The girls first CRASH

[Theycallmecrash]

So the girl just finished her motorcycle training course. She has a 06 R6s shes never road more than passener, on any bile for that matter. So i take her and the bike to the parking lot to apply her new found "learnings" and walk her through some stuff... Sits on the bike... Over on the right side... Face palm. Get it up, and start over. Time to put it in gear feel where the clutch engages. So far so good. Putts forward, good, again, good, again.....4k, 6k, 8k.... Zoom! Curb! Crunch!.... She is ok! Bike just got frame sliders no major damage, she got back on and shes picking it up but wer going slow

 

[thrstrmech]

slow is good, like fore play glad she's alright, awesome she got back on[up][up][up]

 

[d_adams]

This has been my argument all along. If you're going to ride, EVERYONE should learn to ride on a dirt bike, out in the dirt. Crashing is much less expensive there, most of the trees are slow enough that you can ride around them when they jump out at you. The exception to that is if you get hospitalized from a bad crash. Also, wear your gear.

 

[oh9bolt]

Glad she is ok...

Learning to ride on a Supersport bike is not the bike to learn on.

 

[wolfo68]

Yes, make sure she wears gear.

 

[netty2424]

Good thing she's not hurt and good thing she got back on it after a crash. A lot of girls and guys probably wouldn't.

 

[Alfatango1]

Thanks for sliders! Even though it's only a 6R when the power does hit you can get surprised if you're a noob.

 

[jaimz]

My girlfriend has no interest in learning to ride. she also hasn't ever been a passenger. I told her that she might change her mind when she gets to ride as a passenger a bit

 

[thrstrmech]

most of the trees are slow enough that you can ride around them when they jump out at you

wish I had known that 26 yrs ago when I began riding...LOL

 

[deathandtexas]

Did the motorcycle class she took actually involve riding? [confused]

 

[agfish18]

Glad she is ok!

I used to have the same outlook as many on here, I never thought a 600 sport bike was a great beginner bike, but it really depends on the rider. My wife really just started riding in March of this year after taking the MSF course in January. She started learning on my race bike (CBR600RR) as that was the only other bike I had available for her to ride...and let's face it, my racebike had been down a few times before, so I wasnt really worried about it taking another fall. She started riding it around the neighborhood with all of its race plastics on, and before too long she wanted to go out on the streets. She has only fallen once, and it was when she was learning and she just didnt turn sharply enough doing a u-turn in a culdesac. She has since been on at least 4 300+ mile rides with me, and gets better and more confident each time she rides. It does take time, but as long as she continues to like it (despite falling), it is a fun thing that you two can now enjoy together.

I'm still trying to get her to take it out on the track a little... She isnt feeling it though

 

[mattleg]

Small bikes are light and have small engines. The size alone of a big bike makes people nervous, for someone unfamiliar with how powerful they are it can easily turn into an accident like that. I let my wife on my XB12 after learning on a blast for a few days. I made it clear not to even touch the throttle, clutch only. She putted around a parking lot pretty good. For her the engine size is not the issue, its just the size and weight of the bike she can't handle.

Throttle slips are fairly common for new riders. If you don't have a smaller bike, one tip is find a way to have add a throttle stop, its even better if you can access the ECM to reduce the rev limiter as well. Limiting engine power lets people learn to handle the size and weight without fear of mishandling the controls.

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Thanks guys! She is really anxious to read what peoples/riders thoughts are on the event. Her enthusiasm is impressive. Shes learning itll take time.

The thread took the turn i was hoping for. Her class did involve 2 full days of riding she did fine on these 125 hondas. But that just proves that learning on a smaller bike or in te dirt is not and never will be enough to prepare you for a super sport. They are way too different, and the power alone as well as the speed those other bikes cant achieve. Lets hear some training tips and opinions?

 

[sparky300]

Training wheels.

 

[Doc13]

I've learned that if you're riding it then you're risking it, dirt or street it doesn't matter and the dirt doesn't prepare you for riding on the street aside from the fundamentals which can be learned in a parking lot to begin but really take being thrown into the world to completely understand.

Falls are going to happen, situational awareness is what will keep her going on the streets. Prepare as best you can and enjoy the ride while it lasts.

KC

 

[d_adams]

dirt doesn't prepare you for riding on the street aside from the fundamentals

That is exactly my point. If you don't have the fundamentals down, you're screwed big time. Go out and play in traffic with 4000 lb cars coming at you from all sides, it can lead to panic, brake lockup, follow that with a crash, etc.
I'm not trying to be negative, just pointing out that if you need to start somewhere, the dirt would be FAR safer.

 

[2004xb12s]

Riding in the woods prepares you for the street more than you will ever understand.

Ever hear of a thing called accident avoidance?

Riding on slippery, muddy, wet, rocky conditions will over prepare you for anything the street can throw at you. If anybody has ridden dirtbikes for more than a year or two and thinks that riding on the road is more challenging I would like to hear from you.

Obviously a riders course should be used to get accustomed to your street bike and being able to handle the extra throttle.

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Oh no doubt riding in the dirt even with an exceptional machine is far more difficult (grew up on dirt bikes, 50cc, 125cc, 250cc two and 4 stroke) i can say when i got on my first street bike (cbr600 Hurricane baby) thought it was all the same, not even close, slid my rear tire out so many times under braking, over braking, counter steering, hand position, acceleration, turning had to re learn everything.

Just gotta get in there and experience it, youre going to fall, its gonna hurt. Might even lose your bike. Proper gear, sliders, and practice safety above and beyond everything else to save your own life, the bike will always be sacrificable. I was looking for more advice on actual techniques, when should i show her how to wheelie on purpose? Jk

 

[raven]

who says trees are slow and you can ride around them,is wrong.Those SOB,s will swat you when your not looking,kick rocks in front of you, and their roots will grab your wheels, usually both at the same time.

 

[SWATcltch]

My 03 Blast is quite possibly the best beginner there is. Kerker pipe so it's really, bright yellow for easy vis, underpowered so im not lifting the front wheel all the time, weak front brake so there are no accidental stoppies and a curb weight 360 so it's easy to handle. Only problem is the tricky transmission. It tends to be stupid sometimes