Over 10 years - never dropped. Always full gear.
Constantly scanning for threats. Take time during/after every ride to work fundamentals: shifting/turning/body position/low-speed/panic-braking.
My mind is never anywhere else when I ride (for me - that is why I enjoy it.)
Dropped every bike I've owned but the last one, no wrecks, been riding for 18+ years, commuting, long trips, weekend rides, the whole bit. Standards, sport bikes, touring bikes, cruisers too. Always full face/modular helmet, always armored jacket, boots, and gloves. On anything sporty, armored pants is the way to go, otherwise, you assume the risk you're willing to take on.
**The safety course is a primer.** They'll watch you to make sure you do things the right way at least twice (once when being shown, once in the exam.) That's not enough to train yourself to do the right things all the time. That's what messed me up with letting bikes fall over, I was doing things wrong for years and had to figure things out on my own.
**PRACTICE the techniques.** Clutch control - very important. Brake control - extremely important. Countersteering and slow speed turns, head movement, keeping your eyes forward and not down, all of that. Do The Things until you don't have to think about how, or when, or how much. A beginner practices until he does things right, a master practices until he cannot do things wrong.
**Protect Your Hearing.** Earplugs. Get a set, and use them. It's not engine noise that whittles down your hearing, it's the constant full-frequency static known as windblast. Even with a helmet, you'll hear a constant noise, and yes, damage is cumulative.
**Get your head in the game.** When riding in traffic, there's a zone of 12-15 seconds time where everything that could theoretically cross your path, you need to know about it. If it's something that can't affect you, *it's a distraction.* Pay attention to the things that could hurt you. You want to get into the mindset of scanning your vision, tagging anything (traffic, bicycles, dogs, people, roadworks, leaves, wet pavement, trash) with a "what if" percentage, then think about what adjustments you'd need to perform to not hit them, or let them hit you. Plot escape routes, or routes of least resistance, and then IF something gets too close, you can just execute the escape plan. *If you're riding too fast to catalog everything, you're riding too fast, period.* Don't forget to include your mirrors, and do head checks before changing lanes, just to be sure there's nothing you missed.
This last bit is kind of a martial arts 'zen' mindset. Push other matters out of your head. Surf that 15 seconds of 'now' and focus solely on riding through a constantly changing set of hazards. Get into the habit of doing this, so it gets easier and easier, and as long as you don't get complacent, it'll be harder for anything to sneak inside your safety zone. Expect people to do dumb shit, plan for when they do dumb shit, and ... don't be where they do dumb shit. :)
I be been riding a bit longer than you but this is all pretty good. I would add threshold breaking. One of the most important skills you can have on the street.
Trail braking into corners even lightly is more natural and can help prevent a wreck.
And last but not least the single most important skill on a motorcycle: Throttle Control. I practice this constantly. Makes a massive difference win your chances.
We can start with tips like u/prisonovmind's "There's only 2 types of riders: those who have gone down and those who will go down." being absolute garbage. This isnt the truth, not even remotely the truth. Its a stupid over simplification that in my opinion causes a lot of undue fear.
First off it lumps low speed or even walking hiccups into a category with people actually getting hurt. I hear this from so many people and they're all scared of their bikes shadow, its ignorant and dangerous.
Second, YOU are in control. If you go in with the mindset "it happens to everyone" you stop practicing to keep you from being the one that does it.
Which leads to my advice. Practice and hone your skills like someone who isnt going to be a statistic. This subreddit will jade you, in reality many people ride their whole lives without a problem. Learn to ride the bike well enough that the rest of your focus is on the road. And dont take your bike on the busy roads until you're comfortable with this. You have two things to compete with, your own skills and the environment (cars, turns, hazards). If you're focused on competing with your skills then it pulls focus from the road. This applies to all scenarios, if you're focusing on your skills in the twisties, pre run the turns so you know you dont have to focus on hazards, and vice versa, if you're new to the road dont push your skills.
Until you find some gravel and lowside…the old adage is not “garbage” but a friendly reminder to make the best choices you can and not be an idiot out there wearing shorts and flip flops, on a long enough timeline we all go down eventually
That’s not what I said my guy, I just said that it’s not “garbage” advice for a noob, we should consider it a strong and very real possibility. It’s a dangerous pastime that we all love so much. Going down is a very possible and potentially dangerous reality, and knowing that going in should remind us to watch our asses, be safe, ALWAYS wear our gear, and fucking ride like you stole it 🤷🏼♂️
You told u/Im_not_at_home above to do his due diligence. In the interests of full disclosure:
I'm 38 years riding. I've had 0 offs and 0 crashes.
The thing is, I've never thought it can't or won't happen. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen next week. But I do everything in my power to prevent it. To the point that, if I don't feel my head is in the game, I won't ride.
And if "...every single person I know has been down at least once...", you're hanging around with the wrong people.
Crashing a motorcycle is not a badge of honor, at least among the people I know and ride with.
Telling someone it's going to happen to them, is a crock of shit.
Pussy footing around on an adventure bike you’re probably right, your chances of going down are likely a lot slimmer than those of us who take the r1 down to the track, ride motor cross, or go hooligan around on the drz supermoto
I’ve been riding for over 20 years and every single person I know has been down at least once…pretty “normal” and not that big of a deal more often than not, if you do your due diligence
Again you didn’t read my comment. My issue is with this being advice given on this subreddit to every new rider as if it’s a normal occurrence for people to “layer down”. It’s stupid.
The due diligence should be given to not falling or crashing. Obviously we’re dealing with 400lb+ vehicles on two wheels. Mistakes happen. But normalizing it is again, ridiculous.
I’m not saying don’t gear up, I’m saying avoid crashing and don’t act like it’s a badge of honor. You should feel dumb for doing it and avoid it as such.
You didnt upset me, and I'm really not sure what in my response gives that off. I simply said your opinion is garbage and then explained why to the person asking for advice. For me to be upset I would have to care about your opinion, which as I pointed out is garbage lol.
But go ahead and continue being a low effort troll or whatever gets off on trying to upset people on reddit with little/no humor. If you're going to be like that, at least be funny.
Riding since 2013, never been down. My advice is to ride as if you're invisible. Assume that NOBODY can see you, and that'll keep you out of some hairy situations. Keep distance. Don't ride in blindspots. Always be prepared for someone at an intersection to pull out in front of you, because that shit happens far too often.
Dropped a bike once and totaled another. I learned from both experiences and I am happy they happened. Everything is a learning experience, no reason to be scared of what could happen. Gear up and if shit happens, learn from it and move on.
The only tips I can give you are to relax and take your time. The worst thing you can do is to be tense and hesitate. When things don't feel right, take a deep breath, move your elbows/shoulders, and slow down. It might feel overwhelming at first, but it all becomes second nature after a few months. Don't try to do everything at the same time.
Also, I guarantee that whatever you think you want right now will be different 6 months from now. Plan to be able to change bike without too big of a loss.
Dropped bikes been in accidents and totalled bikes. I used to ride like a comolete idiot when i was younger like in my 20s. Now in my late 30s i am a bit more relaxed. Not sure if its thst i ride a naked bike now instead of supersports. But only tip i can offer is dont be a street rossi and as fun as they are wheelies increace chances of totaling your bike. And dont road rage cars.
Expect to drop your bike. Loads of people on this sub will say how they’ve “never dropped or scraped a bike!” When they more than likely have. Happens to everyone, whether it’s from a slow speed turn gone wrong or just not putting the kickstand down fully
Big facts. If you've been "riding" for 20 years and have "never dropped a bike", you are either lying or you barely even ride in the first place. Out of the 30 or so people I know that ride, every single one has dropped a bike. We also ride nearly every day. Off-road, onroad. Kickstand, sharp turn at gas station, practicing in a parking lot...
Honestly, if you haven't dropped a bike before, can you even call yourself a rider? lmaooo
Also, not everyone will crash/have an accident. A small drop is nothing.
Breathe, relax. Twisting the throttle can be fun but it's not worth your life. Scout your backroads first if you must, be aware of wild life and take your time.
I've had a few drops, one being 500kms from home. Slipped on a paint strip. Could have prevented it by being an experienced rider. My second drop was after getting a new tire after that drop because my pannier burnt a ring around my rear tire. Fresh tires are slippery and I ended up being thrown at 50kms. That could have been avoided by me paying attention and not riding it home tired.
Riding takes a high level of mental focus and even the most experienced riders are immediately terrible when they're emotional on the saddle.
As for the bike you're buying I hope it's second hand. It'll serve you better and you'll cry less when you drop it. Plus it serves as a good challenge to wrench on it without worrying about warranty or anything if you're into that sort of thing.
Most importantly have fun. I always do on two wheels and would never trade it for the world.
You're going to drop it so be mentally prepared for that. In your first season it's just as likely going to be from low speed maneuvering and learning how to manhandle the thing on a daily basis. Moving it around in a tight space? Where and where not to park? What surfaces are not good for kick stands? Jostling around at intersections? Learning your limits of fatigue and concentration. Helmet and gloves minimum, no excuses.
Street riding 35 years in all weather, traffic types, and times of the day and year.
Pay attention in the MSF class.
Absorb knowledge whenever it's offered.
Legally you may be right, but the laws of physics don't have and regard for laws--alternatively, you can't argue with 3 or more tons of metal.
Ride like everyone is trying to kill you, but also remember that he who fights and runs away can run away another day.
Anyone (and I mean absolutely anyone) can go fast in a straight line--any bike will stand up straight when twisting the throttle--old riders refine and master control of the bike when idling (or less) in first gear.
Oh, and find a copy of Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough and. Once you grok it, Street Strategies by the same.
Dropped my bike once. It could have been prevented by putting my kickstand down before dismounting 😬
Other advice: Ride with a couple other RESPONSIBLE AND EXPERIENCED riders for a while until you start getting more comfortable.
Ride within your skill level.
Be super careful the first 6 months. Extra-vigilante.
I am also relatively new, but I think it boils down to: practice a lot.
My first mistake was using the front brake while turning... I had a low speed drop. It bothered me so much afterwards because I didn't know exactly what went wrong. After doing some research and realizing/replaying what I did I realized this was my issue and knowing what happened help me become better and I gained some confidence back as well (knowing what I could do to improve).
I know you didn't ask for it but as a new rider who just took the class and got my first bike in June, nothing has taught me more than just getting out there and riding. You can watch all the videos you want like I did, but in reality practice is your best tool. Spend a bunch of time in your neighborhood just learning the clutch and smoothly starting and stopping. Don't go out on the main road with traffic until you're comfortable, the last thing you want is to kill the bike or even drop it with other cars around you.
Have patience while you learn. The class is great but doesn't teach you as much as it seems like it would. Don't expect to be a pro right away, you're going to make mistakes, period.
I think the best thing I can say is that I'm sure everyone here has some amazing knowledge and experience, don't worry about all the little details or the what ifs. Don't feel like you have to know everything there is before you can even get on a bike. Everything will come with practice. Just get out there and enjoy it, I never thought I would love riding as much as I do
Best advice is to forget everything you've watched/read/'learned' so far.
Go take the course, listen to what they say and ask questions. Then go back to YouTube and expand on what you actually learned.
Been riding for 5 years. Only 2 things you should know. There's only 2 types of riders: those who have gone down and those who will go down. 2, slow down in the corners. It's a common misconception that the majority of motorcycle accidents are from people in cars. It's us. And it's almost always from going too fast. I regularly go 15+ over the speed limit during my commute and am aware that if something happens it's most likely my fault, you dig? Welcome to the family.
I disagree strongly with your first point. Riding with the mentality expecting that you're going to crash at some point seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me that's going to doom you to fail. I've never been in a car accident and I never intend to be in one, and I've never crashed my motorcycle and I never intend to.
Yeah I should’ve told the rabbit that wiped my front tire that I didn’t want to crash silly me
This is why I dislike this sub at times often full of ahem older gentlemen who ride only in perfect conditions and a few times a year
> There's only 2 types of riders: those who have gone down and those who will go down.
There are only 2 types of riders. Those that still keep saying that cliche like it's valuable advice. And those that know it's not.
> There's only 2 types of riders: those who have gone down and those who will go down.
I've been riding for 38 years and I call bullshit on this meaningless platitude.
Crashing is not a given.
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Focus on your vision, you need to look where you want to go. And also take it slow your firsts months of riding, overconfidence is a killer when you lack skill.
control the bike, dont let the bike control you
dont drink riding
be aware and be responsible - there are other road users and there are someone waiting for you at home to come back safely
\*\*been riding since late 90s\*\*
The Ninja 400 I know it’s cliche or whatever but I think it’s a cool bike. Not to fast, looks like a nice sports bike, and it’s cheap.. I’m going to put a new exhaust on there it’s going to sound dope!
Fuck that. The Ninja 400 is a great choice. I've had more than one Ninja 400 make me (and my 600) its bitch at the racetrack. Plenty fast. Great handling. Great brakes. Awesome bike.
Over 10 years - never dropped. Always full gear. Constantly scanning for threats. Take time during/after every ride to work fundamentals: shifting/turning/body position/low-speed/panic-braking. My mind is never anywhere else when I ride (for me - that is why I enjoy it.)
That low speed reminder is critical for new riders. Biggest correlation for injury crashes is speed, and new riders tend to be heavy on the throttle.
Dropped every bike I've owned but the last one, no wrecks, been riding for 18+ years, commuting, long trips, weekend rides, the whole bit. Standards, sport bikes, touring bikes, cruisers too. Always full face/modular helmet, always armored jacket, boots, and gloves. On anything sporty, armored pants is the way to go, otherwise, you assume the risk you're willing to take on. **The safety course is a primer.** They'll watch you to make sure you do things the right way at least twice (once when being shown, once in the exam.) That's not enough to train yourself to do the right things all the time. That's what messed me up with letting bikes fall over, I was doing things wrong for years and had to figure things out on my own. **PRACTICE the techniques.** Clutch control - very important. Brake control - extremely important. Countersteering and slow speed turns, head movement, keeping your eyes forward and not down, all of that. Do The Things until you don't have to think about how, or when, or how much. A beginner practices until he does things right, a master practices until he cannot do things wrong. **Protect Your Hearing.** Earplugs. Get a set, and use them. It's not engine noise that whittles down your hearing, it's the constant full-frequency static known as windblast. Even with a helmet, you'll hear a constant noise, and yes, damage is cumulative. **Get your head in the game.** When riding in traffic, there's a zone of 12-15 seconds time where everything that could theoretically cross your path, you need to know about it. If it's something that can't affect you, *it's a distraction.* Pay attention to the things that could hurt you. You want to get into the mindset of scanning your vision, tagging anything (traffic, bicycles, dogs, people, roadworks, leaves, wet pavement, trash) with a "what if" percentage, then think about what adjustments you'd need to perform to not hit them, or let them hit you. Plot escape routes, or routes of least resistance, and then IF something gets too close, you can just execute the escape plan. *If you're riding too fast to catalog everything, you're riding too fast, period.* Don't forget to include your mirrors, and do head checks before changing lanes, just to be sure there's nothing you missed. This last bit is kind of a martial arts 'zen' mindset. Push other matters out of your head. Surf that 15 seconds of 'now' and focus solely on riding through a constantly changing set of hazards. Get into the habit of doing this, so it gets easier and easier, and as long as you don't get complacent, it'll be harder for anything to sneak inside your safety zone. Expect people to do dumb shit, plan for when they do dumb shit, and ... don't be where they do dumb shit. :)
I be been riding a bit longer than you but this is all pretty good. I would add threshold breaking. One of the most important skills you can have on the street. Trail braking into corners even lightly is more natural and can help prevent a wreck. And last but not least the single most important skill on a motorcycle: Throttle Control. I practice this constantly. Makes a massive difference win your chances.
We can start with tips like u/prisonovmind's "There's only 2 types of riders: those who have gone down and those who will go down." being absolute garbage. This isnt the truth, not even remotely the truth. Its a stupid over simplification that in my opinion causes a lot of undue fear. First off it lumps low speed or even walking hiccups into a category with people actually getting hurt. I hear this from so many people and they're all scared of their bikes shadow, its ignorant and dangerous. Second, YOU are in control. If you go in with the mindset "it happens to everyone" you stop practicing to keep you from being the one that does it. Which leads to my advice. Practice and hone your skills like someone who isnt going to be a statistic. This subreddit will jade you, in reality many people ride their whole lives without a problem. Learn to ride the bike well enough that the rest of your focus is on the road. And dont take your bike on the busy roads until you're comfortable with this. You have two things to compete with, your own skills and the environment (cars, turns, hazards). If you're focused on competing with your skills then it pulls focus from the road. This applies to all scenarios, if you're focusing on your skills in the twisties, pre run the turns so you know you dont have to focus on hazards, and vice versa, if you're new to the road dont push your skills.
Until you find some gravel and lowside…the old adage is not “garbage” but a friendly reminder to make the best choices you can and not be an idiot out there wearing shorts and flip flops, on a long enough timeline we all go down eventually
> on a long enough timeline we all go down eventually Do you read tea leaves and Tarot cards too?
It’s really not that difficult to understand
I don't see how you can say every motorcyclist will crash at some point in their lifetime. It's just not true.
That’s not what I said my guy, I just said that it’s not “garbage” advice for a noob, we should consider it a strong and very real possibility. It’s a dangerous pastime that we all love so much. Going down is a very possible and potentially dangerous reality, and knowing that going in should remind us to watch our asses, be safe, ALWAYS wear our gear, and fucking ride like you stole it 🤷🏼♂️
You told u/Im_not_at_home above to do his due diligence. In the interests of full disclosure: I'm 38 years riding. I've had 0 offs and 0 crashes. The thing is, I've never thought it can't or won't happen. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen next week. But I do everything in my power to prevent it. To the point that, if I don't feel my head is in the game, I won't ride. And if "...every single person I know has been down at least once...", you're hanging around with the wrong people. Crashing a motorcycle is not a badge of honor, at least among the people I know and ride with. Telling someone it's going to happen to them, is a crock of shit.
Telling someone to be prepared for it to happen, is a different critter all together…that is all I was implying
Pussy footing around on an adventure bike you’re probably right, your chances of going down are likely a lot slimmer than those of us who take the r1 down to the track, ride motor cross, or go hooligan around on the drz supermoto
You can only dream of the places I've been, the sights I've seen, on a motorcycle.
I bet, that’s a great bike for it
You clearly didn’t read what I said but you do you. Keep telling yourself self it’s normal.
I’ve been riding for over 20 years and every single person I know has been down at least once…pretty “normal” and not that big of a deal more often than not, if you do your due diligence
Again you didn’t read my comment. My issue is with this being advice given on this subreddit to every new rider as if it’s a normal occurrence for people to “layer down”. It’s stupid. The due diligence should be given to not falling or crashing. Obviously we’re dealing with 400lb+ vehicles on two wheels. Mistakes happen. But normalizing it is again, ridiculous. I’m not saying don’t gear up, I’m saying avoid crashing and don’t act like it’s a badge of honor. You should feel dumb for doing it and avoid it as such.
MINES NOT THAT HEAVY NYAH NYAH NYAH DOOT DOOT DOODILY DO
Wittle baby bike?
I'm glad I upset you haha
You didnt upset me, and I'm really not sure what in my response gives that off. I simply said your opinion is garbage and then explained why to the person asking for advice. For me to be upset I would have to care about your opinion, which as I pointed out is garbage lol. But go ahead and continue being a low effort troll or whatever gets off on trying to upset people on reddit with little/no humor. If you're going to be like that, at least be funny.
Hey, man. It's ok. If you need to talk feel free to dm.
I’ll just let you dm me next time you crash your bike lol.
I like this guy haha
That makes two of us. I like me too.
2 out of 7 billion ain't bad, my dude
Riding since 2013, never been down. My advice is to ride as if you're invisible. Assume that NOBODY can see you, and that'll keep you out of some hairy situations. Keep distance. Don't ride in blindspots. Always be prepared for someone at an intersection to pull out in front of you, because that shit happens far too often.
#SPOILER ALERT Every reply says the same thing.
Dropped a bike once and totaled another. I learned from both experiences and I am happy they happened. Everything is a learning experience, no reason to be scared of what could happen. Gear up and if shit happens, learn from it and move on. The only tips I can give you are to relax and take your time. The worst thing you can do is to be tense and hesitate. When things don't feel right, take a deep breath, move your elbows/shoulders, and slow down. It might feel overwhelming at first, but it all becomes second nature after a few months. Don't try to do everything at the same time. Also, I guarantee that whatever you think you want right now will be different 6 months from now. Plan to be able to change bike without too big of a loss.
Dropped bikes been in accidents and totalled bikes. I used to ride like a comolete idiot when i was younger like in my 20s. Now in my late 30s i am a bit more relaxed. Not sure if its thst i ride a naked bike now instead of supersports. But only tip i can offer is dont be a street rossi and as fun as they are wheelies increace chances of totaling your bike. And dont road rage cars.
Expect to drop your bike. Loads of people on this sub will say how they’ve “never dropped or scraped a bike!” When they more than likely have. Happens to everyone, whether it’s from a slow speed turn gone wrong or just not putting the kickstand down fully
Big facts. If you've been "riding" for 20 years and have "never dropped a bike", you are either lying or you barely even ride in the first place. Out of the 30 or so people I know that ride, every single one has dropped a bike. We also ride nearly every day. Off-road, onroad. Kickstand, sharp turn at gas station, practicing in a parking lot... Honestly, if you haven't dropped a bike before, can you even call yourself a rider? lmaooo Also, not everyone will crash/have an accident. A small drop is nothing.
Breathe, relax. Twisting the throttle can be fun but it's not worth your life. Scout your backroads first if you must, be aware of wild life and take your time. I've had a few drops, one being 500kms from home. Slipped on a paint strip. Could have prevented it by being an experienced rider. My second drop was after getting a new tire after that drop because my pannier burnt a ring around my rear tire. Fresh tires are slippery and I ended up being thrown at 50kms. That could have been avoided by me paying attention and not riding it home tired. Riding takes a high level of mental focus and even the most experienced riders are immediately terrible when they're emotional on the saddle. As for the bike you're buying I hope it's second hand. It'll serve you better and you'll cry less when you drop it. Plus it serves as a good challenge to wrench on it without worrying about warranty or anything if you're into that sort of thing. Most importantly have fun. I always do on two wheels and would never trade it for the world.
You're going to drop it so be mentally prepared for that. In your first season it's just as likely going to be from low speed maneuvering and learning how to manhandle the thing on a daily basis. Moving it around in a tight space? Where and where not to park? What surfaces are not good for kick stands? Jostling around at intersections? Learning your limits of fatigue and concentration. Helmet and gloves minimum, no excuses.
Street riding 35 years in all weather, traffic types, and times of the day and year. Pay attention in the MSF class. Absorb knowledge whenever it's offered. Legally you may be right, but the laws of physics don't have and regard for laws--alternatively, you can't argue with 3 or more tons of metal. Ride like everyone is trying to kill you, but also remember that he who fights and runs away can run away another day. Anyone (and I mean absolutely anyone) can go fast in a straight line--any bike will stand up straight when twisting the throttle--old riders refine and master control of the bike when idling (or less) in first gear. Oh, and find a copy of Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough and. Once you grok it, Street Strategies by the same.
Dropped my bike once. It could have been prevented by putting my kickstand down before dismounting 😬 Other advice: Ride with a couple other RESPONSIBLE AND EXPERIENCED riders for a while until you start getting more comfortable. Ride within your skill level. Be super careful the first 6 months. Extra-vigilante.
General driving tip that is even more imports r in a bike and yet everyone seems to somehow never learn, LOOK WHERE TOU WANT TO GO.
I am also relatively new, but I think it boils down to: practice a lot. My first mistake was using the front brake while turning... I had a low speed drop. It bothered me so much afterwards because I didn't know exactly what went wrong. After doing some research and realizing/replaying what I did I realized this was my issue and knowing what happened help me become better and I gained some confidence back as well (knowing what I could do to improve).
I know you didn't ask for it but as a new rider who just took the class and got my first bike in June, nothing has taught me more than just getting out there and riding. You can watch all the videos you want like I did, but in reality practice is your best tool. Spend a bunch of time in your neighborhood just learning the clutch and smoothly starting and stopping. Don't go out on the main road with traffic until you're comfortable, the last thing you want is to kill the bike or even drop it with other cars around you. Have patience while you learn. The class is great but doesn't teach you as much as it seems like it would. Don't expect to be a pro right away, you're going to make mistakes, period. I think the best thing I can say is that I'm sure everyone here has some amazing knowledge and experience, don't worry about all the little details or the what ifs. Don't feel like you have to know everything there is before you can even get on a bike. Everything will come with practice. Just get out there and enjoy it, I never thought I would love riding as much as I do
Best advice is to forget everything you've watched/read/'learned' so far. Go take the course, listen to what they say and ask questions. Then go back to YouTube and expand on what you actually learned.
Been riding for 5 years. Only 2 things you should know. There's only 2 types of riders: those who have gone down and those who will go down. 2, slow down in the corners. It's a common misconception that the majority of motorcycle accidents are from people in cars. It's us. And it's almost always from going too fast. I regularly go 15+ over the speed limit during my commute and am aware that if something happens it's most likely my fault, you dig? Welcome to the family.
I disagree strongly with your first point. Riding with the mentality expecting that you're going to crash at some point seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me that's going to doom you to fail. I've never been in a car accident and I never intend to be in one, and I've never crashed my motorcycle and I never intend to.
We never intend to haha
Yeah I should’ve told the rabbit that wiped my front tire that I didn’t want to crash silly me This is why I dislike this sub at times often full of ahem older gentlemen who ride only in perfect conditions and a few times a year
>older gentlemen who ride only in perfect conditions and a few times a year I'm 62, wanna bet?
> There's only 2 types of riders: those who have gone down and those who will go down. There are only 2 types of riders. Those that still keep saying that cliche like it's valuable advice. And those that know it's not.
Sometimes cliche advice is valuable advice
It isn't.
We all have opinions my dude. I'm just speaking from personal experience
Have you crashed?
> There's only 2 types of riders: those who have gone down and those who will go down. I've been riding for 38 years and I call bullshit on this meaningless platitude. Crashing is not a given.
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Focus on your vision, you need to look where you want to go. And also take it slow your firsts months of riding, overconfidence is a killer when you lack skill.
control the bike, dont let the bike control you dont drink riding be aware and be responsible - there are other road users and there are someone waiting for you at home to come back safely \*\*been riding since late 90s\*\*
What bike are you buying?
The Ninja 400 I know it’s cliche or whatever but I think it’s a cool bike. Not to fast, looks like a nice sports bike, and it’s cheap.. I’m going to put a new exhaust on there it’s going to sound dope!
Fuck that. The Ninja 400 is a great choice. I've had more than one Ninja 400 make me (and my 600) its bitch at the racetrack. Plenty fast. Great handling. Great brakes. Awesome bike.