habits demonstrated in this video should immediately practice to prevent the bad behaviour. If not, they will alway be a learner rider no matter the number of years they've been riding. Everything demonstrated in this video is basic rider knowledge and should be known by riders if they wish to improve their survival skills whilst riding. Thank you for your time. Cheers from Australia.
What an excellent video sir . I am self taught and have been riding for many years but I admit I learned some very useful hints from this . In particular not riding with straight arms . Thank you so much for uploading this. You may even have saved a few lives .... Who knows . Best wishes from the UK ...
Very good information, never thought of mounting the bike on foot pegs , great idea! I brake okay mostly use both brakes but not good at slow speeds tend to want to put my foot down , need some practice! Thank you for good advice! Always a better way to ride!
the clips of not putting your feet down really help show HOW stable a bike is. i don't ride, and i was not aware of how easily they right themselves
I have only ever made one mistake in my 40+ years of riding motorcycles. Started riding in the first place. It’s an obsession!!! 😁
Valuable insights here. I have only just considered learning about bikes so I can go for driving tests, so these are excellent things for me to keep in mind
Thank you. This was helpful. I'm a new rider and I do most of these things. Better able to fix now.
I wish I knew about the mounting trick with the footpeg before. Sometimes my hip would act up making it difficult to swing my leg over. I will remember it if I ever have a bike again.
I’ve been riding for about two weeks and i have definitely caught myself doing a couple of these things. I however live downtown Toronto with tons of stop and go, so i am getting much better with the extremely slow speed maneuvering
Great video. I hope it helps keep all riders safe. Just a note, another reason not to ride in the center is any fluid, oil, coolant etc... leaking from a car will drop in the middle causing a slippery surface, be aware, be safe.
Man everything is perfect🫶🏻 The video, the humour, the love for bikes and the skills❤️ You are very pedagogical to watch at❤️🔥
Im a new rider. 3 days new. I do most of these things.
I will re-watch this video and try to learn.
I have a 250 honda street.
Thank you.
This is a great high quality video that explained so many key points. Thank you!
I certainly remember doing the one where the feet are pointing down and catching my boots on the road. I was lucky, I got the message before it caused a significant problem and it is so easy to fix.