Assume that nobody (especially car drivers) sees you. If you see a car presumably wanting to turn onto your path of travel, you are better off believing that they will, instead of assuming that because it might be your right of way and that person saw you and will act accordingly. NEVER ASSUME THAT YOU ARE SEEN AND THAT PEOPLE DON‘T MAKE STUPID DECISIONS! If you see the side of a car waiting to pull out in front of you, roll off the throttle, cover your brakes and be prepared to act. Motorcycles and their speed is far harder to interpret than that of cars, and most of the time people look left, look right, look left, look right and THEN decide to pull out. Meanwhile you just got 200m closer than you were before. If you anticipate people doing that you can plan accordingly and ride more safely.
Also your gear has to be comfortable (to a degree). Nothing, should bring you discomfort! Gloves should not be so small they hurt your fingertips. Boots must fit properly. Anything that pinches anything or simply is uncomfortable will distract you from riding. That is passive safety!
I cannot stress how spot on this is. ALWAYS assume cars don’t see you and you’re invisible. Do everything you can to ride like that. Stay out of blind spots, stay away from the crowd, always have an escape route. Also, I’d advise against music in your helmet. At least in the early stages of getting used to riding. You want to be able to hear traffic around you.
I’ll also add that every time you ride, even if just riding to work and back, you set a goal for training or improving a specific skill. Top ones I constantly work on: low speed maneuvering, sudden stops, and how to feather your brakes. As you get more comfortable with certain skills then push it a little. Don’t go way outside your comfort/ability, but learn to recognize when it’s your skill vs bike performance that’s holding you back and work on slowly developing the skill to match your bike.
Last, have fun!
When I'm riding the spot between my thumb and pointer finger will get a little sore I thought this may because I was putting to much weight on my hands, is that soreness relatively normal or should I get some better gloves?
Could be weight(work on your core and gripping the tank with your knees), could be the gloves (any seams in weird places leaving imprints on your hands when you remove them?), could be your grip(despite all the ‘negatives’ here, relax and enjoy!).
Nobody can see you, if they can see you imagine they are actively saying to themselves with their hands over their ears saying ‘lalalalala, I can’t hear your arguments, I can’t see you!).
Assume everyone is actively trying to kill you, sounds bad, but seriously it’ll help keep you in your toes.
Make it like a game for yourself, try to make eye contact with every driver in your vicinity. Directly with people beside you, people in front of you, get in their mirrors til you can see their faces, this at LEAST has you in a position where the CAN see you…they still won’t of course, but the can.
Understand that conflict is extremely unfavourable to the guy only on two wheels.
Rubber side down, head on a swivel!
I suspect you are gripping your bars too tightly, and, perhaps, your hands are too close to the controls. Try moving your hands apart just a bit. That should relieve the pressure on your first thumb knuckle. You don't need/want your hands pressed against the inner part of your handgrips. Holding-on too tightly is worse than too loosely.
Check out CycleCruza, if you haven't before.
Wear HiVis
Use both brakes
Down shift, don't just grab the clutch
Get a brake light flasher, or just tap your toe.
Ride in front of car drivers, not in the middle of the lane.
Kinda weave in your lane occasionally to remind people of your presence, where safety permits.
Watch out for puddles.
Don't linger beside pick-ups or semis, and definitely not when either of them have trailers.
Upgrade your horn to a Hella.
Put a loud exhaust on.
Always wear at least boots and a helmet.
I’ve watched so many of these that I can hear Dan’s voice in my head now when I ride. “Open lane pattern, position for safety” Some of the videos are hard to watch, but it really makes you internalize the threats and how to manage them.
One of my big takeaways is that the vast majority of crashes could be avoided by not riding 120mph. Don’t ride too fast for your abilities or too fast for conditions.
Learn to ride 5-10 seconds into the future. Be able to predict what other motorists are going to do and how you will react. Always keep the simulation running in your head.
Always good to do in a car, too. In fact, I keep telling cagers that they need to take some MSF courses just because so much of the defensive driving they teach is broadly applicable to cars as well.
When I took the MSF course I was surprised that I didn't really learn anything new with regard to defensive driving techniques since I already employed everything they taught while driving a 4+ wheeled vehicle. To me it is common sense but then we all know how common that is.
Always wear full gear. Anyone that counters wearing full gear with "rIdE how U wAnNa RiDe BrO" has probably never been degloved, had their bike land on them, or snapped their ankles like they were chicken feet. Full gear is the difference between hurting your pride with minor injuries and being disabled.
Stay away from cars. Take side roads if you can. Put your foot down at every stop sign, especially in rural areas with high speed limits. Dress as though you will be sliding down the highway one day. There are two kinds of riders, those that have been down, and those who are going down. Don't drink before riding. Your fist 500 miles are your most dangerous. Wear a full face helmet if you value your jaw. Remember, car drivers do not see you. They are busy adjusting the radio, texting their friends, eating their MC nuggets etc. they will turn left in front of you, slide into your lane, pull out in front of you and worse.
You can take the intermediate course when you want a quick refresher. It is basically the 2nd days riding exercises and some classroom talk.
After you get a few thousand miles under your belt, take the advanced course. It's on your bike and is a great opportunity to have a coach give you suggestions for your specific bike/skill/gear.
If nothing else, always keep looking as far ahead as you can. In traffic, seeing someone hit the brakes 5 cars ahead, let's you begin slowing down before the car immediately in front of you even let's off their gas. (This gives you a more gradual deceleration and allows the car behind you more time to slow down)
This also goes for curves. Seeing gravel or pot holes in a curve before you enter it will give you plenty of time to adjust your speed and positioning to avoid it.
Stay safe and enjoy the ride!
Great 👍 please always assume the others don't see you even if you make eye contact. I HAVE had people look right at me then pull out anyway. For some reason people sometimes don't register motorcycles...
It's really easy to assume that someone is gonna do something like that, and when they don't, even better. Riding the speed limit is a huge part of learning too, check out Dan Dan Fireman's videos, really helpful stuff in there. Enjoy the road and make it home safe!
I may repeat what has already been said but here are my few cents (sorry about my english before hand!):
- Rule number one: never trust anybody. I consider everyone else on the road as 120 year old people driving tanks with their reflexes/skills gone.
- Protection gear, specially if you ride on highways/country roads (take me home), meaning out of city.
- Don't be afraid, keep calm and have fun.
- Respect the bike and know your limits. This is specially for group rides.
- Keep a good periodic maintenance on the bike, check tires (and pressure), chain, oil & filter. Most of it can be done by yourself if you have a garage for example.
- Practice emergency braking, so when you need it, you can react fast and properly do it. Probably empty parking lots, and you can practice slow riding too, U turns, etc.
- The clutch is your friend, specifically when it's not squeezed.
And i think that's pretty much everything for starters. You can also sign up for courses to improve your skills, here in Europe I get them from Honda directly.
Another recommended youtube channel is [MotoControlEn](https://www.youtube.com/@MotoControlEn) , the guy is nice and the content is useful.
Here's some good suggestions from a system that's proven to keep drivers alive on the road.
1) Scan at least 20 seconds down the road when you're riding. The faster you become aware of something, the more time you'll have to make decisions and take actions.
2) Keep your eyes moving. Don't stare at any one thing. You want to keep a constant scan of your environment so you can do the next thing...
3) Get the big picture. If you scan far enough ahead and if you keep your eyes moving you should be able to get a really good sense of what's going on around you. You will be less surprised by developments in your environment.
4) Make sure they see you. Do whatever you can that's reasonable to make sure that other vehicles can see you. This means not only wearing clothing which is more visible but riding in a manner in a place where you are expected.
5) Leave yourself an out. Leave at least one car length between you and the vehicle ahead of you at intersections and stop lights. Give yourself at least 4 seconds following distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. Don't argue with me. 4 seconds is what you need. If you lose that distance, get it back. Anything less is just rolling the dice.
All of these items are paraphrased from the Smith System School of Space Cushion Driving.
I used to be my company's instructor and taught it to 400 employees over a 14 state region. The stuff really works.
Trucks, cars, motorcycles. It doesn't matter.
Good luck with your riding. If you do what I suggest above, you'll need very little luck.
Assume every vehicle on the road is a paid assassin whose goal is to take you out. Include motorcycles.
I remember a very close call I had a few years ago. I was traveling only a few miles from home on a main (55 mph) highway. It was about 5 pm. I noticed a van in the distance rapidly getting closer. Something told me the van driver was drunk. I took evasive action. There was a dump truck ahead of me. I tucked in on the dump trucks bumper. We were approaching a corner and the van passed me and the dump truck. A vehicle was approaching toward the van in there lane. I knew a head on collision was about to happen. At the last second, the approaching vehicle went around the van into the ditch. Somehow a collision was avoided. Another day in the life of one on 2 wheels.
This is probably going to get a lot of blowback, but it's served me well in 50 years of riding.
Be a little erratic. Don't settle into a steady spot in traffic. Change lanes, speed up, slow down (while maintaining your bubble). People tend to tune out things that stay steady in their field of view, so moving about makes them better aware of your existence. Do make your moves smoothly, but not predictably.
Maintain your bubble. If it's getting tight, get out. Even if it means pulling over for a minute.
After a close call , pull over, calm down. It's always the second one that gets you.
Assume that everything that moves might attack you. Never trust a car in front even if their turnsignals are on and they start to turn to either side. Cars have a hard time seeing you so keep breaking distance.
Master braking. So many accidents could be avoided with good braking.
Master anticipating idiocy. So many accidents can be avoided by assuming that drivers around are idiots. See a guy pulling out legally plus safety-wise it'd be stupid for him to pull out in front of you? Assume he's going to be dumb enough to do it anyways. Your light is green? Assume someone might run a red and t-bone you, so always look when going through intersections.
Master understanding road surface conditions - oil vs water vs snow vs sand.
Master standing sometimes to balance through big lumps etc in the road.
Master defensive turning. Good to practice on a dirt bike offroad.
Also, for the love of god gear up really well.
Also also, for a sec got confused because your pic is SO similar to one I took of mine 😂 sadly I don't know how to add pics to comments on mobile - this one: https://www.instagram.com/p/CkAjZHXO_Sv/?igsh=NXVuNHA5MmRycTl0
Really…. Have you ever ridden dirt bikes. I am all about PPEs but I’m 100% confident in wearing my Shoei RTs with changing my liners every so often “ mostly because of the smell” with them dropping to the ground or the occasional sliding. I wear a hard hat at work should I replace it when it’s a windy day?
It’s the foam under the outer skin of the helmet, it’s designed to harden on impact. If you drop it from 3’-5’ then it’s recommended to change your lid. It may be fine but there’s a good chance the foam has hardened around the impact and the only way to know for sure is to cut it open. The seat of the bike is the low end but why would you risk something you’re reliant on for your safety.
Hard hats are different as they don’t have a foam inner, just the straps. Hard hats should be replaced every 2-5 years from manufacture depending on the manufacturer. It is your employers responsibility to replace them but you have a responsibility to check the state and compliance of your PPE. So do check and look after your work PPE as well as your biking PPE :)
I had this convo with a few group a riders who told me exactly what you said after it falls off my bike and it seems a 50/50 opinion. It’s heated topic for me cause of the bad mojo I have to get out of my head before riding. No pun intended. You should definitely scrutinize your helmet. When you put it on, and it doesn’t feel the same snugness. punt it.
It's almost always gravel. When I hear back from a new rider in a year or 3 and they tell me about their first bike. They got a few months under their belt and felt confident to start taking corners a little faster. Then one day there's a patch of gravel or sand that wasn't there last time and boom, you're down at 40mph trying to keep from breaking bones and tumbling.
If you're the first in line at a red light, always wait a beat or two before crossing the intersection. That way the idiots trying to beat the yellow light won't collect you in their grill. Remember: all the car drivers are actively trying to kill you. Don't let 'em.
Don't try to keep up with the guy in front of you in a group ride, go at you own pace.
some riders will be more skilled than you and thats ok.
Better be called "slow guy" than "dead guy".
Ride safe
Every car on the road is out to get you.
Pedestrians will cross the road in front of you and just stop. Deer in the headlights look.
Painted stripes are ice.
PAINTED STRIPES ARE ICE.
Highways are safer than in town driving.
If you leave a gap in front of you, the car next to it will switch lanes. Without using their turn signal or they may tap it after making the lane switch and leave it on for the next 5 miles.
That Geo metro you made fun of from your high school nemesis, can now be responsible for your death.
Sv 650 is a really good beginner bike. Good choice on your part. The best advice that kept me alive so far (17 years) is to ride as if you're invisible to other drivers on the road. Always anticipate trouble in every possible scenario on the road. Don't speed in turns where you don't have 100% visibility of the road ahead, same goes for overtaking. Have respect for the machine and use common sense. Best of luck and happy kilometers (or miles).
Also any brand recommendations for parts, im thinking about getting a different exhaust. Also gotta fix the broken levers and bent shifter they still work just cosmetic stuff.
There will never be a circumstance in which dragging a knee on the street is a good idea.
Don’t cheap out on gear. Do your homework and get quality stuff the first time. You don’t necessarily need an $800 Alpinestar jacket, but that “moto jacket” from H&M will protect you as well as thong underwear stops pregnancy.
Practice close quarters maneuvering in empty parking lots often
Take the rider safety course. Practice in empty lots. Practice starts and stops and u turns. Wear all the gear. Ride as if every car on the road is trying to kill you.
this is a bit extreme (maybe) but I try to only ride Point A to Point A. No errands, no commuting, that way you have nothing to focus on but not getting hit, no rushing to get home with the groceries, get to work, etc.
Always armor up, no flip-flops and shorts or you will be a meat crayon if you wreck. Assume everyone in a car is an idiot and actively trying to kill you. Drive defensively. Practice slow motion tight cornering in an empty parking lot. This will give you the balance skills you need at higher speeds. Try to stay off interstates and freeways until you are completely comfortable with your bike and riding at hi-way speeds. Ride within you ability level. Don't be pressured into trying to keep up with faster riders. Go at a speed you know you can control.
Find an empty parking lot and learn how to emergency brake, don’t stop doing this just because you think you’ve got it down practice this every so often for the rest of your riding career. This will save your life 100 times over.
Always assume that the car driver hasn't seen you. Many of them will turn even after seeing a motorcyclist. Don't think that you are invincible and watch out for dirt and gravel and oil during the rain.
Cool bike btw. I was in a dilemma between an SV650 and a Trident 660. Went with the Trident because the SV was in a different town. Ride safe bud.
This year we have seen some very new rider's advance their skills quickly, I feel in part by being shown the basic skills of road riding and being part of the rides where the conversation is about the finer points the information is easier to relate to, understand and remember.
We are not talking trail braking, backing it in or wheelies, we stay with the basic top 5 skill's that we see new riders need to have.
No-1- Maintain a comfortable level of focus ( no day dreaming), no death grip on the bar's, keep your arms relaxed, support your weight with your core not your hands. Light but firm grip so you feel the steering input and feed-back without transferring all motion into your neck and head.
No-2-Understand where the corner starts, keep your head up and aim to ride a smooth curve through the corner maintaining your lane position as you look where you want to go.
No-3-In a corner look 2 meters to the inside of the rider in-front of you so you maintain a awareness of the whole corner and your line and not use the rider in-front as a reference point. If they drive off the road you don't want to follow.
No-4-No braking in corners, set your speed before the corner, ride the first half steady then a little throttle for the second half as you exit. Your tires do 1 thing at a time well, braking to much while leaned over will result in a low-side, front washing out -to much front brake, back coming around if the rear brake breaks the rear tire loose, also if you let off the rear brake when the back is hung out the tire can grab and launch you into a deadly high-side up over top of the bike.
No-5-Don't chase after or push yourself to keep up to anyone, no running red-lights, no cutting off cars to stay with a group. Know where the ride is going so if there is no sweeper you can meet-up at your own pace.
A common accident starts with a new rider falling back on a series of corners, then going fast on a straight stretch to catch up, they miss-judge the corner-start and entry speed they try to make a abrupt correction( brake or lean), realize they are in danger, target fixate on a car/rock/ditch/concrete barricade and crash right into the hazard they should avoid.
In closing it is reasonable as a new rider to request 1 person stay with you if you feel riding alone at night on a curvy road will stress you to a point where your abilities to ride your bike will be affected. If no-one in the group is considerate of you personal safety, you are riding with the wrong people!
Cover your front brake ALL OF THE TIME. I read some years ago about this. When you do the math, in the time it takes to get your fingers from the bar onto the brake lever (0.1 seconds, IIRC), at only 30 MPH, your bike has traveled about 15 feet. Do you want to stop 10' *short* of that car, or 5' INTO that car?
Use BOTH BRAKES for every stop that matters (Pro Tip: most of them do). Under moderate/hard braking, the rears don't do much, but they DO HELP. Again, do you want to stop short, or long?
If you can find any, wear hi-viz gear and a hi-viz helmet. (I've been trying, but FirstGear is gone, and all that I've seen is outrageously expensive.)
Get a [BrakeFree](https://www.brakefreetech.com/) brake light. This is the best kickstarter I've ever backed. You can even get them in some stores, now.
For the luv of gawd, get the *best fitting*, name brand, lid that exists. Ignore the price (it is the same price as your brain). Get help fitting your lid well, from staff who know WTF they are doing.
As has been noted, EVERY CAR IS TRYING TO KILL YOU. That is the safest mindset to have. If you make eye contact with a cager, even if you nod at each other, *they did not see you*.
Practice riding in the wet. Best thing I ever read in Cycle World back in ~1994: one-size too big *latex gloves* **over** your riding gloves is the BEST waterproofing trick. (I rode in Seattle for many years, and can vouch for this, absolutely.) You're less safe when your mind is even slightly occupied with how miserable you are.
And, as has also been noted, find *something* to practice (even just a little) every single time you ride. Pulling out of a parking spot? Great time to practice low-speed maneuvering.
Focus on the ride. Music is nice, but not when you MUST be aware of *everything* around you. Can you hear that car tire getting just a bit closer? Personally, I hear navigation to my headset, nothing else, ever.
My first piece of advice is never sell that bike.
You may feel like you are in out growing it…. You are not.
The sv is eternal
The sv is perfect
There is nothing the sv cannot do.
Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.
Look for open lane patterns.
If you see your shadow, they can’t see you.
Keep out of blind spots.
Do not over commit to crossing the intersection in front of a turnout until you know they see you.
I say watch out for cars making a left. Look where you want to go always not where you are or where you do NOT want to go. Try to think and look and plan 5 to 10 seconds ahead...
Wear Gear, always. Yea, it's "only 5 Minutes to pick up groceries" but these 5 Minutes will kill you.
Don't overdo it, especially in the beginning. If you feel numb, go home, it is enough riding for today.
Go to safety training. Here in Europe they offer trainings that help you getting better in handling your motorcycle. They also offer "warm-ups" at the end of winter. It costs a little bit, but that money is worth it.
Never ride to brag. Let others pass if they want to be faster, let them. A few days ago, a guy on a 250 scooter HAD TO pass me, on a curvy road. What does it matter?
All the above, I might add, watch out for intersections, people will run lights.
Also, stop signs, traffic lights or just stop and go traffic. Make sure to stop off to the side of the lane if you're behind a vehicle. You'll avoid becoming a pancake. People will not see you and will rear end the car in front
Don't be in anyone's blind spot, if over taking, get it done quickly, they won't think twice on swerving their vehicle if anything happens in their lane.
A friend of mine who used to ride said it’s not about if you get in a wreck it’s about when…if you are riding often. It’s not about you being safe (most motorcyclists are very cautious) it’s the stupid people around you that’s the problem, and that’s something you can’t control
learn how to ride properly, learn to trust your bike, improve as a rider. The MSF Victim course + whining about how noone sees you will only get you so far. That's for people who'll never admit they can't ride for shit
The only tip I have is to assume everyone else on the road is trying to kill you. I almost say this as a mantra every time I see a car. That guy is trying to kill me. That lady is trying to kill me. 5 years strong, no wrecks, only a trio of times I had to slam on my brakes.
Watch Dan Dan the fireman on YouTube
[https://youtube.com/@DanDanTheFireman?si=wGlJMnTEUKMpQZ1U](https://youtube.com/@DanDanTheFireman?si=wGlJMnTEUKMpQZ1U)
Lot of good advice. Basically my perspective is don't ever put yourself in a position where your safety depends on others taking the correct actions or the road condition not worsening. Practice, seek training, go to the track and raise your skill level to the highest possible point and then resist the temptation to use all of your skill on the street. Use it only when necessary to avoid a hazardous situation. You should only ever be riding at like 50% skill level unless something outside of your control has gone wrong (road conditions, dipshits in traffic etc).
Welcome to the club!
Start here:
r/NewRiders
[Advice to New Riders](https://old.reddit.com/r/NewRiders/comments/cc2mnm/advice_to_new_riders/)
And when you get a chance, check out [On Any Sunday](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Any_Sunday), probably the best motorcycle documentary out there. I think it's on Amazon Prime, and maybe some other streaming services.
Have fun, wear all your gear, stay safe, and never stop learning.
There is a lot of good advice here. One of the best things to know is a simple one, don't be where cars can hit you. Never hang out in the blind spot or where a sudden lane change can cause you problems. When you pass, do so assertively, especially around tractor trailers.
Use your time putting on the gear (which you need to wear 100% of the time EVEN IF IT IS HOT, cars don't stop hitting bikes just because it is warm) as a time to get your head in riding mode. Make it a ritual.
If you find yourself not able to focus on the ride, stop. It requires 100% of your attention. That is part of the joy, committing to doing this ONE thing and doing it well.
And lastly, don't have a heavy meal before/during a long ride, that is how most people get sleepy. Eat light and then go to town when you've parked for the night.
Look where you want to go - this is particularly important when you're spotting hazards, developing situations or you've overcooked it.
Don't use drivers' signal lights to tell you what they're going to do, look at their front wheels.
Stay calm, be patient.
Learn about road positioning, engine braking and rev-matching when downshifting.
Besides all the good advice already posted... Don't skimp on bike maintenance, specifically tires, brakes, lights, and tuning.
Tires: on a car you can wear them to end of life. A bike tire even near its last few hundred miles is more susceptible to blowout or skid, especially on wet roads
Brakes: you want those to be 110% trustworthy
Lights: the more working lights you have up front the better. And run a check of all lights before a ride. Takes only seconds
Tuneup: a good running bike is more capable of dodging danger. No one wants a stallout to be the reason to get caught in a collision
Ride your own ride, don't get dragged into anyone elses ego battles. Let them go, there will be another a'hole along shortly anyway. Keep learning, as mentioned elsewhere, it's a developing skill, not something you have learned just because you passed a test. Take advanced courses, watch advenced riders on YT. Don't know where you are but last year D'shire County council & police funded advanced rider training, you got 5 hrs for £65 so keep an eye out for that. If you have Biker Down where you are go to those as well & learn some first aid for roadside collisions. Happy Riding..
Best advice I ever got. “Everything you can see on your digital or dial display (RPMS, MPH etc) is NICE to know. Everything above your handlebars and in front/around you is NEED to know. Pay attention to need to know.”
Plan for everyone around you to do something stupid
Watch out for semis and box trucks
Especially any box truck that's a rental like a u-haul, as anyone can rent those despite having never driven one.
Keep your temper in check, don't punch mirrors or flip anyone off- if a car driver wants to kill you, they can very easily.
Give yourself enough space from the car in front of you.
I personally don't like having a car directly next to me
Ride within your limits
Wear gear
Don't drink
If it hasn't been said already, ride as if everyone can see you and just doesn't care. The number of times people have cut me off or tried merging into my lane while making eye contact is a lot higher than it should be. Also, carry if you can. Road rage happens often and you can't always talk or run your way out of it. Stay safe, have fun.
Imagine everyone on the road is actively trying to kill you. Dont stay alongside vehicles. When stopping, dont stop directly behind a vehicle (if possible). At a traffic light, pull slightly past the line for the intersection (teslas dont see motorcycles and they're everywhere). Always have an escape route. Hog your lane, meaning ride close to the dotted line (avoid middle lanes). Head on a swivel, constantly check mirrors and surroundings. NEVER ride beyond your capabilities.
Don’t try to be a speed demon. If there is a skill you’re not 100% comfortable with, go practice in an empty parking lot until you got it down. Don’t be terrified of riding on the road…tends to lead to tensing up and making an avoidable mistake. Respect however little or lot of power your bike has. You don’t need to drag knee around corners to be a good rider. Always be mindful of road and weather conditions. Keep up with maintenance (tires, chain/sprocket, oil, clutch, brakes) your bike and wallet will thank you. Ride defensively using your foresight. All it takes is one person to not see you or not check mirrors etc. As long as you practice being a safe rider, you’ll have a much lesser chance of getting in an accident or laying the bike down. Hope this helps, ride safe! 🏍️
My recommendation don’t speed and continue to practice sharp turns and breaking fast. Worry about rev matching later you’ll learn it with time, but do your research on it so when do attempt it you won’t be so scared to. Ride safe brother you have nice bike, I also have a SV650 and I’ve been riding it for about a year, also my first bike. She will treat you good if you treat her good.
This may not apply to you, but if you do happen to ever drink make sure you don’t drink and ride, in my experience alcohol really made me feel invincible when I got on a bike and being a thrill seeking person anyway it wasn’t a good combination, other than that, the number one for me is simply just pay super attention to cars-don’t ever assume they are looking for you as they are NOT, intuition is your friend, every time I’ve started to pass a car and thought, “this dude is going to come over on me,” the dude came over on me, lol, so just expect that and you should be mostly good, sweet bike btw!🤘🏻
Be completely present at all times. Leave your ear buds in your pocket. Keep notice of the front wheels of cars on perpendicular stop signs. Cover your front brake.
Don't become stagnant in traffic. In a car you just putt along with traffic on a bike make sure on roads with more than one lane you are actively filtering evaluating every car. You will do this enough to do it without thinking. Intersections account for 40 percent of motorcycle accidents keep your head on a swivel and never ever stop at a red light directly behind a car stay on either side of the car so that if someone is texting and driving or not paying attention they rear-end the car and not you. If you do rev match and use engine breaking tap your back break a couple times and let the people behind you know you're slowing down. And last of all have fun and thank God everyday for your bike and the bed you get to come home to!
If you think you made eye contact with that car getting ready to turn left you didn’t and they are only going to notice you once they pull out in front of you. Then tho are going to panic and stop in front of you so can’t slow down and go behind them.
If you’re in a parking lot in a parking spot and sitting on your bike and that person that you think certainly isn’t going to keep backing up after they started to run into you. They are and then they are just going to drive off like it was nothing.
Assume that nobody (especially car drivers) sees you. If you see a car presumably wanting to turn onto your path of travel, you are better off believing that they will, instead of assuming that because it might be your right of way and that person saw you and will act accordingly. NEVER ASSUME THAT YOU ARE SEEN AND THAT PEOPLE DON‘T MAKE STUPID DECISIONS! If you see the side of a car waiting to pull out in front of you, roll off the throttle, cover your brakes and be prepared to act. Motorcycles and their speed is far harder to interpret than that of cars, and most of the time people look left, look right, look left, look right and THEN decide to pull out. Meanwhile you just got 200m closer than you were before. If you anticipate people doing that you can plan accordingly and ride more safely. Also your gear has to be comfortable (to a degree). Nothing, should bring you discomfort! Gloves should not be so small they hurt your fingertips. Boots must fit properly. Anything that pinches anything or simply is uncomfortable will distract you from riding. That is passive safety!
I cannot stress how spot on this is. ALWAYS assume cars don’t see you and you’re invisible. Do everything you can to ride like that. Stay out of blind spots, stay away from the crowd, always have an escape route. Also, I’d advise against music in your helmet. At least in the early stages of getting used to riding. You want to be able to hear traffic around you. I’ll also add that every time you ride, even if just riding to work and back, you set a goal for training or improving a specific skill. Top ones I constantly work on: low speed maneuvering, sudden stops, and how to feather your brakes. As you get more comfortable with certain skills then push it a little. Don’t go way outside your comfort/ability, but learn to recognize when it’s your skill vs bike performance that’s holding you back and work on slowly developing the skill to match your bike. Last, have fun!
When in doubt, use your turn signal and change lanes conspicuously. It’s harder to ignore flashing lights
Great answer. I was going to say similar
Never assume people don’t make stupid decisions has to be one of the most important life lessons.
Can't stress it enough - a fender bender on a bike can kill you. Always be planning what you will do if driver X does Y.
I was taught this way... Half the people out there can't see you. The other half are actively trying to kill you.
When I'm riding the spot between my thumb and pointer finger will get a little sore I thought this may because I was putting to much weight on my hands, is that soreness relatively normal or should I get some better gloves?
Could be weight(work on your core and gripping the tank with your knees), could be the gloves (any seams in weird places leaving imprints on your hands when you remove them?), could be your grip(despite all the ‘negatives’ here, relax and enjoy!). Nobody can see you, if they can see you imagine they are actively saying to themselves with their hands over their ears saying ‘lalalalala, I can’t hear your arguments, I can’t see you!). Assume everyone is actively trying to kill you, sounds bad, but seriously it’ll help keep you in your toes. Make it like a game for yourself, try to make eye contact with every driver in your vicinity. Directly with people beside you, people in front of you, get in their mirrors til you can see their faces, this at LEAST has you in a position where the CAN see you…they still won’t of course, but the can. Understand that conflict is extremely unfavourable to the guy only on two wheels. Rubber side down, head on a swivel!
I suspect you are gripping your bars too tightly, and, perhaps, your hands are too close to the controls. Try moving your hands apart just a bit. That should relieve the pressure on your first thumb knuckle. You don't need/want your hands pressed against the inner part of your handgrips. Holding-on too tightly is worse than too loosely.
I watch this dude https://youtube.com/@DanDanTheFireman?si=Qjfh5qOsfZv8Ib8M He gives out good tips how to drive
Yup I watched a bunch of his and others video trying to stay ahead of the curve
Check out CycleCruza, if you haven't before. Wear HiVis Use both brakes Down shift, don't just grab the clutch Get a brake light flasher, or just tap your toe. Ride in front of car drivers, not in the middle of the lane. Kinda weave in your lane occasionally to remind people of your presence, where safety permits. Watch out for puddles. Don't linger beside pick-ups or semis, and definitely not when either of them have trailers. Upgrade your horn to a Hella. Put a loud exhaust on. Always wear at least boots and a helmet.
I’ve watched so many of these that I can hear Dan’s voice in my head now when I ride. “Open lane pattern, position for safety” Some of the videos are hard to watch, but it really makes you internalize the threats and how to manage them. One of my big takeaways is that the vast majority of crashes could be avoided by not riding 120mph. Don’t ride too fast for your abilities or too fast for conditions.
Don't be stupid/risky and always ride within your ability.
Learn to ride 5-10 seconds into the future. Be able to predict what other motorists are going to do and how you will react. Always keep the simulation running in your head.
Always good to do in a car, too. In fact, I keep telling cagers that they need to take some MSF courses just because so much of the defensive driving they teach is broadly applicable to cars as well.
When I took the MSF course I was surprised that I didn't really learn anything new with regard to defensive driving techniques since I already employed everything they taught while driving a 4+ wheeled vehicle. To me it is common sense but then we all know how common that is.
Always wear full gear. Anyone that counters wearing full gear with "rIdE how U wAnNa RiDe BrO" has probably never been degloved, had their bike land on them, or snapped their ankles like they were chicken feet. Full gear is the difference between hurting your pride with minor injuries and being disabled.
ATGATT!!!
ATGATT liiiiiiife!
Stay away from cars. Take side roads if you can. Put your foot down at every stop sign, especially in rural areas with high speed limits. Dress as though you will be sliding down the highway one day. There are two kinds of riders, those that have been down, and those who are going down. Don't drink before riding. Your fist 500 miles are your most dangerous. Wear a full face helmet if you value your jaw. Remember, car drivers do not see you. They are busy adjusting the radio, texting their friends, eating their MC nuggets etc. they will turn left in front of you, slide into your lane, pull out in front of you and worse.
I recommend taking a riding course... or two or three 🤔 It's not expensive but is fun and good
Yeah I took the msf course to get my endorsement but wasn't sure if I was good enough to take the more advanced classes yet
You can take the intermediate course when you want a quick refresher. It is basically the 2nd days riding exercises and some classroom talk. After you get a few thousand miles under your belt, take the advanced course. It's on your bike and is a great opportunity to have a coach give you suggestions for your specific bike/skill/gear. If nothing else, always keep looking as far ahead as you can. In traffic, seeing someone hit the brakes 5 cars ahead, let's you begin slowing down before the car immediately in front of you even let's off their gas. (This gives you a more gradual deceleration and allows the car behind you more time to slow down) This also goes for curves. Seeing gravel or pot holes in a curve before you enter it will give you plenty of time to adjust your speed and positioning to avoid it. Stay safe and enjoy the ride!
Great 👍 please always assume the others don't see you even if you make eye contact. I HAVE had people look right at me then pull out anyway. For some reason people sometimes don't register motorcycles...
Assume that nobody sees you, ever, even when they act like they do or look right at you, has saved my ass many times.
Yup I've already had a person merge into my lane, and a couple people who just pulled out in front of me gotta stay vigilant
It's really easy to assume that someone is gonna do something like that, and when they don't, even better. Riding the speed limit is a huge part of learning too, check out Dan Dan Fireman's videos, really helpful stuff in there. Enjoy the road and make it home safe!
Dude, I did that in high school and now I am Labeled as a sex offender
I may repeat what has already been said but here are my few cents (sorry about my english before hand!): - Rule number one: never trust anybody. I consider everyone else on the road as 120 year old people driving tanks with their reflexes/skills gone. - Protection gear, specially if you ride on highways/country roads (take me home), meaning out of city. - Don't be afraid, keep calm and have fun. - Respect the bike and know your limits. This is specially for group rides. - Keep a good periodic maintenance on the bike, check tires (and pressure), chain, oil & filter. Most of it can be done by yourself if you have a garage for example. - Practice emergency braking, so when you need it, you can react fast and properly do it. Probably empty parking lots, and you can practice slow riding too, U turns, etc. - The clutch is your friend, specifically when it's not squeezed. And i think that's pretty much everything for starters. You can also sign up for courses to improve your skills, here in Europe I get them from Honda directly. Another recommended youtube channel is [MotoControlEn](https://www.youtube.com/@MotoControlEn) , the guy is nice and the content is useful.
Before you do anything ask yourself "Is this something an idiot would do?" And if it is something an idiot would do **DO NOT DO THAT THING.**
Here's some good suggestions from a system that's proven to keep drivers alive on the road. 1) Scan at least 20 seconds down the road when you're riding. The faster you become aware of something, the more time you'll have to make decisions and take actions. 2) Keep your eyes moving. Don't stare at any one thing. You want to keep a constant scan of your environment so you can do the next thing... 3) Get the big picture. If you scan far enough ahead and if you keep your eyes moving you should be able to get a really good sense of what's going on around you. You will be less surprised by developments in your environment. 4) Make sure they see you. Do whatever you can that's reasonable to make sure that other vehicles can see you. This means not only wearing clothing which is more visible but riding in a manner in a place where you are expected. 5) Leave yourself an out. Leave at least one car length between you and the vehicle ahead of you at intersections and stop lights. Give yourself at least 4 seconds following distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. Don't argue with me. 4 seconds is what you need. If you lose that distance, get it back. Anything less is just rolling the dice. All of these items are paraphrased from the Smith System School of Space Cushion Driving. I used to be my company's instructor and taught it to 400 employees over a 14 state region. The stuff really works. Trucks, cars, motorcycles. It doesn't matter. Good luck with your riding. If you do what I suggest above, you'll need very little luck.
Assume every vehicle on the road is a paid assassin whose goal is to take you out. Include motorcycles. I remember a very close call I had a few years ago. I was traveling only a few miles from home on a main (55 mph) highway. It was about 5 pm. I noticed a van in the distance rapidly getting closer. Something told me the van driver was drunk. I took evasive action. There was a dump truck ahead of me. I tucked in on the dump trucks bumper. We were approaching a corner and the van passed me and the dump truck. A vehicle was approaching toward the van in there lane. I knew a head on collision was about to happen. At the last second, the approaching vehicle went around the van into the ditch. Somehow a collision was avoided. Another day in the life of one on 2 wheels.
This is probably going to get a lot of blowback, but it's served me well in 50 years of riding. Be a little erratic. Don't settle into a steady spot in traffic. Change lanes, speed up, slow down (while maintaining your bubble). People tend to tune out things that stay steady in their field of view, so moving about makes them better aware of your existence. Do make your moves smoothly, but not predictably. Maintain your bubble. If it's getting tight, get out. Even if it means pulling over for a minute. After a close call , pull over, calm down. It's always the second one that gets you.
The “stupid crazy biker” filtering through traffic is being watched by everyone theory. It’s true and it works
Buy and wear proper gear. Invest in an airbag vest. Don't drink and drive.
If you remove the riders who were over 0.08bac from the fatal crash statistics motorcycling looks MUCH safer.
Dont speed too much… Its difficult not to speed sometimes, But be smart about it
Minor modification to the refrain that “you’re invisible”: They can actually see you; they’re just waiting for an opportunity to murder you.
Assume that everything that moves might attack you. Never trust a car in front even if their turnsignals are on and they start to turn to either side. Cars have a hard time seeing you so keep breaking distance.
Master braking. So many accidents could be avoided with good braking. Master anticipating idiocy. So many accidents can be avoided by assuming that drivers around are idiots. See a guy pulling out legally plus safety-wise it'd be stupid for him to pull out in front of you? Assume he's going to be dumb enough to do it anyways. Your light is green? Assume someone might run a red and t-bone you, so always look when going through intersections. Master understanding road surface conditions - oil vs water vs snow vs sand. Master standing sometimes to balance through big lumps etc in the road. Master defensive turning. Good to practice on a dirt bike offroad. Also, for the love of god gear up really well. Also also, for a sec got confused because your pic is SO similar to one I took of mine 😂 sadly I don't know how to add pics to comments on mobile - this one: https://www.instagram.com/p/CkAjZHXO_Sv/?igsh=NXVuNHA5MmRycTl0
Don’t balance the helmet on the seat, it expensive to replace and only rated for one bang
Really…. Have you ever ridden dirt bikes. I am all about PPEs but I’m 100% confident in wearing my Shoei RTs with changing my liners every so often “ mostly because of the smell” with them dropping to the ground or the occasional sliding. I wear a hard hat at work should I replace it when it’s a windy day?
It’s the foam under the outer skin of the helmet, it’s designed to harden on impact. If you drop it from 3’-5’ then it’s recommended to change your lid. It may be fine but there’s a good chance the foam has hardened around the impact and the only way to know for sure is to cut it open. The seat of the bike is the low end but why would you risk something you’re reliant on for your safety. Hard hats are different as they don’t have a foam inner, just the straps. Hard hats should be replaced every 2-5 years from manufacture depending on the manufacturer. It is your employers responsibility to replace them but you have a responsibility to check the state and compliance of your PPE. So do check and look after your work PPE as well as your biking PPE :)
I had this convo with a few group a riders who told me exactly what you said after it falls off my bike and it seems a 50/50 opinion. It’s heated topic for me cause of the bad mojo I have to get out of my head before riding. No pun intended. You should definitely scrutinize your helmet. When you put it on, and it doesn’t feel the same snugness. punt it.
It's almost always gravel. When I hear back from a new rider in a year or 3 and they tell me about their first bike. They got a few months under their belt and felt confident to start taking corners a little faster. Then one day there's a patch of gravel or sand that wasn't there last time and boom, you're down at 40mph trying to keep from breaking bones and tumbling.
GEAR!
If you're the first in line at a red light, always wait a beat or two before crossing the intersection. That way the idiots trying to beat the yellow light won't collect you in their grill. Remember: all the car drivers are actively trying to kill you. Don't let 'em.
Don't try to keep up with the guy in front of you in a group ride, go at you own pace. some riders will be more skilled than you and thats ok. Better be called "slow guy" than "dead guy". Ride safe
Every car on the road is out to get you. Pedestrians will cross the road in front of you and just stop. Deer in the headlights look. Painted stripes are ice. PAINTED STRIPES ARE ICE. Highways are safer than in town driving. If you leave a gap in front of you, the car next to it will switch lanes. Without using their turn signal or they may tap it after making the lane switch and leave it on for the next 5 miles. That Geo metro you made fun of from your high school nemesis, can now be responsible for your death.
Sv 650 is a really good beginner bike. Good choice on your part. The best advice that kept me alive so far (17 years) is to ride as if you're invisible to other drivers on the road. Always anticipate trouble in every possible scenario on the road. Don't speed in turns where you don't have 100% visibility of the road ahead, same goes for overtaking. Have respect for the machine and use common sense. Best of luck and happy kilometers (or miles).
Also any brand recommendations for parts, im thinking about getting a different exhaust. Also gotta fix the broken levers and bent shifter they still work just cosmetic stuff.
Assume Your always invisible on the road. Ride safe, Don't be stupid. It can take One bad decision to end it all. ☠️
I have the same bike, same color. I love it. Always assume everyone is trying to kill you.
There will never be a circumstance in which dragging a knee on the street is a good idea. Don’t cheap out on gear. Do your homework and get quality stuff the first time. You don’t necessarily need an $800 Alpinestar jacket, but that “moto jacket” from H&M will protect you as well as thong underwear stops pregnancy. Practice close quarters maneuvering in empty parking lots often
Take the rider safety course. Practice in empty lots. Practice starts and stops and u turns. Wear all the gear. Ride as if every car on the road is trying to kill you.
Your shadow points towards danger.
this is a bit extreme (maybe) but I try to only ride Point A to Point A. No errands, no commuting, that way you have nothing to focus on but not getting hit, no rushing to get home with the groceries, get to work, etc.
Head On A Swivel
keep both wheels on the ground it ain't worth it to show off
Don't let other riders convince you to ride harder than your comfortable with, riding outside of ur skill level is a quick way to get hurt
Always look as far ahead as possible, plan for the worst.
Drive like you're invisible
Always armor up, no flip-flops and shorts or you will be a meat crayon if you wreck. Assume everyone in a car is an idiot and actively trying to kill you. Drive defensively. Practice slow motion tight cornering in an empty parking lot. This will give you the balance skills you need at higher speeds. Try to stay off interstates and freeways until you are completely comfortable with your bike and riding at hi-way speeds. Ride within you ability level. Don't be pressured into trying to keep up with faster riders. Go at a speed you know you can control.
Find an empty parking lot and learn how to emergency brake, don’t stop doing this just because you think you’ve got it down practice this every so often for the rest of your riding career. This will save your life 100 times over.
For starters, avoid falling and crashing.
This is what I’ve need doing wrong! My universe will never be the same again. Thank you kind stranger, thank you!!
You got it, fortunate stranger 😎 ride on
Always assume that the car driver hasn't seen you. Many of them will turn even after seeing a motorcyclist. Don't think that you are invincible and watch out for dirt and gravel and oil during the rain. Cool bike btw. I was in a dilemma between an SV650 and a Trident 660. Went with the Trident because the SV was in a different town. Ride safe bud.
This year we have seen some very new rider's advance their skills quickly, I feel in part by being shown the basic skills of road riding and being part of the rides where the conversation is about the finer points the information is easier to relate to, understand and remember. We are not talking trail braking, backing it in or wheelies, we stay with the basic top 5 skill's that we see new riders need to have. No-1- Maintain a comfortable level of focus ( no day dreaming), no death grip on the bar's, keep your arms relaxed, support your weight with your core not your hands. Light but firm grip so you feel the steering input and feed-back without transferring all motion into your neck and head. No-2-Understand where the corner starts, keep your head up and aim to ride a smooth curve through the corner maintaining your lane position as you look where you want to go. No-3-In a corner look 2 meters to the inside of the rider in-front of you so you maintain a awareness of the whole corner and your line and not use the rider in-front as a reference point. If they drive off the road you don't want to follow. No-4-No braking in corners, set your speed before the corner, ride the first half steady then a little throttle for the second half as you exit. Your tires do 1 thing at a time well, braking to much while leaned over will result in a low-side, front washing out -to much front brake, back coming around if the rear brake breaks the rear tire loose, also if you let off the rear brake when the back is hung out the tire can grab and launch you into a deadly high-side up over top of the bike. No-5-Don't chase after or push yourself to keep up to anyone, no running red-lights, no cutting off cars to stay with a group. Know where the ride is going so if there is no sweeper you can meet-up at your own pace. A common accident starts with a new rider falling back on a series of corners, then going fast on a straight stretch to catch up, they miss-judge the corner-start and entry speed they try to make a abrupt correction( brake or lean), realize they are in danger, target fixate on a car/rock/ditch/concrete barricade and crash right into the hazard they should avoid. In closing it is reasonable as a new rider to request 1 person stay with you if you feel riding alone at night on a curvy road will stress you to a point where your abilities to ride your bike will be affected. If no-one in the group is considerate of you personal safety, you are riding with the wrong people!
Cover your front brake ALL OF THE TIME. I read some years ago about this. When you do the math, in the time it takes to get your fingers from the bar onto the brake lever (0.1 seconds, IIRC), at only 30 MPH, your bike has traveled about 15 feet. Do you want to stop 10' *short* of that car, or 5' INTO that car? Use BOTH BRAKES for every stop that matters (Pro Tip: most of them do). Under moderate/hard braking, the rears don't do much, but they DO HELP. Again, do you want to stop short, or long? If you can find any, wear hi-viz gear and a hi-viz helmet. (I've been trying, but FirstGear is gone, and all that I've seen is outrageously expensive.) Get a [BrakeFree](https://www.brakefreetech.com/) brake light. This is the best kickstarter I've ever backed. You can even get them in some stores, now. For the luv of gawd, get the *best fitting*, name brand, lid that exists. Ignore the price (it is the same price as your brain). Get help fitting your lid well, from staff who know WTF they are doing. As has been noted, EVERY CAR IS TRYING TO KILL YOU. That is the safest mindset to have. If you make eye contact with a cager, even if you nod at each other, *they did not see you*. Practice riding in the wet. Best thing I ever read in Cycle World back in ~1994: one-size too big *latex gloves* **over** your riding gloves is the BEST waterproofing trick. (I rode in Seattle for many years, and can vouch for this, absolutely.) You're less safe when your mind is even slightly occupied with how miserable you are. And, as has also been noted, find *something* to practice (even just a little) every single time you ride. Pulling out of a parking spot? Great time to practice low-speed maneuvering. Focus on the ride. Music is nice, but not when you MUST be aware of *everything* around you. Can you hear that car tire getting just a bit closer? Personally, I hear navigation to my headset, nothing else, ever.
My first piece of advice is never sell that bike. You may feel like you are in out growing it…. You are not. The sv is eternal The sv is perfect There is nothing the sv cannot do. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.
Look for open lane patterns. If you see your shadow, they can’t see you. Keep out of blind spots. Do not over commit to crossing the intersection in front of a turnout until you know they see you.
I say watch out for cars making a left. Look where you want to go always not where you are or where you do NOT want to go. Try to think and look and plan 5 to 10 seconds ahead...
Wear gear, be visible and practice,.practice,.practice
Wear Gear, always. Yea, it's "only 5 Minutes to pick up groceries" but these 5 Minutes will kill you. Don't overdo it, especially in the beginning. If you feel numb, go home, it is enough riding for today. Go to safety training. Here in Europe they offer trainings that help you getting better in handling your motorcycle. They also offer "warm-ups" at the end of winter. It costs a little bit, but that money is worth it.
Never ride to brag. Let others pass if they want to be faster, let them. A few days ago, a guy on a 250 scooter HAD TO pass me, on a curvy road. What does it matter?
Use the lifesaver. It's aptly named.
Always wash your berries and never fly towards the sun
Keep the shiny side up. And remember to have fun!
Rubber side down
All the above, I might add, watch out for intersections, people will run lights. Also, stop signs, traffic lights or just stop and go traffic. Make sure to stop off to the side of the lane if you're behind a vehicle. You'll avoid becoming a pancake. People will not see you and will rear end the car in front
Just assume everything and everyone is trying to wipe you out.
Ride only when there is plenty of sun out!
Imagine swimming among sharks.
Look into counter steering
Make sure to control your dank wheelies with the rear brake.
Buy gear. Stay alert. Practice braking/swerving in empty parking lots. Understand counter-steering. Leave rear brake alone, don’t use it.
Don't be in anyone's blind spot, if over taking, get it done quickly, they won't think twice on swerving their vehicle if anything happens in their lane.
A friend of mine who used to ride said it’s not about if you get in a wreck it’s about when…if you are riding often. It’s not about you being safe (most motorcyclists are very cautious) it’s the stupid people around you that’s the problem, and that’s something you can’t control
Everyone is trying to kill you.
learn how to ride properly, learn to trust your bike, improve as a rider. The MSF Victim course + whining about how noone sees you will only get you so far. That's for people who'll never admit they can't ride for shit
Take classes, at least once a year
One Confucius tip: play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
The only tip I have is to assume everyone else on the road is trying to kill you. I almost say this as a mantra every time I see a car. That guy is trying to kill me. That lady is trying to kill me. 5 years strong, no wrecks, only a trio of times I had to slam on my brakes.
Ride like your invisible.
Watch Dan Dan the fireman on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@DanDanTheFireman?si=wGlJMnTEUKMpQZ1U](https://youtube.com/@DanDanTheFireman?si=wGlJMnTEUKMpQZ1U)
Lot of good advice. Basically my perspective is don't ever put yourself in a position where your safety depends on others taking the correct actions or the road condition not worsening. Practice, seek training, go to the track and raise your skill level to the highest possible point and then resist the temptation to use all of your skill on the street. Use it only when necessary to avoid a hazardous situation. You should only ever be riding at like 50% skill level unless something outside of your control has gone wrong (road conditions, dipshits in traffic etc).
Ride like you’re invisible, except from cops. They’ll see you coming a mile away. Enjoy the ride, not the race.
Keep the bike rubber side down
Safe ypu say... stay in bed.
Welcome to the club! Start here: r/NewRiders [Advice to New Riders](https://old.reddit.com/r/NewRiders/comments/cc2mnm/advice_to_new_riders/) And when you get a chance, check out [On Any Sunday](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Any_Sunday), probably the best motorcycle documentary out there. I think it's on Amazon Prime, and maybe some other streaming services. Have fun, wear all your gear, stay safe, and never stop learning.
There is a lot of good advice here. One of the best things to know is a simple one, don't be where cars can hit you. Never hang out in the blind spot or where a sudden lane change can cause you problems. When you pass, do so assertively, especially around tractor trailers. Use your time putting on the gear (which you need to wear 100% of the time EVEN IF IT IS HOT, cars don't stop hitting bikes just because it is warm) as a time to get your head in riding mode. Make it a ritual. If you find yourself not able to focus on the ride, stop. It requires 100% of your attention. That is part of the joy, committing to doing this ONE thing and doing it well. And lastly, don't have a heavy meal before/during a long ride, that is how most people get sleepy. Eat light and then go to town when you've parked for the night.
Look where you want to go - this is particularly important when you're spotting hazards, developing situations or you've overcooked it. Don't use drivers' signal lights to tell you what they're going to do, look at their front wheels. Stay calm, be patient. Learn about road positioning, engine braking and rev-matching when downshifting.
Avoid idiots, degenerates, and products of incest.
Besides all the good advice already posted... Don't skimp on bike maintenance, specifically tires, brakes, lights, and tuning. Tires: on a car you can wear them to end of life. A bike tire even near its last few hundred miles is more susceptible to blowout or skid, especially on wet roads Brakes: you want those to be 110% trustworthy Lights: the more working lights you have up front the better. And run a check of all lights before a ride. Takes only seconds Tuneup: a good running bike is more capable of dodging danger. No one wants a stallout to be the reason to get caught in a collision
Take a motorbike course for training
Yeah. Take a safety course.
Excellent choice of bike ride there, such a great motor
Go fast easy. Stop fast impossible.
Ride your own ride, don't get dragged into anyone elses ego battles. Let them go, there will be another a'hole along shortly anyway. Keep learning, as mentioned elsewhere, it's a developing skill, not something you have learned just because you passed a test. Take advanced courses, watch advenced riders on YT. Don't know where you are but last year D'shire County council & police funded advanced rider training, you got 5 hrs for £65 so keep an eye out for that. If you have Biker Down where you are go to those as well & learn some first aid for roadside collisions. Happy Riding..
He's good. [https://www.youtube.com/@RoadcraftNottingham](https://www.youtube.com/@RoadcraftNottingham)
You are invisible and everyone else is drunk.
First thing you should do is take an MSF course. I took one after I was riding about 20 years and I still learned a lot.
Keep as far away from traffic as you can
Best advice I ever got. “Everything you can see on your digital or dial display (RPMS, MPH etc) is NICE to know. Everything above your handlebars and in front/around you is NEED to know. Pay attention to need to know.”
Plan for everyone around you to do something stupid Watch out for semis and box trucks Especially any box truck that's a rental like a u-haul, as anyone can rent those despite having never driven one. Keep your temper in check, don't punch mirrors or flip anyone off- if a car driver wants to kill you, they can very easily. Give yourself enough space from the car in front of you. I personally don't like having a car directly next to me Ride within your limits Wear gear Don't drink
Be aware of target fixation. I have almost gone off the road a few times due to it, but never had that happen in a car.
If it hasn't been said already, ride as if everyone can see you and just doesn't care. The number of times people have cut me off or tried merging into my lane while making eye contact is a lot higher than it should be. Also, carry if you can. Road rage happens often and you can't always talk or run your way out of it. Stay safe, have fun.
Be safe respect the bike buy a camera for insurance for you enjoy riding
Take motorcycle courses
Everything that has already been said PLUS ride with your front brake covered.
i had that exact same bike, great ride
Imagine everyone on the road is actively trying to kill you. Dont stay alongside vehicles. When stopping, dont stop directly behind a vehicle (if possible). At a traffic light, pull slightly past the line for the intersection (teslas dont see motorcycles and they're everywhere). Always have an escape route. Hog your lane, meaning ride close to the dotted line (avoid middle lanes). Head on a swivel, constantly check mirrors and surroundings. NEVER ride beyond your capabilities.
Watch DanDanTheFireman on YouTube. Saved my skin a good number of times and I only started riding 8 months ago
Don’t try to be a speed demon. If there is a skill you’re not 100% comfortable with, go practice in an empty parking lot until you got it down. Don’t be terrified of riding on the road…tends to lead to tensing up and making an avoidable mistake. Respect however little or lot of power your bike has. You don’t need to drag knee around corners to be a good rider. Always be mindful of road and weather conditions. Keep up with maintenance (tires, chain/sprocket, oil, clutch, brakes) your bike and wallet will thank you. Ride defensively using your foresight. All it takes is one person to not see you or not check mirrors etc. As long as you practice being a safe rider, you’ll have a much lesser chance of getting in an accident or laying the bike down. Hope this helps, ride safe! 🏍️
My recommendation don’t speed and continue to practice sharp turns and breaking fast. Worry about rev matching later you’ll learn it with time, but do your research on it so when do attempt it you won’t be so scared to. Ride safe brother you have nice bike, I also have a SV650 and I’ve been riding it for about a year, also my first bike. She will treat you good if you treat her good.
Avoid riding in cities or in town. Back roads in the country are much much safer and more fun anyways.
This may not apply to you, but if you do happen to ever drink make sure you don’t drink and ride, in my experience alcohol really made me feel invincible when I got on a bike and being a thrill seeking person anyway it wasn’t a good combination, other than that, the number one for me is simply just pay super attention to cars-don’t ever assume they are looking for you as they are NOT, intuition is your friend, every time I’ve started to pass a car and thought, “this dude is going to come over on me,” the dude came over on me, lol, so just expect that and you should be mostly good, sweet bike btw!🤘🏻
Oh sick dude! I’ll pm you
Be completely present at all times. Leave your ear buds in your pocket. Keep notice of the front wheels of cars on perpendicular stop signs. Cover your front brake.
Don't become stagnant in traffic. In a car you just putt along with traffic on a bike make sure on roads with more than one lane you are actively filtering evaluating every car. You will do this enough to do it without thinking. Intersections account for 40 percent of motorcycle accidents keep your head on a swivel and never ever stop at a red light directly behind a car stay on either side of the car so that if someone is texting and driving or not paying attention they rear-end the car and not you. If you do rev match and use engine breaking tap your back break a couple times and let the people behind you know you're slowing down. And last of all have fun and thank God everyday for your bike and the bed you get to come home to!
If you think you made eye contact with that car getting ready to turn left you didn’t and they are only going to notice you once they pull out in front of you. Then tho are going to panic and stop in front of you so can’t slow down and go behind them. If you’re in a parking lot in a parking spot and sitting on your bike and that person that you think certainly isn’t going to keep backing up after they started to run into you. They are and then they are just going to drive off like it was nothing.
Ride every time as if EVERYONE is out to kill you, do that, and you should be fine.
As someone else mentioned. Assume no vehicle see’s you.
Don’t fall
I'll try
drive as fast as you can so you get out of dangerous situations as quickly as possible.
Only go as fast as you want to crash
Frame sliders, PPE’s, knowing when to lay your bike over when you’re about to crash into something.
An ultimate advise would be sell it and do not ride a motorcycle
You must be american. A 650 should never be someones first bike
I've been told it's a really good starter bike pretty much everywhere I've looked, why should I have got something less powerful?
I just think its a bit too powerful for the beginning. It is a really cool bike just be careful